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The history of Pokémon and the mark it left on pop culture (including the Pokémon Showdown simulator, mega-stars Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, popular Pokémon cards, Pokémon porn (huh?) and much more).

Pokemon red game 1996

Pokémon has undoubtedly left its mark on pop culture. The Pokémon Showdown simulator became one of the top destinations on the Internet. The Pokémon Scarlet and Violet video game was a smash hit as the first Pokémon RPG. Pokémon cards became an iconic fad in the 1990s. Even Pokémon “porn” is a thing. Two different Pikachu balloons in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, an appearance on the cover of Time magazine, Pokémon jets operated by All Nippon Airways, thousands of merchandise items, and a theme park in Nagoya, Japan, all attest to the impact the cute little monster characters had on our culture.

During the 1990s, Pokémon movies, games, and trading cards exploded in popularity, with millions of games sold throughout Japan and the United States.  As the franchise expanded and demand exceeded supply, Pokémon trading cards were introduced, which set off a trading craze throughout playgrounds all around the country.  Children bartered and traded to collect the most powerful and sought-after trading cards. And it all began with a child who love collecting bugs.

Satoshi introduces the Pokémon game

Satoshi Tajiri (born August 28, 1965) was a small child in Japan who had a peculiar interest in catching and collecting bugs. Tajiri’s passion for bugs never dwindled, and he often spent his free time catching and studying different varieties of insects, which he noted in a notebook he carried everywhere. As he grew older, Tajiri started to wonder if he could turn his hobby into a successful game. He imagined a game that would involve catching and collecting creatures.

Shigeru Miyamoto

Tajiri eventually founded the company, Game Freak, to bring his vision to life. He and his team began designing a game called “Capsule Monsters” for the new Gameboy platform. They poured their hearts and souls into the project, but when they pitched it to Nintendo, they were met with rejection. Nintendo saw no potential in the game, and Tajiri’s dream of creating a successful game seemed to be slipping away.

Tajiri continued to refine the game, making it better with each iteration. Finally, after several failed attempts, Nintendo agreed to fund the project. Six years were spent developing the “Capsule Monsters” game. To make the game easier to market to a global market, the game name was changed to “Pocket Monsters.” It became a worldwide sensation.

In the United States, the product name was shortened to “Pokémon,” and the game quickly became a phenomenon. Kids and adults alike were captivated by the game’s unique concept, and it became a pop culture sensation. Pokémon merchandise flooded the market, and the franchise became one of the most successful in gaming history.

Pokemon “generations”

Pokémon properties are divided into generations, time periods based on their release date. Every few years, a new sequel to the original 1996 Pokémon Red and Green video games is released, featuring new characters, gameplay concepts, and Pokémon. This marks the start of a new generation for the franchise. All main Pokémon video games, spin-offs, anime, manga, and trading card games are updated with the latest Pokémon properties with the start of each new generation. At the time of this writing, there were nine distinct Pokemon generations spanning 1996 through 2023.

Pokemon Generation I – 1996-1999 (Kanto region)

Pokemon Red and Green

The first Pokémon games, Pokemon Red and Pokemon Green, were released for the Nintendo Game Boy system in Japan on February 27, 1996. This corresponds to the first Pokemon “generation”. The first Pokemon game allowed players to catch, train, and trade 151 unique creatures, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Players were tasked with becoming a Pokémon Master, a title that could only be achieved by mastering the game’s mechanics and defeating all opponents.

The success of Pokémon Red and Green games (later remade as Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen for the Game Boy Advance in 2004) was undeniable, and it quickly became clear that the game had tapped into something special. Fans clamored for more, and Nintendo answered their call with Pokémon Blue, a re-release of Pokemon Green that appeared in North America in 1998. This new version boasted improved graphics and sound, making it an even more immersive experience. Players could now explore the game’s vast world with greater detail and depth, discovering new challenges and rewards along the way.

Pokemon Red and Green Gameplay HowTo

A Nintendo Game Boy was required to play the original Pokemon Red and Green games. Today the game can be played on game emulators, software systems that replicate the original Game Boy hardware. The Pokemon Red/Green game is set in the Kanto region, a fictional region based on the real-life Kanto region of Japan. In the game, you play as a young trainer who sets out on a journey to become the best Pokemon trainer in the world. Your character is the main protagonist of the game, while your rival is your main antagonist. You will compete against your rival throughout the game, battling each other to see who is the stronger trainer.

The first time the game is played, you will be introduced to the world of Pokemon and given your first Pokemon. You can choose between Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle. Each of these Pokemon has its own strengths and weaknesses.

PokemonStrengthsWeaknesses
BulbasaurGrass type attacks are strong against Water, Ground, and Rock types.Weaknesses include Flying, Poison, Bug, Fire, and Ice type attacks.
CharmanderFire type attacks are strong against Grass, Ice, Bug, and Steel types.Weaknesses include Water, Ground, and Rock type attacks.
SquirtleWater type attacks are strong against Fire, Ground, and Rock types.Weaknesses include Grass, Electric, and Poison type attacks.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle

From there, you will travel throughout the region, battling other trainers and capturing new Pokemon to add to your team. There are 151 different Pokemon to catch in the game, each with its own unique abilities and characteristics. To catch a Pokemon, you will need to weaken it in battle first and then use a Poke Ball to capture it.

As you progress through the game, you will earn badges from gym leaders. Gym leaders are powerful trainers who specialize in a particular type of Pokemon, such as water or electric. To earn a badge, you will need to defeat the gym leader in a battle. The Elite Four are the most powerful trainers in the game, and you will need to defeat them all to become the Pokemon Champion.

Along the way, you will also encounter Team Rocket, a group of villains who are trying to capture rare and powerful Pokemon for their own nefarious purposes. Team Rocket is led by Giovanni, a powerful trainer who is also the gym leader of Viridian City. You will need to defeat Team Rocket and stop them from carrying out their evil plans.

To win in Pokemon Red and Green, you must train your Pokemon, learn their strengths and weaknesses, and develop a winning strategy for battles. You will also need to manage your resources, such as Poke Balls and healing items, and explore the world to find new Pokemon and items.

The Pokémon franchise expands to include trading cards

1996 First Edition 10Pcs Diy Pokemon Cards Trading Card Game Toys with Flash

After the release of the Gameboy video games, a Pokémon Trading Card Game was developed by Media Factory with its own set of rules. The first set of cards was released on October 20th, 1996.  The set contained 102 cards.

The Pokeman trading card game allowed players to collect and trade cards featuring their favorite Pokémon characters. Each card featured a different Pokémon character and had its own unique abilities. Players use these abilities to battle against each other.

As the game grew in popularity, more sets were released, with new Pokémon and new rules. Players could trade cards with each other, and some cards became rare and highly sought after.

Card NameEstimated Value (USD)
Pikachu Illustrator (given out to winners of a Japanese illustration contest)$300,000
1999 First Edition Shadowless Holographic Charizard$12,000
1999 First Edition Shadowless Holographic Blastoise$8,000
1999 First Edition Shadowless Holographic Venusaur$6,000
Shining Charizard$4,500
2005 Gold Star Espeon$3,500
1997 Trophy Pikachu Trainer No. 1$2,000
2006 World Championships Promo Card$1,500
2007 Tropical Wind$1,000
1999 Pokemon Japanese Promo Tropical Mega Battle No. 1 Trainer$10,000
Most Valuable Pokemon Cards

Pokemon expands into merchandise – and TV

After the release of Pokemon trading cards, the popularity of Pokémon exploded, captivating fans of all ages and prompting the creation of an extensive range of merchandise. Toys, comic books, lunch boxes, bedspreads, t-shirts, and books were developed and sold in retail stores all over the country.

In Japan, the Pokémon TV series was introduced, with fans eagerly following the adventures of Ash Ketchum and Pikachu. However, on December 16, 1997, controversy arose after the airing of one of the episodes. The show featured flashing blue and green lights, which triggered epileptic fits in around seven hundred people, making them sick. As a result, the show was immediately suspended, and a thorough investigation was launched to determine the cause of the incident.

After several months of investigation, the show returned to the airwaves in April of the following year, with measures in place to prevent any further incidents.

Pokemon manga, anime, stores and more

The franchise also won many manga interpretations, starting with Pokémon Pocket Monsters by Kosaku Anakubo, which was first collected and published in November 1996 by Shogakukan. This was mainly a gag manga, using crude humor and slapstick, starring a Trainer named Red and his rude Clefairy pink Pokemon.

The franchise’s popularity also led to an anime series that premiered in Japan on April 1, 1997. The main character was a young Pokémon Trainer named Satoshi (after Satoshi Tajiri, later dubbed in English to Ash Ketchum), based on Red. Another character introduced in the first episode was Satoshi’s rival, Shigeru (after Shigeru Miyamoto, later dubbed in English to Gary Oak), based on Blue.

The anime was a hit and soon a manga series based on it was released – The Electric Tale of Pikachu was written by Toshihiro Ono. The first volume of the series was first published on October 28, 1997. Pokémon Adventures was published in the West with the first volume being published in Japan on August 8, 1997. It was one of the most successful Pokémon manga, with 150,000 copies sold worldwide. It is also the longest-running manga in Pokémon history based. Several other manga series were published in that era, including Pokémon Zensho and Miho Asada’s Pokémon Gotta Catch ‘Em All.

In addition to these manga series, Shogakukan also published the first volume of Pokémon Wonderland, a magazine with the latest information on the franchise, on August 23, 1997. They also released a new manga series targeting girls named Pokémon PiPiPi ★ Adventures (later translated to Magical Pokémon Journey), authored by Yumi Tsukirino.

On April 25, 1998, the first Pokémon Center store was opened in Tokyo, specializing in Pokémon merchandise. It was at this time that the Pokémon Company was established through a joint investment by the three companies holding the copyright of Pokémon: Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures.

Pokemon sees success in America

Pokémon’s success in Japan led to its release overseas. Before the games were released in North America, the localization team tried to alter the Pokémon designs out of fear that they were too “soft” and would not appeal to Western gamers. However, the proposal was rejected and the characters remained pretty much unchanged.

North America received Red and Blue Versions, as well as the anime, in September 1998. The Trading Card Game was also introduced to North America on January 9, 1999, by Wizards of the Coast. The Electric Tale of Pikachu became the first Pokémon manga to be translated into English when VIZ Media started publishing it on September 28, 1999.

In Japan, a new spin-off game, Pokémon Stadium, was released for Nintendo 64 in 1998. This game featured only 42 of the full 151 Pokémon and was commercially and critically unsuccessful, though its sequel received an international release.

Meanwhile, the anime pushed the franchise to new heights. On July 18, 1998, Mewtwo Strikes Back debuted in Japanese theaters, featuring the rare Mew and Mewtwo. In the United States, where it was released on November 10, 1999, the movie even briefly held the record for the highest-grossing opening for an animated film.

The Pokemon game, Yellow Version, was released in September 1998 in Japan and October 25, 1999 in North America and Europe. Pokémon Yellow allowed Trainers to take on the role of Ash and travel through Kanto with anime-style graphics for each Pokémon and a Pikachu by their side, following the anime’s course of events.

On December 18, 1998, a Game Boy game based on the TCG (Trading Card Game) was released, later arriving in North America on April 10, 2000. It was followed, only in Japan, a year later by a sequel titled Pokémon Card GB2: Here Comes Team GR!.

The Pokémon anime and Pokémon Yellow made Pikachu the most popular and recognized creature in Pokémon history, turning it into the franchise’s mascot. Pikachu was not originally intended to be the face of the Pokemon franchise. That honor was supposed to go to Clefairy. But Pikachu’s popularity led to a small spin-off game called Hey You, Pikachu!, which was released in Japan on December 12, 1998, and in North America on November 6, 2000. Hey You, Pikachu! was a virtual-pet game that allowed players to interact verbally with Pikachu using the Nintendo 64’s Voice Recognition Unit.

After the anime defeat of Ash in the Pokémon League in January 1999, a new season in a new region called the Orange Archipelago introduced the new main character of Tracey Sketchit. During this season, a second movie, The Power of One, was produced. It was first in Japanese theaters on July 17, 1999, and in North American theaters on July 21, 2000.

A non-traditional spin-off game for Nintendo 64, Pokémon Snap, was released in Japan on March 21, 1999, and invited the player (in the role of Todd) to a Pokémon photographing mission in a place called Pokémon Island. This game was rolled out in North America on July 27, 1999.

On April 14, 1999, a spin-off pinball game for the Game Boy Color was released, called Pokémon Pinball. This game took all the mechanics of regular pinball, with some Pokémon aspects added in. Its North American release was on June 28, 1999.

A sequel to Pokémon Stadium was also eventually released in Japan on April 30, 1999. It reached North American shores on February 29, 2000, and became known there as the original Pokémon Stadium. The twist in the Stadium series from the core series was that it featured the Pokémon in 3D.

In September 2000, the anime-based puzzle game Pokémon Puzzle League was released for Nintendo 64. This game was the only Pokémon game made specifically for Western audiences and not released in Japan. However, this was not the only American-made original Pokémon material. From 2000 to 2002, an anime-based musical called Pokémon Live! was shown on stages around the world. The most memorable plot point in the musical was the revelation that Ash’s mother, Delia, used to be a friend of Giovanni when they were younger. The musical isn’t considered canon, but it sparked endless theories among fans regarding the identity of Ash’s father.

Pokemon Generation II – 1999-2002 (Johto and Kanto regions)

Pokemon Gold and Silver

On November 21, 1999, Nintendo of Japan released Gold and Silver Versions for the Game Boy Color. Trainers were invited to the land of Johto, where they could capture 100 more Pokémon. The new games improved the Pokémon gaming experience by adding new features, such as the ability for Pokémon to have different genders, a time system, and the friendship system. Shiny Pokémon also first appeared in this generation. Trainers could also revisit Kanto and face the Gym Leaders from the original games. Pokémon Gold and Silver came to North America on October 11, 2000.

The anime followed suit, and Ash and his friends also arrived at Johto in an episode that aired in Japan on October 14, 1999, and in the US on October 14, 2000. Spell of the Unown: Entei was then released to theaters on July 8, 2000, in Japan and on April 6, 2001, in North America, featuring the Legendary Entei.

A new trading card set called Neo Genesis featured Generation II Pokémon in the Trading Card Game. It was released in Japan on December 10, 1999, and in the United States on December 16, 2000.

A sequel to Pokémon Puzzle League, titled Pokémon Puzzle Challenge, was released on September 21, 2000, for the Game Boy Color in Japan. It came to North America on December 4, 2000.

On December 14, 2000, Pokémon Stadium 2 was released, bringing the Generation II Pokémon into full 3D for the first time. This game reached North America on March 25, 2001.

Pokemon Crystal

Pokémon Crystal is the third version of the core series. It was released in Japan on December 14, 2000, and on July 21, 2001, in North America. Pokémon Crystal has several notable differences from Gold and Silver. The game’s mascot is Suicune, and it is the focus of the plot. Crystal was also the first portable Pokémon game to feature animations for every Pokémon.

Trainers in Japan received the added bonus of being able to trade, battle and obtain the Legendary Pokémon Celebi wirelessly by using a cell phone to connect to the Game Boy. Trainers were also allowed, for the first time, to choose their character’s gender.

On December 30, 2000, the first full-length Pokémon anime special was released in Japan. The special was a sequel to Mewtwo Strikes Back and was called Mewtwo Returns. Later, on December 5, 2001, the DVD was released in the United States.

In June 2000, Muneo Saitō released a manga series in Japan called Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys. This manga series followed the plot of second-generation games and ended abruptly after just three volumes. Another manga series by Takashi Teshirogi called Ash & Pikachu, based on the anime’s new seasons, was published on February 26, 2001.

On July 7, 2001, Celebi: The Voice of the Forest, another anime movie, was released in Japan. The movie featured two Legendary Pokémon prominent in Pokémon Crystal: Celebi and Suicune. It was later released in North America on October 25, 2002.

The Pokémon Adventures manga caught up to the second generation on August 8, 2001, with the publication of Volume 8 in Japan. This started a new chapter called Gold, Silver & Crystal chapter (Adventures), which was much longer than previous chapters. The chapter lasted no less than seven full volumes. Also, this volume was released on the same day as two other volumes.

On December 30, 2001, Raikou received its own made-for-TV special called The Legend of Thunder! It did not feature Ash and his friends but rather new characters based on the player characters of the second generation.

On July 13, 2002, the fifth and final movie of the original series, Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias, was released in Japanese theaters. It was distributed on limited release by Miramax Films and opened in select American theaters on May 16, 2003.

Pokemon Generation III – 2002-2006 (Hoenn and Kanto regions)

Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire

On November 21, 2002, new Pokémon games, Ruby and Sapphire Versions, were released on Game Boy Advance in Japan. They were then released in North America on March 18, 2003. The games are set in the southern region of Hoenn and introduced 135 new Pokémon. New features included the introduction of Pokémon Contests, Double Battles, Pokémon Abilities and Natures for each Pokémon, and the reform of effort values and individual values. They also introduced more types of weather and two new villainous teams, Team Magma and Team Aqua. This generation was not compatible with earlier generations due to extensive changes to the system.

The anime also began a new series, Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire, which started in Japan on the same day as the release of the games. It reached North America almost a year later. This series introduced a new main character, May, based on her game counterpart. Two new movies were produced during this time: Jirachi: Wish Maker (released in Japan on July 19, 2003, and on video and DVD in North America on June 1, 2004) and Destiny Deoxys (released in Japan on July 17, 2004, and on North American television on January 22, 2005).

Around the same time as Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire, a show called Weekly Pokémon Broadcasting Station began to air weekly in Japan. It focused not on Ash, but on other characters of the anime, such as Misty, Brock, Tracey, Gary, Ritchie, Casey, and Sakura. The English dubbed version, Pokémon Chronicles, first aired in the United Kingdom in May 2005. It dubbed The Legend of Thunder! special to English along the way, three and a half years after its original Japanese airing.

Nintendo transferred the Trading Card Game license from Wizards of the Coast to itself in 2003. Its first set was released on January 31, introducing new game mechanics and a new card design. This set was released in North America on June 18, 2003.

To solve the issue of limited Pokémon storage in the expanding Pokémon world, Pokémon Box Ruby & Sapphire was released on May 30, 2003 in Japan and July 11, 2004 in North America. The game allowed Trainers to store up to 1,500 Pokémon from their Generation III games.

A small spin-off game named Pokémon Channel for GameCube was released in Japan on July 13, 2003. The game focused on a TV-broadcasting network airing a variety of Pokémon programs, with the player taking on the role of a test audience. The game also included a unique anime episode, Pichu Bros. in Party Panic. Pokémon Channel arrived in North America on December 1, 2003.

On July 28, 2003, Volume 15 of the Pokémon Adventures manga was first published, beginning another chapter that followed the third generation’s story. This was the first chapter in the series not to feature previously introduced characters. Other manga series, such as Ash & Pikachu, also moved into the RS era around the same time.

A sequel to Pokémon Pinball met the third generation in Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire for Game Boy Advance on August 1, 2003 in Japan and on August 23, 2003 in North America.

The Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga series received a third-generation sequel in Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire, the first volume of which was first released on September 25, 2003. Magical Pokémon Journey has also received a sequel in the form of Pokémon Chamo-Chamo ☆ Pretty ♪, first published on December 29, 2003.

The 3D version of Generation III arrived in the form of Pokémon Colosseum on November 21, 2003, in Japan and March 22nd, 2004, in North America on the GameCube. Unlike the Pokémon Stadium series, this game also included an RPG taking place in the desolate region of Orre. The game’s main addition to the growing Pokémon universe was Shadow Pokémon.

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen

On January 29, 2004, two new games were released in Japan: Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. They arrived in North America on September 9, 2004, and were remakes of Pokémon Red and Green, which brought the games up to Generation III standards. They also added wireless connectivity through a wireless adapter for the Game Boy Advance, and a new region called the Sevii Islands. These games also gave the event Pokémon Deoxys two additional forms, which could only be obtained by moving Deoxys to a FireRed or LeafGreen cartridge.

Pokemon Emerald

Not yet finished with the Hoenn story, Game Freak developed a third version to complement Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, Pokémon Emerald. This game was released in Japan on September 16, 2004, and in North America on May 1, 2005. Emerald featured the same wireless connectivity as FireRed and LeafGreen, as well as an updated version of Hoenn with many new features, including the Hoenn Battle Frontier, the ability to re-battle Gym Leaders, an altered plot, and animations for all Pokémon, as in Crystal.

The anime caught up with both the Generation I remakes and Emerald by having the group travel back to Kanto and face the Kanto Battle Frontier there. During this season, two more movies were produced: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (premiering in Japan on July 16, 2005) and Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea (debuting in Japanese cinemas on July 15, 2006).

On August 28, 2006, Volume 22 of the Pokémon Adventures manga was published, starting the FireRed & LeafGreen chapter, and on June 23, 2007, Volume 26 started the Emerald chapter. Another short manga series called Pokémon Battle Frontier was written by Shigekatsu Ihara, focusing on the Battle Frontier.

Pokémon Dash, a spin-off racing game, was released on December 2, 2004, in Japan and March 14, 2005, in North America for the Nintendo DS. It was the first of many Pokémon games made for this platform.

On August 4, 2005, trainers returned to Orre in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, a sequel to Pokémon Colosseum that takes place about five years later. The game was released on October 3, 2005, in North America for the Nintendo GameCube.

A spin-off puzzle game, Pokémon Trozei!, was released on October 20, 2005, in Japan and March 6, 2006, in North America. The game followed Lucy Fleetfoot as she attempts to take down the Phobos Battalion.

Starting with the TCG expansion EX Delta Species, which was released on October 28, 2005, in Japan and only three days later in the United States, a new special kind of Pokémon called Δ Delta Species was introduced. These Pokémon were found only in a few TCG expansions and were given a backstory involving a new region called Holon.

A new style of play was introduced on November 17, 2005, with Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team. These were a pair of games, one for Game Boy Advance and one for Nintendo DS, in which the player is turned into a Pokémon. The games received adaptations in the anime episode “Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters Out of the Gate!” and the manga series Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji’s Rescue Team.

On March 23, 2006, a new version of Pokémon was introduced in the form of the spin-off Nintendo DS game called Pokémon Ranger. In this game, players act as Pokémon Rangers who travel the land of Fiore with a Capture Styler instead of Poké Balls. The game was released in North America on October 30, 2006, and was promoted in the anime through various appearances of Pokémon Rangers in the main series, a special episode, and the ninth movie, as well as in a short manga series.

Pokemon’s tenth-anniversary celebration

In 2006, Pokémon celebrated its tenth anniversary, which was marked by various events, including Journey Across America. An English CD called Pokémon X – 10 Years of Pokémon was also released.

On April 29, 2006, a special episode of the anime called The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon was broadcast in the United States, which was the first episode to use The Pokémon Company International’s new voice actors (Pokémon USA at the time). This caused controversy among the Pokémon fan community. The special was eventually broadcast in Japan as streaming video from the TV Tokyo Anitele website from October 13 to October 31, 2006.

In the fall of 2006, another section of the Pokémon franchise was created in the form of the Pokémon Trading Figure Game in Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia, made by Kaiyodo. The figures later reached North America and Japan in 2007.

Pokemon Generation IV – 2006-2010 (Sinnoh, Johto, and Kanto regions)

Pokemon Diamond and Pearl

In May 2004, a new Pokémon called Munchlax was introduced as a way to reveal the existence of Generation IV, similar to how Generation III was introduced through Kecleon. Munchlax was subsequently featured in Pokémon Dash, as well as in the seventh movie and later in the main anime. Other new Pokémon such as Lucario, Bonsly, Mime Jr., and Weavile were introduced in the eighth movie, while Mantyke, Buizel, and Chatot were introduced in the ninth movie that featured Manaphy, a new Mythical Pokémon that could even be obtained in Pokémon Ranger.

Diamond and Pearl Versions were released for Nintendo DS in Japan on September 28, 2006, and in North America on April 22, 2007. These games introduced 107 new Pokémon in the new land of Sinnoh, along with a pseudo-3D rendering of the overworld, the return of the time system, visible gender differences between Pokémon, a split between physical and special moves, a new villainous team known as Team Galactic, and Pokémon Super Contests.

The Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl started in Japan and in the US at the same time as the release of the games, and introduced a new female character named Dawn, based on her game counterpart.

The first three movies in this series form a continuous trilogy. The first part of the trilogy, The Rise of Darkrai, premiered on July 14, 2007 in Japanese theaters and aired on North American televisions on February 24, 2008. The second part, Giratina and the Sky Warrior, premiered in Japan on July 19, 2008, and aired on North American televisions on February 13, 2009. The third and final movie of the trilogy, Arceus and the Jewel of Life, premiered on July 18, 2009, in Japan, and aired on Cartoon Network in the United States on November 20, 2009.

A new TCG set featuring the new Pokémon from Sinnoh was released in Japan on November 30, 2006, and in the United States on May 23, 2007.

Pokemon Platinum

On December 14, 2006, two weeks after Nintendo launched its Wii console, the fourth generation of Pokémon began with the release of Pokémon Battle Revolution in the United States on June 25, 2007.

Several manga series were written for the fourth generation. The first volume of Pocket Monsters DP, the new sequel to Pokémon Pocket Monsters and Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire, was published in Japan on January 26, 2007. One month later, on February 27, Shigekatsu Ihara’s Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure! was first published.

The paired sequels for Pokémon Mystery Dungeon for Nintendo DS were released in Japan on September 13, 2007, and in North America on April 20, 2008. An anime adaptation was also produced, and a manga series was published.

Pokémon Rangers were introduced in the fourth generation in a sequel called Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia, which was set in the new land of Almia and released in Japan on March 20, 2008, and in North America on November 10, 2008. An anime special was produced and aired on the same day as the Japanese release, and a short manga was posted as a webcomic on the Japanese Pokémon website. On March 6, 2010, another Ranger game, Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs, was released in Japan. The new game set in the region of Oblivia was followed by several anime specials.

Like Pokemon Box: Ruby and Sapphire in Generation III, a storage game titled My Pokémon Ranch was released on March 25, 2008, in Japan and on June 9, 2008, in North America.

Another manga series, Phantom Thief Pokémon 7, was collected and published on March 28, 2008. Pokémon Adventures then started its Diamond & Pearl chapter with Volume 30 on December 25, 2008, and later the Platinum chapter with Volume 38 on February 28, 2011.

The third version of Generation IV, Platinum Version, was released on September 13, 2008, in Japan and on March 22, 2009, in North America, bringing new Pokémon forms for Giratina, Shaymin, and Rotom, as well as updates similar to those found in Pokémon Emerald.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness were followed by a third version, Explorers of Sky, which was released in Japan on April 18, 2009. Explorers of Sky had additional content. Another anime adaptation was produced as well. Another set of games of the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series was also produced for WiiWare, released in Japan on August 4, 2009.

Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver

After the release of Generation III remakes of the incompatible Red and Green games from Generation I, fans of Pokémon speculated about remakes of the Generation II games, Gold and Silver, to be made for the Nintendo DS. HeartGold and SoulSilver, paired remakes, were eventually released in Japan on September 12, 2009, and in the United States on March 14, 2010. They were even referenced in the anime in an episode that featured the counterpart of the new player character and the three starter Pokémon of Johto, one of whom even joined the regular cast. A new expansion set for the TCG was also released to celebrate the new games.

The release of the games was followed by some manga series, such as a new sequel to Pokémon Pocket Monsters titled Pocket Monsters HGSS, the first volume of which was released on June 28, 2011. A new chapter of Pokémon Adventures was also released, with the first volume coming out on June 28, 2012.

On December 5, 2009, a new game for the Wii titled PokéPark Wii: Pikachu’s Adventure was released. The game was later released in North America and Europe in the spring of 2010.

Pokemon Generation V – 2010-2013 (Unova region)

Pokemon Black and White

On February 7, 2010, a new Pokémon was revealed on Pokémon Sunday: Zoroark. Generation V brought an entirely new experience to Pokémon Black and White, despite being available on the Nintendo DS platform. An unexpected move by Nintendo revealed that no old Pokémon would be available in the games until the main storyline had been completed. This gave both new and old trainers in Unova, a region based on the New York City metropolitan area, a completely fresh experience. On September 18, 2010, when the games were released in Japan, 156 new Pokémon were introduced, making this the biggest Pokémon generation yet.

Building on the innovations of Generation IV, Black and White expanded on the time system by adding seasons that influenced Pokémon distribution and the time of day. Days were longer during summer and shorter during winter. The sprite animation system introduced in Generation III was replaced, returning Pokémon sprites to a system more like that of Crystal in Generation II, but with Pokémon now moving throughout battles. Pokémon Contests were completely removed and replaced with Pokémon Musicals, in which moves and conditions have no purpose. Furthermore, Triple Battles made position and team cohesiveness important in battle.

Black and White have greater differences between the worlds of the opposite versions, similar to the differences between paired and third versions of earlier generations. For example, Opelucid City in Black is highly technological, while in White it is more laid-back and traditional. Additionally, two version-exclusive locations, Black City and White Forest, appear in the same location in their respective versions.

When Black and White were released, a new anime series called Pokémon the Series: Black & White premiered. Unlike previous generations, no Pokémon from Generation V were shown in the closing episodes of Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl. However, the thirteenth movie, Zoroark: Master of Illusions, featured Zorua and Zoroark as major characters, making them the only Generation V Pokémon featured prior to Best Wishes.

Ash’s companions in Pokémon the Series: Black & White are two Gym Leaders: Cilan and Iris. Like the games, Pokémon Journeys: The Series also had a facelift. No Pokémon from previous generations (apart from Ash’s Pikachu and Meowth from Team Rocket) are shown in the episodes. Longtime anime characters, including the protagonist Ash Ketchum, received an upgraded appearance, most notably in their eyes.

Two movies were released together as the fourteenth Pokémon movie instead of the usual one. However, the differences between the two movies are much like the differences between Black Version and White Version.

Several manga series were released based on the games, such as Pocket Monsters BW, which is a sequel to Pokémon Pocket Monsters, and Pocket Monsters BW: The Heroes of Fire and Thunder, among many others. Pokémon Adventures also jumped to the new generation, with the first volume of the Black & White chapter released on January 25, 2013.

Pokemon Black 2 and White 2

It was expected that the Black and White Pokémon games would receive a third version, like previous generations. Many people believed it would be called “Pokémon Grey Version.” However, this time there were sequels with a completely different plot.

Pokémon Black and White Versions 2 were released in Japan in June 2012 and later in North America, Europe, and Australia in October 2012. These games introduce two new forms of Kyurem, Black Kyurem (Japanese: ブラックキュレム) and White Kyurem (Japanese: ホワイトキュレム), as well as new forms of the Forces of Nature and Keldeo. The games take place two years after Black and White, and many changes have occurred in the Unova region.

After the release of the second paired versions, some manga series were released, most notably a new chapter of Pokémon Adventures which began serialization in July 2013 (although a round featuring Hugh’s backstory had been published prior to this).

Pokemon Generation VI – 2013-2016 (Kalos and Hoenn regions)

Pokemon X and Y

On January 8, 2013, Nintendo announced that new Pokémon games would be released through a special edition of Nintendo Direct called Pokémon Direct. The first games in Generation VI, Pokémon X and Y, were revealed and released worldwide on October 12, 2013. These games introduced new Pokémon and marked the series’ transition from 2D sprites to animated 3D models. They take place in a new region called Kalos, based on real-world France, and include three new Starter Pokémon: Grass Type Chespin, Fire Type Fennekin and Water Type Froakie. The concept of Mega Evolution was also introduced, along with a new type.

The anime quickly followed with a new series, Pokémon the Series: XY, where Ash Ketchum begins his journey in Lumiose City with Pikachu. His previous companions, Iris and Cilan, have left the series, and Clemont, Bonnie, and Serena join Ash as companions.

The X & Y chapter of Pokémon Adventures began serialization in October 2013. The first volume of a new series by Kosaku Anakubo, Pocket Monsters XY, was released on April 28, 2014.

Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

Pokémon fans have speculated for a long time about remakes of the Generation III games, Ruby and Sapphire, for the Nintendo 3DS. These remakes were similar to the Generation III remakes for the incompatible Generation I Red and Green games and the Generation IV remakes for the incompatible Generation II Gold and Silver games. On May 7, 2014, the paired remakes were announced worldwide on the official Pokémon websites, titled Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, and were eventually released on November 21, 2014.

Twenty years of Pokémon

In 2016, Pokémon celebrated its 20th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the original Generation I core series games were re-released on the Nintendo 3DS’s Virtual Console worldwide on February 27, 2016, which was the same date as Red and Green’s original release in Japan in 1996. Throughout the year, there were special events and rare Pokémon distributions to celebrate.

Pokémon Generation VII – 2016-2019 (Alola and Kanto regions)

Pokémon Sun and Moon

On February 27, 2016, the seventh generation of Pokémon was announced for the franchise’s 20th anniversary. The new games, Pokémon Sun and Moon, were released on November 18, 2016.

The anime series Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon followed soon after. Ash Ketchum and Pikachu, with Clemont, Bonnie, and Serena no longer present, headed to the new region of Alola. Ash became a student at the Pokémon School on Melemele Island, where he wore a new set of clothes and received a Z-Ring. He was joined by classmates Lillie, Kiawe, Mallow, Lana, and Sophocles. In the anime’s history, Ash won his first game-original Pokémon League and became the champion, a first.

The seventh generation introduced several changes to the core series, such as abandoning HM moves, replacing Gyms with island challenge trials, and introducing Legendary Pokémon that are part of an evolutionary line.

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

On June 6, 2017, during a Nintendo Direct presentation, it was announced that two new Pokémon games, Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, would be released. These games were only released on the Nintendo 3DS on November 17, 2017. They have a different story from the Sun and Moon games and include new Pokémon that were not available in the original versions.

Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee

On May 30, 2018, it was announced that Nintendo Switch would have two new games in the main Pokémon franchise, Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!, released on November 16, 2018. These two games are the first installments of the main Pokémon RPG series for the console and are based on Pokémon Yellow. The games also feature gameplay mechanics from Pokémon GO.

Pokémon Generation VIII – 2019-2022 (Galar and Sinnoh/Hisui regions)

Pokémon Sword and Shield

On February 27, 2019, the eighth generation of Pokémon was announced with the reveal of Pokémon Sword and Shield. The games were released internationally on November 15, 2019. To build excitement, fewer Pokémon were revealed before the game’s release compared to previous generations. Sword and Shield introduced new features called Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing, while getting rid of Mega Evolution and Z-Move features from earlier generations. They became the fastest-selling Nintendo Switch games, selling 6 million copies worldwide and beating out Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Instead of coming out with a separate “third version” or sequel(s) to Sword and Shield, a pair of DLCs, The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra, were introduced. These DLCs offer all-new areas, returning Pokémon, and new Legendaries.

The anime quickly followed suit with a new series, Pokémon Journeys: The Series. It takes place in all regions from Kanto to Galar and features two protagonists, Ash Ketchum and Goh, along with their partners Pokémon Pikachu and Scorbunny. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the series to go on its first extensive hiatus in over 20 years.

2021 is the 25th anniversary of Pokémon and will be celebrated with special merchandise and a music album featuring celebrity singers such as Katy Perry. These were announced in January. For more information on the anniversary and the album, please visit the Pokémon 25th Anniversary and P25 Music websites, respectively.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and Arceus

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, remakes of the Generation IV games, were announced on February 26, 2021 during that day’s Pokémon Presents. They were later released on November 19, 2021. Additionally, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, a game set in an earlier time period of Sinnoh when it was known as Hisui, was also announced during the same Pokémon Presents and released on January 28, 2022. This title is notable for its focus on catching Pokémon for research and being a purely single-player experience.

Pokémon Generation IX – 2022-present (Paldea region)

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

On February 27, 2022, the ninth generation of Pokémon was revealed with Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the first pair of mainline games to return to the classic tradition of naming versions after colors since the fifth generation. The games have two new features: players can explore the region of Paldea without being restricted to a linear path, and the Terastal phenomenon allows Pokémon to temporarily change their Type. The games sold 10 million copies in the first three days of sales, making them the fastest-selling titles in the series to date.

Unlike previous generations, the anime did not immediately debut with a new series alongside the games. On December 16, 2022, it was announced that Ash Ketchum’s story would conclude in an 11-episode miniseries starting in January 2023 after his victory at the World Coronation Series. In April 2023, a brand-new anime series will begin airing, featuring two new protagonists named Liko and Roy alongside the Paldea region starters.

Why was behind the staggering success of Pokémon?

One of the key reasons for Pokemon’s success was its unique concept. When the first Pokemon game was released in 1996, it was unlike anything else that was available at the time. The idea of collecting and battling monsters was fresh and exciting, and it captured the imagination of players around the world. This unique concept allowed Pokemon to stand out from other games and anime, and it created a strong foundation for the franchise to build upon.

Most think that the success of the Pokémon franchise was primarily due to the lengthy list of character names that could be learned by children and repeated in their group of peers. The rich fictional universe provided plenty of opportunities for discussion and demonstration of their knowledge in front of their peers. Children could pick their favorite Pokémon and affirm their individuality while at the same time affirming their conformance to the values of the group, and they could distinguish themselves from other kids by asserting what they liked and what they didn’t like from every chapter.

Pokemon criticism

Some Christians, Jews, and Muslims have criticized Pokémon. Christian concerns over Pokémon have primarily addressed perceived occult and violent themes as well as the concept of “Pokémon evolution” (which some relate to the theory of evolution), which is said to go against the Biblical creation account in Genesis, which most Japanese, not adhering to Christianity, do not believe in. The Vatican, however, has countered that the Pokémon trading card game and video games are “full of inventive imagination” and have no “harmful moral side effects.” The game continued to be popular well into the year 2010 and remains popular today.

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