How Pokemon took over the world as the beloved franchise turns 30
On Pokemon Day 2026, we look at the history of the global multimedia phenomenon and how it captured the hearts of children and adults alike
This year’s Pokemon Day, which falls on February 27, also marks the 30th anniversary of the internationally known and loved multimedia franchise.
Helmed by the determined and compassionate Pokemon trainer Ash Ketchum and his loyal but stubborn “pocket monster” partner Pikachu, this Japanese IP has spawned a huge range of anime series, films, video games and merchandise.
The now multibillion-dollar franchise began life as a role-playing video game series created by Satoshi Tajiri for the Game Boy handheld console. The first Pokemon titles – Pocket Monsters Red and Pocket Monsters Green – were released by Nintendo in Japan on February 27, 1996, followed later that year by Pocket Monsters Blue in October.
Inspired by his childhood pastime of collecting insects in suburban Tokyo, Tajiri designed the games to recreate the childlike joy of exploring nature and interacting with bugs. The idea is to complete the “Pokedex” and, just as the games’ tagline says: “Gotta Catch ’em All!”
The games were adapted into the Pokemon Trading Card Game in October the same year, while the Pokemon Pocket Monsters manga followed in November.
The first episode of the Pokemon anime series aired on Japanese network television in April 1997 – the episode was titled “Pokemon, I Choose You!” – while Pokemon: The First Movie was released in July 1998.