Pokémon fans will surely have followed the saga of this year’s Pokémon collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. The collectible “Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat” card mimicking Van Gogh’s style sent fans and collectors into quite a frenzy. It was almost too much for anyone involved. But this actually wasn’t Pokémon‘s first collaboration with fine art. No, in 2016, Pokémon teamed up with the Tokyo Art Museum to celebrate Edvard Munch’s “The Scream.” Let’s take a look back at the collection.
Pokémon‘s Collaboration with the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum Celebrated “The Scream”
In 2018, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum was home to an exhibit titled “Munch Exhibition – The Scream of the Resonant Soul.” Fittingly, this exhibit began on October 27, 2018—so it arrived just in time to celebrate Halloween. The Tokyo Art Museum decided to collaborate with Pokémon on promotional cards and merchandise. While at the outset, Pokémon and Edvard Munch don’t seem to have an obvious connection, the truth is Pokémon is FULL of existential dread. If you take a closer look at many of its Pokémon they have morbid origins, histories, and behaviors. Just look at Cubone, which literally wears its mother’s skull on its head. Another fine example is Phantump, whose official description notes, “After a lost child perished in the forest, their spirit possessed a tree stump, causing the spirit’s rebirth as this Pokémon.” Who could better understand Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” than these Pokémon?
In any case, the exhibit marked the first time Munch’s “The Scream” was displayed in Japan and so it was fitting to greet it with some Pokémon love. The Tokyo Art Museum collaborated with Pokémon to create five cards as well as other merchandise in celebration of the exhibit. It’s hard to say if this Munch collaboration created as big a frenzy as the Van Gogh collaboration did, but it seems the cards did not become available online in 2018.
Pokémon‘s Edvard Munch “The Scream” Pikachu, Eevee, and Other Cards
Pokémon ultimately released five cards emulating Munch’s piece. These “The Scream” cards depicted Pikachu, Mimikyu, Psyduck, Eevee, and Rowlet. The Pikachu “The Scream” card was released to visitors of the exhibit at specific times. Meanwhile, the Mimikyu Scream card came with a mini card file that depicted the Munch versions of Pikachu and Eevee. Psyduck, Eevee, and Rowlet’s “The Scream” Pokémon cards were all available as gifts with expansion pack purchases Pokémon Center/Pokémon Store locations.
In addition to these “The Scream”-inspired cards, merchandise such as keychains, phone cases, handkerchiefs and charms were also sold. And, of course, our favorite piece—the Edvard Munch “The Scream” Pikachu plush. We NEED him.
Are Pokémon‘s “The Scream” Cards Still Available?
Alas, this collaboration happened in 2018, so the Munch Pokémon cards are long gone from official channels. However, you can still find them on the secondary market… But we suspect the price of them will make you scream.
Here’s to Pokémon’s next fine art collaboration; may it be even more gorgeous than the last.