Adidas readies Pokémon 30th anniversary footwear drop, with Charmander pair listed in India

Adidas is set to launch a 16-style Pokémon 30th Anniversary footwear collection in September 2026. The Pokémon x Adidas Superstar II Charmander is listed on Adidas India’s website at Rs 11,999, signalling local availability for at least part of the limited-edition range.

— Source publishedTue, 22 Sept, 2026, 21:52 IST·First seen Tue, 22 Sept, 2026, 23:04 IST·Source NDTV Profit

What happened

Adidas is launching a limited-edition Pokémon 30th Anniversary footwear collection in September 2026. In India, the Pokémon x Adidas Superstar II Charmander

Key facts

  • 30th anniversary
  • 16 footwear styles
  • nine Pokémon characters
  • September 22, 2026
  • September 24, 2026
  • Rs 11,999
  • $110
  • $130

Why this matters

The Pokémon collaboration highlights the strategic value of securing globally resonant entertainment-IP partnerships that can scale across product lines while allowing market-specific availability and pricing.

What to watch

  • Additional Pokémon 30th Anniversary SKUs appearing on Adidas India, including adult, kids and apparel listings.
  • India launch date, channel list, raffle mechanics and stated unit availability.
  • Whether the Rs 11,999 Charmander SKU remains in stock, sells through rapidly or receives markdowns after launch.
  • Search interest, social engagement and pre-launch wish-list volume versus prior Adidas India collaborations.
  • Resale premiums and transaction volume in the first two weeks after release.
  • Competing Pokémon anniversary launches from footwear, apparel, toy and gaming partners that could fragment consumer spend.
  • Evidence of broader localization, such as India-specific campaign assets, influencer seeding or retail events.
  • Use the India product listing to capture waitlist, launch-notification and size-demand data before confirming assortment depth.
  • Allocate inventory toward metros, Adidas Originals stores, adidas.co.in and selected sneaker retailers where collector demand and premium conversion are highest.
  • Build a staggered content calendar around Pokémon characters, unboxings and franchise milestones to sustain attention beyond the initial drop.
  • Deploy authenticated raffle or queue mechanics to manage bots and preserve consumer trust if allocations are scarce.
  • Bundle footwear storytelling with apparel, accessories or adiClub member benefits to raise basket size without relying on discounting.
  • Monitor resale prices and social sentiment by character to inform replenishment, regional allocation and future licensed-collaboration design choices.