Overview of Pokémon's History
Welcome to the history of Pokémon section. To begin, please select a section below:
Early Years/1996-1997
The history of Pokémon spans over a decade's worth of games, trading cards, toys, manga, and more. Pokémon was created by Satoshi Tajiri of Japan. He grew up near Tokyo spending his days as a child capturing insects, and working on hand written magazines as a hobby (Swider 2007). That hobby is what turned Pokémon into a reality. This page will highlight the history of Pokémon from its start as "Capsule Monsters" in 1995 all the way to the present day creatures we know as "Pokémon".
Satoshi Tajiri2
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The concept of the catching and trading idea was pitched to Nintendo by Tajiri with the help of his friend Shigeru Miyamoto (Bulbapedia 2008). Tajiri's ideas of Pokémon began way back in 1989 when he founded Game Freak, which is a "development team named after his handwritten magazine publication" (Swider 2007). Game Freak helps with the production of the Pokémon games. Nintendo accepted to fund the project. It was at about this time that the name "Capsule Monsters" was replaced by the name "Pocket Monsters" in English, or "Poketto Monsutaa" in romanji (Swider 2007). The Pocket Monster games first hit Japan on February 27th, 1996. They came in both Red and Green versions, becoming a huge success in Japan. There were originally 151 Pokémon that one could collect, battle, and trade with their friends via the Game Link cable: a cable that allowed transferring Pocket Monsters to a friend's Pocket Monster game. Later, a Blue version was added to the lineup of Pocket Monster games which had improvements in graphics and sound (Bulbapedia 2008).
The trading card game also emerged in Japan at this time on October 20th, 1996, containing 102 cards. At this time, the cards were only released in Japan.
Following the success of the games and cards, the anime soon emerged on April 1st, 1997. The main character's Japanese name is Satoshi after the creator, although the name was dubbed to Ash Ketchum in the English version upon its later release in the US. Once again, it was a huge hit. It wasn't long before Pocket Monsters successes in Japan was about to spread all over the world. The Pocket Monster's name was later dubbed "Pokémon" in other markets.
1998-1999
1The US first had a chance to experience the Pokémon anime TV series on Kids WB, and the Pokémon games on 7th and the games on the 30th of September 1998 respectively. US players had the choice between Pokémon Red and Blue versions which each had subtle differences between them. The games were well received as was the anime despite poorly dubbed English voices with the "dialogue being spoken in English and mouths drawn to follow the Japanese words" (Swider 2007). The TCG (Trading Card Game) was finally released in the US on January 9, 1999. It was owned by Wizards of the Coast at the time, and an instant sucess.
Left to Right from the Pokémon Anime: Meowth, James, Jeesie, Misty, Ash, Pikachu, Brock 1
Meanwhile, the anime debuted its first animated movie: Pokémon The First Movie in Japan and the US on July 18th, 1998 and November 10th, 1999 respectively. The movie took in the most revenue ever for an animated film in the US.
Pokémon Yellow came about next which added the addition of having Pikachu follow you around in the game. The game also had improved sprites, and "followed the anime's course of events" (Bulbapedia 2008).
Also in 1999, many different spin-offs came about such as Pokémon Snap, Hey you Pikachu!, and Pokémon Stadium for the N64 platform. Other notable spin-offs for the Gameboy color were Pokémon Pinball, and Pokémon TCG.
It was also in 1999 when the anime started its second season in the Orange Islands. This series lead to the movie: Pokémon the movie 2000 in the summer of 2000.
2000-2002
The next generation of Pokémon games: Gold and Silver, were released on October 11, 2000. Gold and Silver was originally released in Japan on November 21st, 1999. These second generation Pokémon games were a great improvement featuring 100 new Pokémon along with a new world set in real time. A day and night system was also incorporated into the games making them more realistic. The addition of Pokémon genders, and the ability to revisit Kanto from Red, Blue, and Yellow made Gold and Silver sought-after by fans. Players could also trade with Red, Blue, and Yellow players although no new Pokémon or moves could be transferred to Red, Blue, or Yellow from Gold and Silver.
The anime kept on going along with the Johto saga with Ash and friends. Pokémon 3 the Movie (2001), Mewtwo Returns (2001), and Pokémon 4ever (2002) were also released during this time period in theaters, and on DVD respectively.
Like Pokémon Yellow, Pokémon Crystal joined the lineup in 2001 after Gold and Silver with improvements to the series. Crystal featured the ability to be a female trainer, and also had animated Pokémon sprites for starters.
Other Pokémon games released during this time were Pokémon Puzzle League, and Pokémon Stadium 2 featuring all 252 Pokémon at the time.
2003-2005
Making the leap from the Gameboy color to the Gameboy advance took some time for Nintendo and Game Freak, for there were no major Pokémon games released in 2002 for the US (Swider 2007). However, a major overhaul of the games took place to get ready for the third generation of Pokémon. Finally, on March 18, 2003, Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire came about on US shores. It took advantage of the new Gameboy Advance platform featuring improved graphics, sprites, and sounds. In addition, the new region of Hoenn along with 135 new Pokémon was featured in the game. Because of the switch of the new GBA platform, previous Pokémon games were not compatible with Ruby and Sapphire.
It was about this time in 2003 when the Pokémon TCG licensing was dropped from Wizards of the Coast to itself (Bulbapedia 2008). "New game mechanics and a new card designs" were featured to the US in June 2003 (Bulbapedia 2008).
On September 9th, 2004, the US received remakes of the classic Pokémon Red and Blue known as Pokémon Fire Red, and Leaf Green. Essentially, they were the same as the old Red and Blue, but with third generation graphics, the addition of the Sevii Islands, and the second and third Pokémon generation Pokémon. (Bulbapedia 2008). Also, Pokémon trading could now be done wirelessly with the wireless adapter that came with the games. Since these games were based on the same platform as Ruby and Sapphire, players could easily trade between each version to get all 386 Pokémon.
Like Yellow and Crystal, a third Pokémon title added to the Ruby and Sapphire generation of games. Pokémon Emerald released in the US on May 1, 2005. The game featured the Battle Frontier, Pokémon sprite animations like in Crystal, and the same wireless trading adapter option that originally came with Fire Red and Leaf Green (Bulbapedia 2008).
In the anime, the Advanced Generation season had started featuring Ash and company with new characters in the Hoenn region. Many new Pokémon movies were released on DVD in this time period: Pokémon Heroes (2003), Jirachi Wish Maker (2004), and ,Destiny Deoxys (2005).
There was also many spin-offs such as Pokémon Channel for the new GameCube, Pokémon Colosseum, and a sequel to Pokémon Pinball all featuring the third generation Pokémon.
2006-2008
After the release of the Nintendo DS, a lot more spin off games became available for players such Pokémon Trozei (2005), and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon (2006). Notable is Mystery Dungeon which has a unique story of a human being turned into a Pokémon, and interacting in English amongst other Pokémon to help others in trouble from natural disasters.
2006 also marked 10 years of Pokémon which was celebrated with Pokémon USA's "Journey across America". These were promotional events where fans could "could see a preview of Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, and download over 20 10th anniversary Pokémon for the Generation III GBA games" (Bulbapedia 2008).
Through many of the spin-offs games, such Pokémon Trozei and Mystery Dungeon, as well as the anime, newer fourth generation were clearly on the way. The first DS based RPG Pokémon games: Pokémon Diamond and Pearl were released on April 22, 2007 in the US with much hype. Within five days of their release, they had sold over one million copies in the US alone (Pokémonelite2000 2007). The games brought 107 new Pokémon to the mix bringing the total to 493 species of Pokémon. Diamond and Pearl has intuitive new features such as the Pokétech controlled with the stylus along with great improved graphics. Not to mention the vast new region of Sinnoh can also be explored.
The anime also continues along with its Diamond and Pearl series presently airing on Cartoon Network. Movies released on DVD in the US during this time include Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (2007) and The Rise of Darkrai (2008).
Also in 2008, the popular Mystery Dungeon sequels Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explores of Time and Darkness were released on April 20, 2008. The games feature all 491 Pokémon along with Wi-Fi support.
2009-Present
The third installment to the Diamond/Pearl games: Pokémon Platinum finally hit stores on March 22, 2009 in the US. The game adds additional features from Diamond and Pearl including: faster/smoother gameplay, a tweaked story line, improved Wi-fi gameplay, and a new Giratina form in the new Distortion World. Also making an appearance in Platinum is the Battle Frontier. Back from Pokémon Emerald, more emphasis is put on competitive battling at the Battle Frontier; making this place quite a challenge to even the most seasoned trainers.
Officially announced on August 7, 2009 is the much a-waited remakes of Pokémon Gold and Silver. These remakes are known as Pokémon Heart Gold and Soul Silver. Players will be able to head back to the Johto region and experience it in a whole new way. The games will be based on the 4th generation graphics and features numerous new features and enhancements. The game is set to release sometime in Spring 2010.
The Future
One's thing’s for sure: Pokémon's history is extensive and the series continues to be successful with almost every product they put out. . Without a doubt a fifth generation of Pokémon will surely come about and continue to delight fans of all ages all around of world through the games, anime, TCG, and all.
Sources:
1 Swider, Matt. "The Pokémon Series Pokedex." Gaming Target. 22 Mar 2007. 7 Dec 2008 http://www.gamingtarget.com/article.php?artid=6531
2 "History of Pokémon." Bulbapedia. 3 Dec 2008. 12 Nov 2008 http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/History_of_Pok%C3%A9mon.
3 "Pokémon 10th Anniversary Journey Across America." Bulbapedia. 2 Sept 2008. 12 Nov 2008 http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_10th_Anniversary_Journey_Across_America.
4 Webmaster, Pokémonelite2000. "Pokémonelite2000 - New Archive - April 2007." Pokémonelite2000. 27 April 2007. 6 Dec 2008 http://www.Pokémonelite2000.com/pnews07_04.html.
