The two Victini movies, set to be released in Japan on July 16, will bring the total number of Pokemon movies (assuming we count both versions as one) to 14. Kotaku’s Brian Ashcraft answers why Nintendo still produces Pokemon movies.

The easy answer, of course, is that the Pokémon movies still make money. The longer answer is slightly more involved. Since 1998, there has been a new Pocket Monsters anime in Japan every year, like clockwork. And not only are they released each year, but they are always released during the same month: July.

There is a very specific reason for this: the vast majority of Japanese school children are on summer holidays in July, and are, in turn, looking for something to do. Likewise, parents might be looking for something to do with their kids and going to the movies together fits that bill.

In the West, the Pocket Monsters movies are released in various months, whether it be June or January, February or October. It’s not consistent. And kids tend to like things that are steady and constant. That’s exactly what they are in Japan, which is, in an odd way, comforting.

This year, Pocket Monsters are doing one better and releasing two movies this July: Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! The Movie: Victini and the Black Hero: Zekrom as well as Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! The Movie: Victini and the White Hero: Reshiram. The movies will feature different legendary Pokémon, and will be shown one after another in movie theatres, like a double feature. This is a first for the films, and no doubt many kids will stay on for the second picture.

 
Source: Kotaku