Pokémon in other media

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Pokémon (ポケモン, Pokemon^?, IPA: ['poʊ.kɛ.mɑn], although frequently, and even intentionally mispronounced /poʊ.ki.'mæn/), is a multi-billion dollar media franchise^[1] controlled by video game giant Nintendo. It was created by Satoshi Tajiri at least by 1995 (it celebrated its tenth anniversary on February 27, 2006, although the franchise was copyrighted in the USA as Pokémon by 1995). The original Game Boy video games have since been merchandised into anime, manga, trading cards, toys, books and other media. The name, Pokémon, is a portmanteau of its Japanese name, “Pocket Monsters” (ポケットモンスター, Poketto Monsutā^?). Nintendo originally literally translated Poketto Monsutā -- indeed, a "Pocket Monsters" game was created in early 1995. The English connotations of this name caused Nintendo to rebrand the franchise as "Pokémon" in early 1996. The game’s catchphrase, in the English language versions of the franchise, used to be “Gotta catch ’em all!”, although it is now no longer officially used (except by Hasbro and in the title sequence to Pokémon Chronicles).

The concept of the Pokémon saga stems from the hobby of insect collecting, a popular pastime in Japan, and one which Pokémon's creator Satoshi Tajiri had enjoyed as a child. Tajiri’s formula took off in Japan and was adapted (and translated) in 1998 for the American market, with the release of Pokémon Red and Blue. These games allowed players to catch, collect, and train hundreds of creatures, known as Pokémon; and battle them against each other to build their strength. These Pokémon could then “evolve” into more powerful Pokémon and learn new and stronger techniques. Pokémon never bleed or die in battle, only faint - this was a very touchy subject to Tajiri, as he didn’t want to further fill the gaming world with "pointless violence".^[2]

The Pokémon series has been translated into various different mediants, listed below.

[edit] Movies

Each year from 1999 to 2006 has seen the release of a feature length movie. There is another Pokémon movie scheduled for release in 2007. These Pokémon movies have served to promote the Pokémon franchise.

[edit] Anime series

The main characters of the Advanced Generation anime. Humans from left to right: Brock, Ash, May and Max. Pokémon from left to right: Mudkip, Pikachu, Treecko and Torchic.

Main article: Pokémon (anime)

The Pokémon anime series and films are a set of adventures separate from most other versions of Pokémon, featuring Ash Ketchum as the main character, and following his quest to become a Pokémon Master – though what constitutes a Master is somewhat ambiguous. He and his companions travel around the Pokémon world battling other Pokémon trainers.

The first, and the most familiar, is Pocket Monsters or simply Pokémon (often referred to as Pokémon: Gotta Catch Em All to distinguish it from the later series), which details the adventures of Ash Ketchum as he travels through Kanto, the Orange Islands, and Johto on a quest to become the greatest Pokémon Master of all time. This series is based on the first and second generation games. Accompanying Ash on his journeys were Brock, the Pewter City Gym Leader; Misty, the youngest of the Gym Leaders sisters from Cerulean City; and later on, Tracey Sketchit, an artist and “Pokémon watcher” who accompanied them in the Orange Islands in the second saga. In the original series Ash’s main rival was another trainer from Pallet Town, Gary Oak. Gary (whose grandfather was none other than Professor Oak, the man in charge of giving new trainers their first Pokémon) was well known and accompanied by a squad of cheerleaders. The names of Ash and Gary were derived from the characters’ Japanese names, Satoshi and Shigeru. These names, in turn, were taken from the two people who produced the franchise - Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri and gaming legend Shigeru Miyamoto, who helped Tajiri to launch the series.

Ash Ketchum and Pikachu together in the pilot episode, Pokémon, I Choose You!

The saga continues into Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation (in Japan) where Ash and company travel to Hoenn, a southern region in the Pokémon World. Ash catches a Snorunt, a Treecko, and a Taillow, all of which evolve: Snorunt into Glalie, Treecko into Grovyle and finally Sceptile, and Taillow into Swellow. Ash also captures a Corphish and a Torkoal. Ash takes on the role of a teacher and mentor for a novice Pokémon trainer in this series named May. Her brother Max accompanies them, and though he isn’t a trainer, he knows massive amounts of handy information. Brock (from the original series) soon catches up with Ash, but Misty has returned to Cerulean City to tend to her duties as a gym leader. This series is based on the third generation games.

Afterward, Ash returns to his home region of Kanto and visits the Battle Frontier while May competes in Kanto Contests. Misty joins them for a part of the journey, on the way to Cerulean City. This part of the series is loosely based upon Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald.

[edit] Spin-off series

A spin-off series, entitled Shu-kan Pokémon Ho-so-kyoku (also referred to as Pokémon Hoso) is a spinoff of the first, and tells the adventures within the continuity of Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation, starring many of the recurring characters in Pocket Monsters. The English adaptation of this series, Pokémon Chronicles, combines the episodes from this series as well as various other made-for-TV specials (originally unrelated to Housoukyoku) that have not previously been released in English. In the United States, in June 2006 Toonami started showing episodes of Pokémon Chronicles.

There was also a television program in Japan titled Pokémon Sunday, a live action Pokémon-themed variety show hosted by the Pokémon Research Team.

[edit] English language adaptations

In the English language release, the original series was split into four separate series spanning five seasons while Advanced Generation was split into separate series. Two series from Advanced Generation have been aired, with the third series currently airing in the United States and elsewhere.

The English adaptation could be seen in syndication (from September 1998 to February 1999), on Kids' WB! (from February 1999 through September 2006), and Cartoon Network (on and off since October 2002, full-time starting September 2006) in the United States. In other countries the English language adaptations air on the following channels:

Housoukyoku originally aired on TV Tokyo but has since ended its run. Whilst Chronicles can currently be seen on YTV in Canada and in the United Kingdom on Toonami, and as of June 3 on the United States version of Cartoon Network. Pokémon Sunday can only be seen on TV Tokyo, and there are no plans to adapt it for the Western market.

[edit] Trading Card Game

A typical Pokémon Trading Card Game card. (Dragonite) shown.

Main article: Pokémon Trading Card Game

The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a collectible card game similar in goal to a Pokémon battle in the video game series; players must use cards (with individual strengths and weaknesses) in an attempt to defeat their opponent by "knocking out" all of his cards.^[3] The game was first published in North America by Wizards of the Coast in 1999.^[4]

However, with the release of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Game Boy Advance video games, Nintendo USA took back the card game from Wizards of the Coast and started publishing the cards themselves.^[4] The Expedition expansion introduced the Pokémon-e Trading Card Game, the cards in which (for the most part) were compatible with the Nintendo e-Reader. Nintendo discontinued its production of e-Reader compatible cards with the release of EX FireRed & LeafGreen.

In 1998, Nintendo released a Game Boy Color version of the trading card game in Japan. It was also released in the US and Europe in 2000. This game included digital versions cards from the original set of cards and the first two expansion (Jungle and Fossil), but also included several cards exclusive to the game. A sequel to this game exists, but was not released outside of Japan.

[edit] Manga

There are various Pokémon manga series, four of which were released in English by Viz Communications, and seven of them released in English by Chuang Yi.

Manga released in English

• The Electric Tale of Pikachu (a.k.a Dengeki Pikachu), a shōnen manga created by Toshihiro Ono. It was divided into four tankōbon, each given a separate title in the North American and English Singapore versions: The Electric Tale of Pikachu, Pikachu Shocks Back, Electric Pikachu Boogaloo, and Surf’s Up, Pikachu. The series is based loosely on the anime.
• Pokémon Adventures, a shōnen manga based on the video games.
• Magical Pokémon Journey (a.k.a. Pokémon: PiPiPi Adventures), a shōjo manga
• Pikachu Meets the Press (newspaper style comics, not released by Chuang Yi)
• Ash & Pikachu (a.k.a. Satoshi to Pikachu, not released by Viz)
• Pokémon Gold & Silver (not released by Viz)
• Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire and Pokémon Pocket Monsters (not released by Viz)
• Pokémon: Jirachi Wishmaker (not released by Viz)
• Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys (not released by Viz)
• Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (The third movie-to-comic adaptation.)

Manga not released in English

• Pokémon Card Ni Natta Wake (How I Became a Pokémon Card) by Kagemaru Himeno, an artist for the TCG. There are six volumes and each includes a special promotional card. The stories tell the tales of the art behind some of Himeno’s cards.
• Pokémon Getto Da ze! by Asada Miho
• Poketto Monsutaa Chamo Chamo Puritei by Yumi Tsukirino, who also made Magical Pokémon Journey.
• Pokémon Card Master
• Pocket Monsters Emerald Challenge!! Battle Frontier by Ihara Shigekatsu
• Pokémon Zensho by Satomi Nakamura

[edit] References