What is Pokémon? 101

What is Pokémon?

The Pokémon world is a place where people and Pokémon live side by side. The series started with just 151 Pokémon back in Red and Blue, but now there are over 1,000 species, many inspired by real animals or myths. Players step into the role of a Trainer, setting out to explore, catch Pokémon, and complete their Pokédex.

Pokémon are caught with Poké Balls and can be used in battles against wild Pokémon or other Trainers. The battles are kept lighthearted—Pokémon don’t die, they just faint and can be healed up at a Pokémon Center.

As Pokémon battle, they earn experience points that help them level up, get stronger, and learn new moves. Many can also evolve into new, more powerful forms, either by reaching a certain level, using special items, or trading with another Trainer. This growth system makes catching, training, and battling Pokémon the heart of the adventure.

How did it start?

Pokémon’s origins trace back to Satoshi Tajiri, who grew up in Machida, Japan. As a child, he loved exploring nature, catching insects and small creatures around his hometown. When urban development destroyed much of that natural environment, Tajiri turned to video games, sparking a lifelong fascination. While studying electrical engineering, he launched a self-published gaming magazine called Game Freak in 1983, which stood out as one of Japan’s first video game–focused publications. Soon after, illustrator Ken Sugimori joined him, helping transform Game Freak from a magazine into a development group.

At the same time, Tajiri’s work in the industry connected him with Tsunekazu Ishihara, a producer and gaming expert with deep ties across Japan’s video game scene. Ishihara was known for his wide network, encyclopedic knowledge of games, and early work on gaming television shows and card games. His influence and connections later proved crucial in bringing Pokémon from concept to reality.

In 1986, Tajiri, Sugimori, and other enthusiasts began working under the Game Freak name as an informal development team. Without full-time resources, they developed the puzzle game Quinty in their spare time, later released by Namco in 1989. That same year, Tajiri officially incorporated Game Freak Co., Ltd., laying the foundation for the company that would go on to create one of the most successful franchises in gaming history.

Red & Green - Feb. 27, 1996

Satoshi Tajiri first imagined Pokémon while finishing Quinty and learning about the Game Boy’s link cable. Inspired by his childhood bug-catching, his love of capsule toys, and an experience trading rare items in Dragon Quest II, he envisioned a game where players could capture, collect, and trade creatures. Originally called Capsule Monsters, the project was renamed Pocket Monsters after trademark issues, eventually shortened to Pokémon.

Through his friendship with Tsunekazu Ishihara, Tajiri pitched the idea at Ape, Inc., where Nintendo executives quickly backed it. Development began in 1990, with Tajiri directing, Sugimori handling designs, and Masuda composing music. Progress was slow due to Game Freak’s limited RPG experience, and the project was paused multiple times. Over the years, new staff like Atsuko Nishida (creator of Pikachu) joined, Ishihara suggested features like types and the Pokédex, and Shigeru Miyamoto advised using different colored versions to encourage trading.

By late 1995, development was complete, and Pokémon’s ownership was divided among Game Freak, Creatures, and Nintendo—an unusual structure in gaming. The first games, Pocket Monsters Red and Green, released on February 27, 1996, in Japan after delays. Though modest at launch, these games became the foundation of one of the most successful franchises in the world.

Blue - Special Release

After Pokémon Red and Green released, Game Freak kept testing the games to fix bugs and train new staff, even having trainees design new sprites. This work led to Pokémon Blue, which was originally just a small, handmade edition intended as a gift for a few dozen people. When producer Masakazu Kubo pushed for a wider release, Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi agreed on a compromise: Blue would be sold only by mail order as a limited edition to celebrate one million sales of Red and Green. The response far exceeded expectations, with demand more than doubling the planned 300,000 copies.

TCG - October 1996

The Pokémon Trading Card Game, inspired by Magic: The Gathering, was created by Ishihara and former Ape staff in 1995 and distributed by Media Factory after Nintendo declined to handle sales. First announced in CoroCoro with promo cards of Jigglypuff and Pikachu, it launched in October 1996 with booster packs. Despite little media coverage, it quickly became a massive hit, with 87 million cards shipped by March 1997 and nearly 500 million produced in Japan by March 1998, boosted further by the success of the Pokémon anime.

The Anime - April 1, 1997

By 1996, producer Kubo pushed for a Pokémon anime despite Nintendo’s initial reluctance and Ishihara’s concerns about overexposure. Backed by his track record and promising a long run, Kubo secured approval, with OLM’s Kunihiko Yuyama as director and ShoPro handling production. A council including Ishihara, Sugimori, Tajiri, and Yoshikawa ensured the show stayed true to the games while broadening its appeal. Pikachu was chosen as the mascot to attract both boys and girls, voiced by Ikue Otani using expressive “Pikachu talk.” The anime debuted on April 1, 1997, quickly becoming TV Tokyo’s top-rated program, expanding Pokémon’s audience, and solidifying Pikachu as the franchise’s icon, later inspiring Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition.

North America Expansion (aka American kids hate Pokémon) - September 7, 1998

When Pokémon was first considered for release in North America, many at Nintendo of America doubted it would succeed. RPGs weren’t popular with American kids in the mid-90s, and executives thought the games looked “too cute” to compete with sports and action titles. But Minoru Arakawa, Nintendo of America’s president, believed in its potential. He partnered with Alfred Kahn of 4Kids Entertainment, who secured the rights to both the anime and merchandise. Kahn pushed for heavy localization, even shortening the name to “Pokémon” with the accented é, and helped create the now-famous slogan “Gotta catch ’em all!”

Despite negative market studies, Nintendo poured more than $50 million into an aggressive launch. The anime aired in the U.S. on September 7, 1998, followed closely by the release of Pokémon Red and Blue, and then the Trading Card Game, localized by Wizards of the Coast, in early 1999. Together, this synchronized rollout of TV, games, and cards didn’t just introduce Pokémon to North America — it created a cultural phenomenon.

Pokémania - 1999-2000

By late 1998, Pokémon had taken North America by storm. Red and Blue sold 200,000 copies in their first month, and the anime quickly became the top-rated kids’ show. A bidding war for TV rights ended with Warner Bros., who launched the series on Kids’ WB in February 1999. The premiere set records, and in Europe the show was just as big, with channels seeing their ratings skyrocket.

At the same time, the Trading Card Game created a frenzy. By early 1999, hundreds of millions of cards had been shipped, but demand was so high that stores sold out almost instantly. Kids everywhere were caught up in what the media dubbed “Pokémania,” collecting, trading, and battling at school and at home.

The craze reached its peak in November 1999 with the release of Pokémon: The First Movie. Despite mixed reviews, it was a box office hit and fueled by a massive Burger King promotion. Finally, when Pokémon Gold and Silver launched in 2000, the series proved it wasn’t just a fad—it was here to stay.