Pokemon

Pokemon (Japanese: ポケモン, Hepburn: Pokemon), short for Pocket Monsters (ポケットモンスター, Poketto Monsutā), is a Japanese media franchise created by Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori, and managed by The Pokemon Company, a consortium founded by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures. The franchise began in 1996 with the release of the paired video games Pokemon Red and Green for the Game Boy in Japan. It has since grown into the highest-grossing media franchise of all time, encompassing video games, trading card games, an animated television series, films, manga, toys, and merchandise.

As of 2024, the Pokemon franchise has generated over $150 billion in lifetime revenue, surpassing all other media franchises including Hello Kitty, Mickey Mouse, and Star Wars. The franchise centers on fictional creatures called "Pokemon," which humans known as Pokemon Trainers catch and train to battle each other for sport.

Overview

Concept

The core concept of Pokemon involves:

• Pokemon: Fictional creatures with various abilities, types, and characteristics
• Pokemon Trainers: Humans who capture, train, and battle Pokemon
• Poke Balls: Devices used to capture and store Pokemon
• Pokemon Battles: Competitions between Trainers using their Pokemon
• Pokemon League: Official competitive structure with Gym Leaders and Elite Four

Franchise Statistics

History

Origins (1989-1996)

The Pokemon concept originated from Satoshi Tajiri's childhood hobby of collecting insects. Tajiri, who grew up in suburban Tokyo, noticed that as urbanization reduced natural habitats, children had fewer opportunities to experience the joy of collecting creatures. He sought to recreate this experience through video games.

Development Timeline

Generation I (1996-1999)

The first generation established the foundational 151 Pokemon and core gameplay mechanics:

• February 27, 1996: Pokemon Red and Green released in Japan
• October 1996: Pokemon Blue released in Japan (enhanced version)
• April 1997: Pokemon anime begins airing
• September 1998: Pokemon Red and Blue released in North America
• October 1998: Pokemon Trading Card Game launches in US
• 1999: Pokemon Yellow released worldwide

Subsequent Generations

Pokemon Creatures

Definition

Pokemon are fictional creatures that inhabit the Pokemon world. They possess supernatural abilities and come in a vast array of forms, from small rodents to legendary dragons. Pokemon can be captured by Trainers using Poke Balls and trained for various purposes, primarily battling.

Types

Pokemon are categorized into 18 different types, each with strengths and weaknesses against other types:

Notable Pokemon

Starter Pokemon

Each mainline game offers three starter Pokemon representing Fire, Water, and Grass types:

Legendary Pokemon

Legendary Pokemon are rare, powerful creatures central to each game's narrative:

• Mewtwo: Genetically engineered Pokemon created from Mew's DNA
• Lugia: Guardian of the seas
• Ho-Oh: Guardian of the skies
• Rayquaza: Sky High Pokemon that quells Groudon and Kyogre
• Arceus: The "Original One" said to have created the Pokemon universe

Iconic Pokemon

• Pikachu: The franchise mascot, an Electric-type mouse Pokemon
• Charizard: A powerful Fire/Flying-type dragon-like Pokemon
• Mewtwo: A Psychic-type legendary Pokemon
• Eevee: Known for its multiple evolution possibilities

Video Games

Main Series

The core Pokemon video games are role-playing games (RPGs) developed by Game Freak:

Gameplay Elements

1. Exploration: Travel through regions, discovering new areas
2. Capture: Catch wild Pokemon using Poke Balls
3. Training: Level up Pokemon through battles
4. Gym Battles: Defeat eight Gym Leaders to earn badges
5. Pokemon League: Challenge the Elite Four and Champion
6. Completion: Fill the Pokedex by catching all Pokemon

Main Series Games

Spin-Off Games

Pokemon GO

Released in July 2016, Pokemon GO became a global phenomenon:

• Downloads: Over 1 billion
• Revenue: Over $6 billion lifetime
• Active Users: 150+ million monthly (peak)
• Technology: Uses GPS and augmented reality

Trading Card Game

Overview

The Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) launched in Japan in October 1996 and internationally in 1999. It has become one of the most popular trading card games worldwide.

Card Types

Statistics

• Cards Printed: 52.9+ billion (as of 2023)
• Unique Cards: 15,000+ different cards
• Active Players: Millions worldwide
• Tournament Prize Pools: Hundreds of thousands annually

Competitive Play

The Pokemon TCG has an official competitive circuit:

• Pokemon League: Local organized play
• Regional Championships: Larger competitive events
• International Championships: Continental-level competition
• World Championships: Annual global tournament

Anime and Films

Television Series

The Pokemon anime began airing on April 1, 1997, in Japan. It follows Ash Ketchum (Satoshi in Japan) and his partner Pikachu on their journey to become Pokemon Masters.

Series Breakdown

Films

Pokemon has produced numerous theatrical films:

Regions

Pokemon games take place in various regions, each based on real-world locations:

Game Mechanics

Core Mechanics

• Stats: HP, Attack, Defense, Sp. Attack, Sp. Defense, Speed
• Natures: Affect stat growth
• Abilities: Passive effects in battle
• EVs and IVs: Hidden values affecting stats
• Type Effectiveness: Damage multipliers

Evolution

Pokemon can evolve into stronger forms through various methods:

Battle System

Pokemon battles are turn-based:

1. Each Pokemon can know up to 4 moves
2. Moves have type, power, accuracy, and PP (Power Points)
3. Type matchups determine damage effectiveness
4. Status conditions affect battle performance
5. Weather and terrain can influence battles

Competitive Pokemon

Official Formats

VGC Rules

• Double battles (2v2)
• Bring 6, choose 4
• Level 50 scaling
• Item clause (no duplicate items)
• Species clause (no duplicate Pokemon)
• Restricted legends vary by season

Smogon Tiers

The fan-organized Smogon community created competitive tiers:

Cultural Impact

Worldwide Phenomenon

Pokemon has had significant cultural influence:

• Pokemon Fever: The late 1990s saw massive Pokemon popularity
• Pikachu Parades: Annual parades in Yokohama featuring thousands of Pikachus
• Pokemon Centers: Official retail stores in Japan and internationally
• Pokemon Day: February 27 celebrates the franchise anniversary

Controversies

• 1997 Seizure Incident: Episode "Electric Soldier Porygon" caused seizures in Japanese viewers
• Religious Concerns: Some religious groups criticized Pokemon
• Pokemon GO Safety: Accidents related to distracted playing

Academic Study

Pokemon has been studied for:

• Educational applications
• Memory and cognitive development
• Cultural globalization
• Media franchise strategies

The Pokemon Company

Structure

The Pokemon Company (株式会社ポケモン) manages the franchise:

• Founded: April 23, 1998
• Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
• Parent Companies: Nintendo (32%), Creatures (32%), Game Freak (32%)
• Employees: 400+ (as of 2023)

Subsidiaries

• The Pokemon Company International (USA)
• Pokemon Korea
• Pokemon Shanghai

Browse Pokemon Content

By Category

• Pokemon Species Index
• Pokemon Types
• Pokemon Games
• Pokemon Regions
• Game Mechanics

Featured Species

• Pikachu - The franchise mascot
• Charizard - Fan-favorite Fire/Flying type
• Mewtwo - Legendary Psychic type
• Eevee - The Evolution Pokemon
• Bulbasaur - First Pokemon in the Pokedex
• Gengar - Popular Ghost/Poison type
• Lucario - Aura Pokemon
• Greninja - Popular Water/Dark starter

See Also

• Artificial Intelligence
• The Internet