On 27th February 1996, Pokémon first launched in Japan before releasing across the world. With many familiar faces, the franchise has continued to grow year upon year across the video games, television and movies, trading cards and more.
It feels like just yesterday that I first discovered Pokémon. Now, here we are, thirty years later, celebrating another incredible milestone.
With the official birthday celebrations now here, and in honour of the recent Pokémon Day, I wanted to take the time to reflect on my own Pokémon journey over the years.
Like many, I’ve grown up alongside the world of Pokémon. From the early days back in the nineties all the way through to the present day.
There have been times when I’ve been closer to Pokémon than other times, but my love and memories of the franchise have always remained the same.
The Start of a Journey
My Pokémon journey began in the primary school playground. Amid the early days of trading cards in the UK. We’re talking around 1998, give or take a few months or so.
At the time, there were two different types of cards you could find. The traditional Pokémon Trading Card Game cards such as the Base, Jungle and Fossil sets and the Topps Pokémon cards.
For me, my first-ever card was a Topps Caterpie, and while I don’t have the original, I believe it was lost in a house move at some point, however, a copy of that same card sits in my current Pokémon TCG binder alongside a number of more modern Caterpie cards.
Soon, I found myself slowly building up a collection of my own trading cards at my own speed, collecting and trading with friends. A lot of that original collection I still own now and have been slowly integrating it into my current collection.
From there, I began to play a friend’s copy of Pokémon Blue. This was really my first experience of handheld gaming, too. Soon after, I was gifted a Game Boy Advance and a copy of Pokémon Yellow. I still have both the console and the game tucked away safely in a box, both still working to the best of my knowledge, too.
I was hooked on this game. Being able to play and explore the game fully was, at my much younger age, mesmerising. I recall so many times when I would get stuck or be unsure as to where to turn next, but I eventually figured it out and beat the game a number of times. I still have the ninety-page walkthrough I printed out from one of those old walkthrough websites tucked away on my shelf. It seems like just yesterday I spent hours printing that out on my Dad’s little inkjet printer. Needless to say, I don’t think he was too happy with how much paper and ink I had used at the time.
Little did I know that alongside the odd handful of Pokémon TCG cards I had, I’d find myself at home with the video games too. It was a different world, one that I could escape to when everything in the world felt like too much. Just me and my Pokémon and no other worries.
Like many, I was also hooked on the television show and the original run of movies. Ironically, the first three were released around/on my birthday, so it made for a great birthday being able to watch the movies. I vaguely recall one year, I think it was when Pokémon The Movie 2000 was released, that I had a full Pokémon-themed birthday with a few friends, and we all dressed up as Pokémon Trainers with our own Pokédex toys. It really was great fun.
As more movies, television series, merchandise and games were released, I continued to follow the franchise. I picked up a copy of Pokémon Gold from a car boot sale, and still that is one of my favourite Pokémon games.
Those first few years, I’d say from 1998 to about 2004, were so much fun. Creating memories, seeing release after release come out for the franchise. The new generations of Pokémon and so much more were everything that my younger self could only dream of. Looking back, it still blows my mind that I grew up alongside the franchise.
Introducing a New Generation
As I was growing up, I decided to share my knowledge and love for Pokémon with my younger brother. We’d watch the movies and television shows together; I’d teach him all about the different Pokémon and their types. I’d also help him make his way through his first few Pokémon games too. As he got older, he got his own Nintendo DS and games, and I’d help him grow his own Pokémon collection by purchasing a version of the mainline games as they were released. Something that we still do in a way for each other now.
This extended further than just the games but also into our card collections as well. While I was slowing down on trading cards between 2010 and 2016, he was just getting started. Although I would still pick up the odd pack here and there, that era of Pokémon cards is where he certainly has more than me.
Fast forward to the present day, we both still love Pokémon, still play the games, talk about it and have both gotten back into collecting the trading cards as well. It feels nice to know that despite our age gap, we had something that we could enjoy together growing up and still can even though we’ve grown up.
Falling Back into the Hobby
While I never really grew out of liking and enjoying Pokémon as an overall franchise, I did stop collecting cards for quite a few years. This was until towards the end of last summer, but during that time I still continued with the games here and there. While it’s felt nostalgic falling back in love with the games and the trading card side of Pokémon, it’s also been nice to do so alongside others in my life. While this is mainly my partner and brother, it has been wonderful to do so alongside some of my favourite people.
It’s not just the rediscovery, though. It’s the discovering and connecting with other people who love the games and the trading cards and just Pokémon as a whole. Friends and work colleagues as well as others online. I guess you could say it somewhat ties into the current campaign for the anniversary of “What’s Your Favourite?”
This rediscovery not only makes me excited for the next year of Pokémon but also for years beyond. There’s always so much to explore and discover, be it new games, trading cards or other merchandise. Collaborations between different partners and brands are popping up everywhere.
I’ve loved every moment since I stepped back into the hobby. There has been a bit of a learning curve, but despite that, it’s really just what I needed. It’s not only made my inner child happy and is constantly making me feel super nostalgic, there’s still plenty that I haven’t discovered still too!
As for the future, well, there will be plenty of Pokémon Trading Card Game to play and collect. Pokémon Pokopia to play as well as progressing through the Nintendo Switch version of LeafGreen. Outside of that, I’m also wanting to replay Pokémon SoulSilver on the Nintendo DS again, which I’ll likely do once I’ve finished LeafGreen. Not only that, but we’ve got a good few months to look forward to Pokémon Winds and Waves, which will be launching next year!
So in honour of Pokémon’s thirtieth birthday, let me know some of your memories of the franchise, be it from the days of growing up with the cards and games, your favourite Pokémon movie or episode from the television show or even just which generation is your favourite!
Images featured in this post are courtesy of The Pokémon Company International.
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