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The internet is lighting up with new discussions about Pokémon's beloved Pikachu character, with a recently surfaced interview suggesting that the mascot was almost localized for overseas markets with some shocking changes.

News.jp reported on a recently removed Reddit post discussing how there were proposed redesigns for bringing Pokémon characters to America, mostly targeting 'cute' Pokémon. The post mentioned a 'tiger-like Pikachu with "huge breasts." As the story gained traction online, fans set out to discover if this was a new myth or if there was actually some truth behind the strange claims regarding one of the most iconic Pokémon of all time.

Pokémon's Pikachu Nearly Got a Shocking Redesign for U.S. Audiences Image via Olm

A commentor on the original post pointed out that there was a possibility the original Japanese text was mistranslated, leading to the 'huge breast' Pikachu story, with the meaning potentially being 'chest,...

Okay, so Pokémon has some more explaining to do. Along with Ash, trying to catch all the Pokémons does sound cool, but every time you fail to catch one, what happens to the Pokéball? This is a serious issue that not everyone thinks about, especially environmentalists, who should be the most concerned. After all, this unexplained phenomenon can potentially cause environmental issues.

Without a doubt, Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of Pokémon, is a legend. This one franchise single-handedly overshadows all other anime franchises, and none come close. However, even a series like Pokémon isn’t the perfect show you might imagine. Maybe Tajiri found it hard to explain, so he just left it as is, never mentioning the details of failed Pokéballs. Or maybe, he did it precisely to keep us guessing.

Ever Wondered What Happens to the Failed Pokéballs?

The key steps to capture a Pokémon and make it...

Whenever a new Pokémon generation game releases, it's accompanied by a unique and captivating story arc of the Pokémon Adventures manga. The manga, which mainly adapts characters, names, and events from the games, has covered every generation from 1 to 8. It's known for its distinctively darker and more mature storytelling, a style that sets it apart from other adaptations, and the Generation 9 arc is no exception.

Following the Sword & Shield arc, the Scarlet & Violet arc is the sixteenth story arc of the Pokémon Adventures manga, beginning serialization in August 2023. Series creator Hidenori Kusaka, in detailing his own interpretation of the Scarlet & Violet games, tells an interesting story that every fan of Pokémon should read before the generation ends. Don't miss out on this crucial part of the Pokémon universe.

What is Pokémon Scarlet & Violet in the Pokémon Adventures Manga About? Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Arc Is Based on The Pokémon Scarlet & Violet...

If you are into catching cute yet powerful creatures and using them to battle other people, then Pokémon is the perfect franchise for you. Pokémon is currently the highest-grossing media franchise in the world, and it has brought in a total revenue estimation of more than $98 billion. The franchise has been captivating the world since 1996, and if you were born somewhere during the 90s, then chances are these pocket monsters were your entire childhood.

Pokemon is literally just a portmanteau of pocket and monsters | Image Credits: Nintendo

Although Pokémon has seen a lot of success and growth over the years, the franchise really fumbled on its latest games, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Let’s delve deeper into why the game did not do so well and how the developers are reacting.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet was a disappointment The franchise started with just a single game back in 1996 | Image Credits:...

The most adorable low-fi entry in the Pokémon franchise, Pokémon Concierge, will return to Netflix with Season 2 this year. Released on December 28, 2023, Pokémon Concierge was a very different take on the iconic franchise as the first stop-motion animated series in the saga, which focused less on battling and more on relaxation, giving viewers the ultimate chill viewing experience. The series follows Haru, a young woman in her twenties who is a workaholic at a resort for Pokémon and learns to slow down and value herself.

During the Pokémon Presents showcase for Pokémon Day, it was confirmed that Season 2 of Pokémon Concierge would debut on Netflix in September 2025. Netflix released an official teaser (see below) on their social media, which included some new Pokémon for the series, including the electric Shinx, the flashy fire-type Arcanine, and the water-type Corphish. In addition, for a limited time, the first four episodes of Pokémon Concierge...

Pokémon Tcg Pocket has been a financial juggernaut since its October 2024 launch. With over $500 million in revenue in just 100 days and 60 million downloads in its first six weeks, The Pokémon Company’s latest mobile venture has clearly struck gold with its digital card collecting experience.

Half a billion dollars, but not a tournament in sight. | Image Credit: The Pokémon Company

But not everything that glitters is competitive gold. Despite the game’s massive financial success and growing card pool, there’s a substantial obstacle blocking its path to esports glory—and it has nothing to do with the game’s popularity or player count.

As the game prepares to drop its “Triumphant Light” expansion featuring Arceus soon, a recent interview has shed light on why you won’t be seeing Pokémon Tcg Pocket tournaments alongside the franchise’s other competitive titles anytime soon. The reason might surprise you—or if...

Pokémon is a global phenomenon, and it continues to take over the world.

The Japanese series was created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996, and follows Pokémon trainers catching Pokémon to battle each other within the Pokémon universe.

Well over two decades after the video game franchise’s debut, the general public still goes wild for each and every new Pokémon game – and there are well over a dozen versions of the main game, not to mention tons of spinoffs, TV shows, movies and the massive card game. “Gotta catch ‘em all”!

We’ve rounded up all the Pokémon games, and ranked them from lowest to highest sales, courtesy of sales figures. You might be surprised to see which ones are at the top.

Click through to find out which Pokémon video games have sold the most…...

Pokémon Tcg Pocket debuted back in October, and within just days of its release, it became a massive success with millions of downloads. Every day, we see gamers around the globe opening packs to obtain an ultra-rare card to add to their deck.

Pokémon Tcg Pocket is making waves in the gaming industry. (Image via The Pokémon Company)

With recent new additions, Pikachu and Celebi decks have found their way to the top of the meta. Seriously, these decks are running rampant and can stomp anyone. If you’re tired of constantly facing these decks, there’s one card in Pokémon Tcg that can easily help you counter everything.

Druddigon should be your top pick in Pokémon Tcg Pocket Druddigon is the anti-meta pick to go with right now. (Image via MegaMogwai)

Dubbed the Cave Pokemon, Druddigon is one of the latest additions to Pokemon Tcg‘s Mythical Island expansion.

Having secured an enormous and devoted fanbase all over the globe, Pokémon has grown to be a cultural phenomenon with its $100 Billion franchise! While the series is indeed unique in its own right, what sets this franchise further apart is the story of how Satoshi Tajiri, the creator, came up with this insane idea.

Ash Ketchum from Pokémon | Credits: Studio Olm

One might not know, but Tajiri was diagnosed with autism from a very early age. However, this very aspect of his life also helped him to come up with the concept of Pokémon. Tajiri’s one certain childhood hobby later became the core concept of the series, where people could collect, train, and befriend fantastical creatures known as “Pokémon.”

Pokémon Might Not Exist if Satoshi Tajiri Had Not Been Autistic Professor Oak from Pokémon | Credits: Studio Olm

Tajiri’s childhood hobby of collecting and studying insects became the basis...

From the good number of anime released over the years, just a few of them are finished or able to stick to their landing satisfyingly, giving closure to the main plot and character arcs and conveying that feeling of completion to the audience. In this sense, in both classic and new anime series, some endings have stood out more than others, with some even considered masterful works.

Maintaining consistency throughout the story isn't enough for an anime to have a satisfying ending, but it must resolve its major conflicts while keeping the same tone and leaving a lasting impression on viewers. Yet some finales are not only deserving of praise for being relevant and connecting with people for their happy, sad, or ambiguous developments, but there are several anime endings so universally loved and well-crafted that they make the whole journey and experience of watching the series worthy.

Assassination Classroom...

The Pokémon universe is vast and vibrant. There are numerous games, merchandise, and anime for fans to enjoy the world in different formats. However, when it comes to revising the lore and checking the facts, there’s nothing better than the Pokédex. While the anime or games don’t hide it or anything, the Pokédex reveals the darkness beyond the interesting Pokémon and their powers.

Mewtwo in the remake of Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back-Evolution | Credits: Toho

Speaking of darkness, Mewtwo, one of the strongest Pokémon, is the culmination of many dark aspects of the poké-verse. His origin story clearly draws out his descent into the darkness in the first movie Mewtwo Strikes Back. However, fans have come up with interesting theories that put the questionable aspects of the movie at the forefront.

Mewtwo’s Origin And The Fan Theories

Mewtwo is a psychic-type legendary Pokémon who is considered one of the strongest.

Thanos has long been regarded as the embodiment of ultimate power, all thanks to his Infinity Gauntlet. With all six Infinity Stones in his possession, Thanos can shape reality, disintegrate time and space, and snuff out civilizations with a snap of his fingers. But in a surprising twist, the legendary Pokémon universe has got a legendary creature that can rival, and possibly surpass, the mighty Thanos!

Thanos from the Avengers movie series | Credits: Marvel Studios

Although it’s all just hypothetical theory-crafting, if a final showdown does happen between MCU’s legendary antagonist, Thanos and the strongest Pokemon of all time, that battle will be legendary. This will stand at the confines of sheer power, as you might see how one legendary Pokémon breaks through the Infinity Gauntlet and rewrites the rankings of the Universe’s most strongest being.

It is Arceus, The Creator of The Legendary Dragon Trio! Arceus...

From engaging video games to thrilling animated series, Pokémon has attracted fans from all over the globe since its creation. However, Satoshi Tajiri, the creator and the so-called father of Pokémon, is surprisingly not as profusely rich in personal assets.

A still from the Og Pokémon series | Credits: Studio Olm

Despite Pokémon’s insane amount of success, other mangakas like Eiichiro Oda and Akira Toriyama are far richer than that of Tajiri. Even other similar Shonen series also have considerably higher net worths. This extreme contrast certainly brings forth questions in the economics of intellectual property in addition to the wealth distribution within the entertainment industry.

If One Piece is in Millions, Then Pokémon is in Billions!

Japanese entertainment industry has, no doubt, produced some amazingly excellent franchises, and One Piece is certainly one of them. Eiichiro Oda’s magnum opus captivated millions of fans worldwide and brought him unprecedented financial success.

The first 22 seasons of the popular Pokmon anime series find a new streaming home for free in the United States, set to be followed by Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.

Via a press release, Wildbrain and The Pokmon Company International's new Pokmon Fast (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) channel went live on Oct. 22 via Pluto TV, featuring select episodes from the first 22 seasons of the popular anime series. Fans in North America can now stream seasons from Pokmon: Indigo League, Pokmon: Adventures in the Orange Islands, Pokmon: The Johto Journeys, Pokmon: Johto League Champions, Pokmon: Master Quest and more.

Related Chainsaw Man Creator's Look Back Anime Finds Streaming Home Next Month

The critically acclaimed Look Back anime movie based on the one-shot story by the creator of Chainsaw Man will soon be available to stream in the U.S.

Pokmon Finds a Dedicated Streaming Home for Over 1,000 Episodes

Alongside Pokmon,...

Japanese game developer Game Freak had announced recently that it had suffered a significant data breach in August 2024 due to unauthorized third-party access to its servers.

What has stirred the most reaction online, however, are the disturbing pieces of lore concerning the Pokémon universe that surfaced in the wake of the breach.

While the authenticity of these leaked materials remains unconfirmed, they have nonetheless spread rapidly across online platforms.

One of the most unsettling elements brought to light through a post by Centro Leaks on X (formerly Twitter) involves lore suggesting that humans and Pokémon once had questionable relationships with each other.

Naturally, questions were raised about the world building of the series.

The leaked Pokémon lores are titled:

Original Sin Based on the Current Pokémon World The Collapse of Culture and Relationships The Relationship Between Humans and Pokémon / Human-Like Ways of Thinking

These stories describe an era where the...

Game Freak has been allegedly hacked, which has resulted in a massive data leak, including the personal information of current and former employees. The leak also targeted the upcoming games, including Pokémon Legends: Z-a.

The production for Pokémon Legends: Z-a is finished. Image Credit: Game Freak

Nintendo too seems to have been dragged in the leak and it sure will leave Nintendo’s lawyers more annoyed than Sony ever was during the PS5 dev kit leak. Having said that, Game Freak and Nintendo have both witnessed a massive hit, and it will take some time before the companies stabilize again.

Game Freak’s Leak Reveals Details About Nintendo’s Upcoming Projects Game Freak’s hack has had an impact on Nintendo as well. Image Credit: Game Freak

The recent leak concerning the Pokémon developer Game Freak has managed to unearth one of the best-kept secrets from Nintendo. According to the...

Pokémon is a global sensation that chronicles the adventures of Ash Ketchum and his electric partner, Pikachu, as they embark on a quest to become Pokémon World Champions. They encounter various Pokémon and trainers throughout their journey, forming friendships and competing in regional leagues to hone their skills.

Following a 26-season run, Ash Ketchum’s journey concluded in 2023. As fans bid farewell to the beloved duo, Ash and Pikachu embarked on a new adventure, leaving the spotlight to a fresh generation of protagonists. Pokémon Horizons: The Series, featuring Liko and Roy, premiered on Netflix in the United States on March 7, 2024, ushering in a new era for the franchise.

The anime series premiered on TV Tokyo in April 1997 and is widely regarded as one of the most successful video game adaptations of all time. Created by Satoshi Tajiri, the series has aired over 1,200 episodes in 192 countries worldwide.

To follow Ash Ketchum’s journey,...

A restocking of Pokmon merch has brought back a fan favorite that had been out of stock for years. The oversized plush is available now for preorder for any fans who missed getting it the first time around.

The official Pokmon Center has started preorders for an adorable Pokmon from the Galar region of Pokmon Sword and Shield: a jumbo version of Appletun has been re-released on the website. Fans have been waiting years for the restock the last time the plush was available was in May 2021. The dopey Grass/Dragon-type Pokmon is less like a dragon and more like a cozy apple pie. Its round shape and large size make it especially good for hugging.

How Pokmon's Appletun Compares To Its Plush Form Small Toy, Big Squish

Appletun may look like a big chunky lug of a Pokmon, but it's canonically not actually that big. The Apple Nectar Pokmon is a measly one foot,...

A newly revealed Pokmon Trading Card Game card features a different version of the dragon trainer Lisia with her Altaria. Players will have a low chance of getting this rare illustration version of the Paradise Dragona card. The card will be an alternate version of Lisia's Appeal, and have the same effect, allowing players to switch in one of their opponent's benched Basic Pokmon and apply the "confused" status to them.

The new card, spotted on PokBeach, sports a dynamic full-card illustration of the dragon Pokmon trainer Lisia reaching toward the viewer with a wink. It also shows Ali, Lisia's Altaria, in the background. The illustration plays up the pair's pop-idol appeal, with Lisia's teal hair and pose making her look like a Pokmon version of Hatsune Miku. The resemblance makes sense, since the artists of the card, Nabusawa and Mochipuyo, create art for BanG Dream idols and voice actors.

The full set of upcoming cards for the Pokmon Trading Card Game has now been released, a week before its official release. Paradise Dragona launches in Japan on September 13 and fans can now see every card that will be included in the set.

The next Pokmon Tcg set will contain 64 new cards, as discovered by Pokbeach. Western fans will have to wait until November 8 to get their hands on these new cards, which will be available as part of the Surging Sparks set along with additional cards from October's Supercharged Breaker.

The full set reveal adds five new secret rares to the game: Cetitian, Vibrava, Drayton, Lisia, and Archaludon ex.

Source: Pokbeach

Pokemon Created by Junichi Masuda, Ken Sugimori, Satoshi TaijiriVideo Game(s) Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Pokmon Legends: Arceus, Pokmon Go, Pokemon SnapFirst Film Pokemon: The First MovieLatest Film Pokmon the Movie: Secrets of the JungleFirst TV Show PokmonFirst...

The Pokmon Trading Card Game has revealed the design for this year's Fall Collector Chest, and it features a franchise icon. Pokmon has been releasing Collector Chests every year since 2014. Each box includes several cards and other goodies for fans and this year's is no different. In addition to some newer Pokmon, the Chest returns to a classic character that's been around from the franchise's very beginning.

Images of the Collector Chest have surfaced on PokBeach, and this year it shines the spotlight on Pikachu, Ogerpon, and Terapagos. The box will include six booster packs, a Pokmon coin with Terapagos on it, four sticker sheets that tie in to the box design, a small case for card storage, and a code for Pokmon Tcg Live. In addition, three foil cards will be included. Two will star Dipplin and Ogerpon, who were introduced to the game in Pokmon Scarlet and Violet.

All 30 of the Pokmon Trading Card Game Halloween special cards have been revealed ahead of their official release. The Trick Or Trade cards are scheduled to hit stores on August 30, but images of every card in the special collection have already appeared online. The upcoming cards feature spooky Halloween-themed Pokmon and designs, along with several extra-special holographics, like in previous years.

The 2024 Pokmon Tcg Trick or Trade BOOster Bundle was revealed by PokBeach, with images displaying the 30 cards. This year's card pack features reprints from the 2023 set, with a cute smiling Pikachu pumpkin stamp on the bottom right of each card's image. This is the third year that the Pokmon Tcg has released special Halloween edition cards. Each pack contains three cards, making them fun little treats to give away on Halloween in an effort to get more kids into the game. Of course, the packs have also become collectibles...

In a new partnership between The Pokmon Company International and WildBrain, the first 22 seasons of the Pokmon anime series are heading to North America, alongside four other territories, for free streaming.

Canadian media licensor and animation distributor WildBrain announced that it has become the sole distributor of the single-ip Pokmon Fast (free ad-supported streaming television) channel. What this means for viewers is that Pokmon will receive a channel devoted solely to the animated series, for which WildBrain will negotiate with its streaming partners to bring to households first in the United States, followed by Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. These streaming partners include Samsung, LG, Roku Tubi, and Pluto. No specific date for the channel has been announced as of writing.

Related New Pokmon Manhole Covers Bring Colorful Pocket Monsters to the Real World

Japan continues its trend of beautifying its public streets' manhole covers, featuring artwork...

Neon Genesis Evangelion set a new standard in complex animated storytelling, influencing Western media and metaphysical themes. Death Note inspired a new era of philosophical thrillers, raising the bar in moral questions and character development. Cowboy Bebop captured an older audience with its gritty, realistic portrayal, blending Western and Sci-Fi genres seamlessly.

Japanese animation has broken through barriers to become a global sensation, affecting Western pop culture in many respects. Anime influences are seen in the fashion, gaming, and merchandising industries, as well as changing animation methods and genre standards across the board.

Once an underground, niche subset of media, anime has revolutionized broadcasting and studio collaboration, pushed for technological imagery advancements, expanded the depth that cartoons can hold, and normalized dedicated fandom culture. The 1963 anime Astro Boy by Osamu Tezuka introduced Western society to the wonders of anime and bridged a gap between cultures. With time, more prominent series...

Anime villains are some of the most popular characters. They do absolutely despicable things, and many of them don't get any kind of redemption arc. A character doesn't have to be admirable or relatable to be interesting and enjoyable, though.

A great villain elevates an anime, raising the stakes and giving the protagonist something to work against. They may be a foil to the hero of the story, or a once-heroic person who tragically loses their way. Some anime villains have reached true notoriety and fan favorite status. Some villains are so interesting and well-designed that fans often speculate if they are the mangaka's favorite character.

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Related 10 Isekai Anime Villains Who Aren't Pushovers

While some isekai villains come off as comedic & absolute pushovers, there are some that could easily obliterate & challenge the anime's protagonist.

Team Rocket Have Impeccable Style in Pokmon Jessie...

Detective Pikachu is a successful live-action video game adaptation with a well-constructed plot and strong casting. Some Pokmon fans disliked the film due to changes in tone and characters, as well as perceived flaws in the story. The film's adjustments were made to appeal to a wider audience, but some fans found these changes disappointing.

Pokmon: Detective Pikachu is arguably one of the best live-action video game adaptations, with a carefully constructed action mystery plot and fabulous casting of Ryan Reynolds, Kathryn Newton, and Justice Smith. Following its release, the film mostly garnered favorable reviews, with many claiming that it broke the curse of video game adaptations. Commercially, it was mildly successful, earning $450 million on a $150 million budget.

Despite this, fans of Pokmon, who grew up watching daily episodes of the original anime on television and playing video games on a console, disliked it, albeit in limited numbers. In all respects,...

While there are many franchises that have gone beyond video games to entertain fans with movies, TV shows, and more, arguably none have been as successful as Pokémon. Created by Satoshi Tajiri for Game Freak, this colorful game has engrossed players for almost three decades with its thrilling premise of training cute "pocket monsters" to fight one another and defeat evil. It's an ingenious premise with a story that goes to creatively genius places, though it fails to ever really delve into the more serious effects of its concept. It goes to some relatively dark places now and then, and should not be critiqued for wanting to preserve its story's innocence, but fans have long speculated about how its concept would actually fare in the real world — namely, if the bright and peaceful world of the series could exist in a modern society so prone to chaos.

Currently, there are 1,025 Pokémon recorded in the Pokédex, offering the most accurate count. Mega Evolutions and Gigantamaxing may add more, but are not always considered new entries. Including gender differences, regional forms, shinies, and more could exponentially increase the Pokémon count.

When Satoshi Tajiri came up with the idea for "Capsule Monsters" (later shortened to Pokémon) in the early 1990s, he was likely unaware of what a cultural phenomenon his concept would become. Even with the release of the first game in 1996 and its subsequent anime in 1997, it is remarkable to look at the franchise's trajectory from the 151 original creation to the thousand plus of today.

The continued evolution of the series has also led to some confusion about how many Pokémon there are now; we are far removed from the "Pokémon Rap" that could name them all in a song. This is for multiple reasons, but we will break...

The regions in the Pokémon universe are based on real locations, but the events are purely fictional. The first four regions are connected within the same land mass and are based on locations in Japan. The remaining five regions are separate and based on other countries and territories.

If one is to speculate that the regions in the Pokémon universe were based on real locations, they would be correct. In some regards, the games can be considered a digital version of our world, with notable countries and territories fitting as models for the various regions. To be on the safe side, though, none of the events of the games are based on any real-life historical events. Anything plot-wise that has happened in the anime or the games is nothing more than works of fiction. However, various Pokémon are based on real-life events.

For the most part, most of the nine...

While the Pokémon franchise is best known for its flagship anime series and mainline video games, the Pokémon Adventures manga follows a compelling reimagined protagonist and his team of fantastical creatures. Pokémon Adventures is set in its own canon that blends elements of the mainline games and Ash's adventures in the anime but with several refreshing creative liberties.

From a more threatening Team Rocket to a villainous Elite Four, Red needs the help of his strongest Pokémon in his grand quest. His official starter, Venusaur, is an expected mainstay from the Red, Green, & Blue arc through Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire. At the same time, his Pikachu is a powerful companion and a nod to the anime.

Pokemon

Expanding across a multitude of media, including TCGs, video games, manga, live-action movies and anime, the Pokémon franchise is set in a shared world of humans and creatures with a wide variety of special abilities.

Pokémon Horizons introduces a new, edgier side to the character of Captain Pikachu, who is running his own Pokémon fight club aboard the airship. The fight between Polteageist and Shuckle shows that Pokémon genuinely enjoy testing their skills against each other. Captain Pikachu's rough personality and appearance contrast with Ash's Pikachu, making him a unique and intriguing character in Pokémon Horizons.

Warning: Spoilers for Pokémon Horizons Episode #30Pokémon Horizons' Captain Pikachu has already proven to be a very different character from Ash's Pikachu, but the latest episode takes that to a new level, as it's revealed that Captain Pikachu has his own Pokémon fight club. It's a very different side of Pokémon than the anime has really ever shown before, and it's as bizarre and hilarious as it sounds.

In episode #30 of Pokémon Horizons, a mysterious purple liquid appears aboard the airship, and Liko and Roy decide to investigate the source.

The Free Comic Book Day 2024 lineup has been announced, and this also means plenty of free manga titles along with the more traditional Western comic book offerings.

As reported on the Free Comic Book Day official website, a total of 48 titles will be available for free at all participating local comic book stores on May 4, 2024. 12 Gold Sponsor comics and 36 Silver Sponsor comics have been announced for 2024's selection, including manga such as One Piece, Initial D and Pokémon Adventures, among many others.

One Piece Manga and Live-Action Collide in New "Grand Line" Collaboration Artwork

How Free Comic Book Day Got Its Start

Free Comic Book Day, also known as Fcbd, is an annual tradition dating back to 2002. In 2001, comic store owner Joe Field wrote a column pitching the idea in the industry magazine Comics & Games Retailer, and a year later, on May 4, 2002, the first annual Free Comic Book Day was held.

The Pokémon anime features a variety of costumed superheroes and villains, who rely on their Pokémon to fight crime and save the day. Some notable Pokémon-themed superheroes include Gligarman and Gligirl, Accelguard, and Blaziken Mask. These heroes and villains add a unique twist to the Pokémon anime, combining elements of powered heroes and gadget-reliant fighters.

When one thinks of anime superheroes, the Pokémon anime probably isn't what comes to mind first, but in its 25-year run, the series saw plenty of costumed heroes (and villains) make an appearance. These heroes usually didn't have much power themselves, but with a Pokémon at their side, they may as well be super.

The first costumed superhero to appear in the Pokémon anime was "Gligarman," a parody of Batman who is first introduced stopping Team Rocket in the episode "The Superhero Secret." Gligarman keeps his secret identity (as "Mr. Parker" the toymaker) while...

Pokémon Horizons introduces unique and experimental Poké Balls with different effects, such as the Rocket Ball, Boomerang Ball, Bomb-Bomb Ball, and Chase Ball. These new Poké Balls offer practical benefits, like improved aiming and waste reduction, and could be useful in both the Pokémon anime's world and video games. The episode also showcases custom Poké Balls that serve as aesthetic additions, reflecting trainers' love for specific Pokémon and adding depth to Pokémon Horizons' lore.

Warning: Spoilers for episode #29 of Pokémon HorizonsPokémon Horizons hasn't been afraid to leave its mark on the series, and the latest episode offers a fresh new take on one of the franchise's key elements: the Poké Ball. A run-in with a Poké Ball artisan leaves Roy with a number of experimental balls to try out, including some that fans of the series might actually be interested in seeing brought to life in the games.

After Roy...

The rivalry between Red and Blue in the Pokémon manga is more compelling than Ash and Gary's rivalry in the anime early on. Red and Blue's relationship is revealed and developed more quickly in the manga, while Ash and Gary's dynamic is elaborated on later in the series. Red and Blue focus on their individual goals while still supporting and competing with each other, creating a stronger and more balanced rivalry than Ash and Gary's early rivalry.

Ash and Gary in Pokémon have one of the best-known rivalries in anime. Pokémon Adventures, the franchise's manga, doesn't feature either, but instead focuses on their video game counterparts: Red and Blue. While Ash and Gary are great rivals, the manga competition was very different - and somewhat improved.

The first Pokémon game released in Japan in 1996, a year ahead of the manga and anime inspired by it. This game kicked off the...

Pokémon Concierge, a new stop-motion series, premieres on Netflix on December 28, offering a different and fun adventure in the Pokémon universe. The series follows the story of Haru, the concierge of a special resort where Pokémon go to rest, and focuses on her interactions with hotel guests and what she learns from them. Pokémon Concierge stars Karen Fukuhara as Haru and features a talented cast.

The Pokémon universe is expanding thanks to Netflix with Pokémon Concierge, a stop-motion series that premieres on December 28 on the streaming platform. Pokémon is, of course, a popular Japanese franchise that began in 1996 as an RPG video game, and expanded into different media over time, including card games, television series, movies, and much more. Pokémon became hugely popular in 1997 when the anime adaptation premiered, a story that has traveled around the world and conquered all types of audiences.

Announced earlier this year, shortly after the...

Pikachu unintentionally absorbed the Blue Orb, gaining immense power and glowing lines similar to Primal Kyogre and Groudon. Pikachu uses the power of the Blue Orb to help Groudon escape and defeat Kyogre, showcasing his strength and type advantage. The power-up is temporary, but makes Pikachu the strongest he's ever been, demonstrating his hidden potential and surprising everyone in the anime.

Pikachu's greatest power-up in the Pokémon anime occurred entirely unintentionally during the Team Aqua and Magma arc, when Pikachu took on the power of a Legendary Pokémon. By absorbing the Blue Orb, Pikachu gained an immense amount of power, along with glowing lines across his body similar to those on Primal Kyogre and Groudon.

In the Team Aqua and Magma story arc, the leader of Team Aqua, Archie, takes control of the Red Orb, hoping to use it to control Kyogre and complete his goal of raising the sea levels across the world.

Ash's Goomy has one of the best character arcs in the Pokémon anime, dealing with issues like Ptsd and overcoming them to become a hero. Goomy's traumatic past and fear of battling are portrayed realistically, but with Ash's help, Goomy gains confidence and evolves into a strong Pokémon. Goodra, the evolved form of Goomy, returns to its home and helps reclaim it from Florges and the Bug-types, showing growth and maturity.

Many of Ash's Pokémon in the Pokémon anime have had some interesting character arcs over the years, but Ash's Goomy stands out as having one of the best arcs in the series, even topping the likes of Pikachu. By dealing with difficult issues and overcoming them to be a real hero, Goomy's growth becomes a model for young viewers.

Ash first encounters Goomy in the episode "A Slippery Encounter" of Pokémon Xy, where it literally falls out of the...

The Pokémon franchise creatively names its characters, often drawing inspiration from real-world historical figures. The English localization team has successfully adapted many character names, maintaining the essence of the original Japanese references for English-speaking audiences. Jessie and James are named after famous historical figures both in English and in Japanese, while Ash and Gary, pay homage to the franchise's creator and his mentor.

As one of the most profitable media franchises of all time, Pokémon and its characters have become iconic and instantly recognizable. Although fans will be familiar with many of the names of Pokémon's extensive cast of characters, they may not be aware of the references to real-world historical figures that inspired the names of certain prominent characters in the franchise. While some of these references are only present in the original Japanese and have been dropped by the English localization teams, others have been adapted to...

One of the most important gameplay mechanics in Pokémon is the typings and their impact on battles; making memorizing and mastering their weaknesses and resistances crucial. In total, there are 18 different types, making a type chart very useful for Trainers looking to find out every Pokémon weakness and resistance. Initially, there were only 15 Pokémon types, with Dark and Steel added in Generation 2, while Fairy was introduced in Generation 6. Though some types have been adjusted since Gen 1, many have kept much of their original properties over the years.

Both logic and science decide a type's weaknesses and resistances. For example, Fire is weak to Water, Ground, and Rock because those can put out a fire. In contrast, Fire is strong against Grass, Ice, Bug, and Steel because it is able to burn/melt those things. These rules have kept the Pokémon games relatively balanced throughout the series, and while some Pokémon Type matchups don't make sense,...

Let’s be clear, there’s no doubt that you’ve watched anime at some point in your life. You probably just didn’t know it was anime.

If you’re wondering what exactly constitutes as anime, the term specifically refers to animation created and produced in Japan. And the stories usually originate from a manga or video game series. But today, anime has grown and expanded outside of Japan, inspiring other parts of the world to launch their own versions of the more than 100-year-old craft.

Whether it was “Pokémon” or catching Goku on the next episode of “Dragon Ball Z,” anime has always been there. And anime has inspired live-action films from the likes of the Wachowskis’ “Speed Racer” and Michael B. Jordan’s “Creed III.”

If you’re new to anime thanks to Netflix’s live-action adaptation “One Piece,” you may be wondering where to begin. What...

Pokémon has spent the last three decades becoming the highest-grossing media franchise of all time, and it's become far more than a series of cute video games. Pokémon continues to make a major impact in the video game industry through its mainline games and countless spinoffs, but the same franchise has also produced more than 1,200 anime episodes, two-dozen feature films, and an engaging manga. Pokémon manga have been around for as long as the video games, but it's a corner of the Pokémon universe that often gets overlooked.

It's not unusual for popular anime and video games to receive manga counterparts. However, Pokémon has taken a unique direction that better reflects the franchise's diverse tones and ideas. There is a wealth of Pokémon manga that tackle everything from the Trading Card Game to a more traditional comic strip gag approach to storytelling. Despite Pokémon's international success, many of these...

There's been a lot of shakeups in the world of Pokémon Go recently, and one of those is the introduction of new events to the game, such as 'A Mystic Hero,' which is just around the corner. This event is scheduled to start at 10:00 am local time on April 13th and end at 8:00 pm local time on April 17th, perfect for trainers with a long weekend.

In this event, trainers will be helping the leader of Team Mystic, Blanche, with free, limited-time Special Research. While details are currently scarce, this event seems to be similar to past Special Researches, such as Pokémon Go's Ultra Beast Protection Efforts. You will definitely want to take advantage of this opportunity, not only for the game's story but also because of the rewards you're bound to get.

Related: Pokémon Go: All April 2023 Events & Rewards

A Mystic Hero Event Bonuses

Like every event in Pokémon Go,...

Quick Links Community Day Event Bonuses Noibat Bonuses

Noibat, the Sound Wave Pokémon is flying in to Pokémon Go's Community Day on February 5th. Lasting from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time, players will encounter this little guy more frequently, and they'll have an increased Shiny rate on top of that. A great opportunity for players who have been saving up their incense to try and get a Shiny Noibat.

A Flying- and Dragon-type Pokémon, Noibat is a great choice for Trainer Battles, Gym Challenges, and Raids. On top of that, just like Pokemon Go's Chespin Community Day, Noibats evolved during or just after the event will get a special bonus. Any Noibat evolved into a Noivern by 10:00 p.m. local time on February 5th will know the charge attack Boomburst, a Normal-type move that's brand new to Pokémon Go. Considering the number of Noibats the dedicated farmer will encounter,...

Now that he’s officially become the very best, like no one ever was, Ash Ketchum is heading into retirement. The long-running and perpetually 10 year-old star of the beloved “Pokémon” anime will exit the series with an upcoming 11-episode run airing in Japan this January, the Pokémon Company announced Friday.

In his place, two new protagonists, Liko and Roy, will be introduced in a new series set in the Paldea region, first seen in this year’s Generation IX “Pokémon” games “Scarlet and Violet.” The series will premiere sometime later in 2023, and feature the starters from the game: Sprigatito (a grass cat), Fuecoco (a fire-breathing crocodile baby), and Quaxly (a water duck).

The news of Ash’s retirement from the anime comes a month after the Japanese airing of the 132nd episode of the “Pokémon Journeys” series, and the 1,217th episode of the anime overall, which saw Ash (voiced in...

In an early issue of Hidenori Kusaka's 1997 manga "Pokémon Adventures," based on the game by Satoshi Tajiri, the definition of a Pokémon was laid down as merely "a mysterious species not recorded in traditional biological taxonomies." A look around the Pokémon universe, however, finds no animals that have been recorded in traditional biological taxonomies, either. There are no cats and dogs in this world, only Pokémon. Some have theorized that Pokémon takes place in a distant future, a post-post-apocalyptic world where animals evolved into superpowered creatures. Others simply repeat to themselves it's just a show and fans should really just relax, understanding that Pokémon exists in a fantasy world.

In this world, 10-year-olds are offered the opportunity to leave home with a bindle with a superpowered animal in their charge, all in the hopes of garnering the honor (there is no cash prize) of becoming a Pokémon Master.

The volume...

With almost 1,000 pocket monsters currently existing in the series, Pokémon artists and designers have drawn inspiration for their designs from an incredibly wide array of sources. Given the Pokémon franchise's origins with creator Satoshi Tajiri's love for bug catching, it makes sense that real-world animal and plant life have inspired many of its characters.

Related: 10 Best Pokémon Spinoff Games, Ranked (According To Metacritic)

Not all creatures in Pokémon come from such common backgrounds, though. A number of Pokémon from the game's eight generations reflecting various mystical beings from predominantly Asian mythology and folklore.

Netflix has in early development a live-action Pokémon series based on the popular trading cards, sources close to the project tell Deadline.

There are no details, but we’re told Lucifer co-showrunner and EP Joe Henderson is attached to write the series and executive produce.

Netflix and reps for Henderson would not comment.

The Japanese franchise, created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1995, is centered on fictional creatures called “Pokémon”. In Pokémon, humans, known as Pokémon Trainers, catch and train Pokémon to battle other Pokémon for sport.

A live-action Pokémon series would be a natural follow for Netflix, which currently has several Pokemon shows on the streaming service such as Pokémon: Indigo League and Pokémon Journeys, among others. Pokémon is considered the most successful video game adaptation of all time, with over 1000 episodes broadcast and adapted for international television markets, concurrently airing in 169 countries worldwide. The franchise inspired the first-ever live-action Pokémon movie,...

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In 1996, Joseph Tobin was a professor of early education at the University of Hawaii when he decided to walk into a hobby store in Kaimuki for field research.

“They had some Pokémon stuff—the Japanese versions of the cartridges,” Tobin recalls. “People could buy them in this store before they were even available elsewhere. We interviewed the owner and decided that Pokémon would be a really interesting thing to study.”

Tobin had a pre-existing interest in Japanese culture from time spent in Japan as an exchange student and therefore continued his research in other hobby shops and toy stores throughout Honolulu. As the years progressed, he traded Pokémon cards with children who were adamant that he would not get ripped off in lopsided swaps. He followed as a colleague’s six-year-old son spent 90-plus hours with his Pokémon Blue cartridge for the Nintendo Game Boy,...

With more than 1000 episodes produced over the course of nearly three decades, Pokémon is one of the most popular anime ever made. Every season, series protagonist Ash ventures to another region of the globe, where he encounters strange new Pokémon that he must use to defeat the gym leaders and fulfill his lifelong goal of becoming a Pokémon master.

Although the older seasons of the anime are pretty easy to find online – some even aired on Netflix for a considerable amount of time – newer ones are harder to come by. Fortunately for Pokémon fans, then, they’ll soon be able to watch one of the newest series for free.

Starting July 3rd, Pokémon the Series: Xy will be added to Pokemon TV, a free app that allows fans of the franchise to stream episodes on their mobile devices. The show will go live starting July 3rd, or so The Pokémon...