# Augmented Reality Anime Games This Real-Life Pokemon Gym in Japan is an AR Anime Experience By Charlotte Joyce Kidd | Published 2015-11-03 | Life-Stages Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/reallife-pokemon-gym References: [en.rocketnews24](http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/10/22/real-life-pokemon-gym-set-to-open-in-japan-next-month/) & [polygon](http://www.polygon.com/2015/10/21/9585898/pokemon-expo-gym-japan) To the delight of Pokemon fans everywhere, Japan is opening the world's first real-life Pokemon gym. For an admission fee of 500 Yen (around 4$ U.S.), visitors to the real-life Pokemon gym can interact with animated creatures and characters, play games and meet their [favorite Pokemon](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pokmon-pokopia) in real life. The virtual experience will utilize smartphone apps and [augmented reality games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scratch-earth) that use physical movement to create digital reactions. Pokemon gyms are a feature of the original animated games: when Pokemon trainers aren't hunting for new Pokemon to tame, they visit the gyms to prepare and bond with their pets. As this real-life Pokemon gym shows, augmented reality has introduced a new level of consumer expectation in children's entertainment. It's no longer enough to offer rides and costumed characters; kids and parents now expect a completely immersive experience that brings beloved characters to life while impressing visitors with advanced technology. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.0/10 - Popularity: 50% | Activity: 61% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Alpha - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages) > [Youth](https://www.trendhunter.com/youth) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Immersive Children's Entertainment:** The demand for completely immersive experiences in children's entertainment is growing, requiring the incorporation of advanced technology and beloved characters to bring the experience to life. - **Augmented Reality Gaming:** The integration of augmented reality in gaming is creating opportunities to merge the virtual and physical worlds, enhancing the user experience and offering unique gameplay interactions. - **Real-life Anime Experiences:** The popularity of anime and the desire for real-life experiences are converging, allowing fans to interact with their favorite characters and explore fictional worlds through augmented reality. ### Where This Applies - **Children's Entertainment:** The children's entertainment industry can capitalize on the demand for immersive experiences by incorporating augmented reality and beloved characters into their offerings. - **Gaming:** The gaming industry can leverage augmented reality technology to create unique gameplay experiences that merge virtual and physical elements, appealing to a wide range of players. - **Anime:** The anime industry can explore augmented reality to create real-life experiences for fans, providing a new way to engage with beloved characters and storylines. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Anime-Inspired Fitness Gyms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/one-piece-fitness-bragmen.md) - [Historic AR Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/historic-ar-experience.md) - [Alien-Hunting AR Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/taito.md) - [Augmented Reality Hunting Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/monster-hunter-now.md) - [Anime Creature-Inspired Exhibition](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pokmon-crafts-exhibition.md) - [Mixed-Reality Theme Parks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mixedreality-theme-park.md) - [AR-Based Video Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/graffity.md) - [AR-Powered Cereal Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/journey-to-the-magic-gems.md) - [Augmented Reality Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ar-store.md)