Pokémon Fossil Museum blends science and imagination
An immersive exhibit connecting beloved Pokémon with authentic paleontology opens next spring at Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History
This is a feature story from Animenomics, covering the business of anime and manga. Today’s story is written by Chicago-based correspondent Hector Cervantes.
A beloved cast of fossil-inspired characters from a popular Japanese exhibition is heading to Chicago next spring, as the Pokémon Fossil Museum makes its North American debut at the Field Museum of Natural History in May 2026.
This exhibition blends real paleontology with the world of Pokémon, featuring life-sized fossil Pokémon like Tyrantrum and Archaeops standing alongside iconic fossils such as Sue the T. rex and the Chicago Archaeopteryx.
In the Pokémon anime, several notable episodes highlight fossil Pokémon and their role in the series’ lore. These include “Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon,” which features a fossil rush, and “Fossil Fools,” where a revived, living Pokémon is discovered.
Created in collaboration with Tokyo’s National Museum of Nature and Science, The Pokémon Company International, and the Field Museum, the exhibit explores deep into ancient life and fossil excavation. Visitors are guided by interactive Pokémon professors and an excavator Pikachu mascot. This is the first time this immersive experience is coming to North America, outside of Japan.
The Pokémon Fossil Museum, a popular traveling exhibit in Japan, blends paleontology with pop culture by comparing fossil Pokémon to real prehistoric creatures. Guided by characters like “Excavator Pikachu” and real-life experts, visitors explore the science behind the fantasy. The exhibit wraps up its Japan tour in 2026 with final stops in Nagasaki, Tokushima, and Mie Prefectures. Over one million people have attended since its launch.
Anastasia DeMaio, an exhibition developer for the Field Museum, shared that while the Chicago version of the Pokémon Fossil Museum is still being developed and specific details can’t yet be confirmed, the team is actively working on expanding the exhibit and shaping its overall themes.
When asked how cultural institutions balance education with entertainment-driven IPs, DeMaio explained that the Field Museum only takes on projects with clear educational value. Once onboard, they deepen the content by expanding on the IP and drawing stronger connections to real-world science and history.
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