You've played the games. You've boxes of the cards in the attic. You were probably one of millions who took to the streets to catch them on your phone. And you've seen enough of the TV show to hum that darn theme song in your sleep.
As we approach the magical celebration that is Pokémon Day, it's time to reflect on one of the world's most successful (and greatest) entertainment franchises – Pokémon!
So, just how are Pikachu and friends still managing to catch the world's attention, decades on? How can a franchise that remains more or less the same still sell millions of units with every new release? Boast blockbuster films and celebrity collaborations? Sell out merch in seconds, AND run a TV series currently in its 27th season? It's tough work for a little mouse.
Pikachu, we choose you!
With more than 300 million games sold, Pokémon is, first and foremost, a gaming behemoth. If, like me, you're a gamer of a certain 'vintage,' it represents a nostalgic part of your life when games were the universal language of fun.
You'll have fond memories of those end-of-primary school days when the Pokémon ban was temporarily revoked, and you were allowed to bring along your Game Boy. You'd sync up with friends to battle their teams, trade anything you might need for your own lists, and swap war stories.
to become the world's strongest trainer
You'll also remember endlessly trading Pokémon cards but never once sitting down to learn the rules or play a single game. Of Saturday morning marathons, catching up on all the latest antics of the series, and Monday mornings discussing it with mates. And now, years on, you'll still find that jovial mascot Pikachu on the face of pencil cases, lunch boxes, and t-shirts galore, as if he isn't almost thirty years old.
But Pikachu wasn't always the leading mascot, at least when the games were concerned. When Pokémon Red and Green were released in 1996 on the Game Boy, there was little expectation that Pokémon would actually sell well, let alone become the face of the now billion-dollar company.
In the early stages, Pikachu was nothing more than a little electrical mouse you could catch in Viridian Forest. But it soon became apparent that Pokémon offered something special to gamers. It made innovative use of the Game Boy's link cable technology. The ability to trade and battle with other players was truly revolutionary. Collecting and raising little digital monsters tapped into the Tamagotchi era sweeping the world. And so the craze began.
The success of the Pokémon Red, Green, and later, Blue games meant that the franchise reached the far corners of the world in just a few short years. With that level of exposure, it needed a face going forward.
The animated TV series was developed during this time, and savvy marketing decreed that Pikachu would lead the charge. He had universal appeal to both boys and girls and wasn't an original starter choice of the games, prompting fans to explore the rich catalogue of other creatures found in the world.
Pokémon the TV show helped flesh out the game to no end. It's the perfect example of transmedia symbiosis, where what happened on TV complimented the games and vice versa. It's the kind of relationship that Hollywood is only now exploiting, with the likes of Last of Us, Fallout, and Arcane now a common sight on our screens. Pokémon was well and truly ahead of its time.
Original characters like Ash Ketchum, Misty, and Brock drove a new narrative, captivating young and old audiences with storylines that still tug on heartstrings decades on. (Ash saying goodbye to his trusty Butterfree will forever haunt me). From those early seasons of the fabled TV show Pokémon Yellow was born. And the legacy of Pikachu solidified.
From 150 to 1025 – you still gotta catch 'em all
Catching the original 150 Pokémon felt like an impossible feat back in the 90s. In truth, you did need to trade with friends to complete your set, as each version only had a set list of catchable creatures. And it's a novelty that remains decades on.
Now, every new generation of games brings new species to hunt down. There are over 1,025 creatures to catch, each with their own personality, abilities, and dedicated fanbase. This wide selection of characters made spin-off games all the more easy. Altogether, there have also been over 130 different adventures one can take, covering virtually every genre and gameplay mechanic possible.
But as games go, nothing could compare to the absolute monster that was…Pokémon GO.
Pokémon GO's debut in 2016 was a cult moment in every sense of the word. If a place had a phone signal, chances are there was someone nearby playing the game. And in just 3 years, the app was downloaded over 1 billion times.
The game pioneered augmented reality, where people could interact with virtual things in real spaces. It rekindled an immense nostalgia for so many people who lost touch with 90s cartoons and gaming. Even those unfamiliar with the series would walk around the real world with phones in hand, ready to pounce on virtual creatures. Ireland was not immune to the craze, either.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
I still remember days spent in Dublin when St. Stephen's Green was awash with people on their phones, running aimlessly around catching Pokémon. Or how the crowd huddled at the Spire was more concerned about taking over the virtual gym placed there than crossing the road. Concerns over screen time did not exist.
Lights. Camera. Action. Pikachu becomes a media mogul
While Pokémon has an undisputed grip on gaming, there's no denying the success the franchise has spread to other formats, too. After many enjoyable animated films, Detective Pikachu solidified Pokémon's presence on the big screen and shattered many expectations of how gaming crossovers could work. And how much they could succeed.
Starring Ryan Reynolds as the hilarious talking Pikachu, the story blended live motion and CGI and was as much a tribute to die-hard fans and soon-to-be trainers. The film broke all manner of records and was 'the chosen one' to finally dethrone Avengers: Endgame from the top of the box office back in 2019. A highly anticipated sequel is currently in development.
The world of music has also been enamoured with all things Pokémon. And the franchise didn't take long to partner up with famous faces to create some of your favourite earworms that you probably didn't realise were tied to the series. We're talking about the likes of Ed Sheeran with Celestial, British DJ Jax Jones with Never Be Lonely, and Katy Perry's Electric (no guesses who that's about).
Thanks to that mythical card game, Pokémon has also become an art form in its own right. It's part of the brand I'm only recently re-educating myself on, thanks to the recent Pokémon TCG Pocket, a popular mobile app that lets you collect cards as well as trade and battle with other players.
Collecting cards has become such a phenomenon that almost all shops have strict purchasing policies to prevent card scalpers from scooping up all the products to sell for a premium. A limited-time collaboration with Pokémon and the Vincent Van Gough Museum in 2023, for example, caused worldwide headlines when absolute chaos descended on the museum.
The reason? A lot of people wanted to own, play, or sell on that elusive 'Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat' card. It's easy to see why specific cards command such attention, as some can and will soar in value.
To give you an idea of the figures we're talking about, the most expensive card thus far on record is the Pikachu Illustrator card, currently owned by influenced-turned-boxer Logan Paul. Its value? Over $5,275,000. At this point, I wouldn't hold it against you if you wanted to take a trip to the attic right now just to make sure you've not packed away a priceless heirloom.
Pokémon Day promises an even brighter future
While Ash Ketchum may have retired from the main series and is taking a well-deserved break from our screens, the future is just as bright for the series as it ever was. New games, TV shows, films, and music, as well as a constant influx of card sets, are keeping the fandom well-fed.
means that players really can never catch em all
But this Pokémon Day is especially exciting. We have a brand new Pokémon game to look forward to. Set in Lumiose City, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is said to be an ambitious new entry into the pantheon of games. The story thus far seems to explore an urban redevelopment plan that aims to shape the city into a place that belongs to both people and Pokémon alike.
For added hype, with the Switch 2 on the horizon, who knows what new features, mechanics, or tricks Pikachu and the company have in store for us?
Pokémon Day takes place on the 27th of February. The video presentation will be streamed at 2 p.m. GMT on the official Pokémon YouTube and Twitch channels.
