Pokémon
Satoshi Tajiri was born on the 28th of August 1965 in Machida, a suburb of Tokyo. He spent his childhood collecting insects and small creatures in the ponds and fields surrounding his town. As Japan's economy boomed during its miracle years, Machida expanded rapidly, destroying much of that natural landscape. In his second year of junior high school, an arcade hall opened nearby, introducing him to video games. While studying electrical engineering at university, Tajiri began publishing a self-made magazine called Game Freak in March 1983. The title came from the 1932 film Freaks, which fascinated him. At age 17, he filled a gap in the market because no gaming magazines existed yet in Japan. His publication spread by word of mouth among fans nationwide, eventually growing subscribers and requests for game strategies.
Tajiri later befriended Tsunekazu Ishihara, a businessman who produced game-related shows for Fuji Television. In 1986, Tajiri, manga artist Ken Sugimori, and other enthusiasts formed an informal development team named Game Freak. They independently developed the puzzle game Quinty while holding regular jobs. No one knew how to make music until Tajiri contacted Junichi Masuda, who became their composer. Quinty finished in 1989 and was published by Namco. Tajiri officially incorporated Game Freak Co., Ltd. on the 26th of April 1989.
The core idea behind Pokémon emerged as Tajiri completed Quinty. He remembered playing Dragon Quest II in 1987, where a rare item called Mysterious Hat appeared randomly. He never found it, but his friend Ken Sugimori encountered two copies. This experience made Tajiri realize that the new Game Link Cable could transfer items between cartridges, not just compete. He combined this with memories of catching insects to create a virtual recreation of his lost boyhood world. The project initially bore the name Capsule Monsters before becoming Pocket Monsters due to trademark issues.
In March 1989, Nintendo and Shigesato Itoi co-founded Ape Inc. to give outside talent opportunities to pitch innovative games. Ishihara, involved with Ape's management, helped Tajiri present his idea at their Tokyo office. Takashi Kawaguchi brought the concept to Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi, who reportedly said: "This is it. This is the idea I've been waiting for." The development contract signed early in 1990 planned delivery by October. Tajiri directed while Ishihara produced, managing budget and staff. Sugimori handled graphics and character design, while Masuda created all music and sound effects.
Development stalled after 1991 when the team realized the game would be too difficult to make. They tinkered with it occasionally until summer 1994, when they decided to finish Pocket Monsters seriously. Atsuko Nishida joined as a graphic artist and designed Pikachu among other creatures. Ishihara added depth to the battle system using card game knowledge and suggested Pokémon types. He also conceived the Pokédex, an encyclopedic device to track caught Pokémon. On Shigeru Miyamoto's suggestion, two versions were released: Red and Green, each containing different Pokémon to encourage trading.
Pocket Monsters Red and Green finished in December 1995 and released on the 27th of February 1996. Media largely ignored them because the seven-year-old Game Boy was considered outdated. However, the console remained affordable and widespread among children. CoroCoro Comic magazine played a crucial role; one in four elementary school students read its main issue. Deputy editor-in-chief Kenji Kubo commissioned a manga adaptation written and illustrated by Atsuko Nishida. The May 1996 issue announced a "Legendary Pokemon Offer" where readers could win Mew through a lottery. By September, sales surpassed one million units.
Minoru Arakawa, founder of Nintendo of America, visited Japan for Shoshinkai 1996 held from 22 to the 24th of November. He first played one of the three Pokémon titles released at that time. Although he thought the games promising, Nintendo of Japan had no plans to release them elsewhere. Arakawa returned to America with cartridges but tested them on employees who doubted success. Role-playing games were unpopular outside Japan, and executives believed American children lacked attention spans for complex titles. Americans preferred sport or action games with realistic graphics.
Visually, Pokémon seemed too cute to succeed alone. Nintendo of America considered redesigning characters to look cooler, proposing graffiti-style drawings and muscular versions including a Pikachu resembling a tiger with huge breasts. Arakawa concluded it did not work since anime production had already begun in Japan. Alfred R. Kahn, CEO of US-based 4Kids Entertainment, became pivotal to global expansion. Kahn agreed to invest an undisclosed sum for both anime and licensing rights, making Pokémon one of the first Japanese franchises localized by a single non-Japanese company.
Kahn suggested using the short name "Pokémon" with an acute accent over the e to aid pronunciation. NoJ president Hiroshi Yamauchi officially approved the project in late November 1997, announcing it at Space World 1997. Three weeks later, the Dennō Senshi Porygon incident occurred, making overseas introduction seem even more difficult. Market research turned negative as American kids reportedly disliked Pokémon. Arakawa ignored the study and allocated an enormous budget estimated at $50 million or more, comparable to the original NES launch budget.
NoA and 4Kids planned an all-out effort to repeat the phenomenon in the Western world. The anime localization was directed by Norman J. Grossfeld, who sought carte blanche to change the show for the market. ShoPro agreed despite Kahn self-financing production costs that could bankrupt 4Kids if failure struck. To broadcast syndicationally, 4Kids offered the show free to local TV stations across America in exchange for advertising revenue shares. NoA assisted by persuading dozens of stations to carry the series, spending $5 million total on ad space purchases.
Despite initial reluctance from broadcasters preferring Western animation, 4Kids contracted 112 stations reaching about 85 to 90 percent of television households. Many gave off-peak slots starting at 06:00 or 06:30. Grossfeld created the slogan "Gotta catch 'em all!" which miraculously gained FCC approval despite normal prohibitions against injunctions in children's ads. The phrase was allowed because catching is central to gameplay. The theme song written by John Loeffler and John Siegler performed by Jason Paige premiered on the 7th of September 1998.
Pokémon Red Version and Blue Version released three weeks later on the 28th of September 1998 coinciding with Game Boy Color launch on the 23rd of November 1998. Wizards of the Coast localized the trading card game officially launched nationwide on the 9th of January 1999 after pre-sales in December. By December 1998, the anime became the highest-rated syndicated children's show during weekdays attracting Warner Bros. and Saban Entertainment/Fox Family Worldwide attention. A bidding war ensued won by Warner Bros., launching Pokémon on Kids' WB national block on the 13th of February 1999.
The debut episode became Kids' WB's most watched premiere ever. By April 1999, consensus emerged that Pokémon had become a phenomenon dubbed Pokémania. Journalists from Time and USA Today used the term. Severe scarcity hit Pokémon goods especially cards causing companies to miss profits. A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article published the 3rd of August 1999 cited a Toys "R" Us manager stating 600 booster packs lasted only 24 hours. One distributor CEO claimed they were thousands of boxes behind orders. Another Wizards spokeswoman told The Washington Post they exhausted most US printing capacity.
USA Today reported November 1999 that factories making Hasbro toys expanded production twenty times yet demand still exceeded supply. Nintendo saw a 250% profit increase in 1999 compared to previous year reaching six-year highs. The franchise accounted for over 30% of Nintendo revenue that year compensating losses from home console market dominance lost to Sony PlayStation. Scholars David Buckingham and Julian Sefton-Green argued later that Nintendo might have struggled to survive without Pokémon. 4Kids expanded thirtyfold in revenues becoming America's fastest-growing company named in Fortune magazine issue dated the 4th of September 2000.
Platinum version released the 28th of September 2008 in Japan and the 22nd of March 2009 in North America offering enhanced features including Wi-Fi trading capabilities globally instead of just locally. Black and White debuted the 18th of September 2010 in Japan and the 6th of March 2011 in North America as Generation V featuring over 150 new Pokémon excluding old ones to provide a leveled playing field for newcomers. Sequels Black 2 and White 2 followed the 23rd of June 2012 in Japan and the 7th of October 2012 in North America adding C-Gear real-time communication tools improving trade experiences.
Generation VI began with X and Y worldwide the 12th of October 2013 for 3DS becoming first fully three-dimensional entries allowing free camera manipulation though distant objects rendered lower polygon models due to technical limits. Producer Hitoshi Yamagami addressed 2D fans stating Game Freak developers were also big fans of traditional graphics ensuring appreciation elements remained. Horde battles replaced strong opponents helping players progress while Sky battles utilized 3D camera angles effectively.
Sun and Moon released the 18th of November 2016 worldwide for 3DS and the 23rd of November 2016 in Europe inspired by Hawaii's warm sunlight clear moonlight unique biomes supporting regional variance concepts. Director Junichi Ohmori aimed focusing on living creatures being alive treating project as celebration of life respecting origins considering Sun Moon Earth relationships influencing growth flourishing together. Legends: Arceus launched the 28th of January 2022 for Switch transitioning from traditional RPG mechanics adding real-time catching throwing Poké Balls directly rather than triggering battles landscape resembling The Legend of Zelda Breath Wild.
Scarlet and Violet arrived the 18th of November 2022 introducing entirely open-world experience departing gym mechanics elite four opting road quests instead improved multiplayer up to four traveling together DLC The Hidden Treasure Area Zero split Teal Mask 12-the 13th of September 2023 Indigo Disk the 14th of December 2023 epilogue the 11th of January 2024. Legends: Z-A scheduled release the 16th of October 2025 returning Kalos region seen X Y Mega Dimension DLC the 10th of December 2025.
Anime originally focused Ash Ketchum travels across Pokémon world partner Pikachu retired protagonists end season 25 introducing Liko Roy Horizons Rising Hope started airing the 11th of April 2025 total episodes over 1,300 across 28 seasons. Twenty-three films released including Secrets Jungle 2020 Detective Pikachu live-action film premiered 2019 sequel announced before original premiere status unknown Poketto ni Bōken o Tsumekonde drama premiered TV Tokyo the 20th of October 2023.
Unlike most intellectual properties owned by single companies Pokémon jointly belongs three entities Nintendo Game Freak Creatures. Game Freak develops core series RPGs published exclusively Nintendo consoles while Creatures manages trading card game related merchandise occasionally developing spin-off titles. Tsunekazu Ishihara founded Creatures Inc. the 8th of November 1995 housed same office building as Nintendo Tokyo co-ownership property assigned subsequently resulting legal owners Game Freak main developer Creatures representing producer Ishihara Nintendo publisher Anne Allison noted Nintendo bought property after Red Green finished Kenji Hatakeyama observed structure uncommon worldwide original rights
concentrated single company like Disney does theirs.
Tajiri and Ishihara considered merging Game Freak Creatures once but Tajiri decided against fearing erasure built since teenage years stating feeling threatened changing operations starting back Mr. Ishihara identity problem Game Freak ceased exist so would I felt more departments than different companies focusing Pokémon both. The Pokémon Company established 1998 manage property Asia subsidiary TPCi created February 2001 managing franchise regions outside Asia formed combining USA UK offices March 2003 London representative opened.
Pokémon Center Co Ltd founded the 23rd of April 1998 joint venture Nintendo Creatures Game Freak initially managed specialized merchandise stores called Pokémon Centers first location Nihonbashi Tokyo the 18th of July 1998 total 23 shops Japan existing American center New York City operated 2001 to 2005 remodeled Nintendo World renamed Nintendo New York. October 2000 TPC reformatting long-term goals releasing movie annually centralizing streamlining global management. Shogakukan Productions ShoPro co-owned anime films alongside Nintendo Creatures Game Freak forming production council four individuals usually present Ishihara Sugimori Yuyama Yoshikawa final say deciding worldview characters storyline details early meetings attended Tajiri Q&A sessions asked about universe.
Yoshikawa brought up issue whether Pokémon could talk animals making specific cries not speaking languages decided Pikachu repeatedly saying own name various intonations role given Ikue Otani tryouts voice normal Japanese Pikachu talk syllables only experienced conveying messages emotions needed. Council agreed Pokemon like animals humans understanding each other series should not speak language. Production council formed produce anime different people appeared meetings four individuals usually present Ishihara Sugimori Yuyama Yoshikawa final say deciding worldview characters general storyline important details early meetings attended Tajiri Q&A sessions asked about universe.
Time magazine described 1999-2000 Pokémon unprecedented ubiquitous fad Western world multimedia interactive barrage unlike any before it franchise primarily aimed children elicited mixed responses parents teachers some critical anthropologist Christine R. Yano claimed reactions constituted moral panic bulk criticism directed trading cards booster packs sealed packages eleven randomly inserted cards sold separately main sets varying scarcity most valuable holofoil cards shiny overlay effect rare cards found booster packs infrequently included Joseph Tobin noted rarity artificially created effectively form gambling children need repeatedly purchase booster packs get more rare cards described cynicism
adults corporations apparently out thin air ascribe value cards seen valueless deceiving vulnerable young consumers garnering excessive profits.
As popularity grew children took cards school trading playing soon alleged disrupting learning poisoning playground friendships causing distraction forgetting homework tuning class missing buses scrambling acquire one card turning playground black market swaps inciting conflicts certain engaged aggressive tricking often younger kids unfair deals forcing teachers arbitrate Some parents expressed concerns feared ostracism denying products US cards ended almost universally banned school grounds similar bans Canada Australia New Zealand European countries September 1999 Milberg filed class-action lawsuit claiming booster packs constitute lottery promote gambling kids suit believed settled.
Anime series criticized cheap Japanese animation violent Parents should not have kids anything whatsoever do because message violence little educational value Michelle Orecklin Time dismissed half-hour exercise product placement Anne Allison interviewed American parents during Pokémania finding utterly mystified few overly worried meeting craze befuddled acceptance Columbine High School massacre occurred the 20th of April 1999 causing violent television music games scrutinized compared media Pokémon tame.
Western media reported crimes associated including two stabbings burglaries robberies knifepoint shoplifting Almost incidents connected cards individuals involved underage peaked November 1999 England reached head April 2000 high prices grey market motive behind some posing great temptation older kids bullies take advantage weaker children specialty shops online auctions rare card bought sold $50 c. $ in secondary market Kabutops Japanese Mew could go as much $50.
Positive effects noted video games cards require reading memorizing calculating planning strategy encourage socialization trading negotiating skills Stephanie Strom wrote New York Times anime taught traditional Japanese values responsibility empathy cooperation obedience respect elders humility CNN quoted child psychiatrist John Lochridge worrying creators marketers deliberately set fantasy world compelling quickly become obsessed brainwashed had parents tell cannot get kids do except stuff seems really capture minds way countered psychologist William Damon Newsweek obsessing normal part child neurological development concern only dangerous excessive Dominion Post op-ed claimed anti-Pokémon sentiment particularly American backlash sound leading cultural imperialist gagging taste own medicine.
Pokémon Go mobile augmented reality game spawned second worldwide fad summer 2016 originated Google April Fools Day joke 2014 Google Maps Pokémon Challenge prank conceived Tsunekazu Ishihara Satoru Iwata initiated hoax turned actual video game developed Niantic Ishihara fan previous transreality game Ingress saw concept perfect match Pokémon through in-game purchases generated more than by end July 2016 App Annie reported around revenue every month same month Sensor Tower passed worldwide revenue beating Clash Clans Candy Crush wide margin average daily usage Android devices July exceeded Snapchat Tinder Twitter Instagram Facebook.
By the 2nd of September 2016 reached milestone $440 million worldwide revenue according Sensor Tower the 30th of September received downloads grossed 80 days market research firm Newzoo reached $600 million after 90 days fastest mobile game ever do so. Generation VIII debuted Sword Shield the 15th of November 2019 Switch designed biggest theme becoming greatest strongest expressed Dynamax Gigantamax core mechanic increasingly powerful software hardware capabilities Let's Go games research projects Switch gained valuable experiences knowledge develop Sword Shield took advantage Switch high resolution TV connectivity implement gigantic-size core Pokémon mechanic envisioned setting wide-open space constantly changing meet explore other players.
COVID-19 pandemic broke out 2020 resulting widespread ennui excessive leisure time inspired resurgence popularity interest cards further popularized YouTubers influencers Logan Paul craze resulted severe supply shortages customers inappropriate obsessive behavior raised safety concerns retail outlets values skyrocketed prompting collectors submit overwhelm grading agencies responded reprinting impacted products maximum capacity ensure price stabilization general accessibility. Legends: Arceus released the 28th of January 2022 Switch prequel Diamond Pearl represents new approach transitioning traditional RPG mechanics add real-time elements catching throwing Poké Ball real-time rather triggering battle choose latter weaken capture landscape heavily resemble Legend Zelda Breath Wild.
Generation IX introduced Scarlet Violet Switch the 18th of November 2022 first entirely open-world experience partially open previous Sword Shield departed gym mechanics elite four opt unique road quests improved multiplayer up to four travel together DLC Hidden Treasure Area Zero Teal Mask 12-the 13th of September 2023 Indigo Disk the 14th of December 2023 epilogue the 11th of January 2024. Legends Z-A release the 16th of October 2025 Switch Switch 2 part Generation IX successor Legends Arceus returns Kalos region seen X Y Mega Dimension DLC the 10th of December 2025 official logo 30th anniversary unveiled social media accounts new year 2026 January 2026 Lego announced first Pokémon sets preorder the 27th of February 2026 massive $650 set sold quickly resold eBay before official release.
Common questions
Who created the Pokémon franchise and when was Satoshi Tajiri born?
Satoshi Tajiri created the Pokémon franchise. He was born on the 28th of August 1965 in Machida, a suburb of Tokyo.
When did Pocket Monsters Red and Green release and what role did CoroCoro Comic play?
Pocket Monsters Red and Green released on the 27th of February 1996. CoroCoro Comic magazine played a crucial role by reaching one in four elementary school students and announcing a Legendary Pokemon Offer where readers could win Mew through a lottery.
How did Nintendo of America decide to localize Pokémon despite initial negative market research?
Minoru Arakawa allocated an enormous budget estimated at $50 million or more after ignoring negative market research that claimed American children lacked attention spans for complex titles. Alfred R. Kahn invested an undisclosed sum for anime and licensing rights making Pokémon one of the first Japanese franchises localized by a single non-Japanese company.
What date did the Pokémon anime premiere in the United States and which network aired it?
The theme song premiered on the 7th of September 1998. The series launched on Kids' WB national block on the 13th of February 1999 after winning a bidding war against Warner Bros and Saban Entertainment/Fox Family Worldwide.
Which three entities jointly own the intellectual property rights to Pokémon today?
Pokémon jointly belongs to three entities: Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures. Game Freak develops core series RPGs published exclusively on Nintendo consoles while Creatures manages trading card game related merchandise occasionally developing spin-off titles.