In Japan, the National Museum of Nature and Science collaborates with Pokémon to create a Pokemon Fossil Exhibit (Pokemon Fossil Museum) that compares pokemon to dinosaurs.
Pokémon fossils have always been a big part of the series, dating back to the first games, as has the inclusion of museums. In collaboration with Japan’s National Science Museum, a new exhibit at the Mikasa City Museum will bridge the gap between the Pokémon and human worlds, allowing fans to learn more about each.
The Pokémon Company is celebrating 25 years of the popular franchise in 2021, making it the ideal year to look back at the history of the fictional creatures and their real-life inspirations. As fans are aware, the Pokémon roster has grown from 151 monsters to over 800 in the last two decades. Each new generation gives players new regions to explore and discover never-before-seen creatures. Many of these monsters resemble real-life animals, with some being more recognisable than others. Tyrannosaurus-like dinosaurs are represented by the Tyrunt and Tyrantrum lines, for example. The Lileep and Cradily are said to be inspired by fossilised Sea Lillies, despite their less obvious resemblance.
The Pokémon Fossil Museum delves into the many monsters of Pokémon and their prehistoric counterparts, right down to the skeletons. The exhibit even includes an “Excavation Pikachu” dressed as a cute paleontologist. Attendees will be able to compare illustrations of Pokémon and real-life prehistoric animals, admire full-scale models of Pokémon skeletons, and examine some real and Pokémon fossils. “In this exhibition, you can compare ‘Kaseki Pokemon’ found in our world with ‘fossils and paleontology’ found in our world, discover similarities and differences, and have fun learning about paleontology,” according to the official website.
From July 4, 2021 to September 20, 2021, the Pokémon Fossil Museum is scheduled to visit museums throughout Japan, beginning with the Mikasa City Museum in Hokkaido. The exhibit will travel to Shimane Prefectural Sampei Nature Museum in the fall, followed by Tokyo’s National Science Museum in the spring of 2022. The tour is currently scheduled to conclude in Summer 2022 at the Toyohashi Museum of Natural History in Aichi. However, it appears that additional dates and locations may be added in the future.
Unfortunately, with COVID-19 travel restrictions in place, it appears that fans from other countries will find it difficult to visit.
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