Detective Pikachu

Territory Studio joined Pokémon's cinematic universe as motion graphic specialists for Detective Pikachu, delivering screen graphics for on-set and post across nine sets throughout the movie.

Working closely with the Art Department, Territory created original technology interfaces for the PCL Lab scenes, graphic elements across Ryme City and the Roundhouse battle arena, textural environmental layers including advertising boards and neon shop lights that transformed London streets into a Pokémon-friendly landscape, and CNM Network News graphics with large wall screens and monitors.

For the Roundhouse battle arena, Territory created retro gaming-style graphic content for a large-scale screen and six smaller LED wall screens calling out each Pokémon battle move, pulsing with abstract motion graphics between bouts.

The PCL Lab — AKA every Pokémon's nightmare — required screens tied into story beats showing DNA sequencing, calculations, log screens, maps and database systems, implying the malicious scientific intent behind the capture and transformation of Pokémon.

"The fun challenge was to take the vibrant, irreverent playfulness of the Pokémon universe and bring it into the 'real' world — finding the right balance that felt believable yet still played to the whimsical nature of Pokémon." — Andrew Popplestone, Creative Director, Territory Studio

Client: Universal Pictures