Pokémon is a franchise which needs no introduction. Whether you have played the games, watched the shows, or never touched a Pokémon product in your life, the name Pokémon will conjure up a variety of images.
From Pikachu to Ash, Pokémon Cards to Pokéballs. Pokémon is iconic. Simple as that. But despite how popular the franchise is, many people still don’t know the series’ origins.
In this article we’ll take a look back at the history of Pokémon, to see where the addictive and beloved franchise began.
Meet the Creator: Satoshi Tajiri
While some gaming franchises have their figureheads – such as Shigeru Miyamoto for Mario – Pokémon is a bit different. Satoshi Tajiri isn’t a household name – but he should be!
Born in Machida, Tokyo in 1965, Tajiri grew up fascinated by insets. Countless stories paint a picture of him as a young boy obsessed with bugs. Spending countless hours searching for, collecting and examining them.
Earning him the nickname “Dr. Bug”, used among his friends. However, as was the case across Japan in the late 20th century, Tajiri’s hometown experienced rapid urbanization.
With the natural habitats that housed his beloved bugs disappearing, to be replaced with the Tokyo we know today. This lived experience lay the groundwork for Pokémon.
From Bug Catching to Game Design
Throughout his teens, Tajiri became fascinated with the emerging form of the video games. In 1978, at the age of just 17, Tajiri even started his own gaming magazine which he called Game Freak. A name which lives on until this day, as the developers of Pokémon.
Needless to say, Tajiri’s obsession with games quickly morphed into him creating his own games. Teaching himself programming along with his friends, and turning the magazine company into a video game studio – launched in 1989 when Tajiri was 28.
The Spark of Inspiration
The early years of Game Freak saw Tajiri and his team experiment with a lot of ideas. But the spark of Pokémon came in the early 1990s. When Tajiri observed children playing with Game Boys – which were cutting edge at the time.
He observed players moving around the real world playing games, connecting Game Boys with link cables to play multiplayer and trade digital items. Sparking flashbacks to his childhood of wandering around collecting and sharing bugs.
What if he could combine his childhood love for bugs with this new technology?
Development Challenges
The concept for Pokémon was there. But it took six long years to develop the first game. Across those six years, Game Freak experienced plenty of challenges.
With the company struggling financially, team members leaving, and a growing doubt towards the mass-market appeal of the concept – which, at the time, sounded much like Tajiri’s oddball obsession with insects.
But Tajiri and his core team persevered. Resulting in Shigeru Miyamoto, of Nintendo, catching wind of the project’s potential and dedicated core team.
At which point, Miyamoto stepped in as a mentor, securing support from the already well established gaming company.
Pokémon is Born
With the support of Nintendo, development became turbo-charged. A new wind hitting the proverbial sails.
The art of the “Pocket Monsters” – later shortened to the Pokémon we know today – eventually came together with 151 unique Pokémon. Each with their own visual characteristics and gameplay abilities.
While the game world came to resemble the diverse environments of Japan – again, harking back to Tajiri’s real-world expeditions into the world in search for bugs.
Eventually, on February 27, 1996, Pokémon Red and Green was launched in Japan for Nintendo’s Game Boy. And the game was an immediate success.
Seeing the game quickly adapted for other locales; launching internationally in 1998 (North America) and 1999 (Europe/Australia), confusingly under a slightly different name of Pokémon Red and Blue.
Legacy and Continuing Impact
Thanks to its incredible design, memorable artwork and fitting use of Nintendo’s Game Boy, Pokémon was an immediate hit. Resulting in one thing: a huge desire for more.
Since then, the franchise has seen a steady stream of games being released for Nintendo hardware. But, perhaps even more importantly, the franchise found itself being transposed onto other media – from Pokémon cards to TV shows and movies.
This expansion came to a peak almost exactly 20 years after the release of Pokémon Red and Green, in 2016 with the release of Pokémon GO. A game which became an international cultural moment in its own right.
With many players still playing. If you’re jumping back in, buy Pokémon GO coins to give yourself a boost.
Ultimately, Pokémon has come a long way. From Satoshi Tajiri’s childhood passions to an internationally recognized and beloved franchise for all ages.
The story of Pokémon is one of passion and perseverance, and it’s a story which is far from over.