A September 2025 U.S. Department of Homeland Security video paired Pokémon-associated music, animation and card-style graphics with immigration-enforcement footage. The Pokémon Company International said it did not create or distribute the video and had not authorized use of its intellectual property. The episode drew criticism from Pokémon and anime fans, though “propaganda” is an interpretation—not a legal finding about the post.
What was in the DHS video?
DHS posted the video on X on September 22, 2025, according to TheWrap. The Los Angeles Times described a montage of immigration raids set to the familiar Pokémon theme, with franchise-associated animation and text. It ended with mock card designs showing detainees’ photographs and details.
The video used the phrase “Gotta Catch ’Em All.” ABC News reported that DHS replied with the line, “To arrest them is our real test. To deport them is our cause.” Those slogans recast recognizable Pokémon language around arrests and deportations.
What did The Pokémon Company say?
The Pokémon Company International told the Los Angeles Times: “We are aware of a recent video posted by the Department of Homeland Security that includes imagery and language associated with our brand. Our company was not involved in the creation or distribution of this content, and permission was not granted for the use of our intellectual property.” TheWrap also reproduced the company’s statement.
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The statement makes the company’s position clear: it was not involved and did not grant permission. It is not a court ruling, and the reporting does not establish the legal status of every separate element in the video or whether the company pursued legal action.
Why did fans object?
The Los Angeles Times reported that the video angered many fans. ABC News later placed the response in a broader pattern of objections to U.S. government uses of Japanese anime and manga in political or military messaging. That coverage included criticism from fans in Japan; it does not establish that all Pokémon fans opposed the video or measure how widely the view was held.
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ABC quoted a DHS spokesperson describing the agency’s approach as an effort to “reach people where they are with content they can relate to and understand, whether that be Halo, Pokémon, Lord of the Rings, or any other medium”. For critics, using familiar entertainment to frame enforcement as playful or entertaining risks putting a rights holder’s work in a context it did not choose.
Why is the video being called propaganda?
“Propaganda” is an interpretive label in this coverage, not an established legal classification. ABC News quoted Rodney Taveira, a senior lecturer in American studies at the United States Studies Centre, saying posts like the DHS Pokémon video are “designed to shape perception of immigration enforcement as more than legitimate, as something sporting and fun.” He said they “function as propaganda quite classically.” That is Taveira’s analysis of the messaging.
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How does this fit the wider anime backlash?
ABC News connected the Pokémon video to other U.S. government uses of Japanese cultural works. It reported that Japanese fan Nana Suzuki started a petition after the White House used Yu-Gi-Oh! in a video showing military strikes. The petition objected to political or military uses that could conflict with creators’ or rights holders’ intentions. An organized petition demonstrates organized opposition, but it is not a representative poll of Pokémon fans.
ABC also quoted Japan’s Minister for Intellectual Property Strategy, Kimi Onoda: “Even in cases that do not constitute clear copyright infringement, it is crucial to ensure that copyrighted works are not used in a manner contrary to the rights holder’s intentions, which could damage the work’s image and cause harm to the rights holder.” That concern is distinct from whether a specific use violates copyright law.
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What is known—and what remains unresolved?
- Established: DHS posted the Pokémon-themed video on September 22, 2025, and The Pokémon Company International said it was not involved and did not grant permission.
- Reported reaction: News coverage described criticism from fans and broader objections to political or military uses of anime. It does not provide a representative measure of Pokémon fans’ views.
- Not established: The reviewed reporting does not determine the copyright status of every video component, report a court decision, establish whether DHS later removed the post, or say that The Pokémon Company pursued legal action. The Los Angeles Times reported the post remained on DHS’s X account when its September 25, 2025 article appeared; that is a historical status, not confirmation of its current availability.
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