In the winter of 1992, All Nippon Airways (ANA) held a contest to design one of its Boeing 747 jets. The result was Marine Jumbo, a whale-shaped airplane decorated with sea creatures and designed by Yukie Ogaki, then a 6th-grade schoolgirl.
The highly successful and much publicized design was soon followed in 1996 by another 747 painted with characters from Snoopy. This same aircraft would later on be painted over and become the Pokemon Jet of 1998, decorated with the popular Pokemon characters.
ANA Pokemon Jet International
This aircraft debuted in 1999 between Tokyo and New York and only differed slightly with the 1998 Pokemon Jet before. Plying international routes, its markings were changed from the original Japanese “全日空” to the alphabet “All Nippon Airways” and the big ANA logo painted on its tail. It was changed back to its ordinary design in 2006.
At Osaka International Airport in Osaka, Japan {Photo by Hyougushi}
At Osaka International Airport in Osaka, Japan {Photo by Hyougushi}
Big ANA logo on the tail {Photo by Hyougushi}
Fuselage showing the hugely popular Pikachu and JigglyPuff {Photo by Hyougushi}
At Osaka International Airport in Osaka, Japan {Photo by Hyougushi}
ANA Pokemon Jet 1999
In June 1999, ANA’s Boeing 747 Pokemon Jet 1999 version flew for the first time between Osaka International Airport in Itami and Tokyo International Airport in Haneda. The white and blue design featured not only Pikachu but Sea and Water Pokemon characters like Marill and Lapras.
Two Boeing 767s were later painted with the same design and still later one of these were repainted to become the Woody Jet promoting Universal Studios Japan in Osaka.
At Naha Airport in Okinawa, Japan {Photo by double-h}
At Osaka International Airport in Itami, Japan {Photo by Hyougushi}
Fuselage of Pokemon Jet 1999 showing Pikachu {Photo by buck82}
Engine showing the distinctive Monster Ball design. {Photo by Hyougushi}
Over Osaka International Airport in Osaka, Japan {Photo by Hyougushi}
ANA Pikachu Jumbo
Pikachu Jumbo flew for the first time in May 2004 between Osaka International Airport in Itami and Tokyo International Airport in Haneda. The bright yellow design featured characters Pikachu and friends from the Pokemon movie series. It Naha Airport in Okinawa, Japan, a yellow-painted towing car was even made to commemorate this Pokemon Jet.
Take-off at Tokyo International Airport in Tokyo, Japan {Photo by woinary>}
Take-off on Osaka International Airport in Itami, Japan {Photo by double-h}
At Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan {Photo by glazaro}
Tail showing Pikachu and the Pokemon logo {Photo by glazaro}
The distinctively yellow body of the Pikachu Jumbo {Photo by glazaro}
ANA Ohana Jumbo
Ohana literally means “flower” and this airplane’s blue and read design features red flowers below the cockpit, in addition to the flower-bearing Pokemon characters like Roselia, Bellosom and Skiploom. The Ohana Jumbo debuted in 2004
At Tokyo International Airport in Tokyo, Japan {Photo by 4563_pic}
Over Tokyo International Airport in Tokyo, Japan {Photo by woinary}
Blue and red Ohana Jumbo in flight {Photo by ykanazawa1999}
At Tokyo International Airport in Tokyo, Japan {Photo by 4563_pic}
Sister planes: Ohana Jumbo and Pikachu Jumbo at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Japan {Photo by Haseo}