Look, Up in the Sky, It's... Pokemon

All Nippon Airways goes graphical!

February 25, 1999 - All Nippon Airways (ANA) began flying a specially painted Boeing 747-400 aircraft - part of its "Pokémon" family of jets - to the U.S. on February 24 with a flight from Tokyo to JFK Airport in New York.

The exterior of the 232-foot long aircraft is painted with characters from Pokémon, the popular software game and television cartoon series. It will be the fourth member of the "ANA Pokémon Jet Family," joining three other "Pokémon" aircraft -- one 747-400 and two Boeing 767-300s -- which already fly on ANA's extensive route network in Japan. The "ANA Pokémon Jet U.S. Version" will be used on ANA routes to North America.

Pokémon emerged in 1996 as a Nintendo Gameboy software game in Japan and soon captured the imaginations of children across the nation with its 151 fanciful characters boasting magical powers. In April 1997, Pokémon became a television series in Japan, followed by the U.S. in September 1998. Pokémon (the television series) subsequently entered the Hong Kong, Taiwan and China markets, where it has proved extremely popular. Pokémon also made its big screen debut in Japan last summer.

Passengers flying the "ANA Pokémon Jet U.S. Version" will be welcomed aboard by cabin attendants wearing original Pokémon aprons and will enjoy special Pokémon headrest covers. Original Pokémon goods will be available through ANA in-flight sales.

ANA first added "Pokémon Jets" to its fleet on July 2, 1998, with the introduction of two colorfully decorated aircraft into service in Japan. The third "ANA Pokémon Jet" was added July 19, also on routes in Japan. Since their introduction, the Pokémon aircraft have carried more than one million ANA passengers.

With the extension of "Pokémon Jet" service to the U.S., according to an ANA spokesman, "ANA hopes both to share the fun of flying and bring the magic of Pokémon to all of its passengers, both young and young at heart, on both sides of the Pacific."