UPDATE: THE TRAILER IS NOW AVAILABLE!

If you grew up in the '90s or somewhere near there, Pokemon was part of your life. In its history, it has broken several records: its games are the second-best selling series of all time, after the Mario series. The Pokemon Trading Card Game has sold the most number of trading cards ever, beating out other games like Yu-Gi-Oh! and Magic: The Gathering. The comic books and manga are among the highest-selling of the kid-friendly category. And arguably most importantly, its animated series is the longest-lasting anime of all time.

The Pokemon anime has broken several records of its own. Its pilot episode Pokemon - I Choose You! was watched by over 18 million people in Japan the first day of its airing, and double that in America. In 1999, Pokemon The First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back broke the record previously held by The Lion King for the largest-grossing weekend for an animated film. And it was directly due to the success of Pokemon 2000: The Power of One that prompted the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to instate its current Best Animated Film category for the annual Academy Awards. In 2009, the television series became the longest-lasting anime of all time, and today airs around the world, translated in over 71 languages.

The last Pokemon film to be shown in theaters outside of Asia was Pokemon Heroes: Latias and Latios in 2003. It was released in four theaters in America, only to be pulled out after initial bad sales. It grossed about $100,000, and was considered a box-office flop.

But that is about to change. Following the new Pokemon hype due to the newly released video games Pokemon Black and White Versions, Pokemon International, INC, has announced a partnership with Cinedigm Digital Cinema to release two brand-new Pokemon movies in theaters!  At first it will only be 300 select digital screens (one of which will be in Las Angelas, California, to secure the films' eligibility for Academy Award nominations) beginning December 3, but the films will spread out to more theaters in America soon afterwards. Current foreign releases also include Australia screens in Q1 2012, and European theaters March/April 2012.

The two films are two versions of the same film, collectively known in Japan as Pocket Monsters Best Wishes: The First Movie. For their release outside of Japan, the films will be known as Pokemon the Movie Black: Victini and Reshiram and Pokemon the Movie White: Victini and Zekrom. The films have collectively grossed $53,387,800 in Japan, making them a box-office success. It is estimated that their releases overseas will total up to $400 million. To catch a special preview of the new movies, check out the official Pokemon website on September 17 and 18. During those days, the previous film Zoroark: Master of Illusions will be shown, and after the movie is over the preview will play.

Stay tuned for more information regarding theater releases and release dates worldwide for these films.

I'm Skulblaka_Shur'tugal, writer of this fan news, and I approve this message.