Pokémon (also known as Pocket Monsters in Japan) is a franchise created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1995, and owned by Nintendo. In 2011 ANA launched an online poll to let people choose the new Pokémon livery among three designs. The poll was stopped when the Tohoku earthquake occured on March 11, 2011. The 6th and final Pokémon Jet by ANA was unveiled on July 18, 2011 in anticipation of the retirement of the airline's Jumbos, which would soon mean the end of its highly successful Pikachu Jumbo & Flower Jumbo.
As the jet was launched in the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, additional "Forward together as one. Japan." (心をひとつに がんばろう ニッポン) titles could be seen aft of the cockpit windows. The use of a 777 meant the airline could once again offer Pokémon Jet service to Osaka-Itami airport, which had banned 4-engine jets from operating a few years before. The contract with Nintendo ended on April 15, 2016 and the aircraft was subsequently repainted in standard colours.
Images © Esa Kaihlanen (HND & CTS)
Tags
Cartoon & Anime,
Pokemon