The next Pokémon 'The Scream' cards capture the existential horror of 2018

The world lacks clean water, climate change continues to ravage the planet and politics is a nightmare: every day of 2018 has borne the emotional weight of a whole year. It should be the year of the Pokémon The company announces a partnership with the Tokyo Art Museum to produce special collectible cards based on The Scream, the emblematic Expressionist painting of Edvard Munch.

According to the official statement, the promotional cards will be available from October 27 to celebrate a special exhibition at the Tokyo Art Museum. Each card, which will cost 450 yen, will feature a pocket monster with a screaming attack that creates confusion (hence the cross between the game and the board). Cards will be available via official Pokémon the centers in Japan when fans buy boosters, but there will also be other products related to Munch / Pokémon for sale.

Munch's original work was inspired by a striking sunset in 1892 that painted the sky "blood red". According to Munch's diary at the time, the scene had left it as if an "infinite cry" had crossed nature. Combining existential terror with child's play may seem strange, Pokemon has a long history of making its traditions dark and disturbing.