everyone's gotta catch 'em all

Undeniably, a major Japanese export of the 90's was Pokémon, also known as Pocket Monsters. Originally a role-playing video game (RPG) for the Nintendo Game Boy system about the capture and release of cute animal-like creatures, the media franchise expanded into a subsequent anime television series, card game, spin-off video games, and films. Pokémon has thusly become the most successful video game-based franchise, second only to the Mario Brothers. Pokémon’s Japanese origins did not limit its international appeal. Within years after its release, Pokémon boasted a massive international following, and has since then become a pop culture icon.
Pokemon was created in 1996 by Satoshi Tajiri, a socially awkward (he was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome) video game developer at Nintendo. He pitched the idea to Nintendo, who could not quite fully understand his concept, however, supported his idea based on his previous work at Nintendo. The first two Pokémon games took 6 years to complete, and nearly ran his company, Game Freak, into bankruptcy. Tajiri did not take a paycheck during the developmental years, and lived off his father’s salary. But of course, the sacrifice paid off after the games were released. The initial reaction towards Pokémon was slow, and small, until interest in the game’s secret characters shot it into Nintendo’s bestsellers list. The Pokémon video games brought back to popularity the Game Boy system as well as revived Nintendo’s wavering video game sales.
Pokémon, has since then, become a cultural icon and has been repeatedly referenced in competing animated shows like South Park and the Simpsons. Most prominently, Pikachu, and often times his human companion, Ash Ketchum (or Satoshi in Japan), have become the face of the franchise. Despite its widespread popularity in Japan, Tajiri believes that Americans had come to embrace Pokémon the way he had intended it. In a Timeasia interview in 1999, Tajiri suggests “Americans actually understand the concept of Pokémon better than the Japanese. The Japanese focus on Pikachu, but what I think is important is the human aspect--you need Ash.” Pokémon’s appeal comes from its role-playing aspect. The player becomes immersed into a world that they can explore and develop. Players can form a “bond” and relationship with their Pokémon, and share it with others who are also involved in the game. The television series, films and playing the card game supplement the expansive world of Pokémon, and draws others into the world through various mediums.

Growing up, I have fond memories of collecting and trading Pokémon cards, as well as dragging my fatigued body towards the television every Saturday morning to watch new episodes of the animated Pokémon cartoon. I know that thousands of children around the United States shared the same exact routine, but it was a small price to pay to watch Ash and Pikachu embark on their journeys. Pokémon was able to transcend cultural boundaries and become extremely appealing to children and adults throughout the globe looking to get their own Pikachus, Squirtles and Charmanders all in the hopes of being a part of this different world.