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July 6, 2020
Celebrating Pokémon GO Fest: Look Closer with a new commercial directed by Rian Johnson
Blog > Celebrating Pokémon GO Fest: Look Closer with a new commercial directed by Rian Johnson
July 6, 2020
Celebrating Pokémon GO Fest: Look Closer with a new commercial directed by Rian Johnson

With Pokémon GO Fest 2020 barely three weeks away, we could not be more excited to host this all-new, first-of-its-kind virtual event for Trainers around the world. The response from the community has been incredible, and we’ve already sold more than 700,000 tickets from more than 110 countries and regions.

Our vision at Niantic has always been to create experiences that foster discovery and exploration within the real world. We are continuously inspired by the amazing stories Trainers from all walks of life have shared about discovering the magic and surprises around every corner of their very own neighborhoods and towns.

In collaboration with The Pokémon Company International, we teamed up with esteemed director Rian Johnson (Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Knives Out) to create a special new commercial that celebrates Pokémon GO Fest and honors the magic of Pokémon GO just in time for our fourth anniversary. Check it out!

“Pokémon GO has kept me engaged with my friends remotely as I've been practicing physical distancing these past few months,” said Rian Johnson. “As a longtime Pokémon trainer, it was a real pleasure working with Niantic on this spot. It was a new experience for me to direct a production remotely, and I enjoyed the highly collaborative process and think we put together a fun and upbeat commercial that fans will enjoy.”

A big fan of Pokémon GO himself, Rian helped shape the concept of the video with his cinematic eye and vision of peeling back a layer of our everyday lives, looking closer, and experiencing being a Trainer with your favorite Pokémon.

In keeping with the theme of bringing people around the world together for GO Fest, this commercial was a global production. Rian Johnson directed the cast and crew in New Zealand from Los Angeles, and he collaborated with teams from Niantic, The Pokémon Company International and agency staff in New York, Seattle, San Francisco, London, and Tokyo. The final product is a fun and energizing video from start to finish that symbolizes the joyful experience of playing Pokémon GO wherever you are.

We’re excited to bring Pokémon GO Fest to Trainers around the world this year wherever you are playing from. Incredible adventures await and we look forward to seeing everyone in the Pokémon GO Fest virtual team lounges on July 25 and 26!

—Veronica Saron, Product Marketing Manager, Pokémon GO

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