Pokémon Horizons: The Series is reaching another franchise milestone with its 150th episode, and the celebration is crossing over into Pokémon GO. The collaboration is scheduled around the episode's Japanese broadcast on September 18, 2026, giving the anime and mobile game a shared event rather than treating the anniversary as an on-screen moment alone.
The partnership is built around a special version of Charmander wearing Friede's goggles. The same character design appears in the anime and Pokémon GO, creating a direct visual connection between the television series and the mobile game. Pokémon GO players can encounter the costumed Charmander during the event period and can evolve it while keeping the goggles-themed look.
What happens in the episode?
The 150th episode follows the heroes as they take part in field research. It also includes a flashback exploring how Friede and Charizard first met. That is a useful fit for the milestone: rather than simply staging a large battle, the episode uses one of the series' established characters and relationships to connect the past and present.
The celebration also includes game elements beyond one Pokémon. Pokémon GO players have opportunities to encounter the special Charmander through different activities, while raids feature characters and Pokémon connected with the Horizons universe. Additional bonuses and photo interactions are part of the event as well.
Why this crossover is interesting
Pokémon has always existed as a connected multimedia franchise, but collaborations like this show how closely the anime and games can now interact. A viewer can watch the episode and then immediately encounter related content in Pokémon GO. The result is less like a traditional television tie-in and more like a shared event running across two parts of the franchise.
The timing also matters because Horizons represents a major change in the anime's long-term structure. It introduced new central protagonists rather than continuing the same lead-character setup used for decades. By the time the series reaches its 150th episode, characters such as Liko, Roy and Friede have an established identity of their own within the current storyline.
Event window: Pokémon GO's collaboration runs from September 16 through September 22, 2026, with availability varying by local time and activity.
What fans should watch
For anime viewers, the key attraction is the Friede and Charizard flashback. For Pokémon GO players, the main prize is the special Charmander and the collection opportunities around the collaboration. The crossover is therefore designed to work whether someone approaches it from the anime side or the game side.
Pokémon Horizons' 150th episode is another example of how modern anime franchises can turn a regular broadcast milestone into a larger fan event. Instead of stopping at a commemorative episode, Pokémon is using the occasion to connect storytelling, character history and a live mobile-game event.
For a franchise built on collecting and discovery, that is a natural combination: watch the story, encounter the same characters in-game, and take part in the celebration while it is active.
Source
Crunchyroll News — Pokémon Horizons 150th episode collaboration
