Pokémon Smile

Lore & Background

Pokémon Smile was developed by staff from both The Pokémon Company and educational company LITALICO using the Unity engine. LITALICO had previously developed the toothbrushing game Brushing Brave, which received positive responses. LITALICO reached out to The Pokémon Company to add the Pokémon franchise to its gameplay. The game was developed with the intention of teaching children to brush their teeth through the Pokémon medium, and the development team elected not to include in-app purchases, making the game free to play. The game's sticker mechanics were proposed by artist Kanahei, who also drew the Pokémon in a unique art style. Sound was done by former Capcom employee Reo Uratani, who primarily implemented instruments familiar to younger children. Takashi Maeda, CEO of NASU Co., Ltd, aided in developing the game's visual elements and designed the menus to be accessible even to those unfamiliar with video game menus. Development began in July 2019 and proceeded quickly due to LITALICO already having developed the game engine used.

Reader's Guide

Pokémon Smile received primarily positive reviews from critics, who found the game entertaining, though some felt it lacked significant content or was too difficult. The game uses augmented reality to place bacteria in the player's mouth that hold Pokémon captive; brushing rescues the Pokémon and allows the player to attempt to catch them. The time spent brushing can be set between one and three minutes, and the game can notify users up to three times daily to remind them to brush. The game's difficulty adjusts based on the age inputted by the player, and multiple save files allow multiple people to play on the same device. The game received over half a million downloads in the months following release. It later collaborated with the Xylitol Ramune candy brand, with Pokémon in the game's art style appearing on packaging. Lotte produced dispensers for the Smile-themed Xylitol candy. An educational picture book titled 'Rub and Play! Pokémon Brush' was released. To coincide with Dental and Oral Health Week in Japan, events were held in Tokoname and Yao, Osaka, where the game was used to encourage children to brush their teeth. In Yao, students could fill out a coloring book for each good brushing session, exchangeable for a Smile-themed toothbrush at dental appointments. A similar collaboration was held in Fukuoka.

Did You Know?

• The game received its first major update in November 2021, adding new hats and four new Pokémon.
• The game's soundtrack gets progressively more upgrades as the player captures more Pokémon.