Pokémon Marks 30 Years as Satoshi Tajiri's Bug-Catching Hobby Becomes a Multibillion-Dollar Franchise
Updated
Updated · ABC News · Jun 7
Pokémon Marks 30 Years as Satoshi Tajiri's Bug-Catching Hobby Becomes a Multibillion-Dollar Franchise
1 articles · Updated · ABC News · Jun 7
Summary
Thirty years after Pokémon debuted, the franchise remains a multibillion-dollar force spanning games, trading cards, anime, manga and merchandise.
2016's Pokémon GO helped pull older fans back in, with parents such as South Australia's Jez Sundqvist now sharing the series with children who collect cards, play games and plan trips around Pokémon.
Families interviewed said that crossover has turned Pokémon into a bonding ritual across generations, from watching early films to building large plush and card collections.
University of South Queensland media scholar Jason Bainbridge said Pokémon has lasted because its simple, flexible narrative can keep adding new creatures, regions and formats while adapting to new technology.
That mix of nostalgia and constant reinvention has helped Pokémon avoid the generational stumbles seen in some rival franchises and keep attracting new fans three decades on.