Homecoming isn't trying to save the world or catch them all, it's just watching people and Pokémon walk back through their front doors. The festival warmth that follows is the entire point. This is what the series forgot it could do: make you miss something you never had to leave.

As the festival season arrives, people make their way home with their Pokémon at their side. Once there, humans and Pokémon mark the holiday together in warm, gentle scenes. The special focuses on intimate moments rather than grand adventure. Made by the Chinese studio HMCH Anime Studio, this single-episode Pokémon short blends fantasy with slice of life. It was released online in mainland China on February 2, 2024, on Weibo, Douyin and Bilibili, to celebrate Chinese New Year.