Pokémon Through the Ages: How Japan Created a Worldwide Phenomenon

With a lifetime revenue of nearly $100 billion, the Pokémon franchise is Japan’s greatest contribution to modern entertainment. However, most consumers don’t know about its humble beginnings and how it was inspired by a child’s fascination with insects.

This post aims to trace Pokémon history and evolution from its origins in the late 1990s to its present status as the biggest media franchise in the world. Enjoy!

The Origins of Pokémon: How It All Began

The Pokémon franchise we know today consists of video games, movies, anime, trading card games, manga, and even books. However, it started off as a Japanese video game created by Satoshi Tajiri and published on February 27, 1996.

Tajiri had a childhood fascination with collecting insects and small animals. He used to discover them in the local ponds and grasslands of his hometown, Machida, a city in western Tokyo. Due to urban expansion, Machida’s green fields no longer exist, and Tajiri claims inventing Pokémon was an attempt to recover the world he lost.

Tajiri and his video game development company, Game Freak, started developing Pokémon soon after the release of Nintendo’s Game Boy console in 1989. The concept was to create a video game that revolved around capturing rare creatures and digitally exchanging them with other players in real life. At the time, the newly released Game Link Cable of the Game Boy portable console gave the team the platform to make their concept a reality. According to Tajiri, several media products inspired Pokémon, including the following:

• Ultraseven: a live-action TV show about science fiction.

• Ultraman Menko: a trading card game with themes related to the Ultra Series.

• The Final Fantasy Legend: the first role-playing video game released for the Game Boy system.

• Gachapon: small vending machine-dispensed capsules containing toys.

The new game was originally named Capsule Monsters (or Capumon), but was later renamed Pocket Monsters (or Pokemon) due to trademark complications. Below are some of the core members of the original development team:

• Satoshi Tajiri (Director): Pokemon was his brainchild, and he oversaw the entire project.

• Tsunekazu Ishihara (Producer): He was responsible for budget allocation and staff management.

• Ken Sugimori (Designer): He was responsible for designing the in-game graphics and characters.

• Junichi Masuda (Composer): He created the in-game sounds, including music and effects.

Although they continued working on its development, the game remained unfinished for nearly five years. It was eventually completed in December 1995, a few months before it was published in February 1996. The new game was titled Pocket Monsters Red and Green. 

Who Made Pokémon? The Companies Behind the Franchise

Although Game Freak is Pokémon’s main developer, there were other companies involved in bringing the franchise to life. In fact, the game is owned by three different entities—Game Freak, Nintendo, and Creatures Inc. While this ownership structure may appear unusual, it makes perfect sense when you consider the game’s original development.

Game Freak are the developers, but Nintendo is responsible for publishing Pokémon games exclusively on their consoles. As for Creatures, the company was founded by producer Tsunekazu Ishihara, and since he helped create the game, Creatures was assigned his ownership rights. Creatures is currently in charge of the Pokémon trading card game (TCG), while Game Freak focuses on the role-playing games (RPGs).

On 23 April, 1998, the three companies established a joint investment called The Pokémon Company to manage, produce, and publish all aspects of the franchise, including films and merchandise within Asia. By 2001, the franchise had gone global. Hence, The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of the venture, was formed to manage the Pokémon brand outside Asia.

The First Pokémon Game: When and How It Was Released

The first game in the Pokémon franchise was Pokémon Red and Green. On February 27, 1996, it was released in Japan exclusively on the Nintendo Game Boy. The game was a combination of two slightly different versions: Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green. It was the first of the Generation I entries in the Pokémon video game series and laid the foundation for the franchise’s success. These early Game Boy titles also set several standards that are still in the most recent versions, such as real-life regional settings, 8 Gym Badges, and the Pokédex encyclopedia. 

Other games in the first generation were Pokémon Blue, released as an update later in 1996, and Pokémon Yellow, an enhanced remake, was released in 1998. Pokémon Red and Green did not get an international release; instead, Pokémon Blue (marketed as Pokémon Red and Blue) received that privilege.

The Expansion of Pokémon: Trading Cards, Anime, and More

After the initial success of the first release, Pokémon quickly expanded beyond video games. The expansion began with the launch of The Pokémon Trading Card Game in 1996. The game had rules and standards that resembled those of the world’s first ever TCG, Magic: The Gathering. A collaboration with Japanese animation company Shogakukan Productions birthed the first Pokémon anime series in 1997. This animated adaptation did a good job sticking to the source material from the video games, and it achieved global success. The anime was the first Pokémon release to use Pikachu as the main character. In July of the same year, with the help of OLM production company, Pokémon: The First Movie was released and became the first of over two dozen animated adventure films created by the franchise.

In the late 90s, the Pokémon Company began offering licenses to other companies interested in making themed merchandise using the characters and lore of the game. Pokemon toys, plushies, dolls, gachapons, and even candy wrappings became popular among both boys and girls in Japan.

Which Pokémon Came First? The Debate Over the Original Pokémon

The question of which Pokémon was created first can have different answers depending on its context.

• The first Pokémon in the game’s design history is Rhydon, as it was the first one programmed into the video game.

• The first Pokémon, according to the serial number in the Pokédex (number 0001), is Bulbasaur.

• The first ever Pokémon, according to the in-game mythology, is Arceus, the creator of the Pokémon universe and its most powerful being. However, Arceus did not exist in the story until Generation IV.

Pokémon Goes Global: The Year It Took Over the World

After seeing incredible success in the domestic market, the stakeholders at Nintendo began to consider a launch in North America. They had their reservations about how well the RPG would translate to an American audience, and rightly so. While the Japanese video game market favored complex plots, world-building, and well-defined characters, the American market was more interested in all-out action and cutting-edge graphics, traits Pokémon did not possess at the time.

Despite the potential dangers, Nintendo of America, alongside 4Kids Entertainment, launched localized versions of the Pokémon anime series (September 7, 1998) and Pokémon Red and Blue (September 28, 1998) in the U.S. A nationwide launch of the localized TCG came much later, on January 9, 1999. In the same year, 4Kids, Nintendo, and the other stakeholders made efforts to bring Pocket Monsters to Europe. By the start of 2001, localized versions of the franchise existed in over 70 countries, including major European markets like Germany, France, the U.K., Finland, Norway, Spain, and Denmark. Pokémon had successfully become a global cultural phenomenon.

Pokémon’s Evolution: From Game Boy to Modern Consoles

Let’s trace the evolution of the main Pokémon video games over the years, from the early handheld games to more advanced titles on the Nintendo Switch.

• Game Boy (1996–1999): Generation I of the Pokémon games came at a time when Nintendo’s Game Boy was seven years old and nearly considered obsolete. Titles like Red and Green, Blue, and Yellow reignited passion for the handheld console and helped keep it relevant for a few more years.

• Game Boy Color (1999–2002): Entries like Pokémon Gold, Crystal, and Silver make up Generation II. They were released on the new colored version of the Game Boy, bringing more depth to the Pokémon world.

• Game Boy Advance (2002–2006): Generation III releases such as Pokémon Ruby, FireRed, and Emerald were created exclusively for the 32-bit handheld console. 

• Nintendo DS (2006–2013): The new foldable handheld device brought us releases in Generations IV and V. Pokémon Black and White, Diamond, and Platinum were some of the most popular games created for the console.

• Nintendo 3DS (2013–2017): With the new 3D capabilities of the Nintendo flagship console, Game Freak developed the first mainline 3D Pokémon game, X and Y. Generation VI and VII games like Pokémon Sun and Moon were also released on the new console.

• Nintendo Switch (2019-Present): The Switch is by far the most advanced Nintendo console to date. Games in Generation VIII and IX found a home on the platform. It’s responsible for many of the mainstream Pokemon games people play today, including Pokémon Sword and Shield and Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

The Pokémon Card Boom: Who Owns Pokémon Cards?

Pokémon Trading Card Game is massively popular all over the world. Developed by Creatures Inc., a member of The Pokémon Company, this product is more than a tabletop card game. With over 65 billion cards produced, it has a global collectors’ market where people buy and sell cards, packs, and more from individuals, stores, and e-commerce sites. In 2003, The Pokémon Company International established a division now known as Play! Pokémon for players to compete in tournaments.

How Old Is the Pokémon Franchise? A Legacy of Over Two Decades

Pokémon turns 29 years old in February 2025. The franchise has had a lasting impact on gaming, pop culture, and merchandise since its debut in 1996. Here are some key milestones in its history:

• 1996: Launch of Pokémon RPG and TCG.

• 1997: Release of anime TV series.

• 1998: Opening of the first Pokémon Center in Tokyo and release of the first movie.

• 2000: Formation of The Pokémon Company.

• 2016: Release of Pokémon Go, a globally successful mobile game.

• 2019: Release of the first Pokémon movie in Hollywood, Detective Pikachu.

• 2022: Launch of Pokémon Legends: Arceus for Nintendo Switch.

The Future of Pokémon: What’s Next for the Franchise?

Nintendo fans all over the world are looking forward to Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the next release in the main video game series. It is scheduled for release in 2025 and will feature on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. However, there is speculation that players with regular Switch consoles can play it as well.

To celebrate the franchise's innovation in media and merchandising, Bokksu Boutique will have an exclusive Pokemon x Le Creuset Drop starting on February 15, 2025. This package features limited edition Pokemon Le Creuset items exclusive to Japan! It also includes various Pokemon tableware and ceramics. Please note that the box is only available in limited quantities, so grab yours while supply lasts!