[imagsource:x/@nerdist]

The beloved Pokémon universe is set to collide with the world of fine art as the company embarks on an exciting collaboration with The Van Gogh Museum in the Netherlands.

Scheduled to launch in late September, this unexpected partnership promises to be an exciting exploration of the interstices between the art and gaming world.

In the recently unveiled announcement trailer, beloved Pokémon characters Pikachu and Eevee frolic through a field of sunflowers while iconic windmills gracefully turn upon rolling hills in the backdrop.

More magic unfolds as a droplet of blue paint splats onto Pikachu’s head, and as the world-famous character looks up to the sky, it transforms into the mesmerising swirls that define Vincent Van Gogh’s post-impressionistic masterpieces.

As Pikachu and Eevee look around in awe, the fields of animated sunflowers undergo a metamorphosis into the Grass-type Pokémon Sunflora and a rendering of Van Gogh’s famous Sunflowers series takes centre stage.

While the collab may seem bizarre to some, the recently-released teaser clip proves that the teams involved know exactly what they’re doing. But don’t just take our word for it, scope out the magic for yourself:

While the exact details of the ‘mash-up’ remain shrouded in mystery, one intriguing possibility is the inclusion of the Meet Vincent Van Gogh Experience, an award-winning traveling exhibition. This interactive installation showcases Van Gogh’s most renowned works, inviting young artists to draw inspiration and create their own masterpieces, complete with an audio guide, tailored to varying levels of literacy.

While these are currently just hopeful murmurs from gaming and fine art fans alike, the Pokémon Company has teased that “more information” will be revealed in the near future, with the collaboration planned to go live on September 28.

This artistic crossover is not the only news stirring up the Pokémon community. A recent announced that the Pokémon World Championships in 2024 will be hosted in Honolulu, Hawaii, has sparked both excitement and controversy among fans.

While some eagerly anticipate the event, others have raised concerns about the sensitivity of holding such an event in a state still grappling with the aftermath of horrific wildfires.

That being said, it’s exciting to see the Pokémon Company branching out into surreal impressionist Van Gogh landscapes in the near future. Let’s just hope Pikachu doesn’t lose an ear…

[source:nme]