How Pokémon Got Started: The Story Behind the Global Phenomenon
If you've ever collected trading cards, played a Game Boy under the covers, or shouted "I choose you!" at an imaginary battle, then you've been touched by the phenomenon that is Pokémon. But how did this global juggernaut actually begin? Let’s go back to the early 1990s in Japan, where a quiet fascination with bug collecting sparked a multibillion-dollar empire.
The Bug-Catching Kid with a Big Idea
The story of Pokémon begins with Satoshi Tajiri, a video game designer who grew up in a suburb of Tokyo. As a child, Tajiri was obsessed with collecting insects. He loved exploring nature and finding new species — an experience that was slowly disappearing as urbanization took over his hometown.
When the original Nintendo Game Boy came out, Tajiri saw something magical in the device’s Link Cable — a tool that allowed players to connect two Game Boys for multiplayer gameplay. To most people, it was just a technical feature. But to Tajiri, it was a way to simulate his childhood bug-collecting adventures in a digital world. What if players could catch creatures and trade them through the Link Cable, just like trading real insects with friends?
The Birth of Game Freak
Tajiri teamed up with illustrator Ken Sugimori, and together they formed Game Freak — first a self-published gaming magazine, and later, a game development studio. After pitching the creature-collecting idea to Nintendo (multiple times), they eventually got the green light. The project was ambitious and took six years to develop — an eternity in the game industry.
The result? Pokémon Red and Green, released in Japan in 1996 for the Game Boy. (Fun fact: Outside of Japan, the games were later released as Pokémon Red and Blue.)
Catching Lightning in a Poké Ball
At first, Pokémon had a slow start. But once word got out about the game’s hidden, 151st Pokémon — Mew, players went wild trying to find it. The sense of discovery, the thrill of collecting, and the social aspect of trading quickly made the games a cultural sensation.
Nintendo followed up with a trading card game, a TV anime series, and a slew of merchandise. The anime’s protagonist, Ash Ketchum (named after Satoshi himself), and his electric sidekick Pikachu became household names. The phrase “Gotta Catch 'Em All!” became more than a slogan — it became a mindset.
Why Pokémon Worked
Pokémon struck a chord because it blended exploration, strategy, collection, and friendship. Kids weren’t just playing a game — they were diving into a living world filled with creatures they could train, evolve, and battle. The games were deep enough for hardcore fans but simple enough for casual players. And with each new generation of games, the Pokémon universe only grew bigger.
From Niche to Global Icon
What started as a nostalgic tribute to insect collecting became one of the most successful franchises in history. As of today, Pokémon has spawned over 100 video games, a card game that’s still thriving, dozens of movies, and billions of dollars in merchandise.
And it all started with a boy who liked bugs and dreamed of sharing that passion with the world.