Uniqlo is bringing back Pokémon's 1996 watercolor art on shirts

Uniqlo has announced a new line of graphic t-shirts celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise. The upcoming UT collection uses the original 1996 watercolor artwork from Pokémon Red and Green. The apparel launches in Japan on March 23, 2026, according to Uniqlo.

The collection focuses entirely on the foundational era of Game Freak's monster-catching RPG. Adult sizes will retail for ¥1,990 (roughly $14). Kids' sizes are priced at ¥990 (about $6.50). Instead of the flat digital coloring used in modern merchandise, these shirts pull directly from the archival illustrations created by Ken Sugimori three decades ago.

Back to the 1996 watercolors

When Pocket Monsters Red and Green launched on the Game Boy on February 27, 1996, the hardware could only display four shades of olive green. Players had to rely on the physical instruction manuals and strategy guides to see what the original 151 creatures actually looked like. Sugimori rendered those early character and monster designs in a distinct watercolor style with visible brush strokes and washed-out shading.

The monsters from this era looked slightly more feral than their modern counterparts. The proportions were different. This Uniqlo collection prints those exact historical illustrations onto cotton. The apparel preserves the specific visual identity the series had before it transitioned into a cleaner anime aesthetic.

Pikachu used to be round

Uniqlo has roots going back to 1949 as a textiles manufacturer in Yamaguchi, Japan. Their UT line is a wearable pop culture canvas. They have previously collaborated with Nintendo on collections for Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda. A specific focus on archival game art is unusual for their typical mass-market approach.

The official announcement currently specifies the Japanese market. Uniqlo historically rolls out its major Nintendo collaborations to its international stores within a few weeks of the domestic launch.

The $14 price point makes these highly accessible compared to typical vintage gaming apparel. It is a straightforward way to wear a piece of 1996 gaming history without tracking down a thirty-year-old promotional shirt.