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:''Pocket Monsters redirects here. For the first installment of a gag manga series based on the franchise, see [[Pocket Monsters (manga)]].  For the IRC channel, see [[Pocketmonsters|#pocketmonsters]].''
:''This article is about Pokémon, also known as Pocket Monsters, as a series. For other uses of the words, see [[Pokémon (disambiguation)]]''.
{{samename|species|Pokémon (species)}}
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[[Image:Pokémon_logo_English.png|200px|thumb|right|International logo of the Pokémon franchises]]
[[File:Pokémon logo English.png|250px|thumb|International logo of the Pokémon franchises]]
'''Pokémon''' (Japanese: '''ポケットモンスター''' ''Pocket Monsters'', or '''ポケモン''' ''Pokémon'' for short) is a series of {{wp|video game}}s, and an entire franchise based around those games, that centers around the ability to "catch" and "train" creatures called ''Pokémon'', for which it is named. The term ''Pokémon'' may refer to the video game franchise, an individual Pokémon creature, or a Pokémon species.
'''Pokémon''' (Japanese: '''ポケットモンスター''' ''Pocket Monsters'', '''ポケモン''' ''Pokémon'' for short), sometimes shortened to '''{{PK}}{{MN}}''', is an overarching media franchise owned by [[Nintendo]], [[Creatures, Inc.]], and [[Game Freak]]. First appearing in 1996 with the release of its [[Pokémon Red and Green Versions|first entries]] on the [[Game Boy]]<ref name="ポケットモンスター 赤・緑">[http://www.pokemon.co.jp/game/other/gb-rg/ ポケットモンスター 赤・緑 (''In English'': Pokémon Red and Green). The Pokémon Company].</ref>, the [[core series|game series]] has since inspired an array of media, including an [[Pokémon anime|anime]], a [[Pokémon Trading Card Game|card game]], numerous {{pkmn|manga}}, and various [[Spin-off Pokémon games|spin-off]] games.
 
The series focuses on the creatures known as {{OBP|Pokémon|species}}, as well as their inhabited {{Pkmn|world}}, full of legends, tales, and adventures. Several [[canon|interpretations]] of the world explore different themes and elements. Most commonly, Pokémon coexist with [[human]]s and can be {{Pkmn2|caught}}, [[Pokémon training|trained]], and used in {{Pkmn|battle}}s and other activities. {{Pkmn|Trainer}}s, along with their Pokémon, travel across diverse [[region|lands]] aiming to make their dreams become reality.


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
Pokémon is called "Pocket Monsters" in Japan. This would have been the name when transferred to North America, but "Pocket Monsters" would've caused trademarking problems with {{wp|Monster in My Pocket}}, so [[Nintendo]] settled on using the shortened version of the name which is also used in Japan, with the "Poké" coming from pocket and the "Mon" being derived from Monsters.
[[File:RedGreenMenu.png|frame|The Game Boy's limited screen forced short words.]]
Much as happens with many other {{wp|wasei-eigo|words and phrases borrowed from English}}, the Japanese name for the series, Pocket Monsters, became contracted into "Pokémon" during the development of the original games, likely as much for convenience when referring to it as to save on screen real estate, considering the small size of the [[Game Boy]]'s screen. The official romanization of "Pokémon" at this time was derived from the contraction of '''Po'''c'''ke'''t and '''Mon'''ster, and can be seen explicitly in ''[[EP025#Trivia|Primeape Goes Bananas]]'', even in the dub.
 
The "Pokémon" name used today came about during the translation of the games for an English audience during 1997 and 1998. Whereas in Japan, Pocket Monsters was easily able to be trademarked, the release in the United States would prove difficult had this name been used, due to the unrelated {{wp|Monster in My Pocket}} franchise. Thus, an alternate romanization of the contraction was used, with an {{wp|Acute accent#English|acute accent}} over the e to indicate its specific pronunciation, ''poh-kay-mohn''. Despite this issue, however, the fact that Pokémon is short for Pocket Monsters has been referenced in English, with an NPC in {{game2|Diamond|Pearl|Platinum}} asking the player what Pokémon is short for after thinking about the name of the [[Pokétch]], itself a contraction, as well as on the back of the DVD set containing the [[M01|first]], [[M02|second]], and [[M03|third]] {{pkmn|movie}}s.
 
==Franchise==
{{main|History of Pokémon}}
Pokémon, as a series, was originally conceived by [[Satoshi Tajiri]] as a way to instill in children of the modern, more urbanized Japan the same enjoyment that he felt as a young boy collecting insects and other bugs near his hometown of {{wp|Machida, Tokyo|Machida}}. Initially called [[Capsule Monsters]], or CapuMon for short, Tajiri pitched the series to Nintendo after being inspired by the [[Game Link Cable]]; he pictured an insect crawling across it between two Game Boy systems.
 
[[File:Spr 1g 006.png|frame|{{p|Charizard}}'s Red and Green sprite]]
With help from [[Shigeru Miyamoto]], the series began development, with the concepts of the original games, {{game|Red and Green|s}}, going into production between 1990 and 1995. At last, in early 1996, the first games in the series were released in Japan, and Tajiri's dream had become reality. Compared to other games of its time, Pokémon was very limited, with comparatively poor graphics and sound. The series was an overnight success though, and Red and Green were quickly followed by an upgraded [[third version]], {{game|Blue| (Japanese)}}.
 
An {{pkmn|anime}} was produced, with the intention of covering the journey players took through the [[Kanto]] region in the games over the course of a year and a half. About halfway through the anime's run in late 1997, tragedy struck and [[EP038|an episode]] of the anime was found to be responsible for {{wp|epileptic seizure}}s in more than 600 children due to a flashing strobe effect. No one died of these seizures, and after an investigation was put into place, the anime was put on hiatus for four months, later returning to the air to complete the Kanto run in April 1998.


Due to the accent on the name, Pokémon has a specific pronunciation &mdash; ''Poh-Kay-Mon''. The emphasis on the '''e''' is from the accent. Common mispronunciations include ''Poke-Ay-Mon'', ''Poke-ee-man'', ''Poke-ee-mon'', ''Poke-ay-man'', ''Pock-uh-mon'' and ''Poke-uh-mon''.
Encouraged by the games' success in Japan and their upcoming release in the United States, [[Game Freak]] began development on sequels to them. Rather than releasing the sequels immediately, however, Game Freak instead chose to draw from the story of the anime (which differed from the games in that its protagonist was given a {{p|Pikachu}} instead of the standard [[starter Pokémon]] received in [[Red]], [[Green]], and [[Blue]]) and created a fourth game, {{game|Yellow||Special Pikachu Edition}}, to buy some more time for development on the announced sequels.


Ironicly, durring the first episode of the series, everyone pronounced Pokémon as ''Poke-uh-mon''. It's only proper pronunciation was durring the title.
Several {{pkmn|manga}} series were also produced in this early period, including [[Pokémon Adventures]], which Tajiri has stated is closest to his original idea of the {{pkmn|world}} the series takes place in.


==Concept==
The much-awaited sequels were released in 1999 in Japan and 2000 in the US. {{game|Gold and Silver|s}} revamped the Pokémon world, bringing it into full color, introducing one hundred new Pokémon and addressing many of the issues that had been present in the original games. For example, two new [[type]]s were introduced to address type imbalances. The anime, manga, and other aspects of the franchise followed suit, bringing their characters into the [[Generation II|second generation]].
The basis of Pokémon is reminiscent of insect collecting, which the creator, [[Satoshi Tajiri]], enjoyed as a child.


At a glance, most Pokémon species are based off of ordinary animals, and sometimes plants. They are also inspired by ''{{wp|yōkai}}'', which are very popular in Japanese pop culture. This is evident from the extensive powers Pokémon exhibit, as well as their ever-growing, in-game mythology.
Even after the initial worldwide hype for the series died down, the Pokémon franchise remained strong. A third version was produced for Generation II, focusing on the [[Legendary Pokémon]] {{p|Suicune}}. With {{game|Crystal}}, a female player character was finally introduced, and the games became fully dependent on the [[Game Boy Color]], abandoning the now long-outdated [[Game Boy]]. [[Generation III]] was announced for the new [[Game Boy Advance]], and at least among fans, the hype returned.


==Franchise==
Despite this, when {{game|Ruby and Sapphire|s}} were initially released many people considered them, and Generation III in general, a disappointment. {{an|Misty}}, {{Ash}}'s longtime companion in the anime, left the show and a new girl {{an|May}} joined him. Although 135 new Pokémon were introduced, the games, unlike the Generation II games, were completely incompatible with their predecessors, making 184 of the 251 previously released Pokémon unobtainable without [[cheating]]. This issue was addressed with the unprecedented release of [[remake]]s of the original pair of games, {{game|FireRed and LeafGreen|s}}, which included many of the Pokémon missing from Ruby and Sapphire. In addition, an enhanced version of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, {{game|Emerald}}, was released and introduced the {{gdis|Battle Frontier|III}} and many other features that would be enjoyed by those who battled Pokémon competitively.
Also called '''Pocket Monsters''' in Japan and some other countries, Pokémon is a mega-franchise including [[Pokémon games|video games]], an {{pkmn|anime}}, a {{pkmn|Trading Card Game}}, many {{pkmn|manga}} series, a [[Pokémon Trading Figure Game|miniatures game]], and much more merchandise. The concept of Pokémon was first created by [[Satoshi Tajiri]] and all Pokémon games are published by Nintendo Inc., Ltd for their video game systems, including the Game Boy, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo DS, and Wii. The games include strategy games and RPGs where the player becomes a "[[Pokémon Trainer]]" who encounters, captures, trains, and collects many Pokémon creatures; puzzle games; and pinball games. They were first released in 1996 in Japan, and were first released in the USA in 1998. Since then, as of 2009 the Pokémon Franchise has sold more than 193 million units worldwide, second only to {{wp|Mario}} with more than 210 million units sold worldwide and leaving even the next two closest franchises, {{wp|Tetris}} and {{wp|The Sims}} in the dust with 125 million and 100 million, respectively.  
 
Much like the previous generations, [[Generation IV]] was highly anticipated. {{game|Diamond and Pearl|s}}, released in 2006 in Japan and 2007 in the US, received much praise. These games brought with them many enhancements from Emerald, and for the first time, Pokémon could be played online to battle against and trade with other players across the world. This generation was also noted for introducing the [[physical move|physical]]/[[special move|special]] damage category split, another improvement which would be enjoyed by those who battled Pokémon competitively. 107 new Pokémon were added as well, bringing the total to 493.
 
With the precedent set by the earlier release of remakes for the original pair of games, this generation saw much speculation for a remake of the now-outdated Generation II games, and hidden data in the games seemed to indicate that remakes were planned. A third version, {{game|Platinum}}, was released two years after Diamond and Pearl. Due to this, as well as the delay in the release, many became discouraged that the remakes would never come. However, after five years of speculation, {{game|HeartGold and SoulSilver|s}} were finally released in 2009 in Japan and in 2010 elsewhere.
 
[[File:Spr 5b 006.png|frame|{{p|Charizard}}'s Black, White, Black 2 and White 2 sprite]]
[[Generation V]] constituted a "reboot" similar to that of Generation III. The highly anticipated {{game|Black and White|s}} were set far away from the previous games in a region based on {{wp|New York City}} called [[Unova]]. Initially in the game, only the 156 new Pokémon introduced in this generation were available before beating the [[Pokémon League]], forcing veteran players to rethink old strategies. The games did have the capacity to connect to older games, however, and maintained the international connectivity introduced in the fourth generation. The anime series, [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]], and manga series also embraced the new generation with releases of tie-in media. Breaking the traditional format, Pokémon Black and White were followed by two direct sequels, [[Pokémon Black and White Versions 2]], which included many Pokémon from different regions.
 
[[Generation VI]] started with [[Pokémon X and Y]], which were released worldwide on the same day in October 2013, a first for the franchise. The games introduced many new features, such as fully 3D gameplay including 3D models for every Pokémon, [[Mega Evolution]], the introduction of the {{t|Fairy}} [[type]], [[Trainer customization]], [[Pokémon-Amie]], and new battle formats (such as [[Sky Battle]]s and [[Inverse Battle]]s). The games' [[Kalos]] region was chosen to be based on {{wp|France}} partly because French culture is known for its art and beauty—the main theme of the game. The new [[Super Training]] feature offered a simple way to monitor a Pokémon's {{EV}}s. New ways to improve the player's chance of finding [[Shiny Pokémon]] were also introduced, such as the introduction of chain fishing and the return of the [[Poké Radar]]. With the addition of 72 new Pokémon, the total number of Pokémon in Generation VI is 721.


Many sub-games have been released but three games managed to become series in and of themselves; the [[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon]] series, the [[Pokémon Ranger]], and the [[Pokémon Stadium]] series.
Although there were no remakes in Generation V, Generation VI saw the release of {{g|Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire}} worldwide in November 2014, remakes of Generation III's Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. Similarly to Pokémon X and Y, Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire were released around the same time worldwide, although the games were released in Europe a week after the rest of the world. In addition to being remakes of the Generation III games, the games included new Mega Evolutions and introduced [[Primal Reversion]].


==Collectively==
[[Generation VII]] began with the release of [[Pokémon Sun and Moon]] in November 2016; like Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, these games were released on the same day worldwide except in Europe, where the games' release was delayed a few days. This generation introduced 81 new Pokémon, taking the total up to 802. The games were released on the year of the [[Pokémon 20th Anniversary|20th anniversary of the franchise]] and are notable for being the first in the core series to lack Gyms, Badges, and HMs. [[Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon]], enhanced versions of Pokémon Sun and Moon, were released worldwide in November 2017. These are the first games to introduce new Pokémon during a generation, excluding [[Mythical Pokémon]] that were already present in the older games' data, bringing the total to 807. [[Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!]], [[remakes]] of {{game|Yellow}}, were released worldwide in November 2018. These are the first core titles for the [[Nintendo Switch]], and the first time a core title has switched to a new system mid-generation.
Pokémon inhabit virtually every corner of the {{pkmn|world}}: in forests, in deserts, in the sea, in the sky, and even in bustling cities. All Pokémon are hatched from {{pkmn|egg}}s and most can [[Pokémon breeding|reproduce]], save for legendary Pokémon, and other exceptions. In the wild, Pokémon sometimes fight one another. This can be for play, for food, or for defense. Pokémon, like all living creatures, are not immortal, although people new to Pokémon may have that misconception.


==Individually==
[[Generation VIII]] will start with the release of [[Pokémon Sword and Shield]] for the Nintendo Switch worldwide in November 2019.
An individual Pokémon may be {{pkmn2|wild|encountered in the wild}}, {{pkmn2|caught}}, {{pkmn|training|trained}}, and {{pkmn|battle|battled with}}. In the games, individual Pokémon have many characteristics including [[stats]], [[individual values|IVs]], [[species]], [[Level]], [[Effort values|EVs]], [[Nature]], [[personality value]], [[Experience]], and known [[moves]].


==Species==
==Creatures==
{{main|Pokémon (species)}}
{{main|Pokémon (species)}}
'''Pokémon species''' are "kinds" of Pokémon, such as {{p|Bulbasaur}} or {{p|Zubat}}. Individual Pokémon of certain species can change into some other species by [[evolution|evolving]], such as a Bulbasaur evolving into an {{p|Ivysaur}}. There are currently 493 officially released Pokémon species.
The creatures themselves, which are based on various plants, animals, objects, and other concepts, inhabit virtually every corner of the {{pkmn|world}}, no matter which canon's interpretation is seen. Many make their homes in forests and on rural [[route]]s stretching across the various regions, while still others are native to cities and other urban centers. Currently, there are {{numpkmn}} known Pokémon.


==Design themes==
Typically, Pokémon that are owned by a person are kept in [[Poké Ball]]s, which allow for them to be quickly sent into battle or to perform a task while keeping them safe and making them easier to transport, with the balls typically being able to fit into a pocket. HeartGold and SoulSilver have the lead Pokémon out of their Poké Balls. Many Pokémon owned by Trainers, however, choose to remain outside of their Poké Ball, and travel with their Trainer [[walking Pokémon|on foot]].
The species of Pokémon for each [[generation]] are all designed in a similar fashion, though it is easily overlooked, especially to newcomers. The original 151 of [[Generation I]] were all very simple in appearance. At the time, the games were a very simple adventure and somewhat lacking in substance regarding the story. [[Generation II]] implemented much more creative features, emphasizing a more in-depth plot. Species in [[Generation III]] became more extravagant as the games took place in more exotic locations. Then there was [[Generation IV]]. Although not quite the same leap as before, the designs hold a dark elegance, symbolizing the themes of mysticism.


==See also==
Pokémon begin their lives by hatching from {{pkmn|Egg}}s (with the exception of most [[Mythical]] and [[Legendary Pokémon]]), and many of them will [[Evolution|evolve]] to grow stronger and larger during the course of their lives. Most Pokémon are not immortal, as can be seen from the Pokémon gravestones found in various {{cat|burial grounds}}. Though their abilities far surpass those of normal animals, the majority of Pokémon are not immortal (as those who do not follow the series as closely may deduce).
 
Many Pokémon are much more powerful than others, and some, due to this, have [[legendary Pokémon|passed into legends]] that are told in the Pokémon world. It has not been consistently illustrated whether or not these Pokémon really do have the power that their legends state, though the general consensus is that, in the wild, a Pokémon's abilities are truly those of the legends, while a Trainer who captures one in a Poké Ball will limit its strength.
 
Many Pokémon may also be influenced by {{wp|yōkai}}, which are special creatures in Japanese folklore with strange abilities, sometimes even created from inanimate objects.
 
==In other languages==
''Pokémon''
{| class="roundy" style="background: #{{Pokémon color}}; border: 3px solid #{{Pokémon color dark}}"
! Language
! Name
! Origin
|- style="background:#FFF"
| Japanese
| ポケモン ''Pokémon''
| From ポケットモンスター ''Pocket Monsters''.
|- style="background:#FFF"
| English{{tt|*|and all other languages using the Latin alphabet unless stated otherwise below}}
| Pokémon
| Same as Japanese name. The letter {{wp|é}} is used to represent the {{wp|Close-mid front unrounded vowel|-ay}} sound.
|- style="background:#FFF"
| Chinese ({{tt|Mandarin|Taiwan and mainland China}})
| 寶可夢 / 宝可梦 ''Pokémon''{{tt|*|Taiwan (2016 - present) and mainland China (2011 - present)}}<br>神奇寶貝 / 神奇宝贝 ''Shénqí Bǎobèi''{{tt|*|Taiwan (1998 - present) and Mainland China (2001 - 2011)}}<br>小精灵 ''Xiǎojīnglíng''{{tt|*|Mainland China (1998 - 2002)}}
| Transliteration of Japanese name.<br>From 神奇的口袋中的寶貝 / 神奇的口袋中的宝贝 ''Shénqí de kǒudài zhōng de bǎobèi''. 神奇宝贝 / 神奇寶貝 means ''magical creatures''.<br>Same as former Cantonese name.
|- style="background:#FFF"
| Chinese ({{tt|Cantonese|Hong Kong}})
| 寶可夢 ''Pokémon''{{tt|*|2017 - present}}<br>小精靈 ''Síujīnglìhng''{{tt|*|1998 - present}}<br>寵物小精靈 ''Chúngmaht Síujīnglìhng''{{tt|*|1998 - present}}<br>精靈 ''Jīnglìhng''{{tt|*|1998 - 1999}}
| Same as Mandarin name.<br>From 寵物小精靈 ''Chúngmaht Síujīnglìhng''. 小精靈 means ''little creature''.<br>Same as the series' name.<br>From 寵物小精靈 ''Chúngmaht Síujīnglìhng''. 精靈 means ''creature''.
|- style="background:#FFF"
| Korean
| 포켓몬 ''Pokémon''
| From 포켓몬스터 ''Pocket Monsters''
|- style="background:#FFF"
| Arabic
| بوكيمون ''Bukimun''
| Transliteration of English name
|- style="background:#FFF"
| Cyrillic script
| Покемон ''Pokemon''
| Transliteration of English name
|- style="background:#FFF"
| Greek
| Πόκεμον ''Pókemon''
| Transliteration of English name
|- style="background:#FFF"
| Hebrew
| פוקימון ''Pokimon''
| Transliteration of English name
|- style="background:#FFF"
| Hindi
| पोकेमोन ''Pokémon''
| Transliteration of English name
|- style="background:#FFF"
| Tamil
| போகிமொன் ''Pokémon''
| Transliteration of English name
|- style="background:#FFF"
| Telugu
| పోకీమాన్ ''Pokémon''
| Transliteration of English name
|- style="background:#FFF"
| Urdu
| پوکيمون ''Pokémon''
| Transliteration of English name
|- style="background:#FFF"
| Thai
| โปเกมอน ''Pokémon''
| Transliteration of English name
|- style="background:#FFF"
| Vietnamese
| Pokémon<br>Bửu Bối Thần Kỳ{{tt|*|Phương Nam Film}}
| Same as English name<br>From former Chinese name
|-
! colspan="3" |
|}
 
''Pocket Monsters''
{| class="roundy" style="background: #{{Pokémon color}}; border: 3px solid #{{Pokémon color dark}}"
! Language
! Name
! Origin
|- style="background:#FFF"
| Japanese
| ポケットモンスター ''Pocket Monsters''
| From ポケット ''poketto'' (pocket) and モンスター ''monsutā'' (monsters).
|- style="background:#FFF"
| Chinese ({{tt|Mandarin|Taiwan and mainland China}})
| 精靈寶可夢 / 精灵宝可梦 ''Jīnglíng Pokémon''{{tt|*|Taiwan (2016 - 2019) and Mainland China (2011 - 2019)}}<br>神奇的口袋中的寶貝 / 神奇的口袋中的宝贝 ''Shénqí de kǒudài zhōng de bǎobèi''{{tt|*|Taiwan (1998 - present) and mainland China (2001 - 2011)}}<br>宠物小精灵 ''Chǒngwù Xiǎojīnglíng''{{tt|*|Mainland China (1998 - 2002)}}
| From 精靈 / 精灵 ''jīnglíng'' (creature) and 寶可夢 / 宝可梦 ''Pokémon'' (transliteration of Japanese name).<br>Means ''the magical creatures in the pocket''.<br>Same as former Cantonese name.
|- style="background:#FFF"
| Chinese ({{tt|Cantonese|Hong Kong}})
| 精靈寶可夢 ''Jīnglìhng Pokémon''{{tt|*|2017 - 2019}}<br>寵物小精靈 ''Chúngmaht Síujīnglìhng''{{tt|*|1998 - present}}
| Same as Mandarin name.<br>Means ''pet creature''.
|- style="background:#FFF"
| Korean
| 포켓몬스터 ''Pocket Monsters''
| From 포켓 ''poket'' (pocket) and 몬스터 ''monseuteo'' (monsters).
|- style="background:#FFF"
| Thai
| พ็อกเก็ตมอนสเตอร์ ''Pocket Monsters''
| From พ็อกเก็ต ''pocket'' and มอนสเตอร์ ''monsters''.
|-
! colspan="3" |
|}
 
==Related articles==
* [[History of Pokémon]]
* [[History of Pokémon]]
* [[List of Pokémon]]
* [[List of Pokémon]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
;Official websites
* [https://www.pokemon.com Pokémon.com] <small>(English)</small>
* [http://www.pokemon.co.jp Pokémon.co.jp] <small>(Japanese)</small>
* [http://www.pokemon-gl.com/ Pokémon Global Link]
;Official social-media website accounts
*''[https://www.facebook.com/Pokemon Pokémon]'' on {{wp|Facebook}} <small>(English)</small>
*''[https://pokemon.tumblr.com/ Pokémon]'' on {{wp|Tumblr}} <small>(English)</small>
*''[https://www.twitter.com/Pokemon Pokémon]'' on {{wp|Twitter}} <small>(English)</small>
*''[https://www.instagram.com/pokemon/?hl=en Pokémon]'' on {{wp|Instagram}} <small>(English)</small>
*''[https://www.youtube.com/user/Pokemon Pokémon]'' on {{wp|YouTube}} <small>(English)</small>
*''[https://www.twitch.tv/pokemon Pokémon]'' on {{wp|Twitch}} <small>(English)</small>
*''[https://www.facebook.com/PokemonCoJp Pokémon]'' on {{wp|Facebook}} <small>(Japanese)</small>
*''[https://www.twitter.com/Pokemon_cojp Pokémon]'' on {{wp|Twitter}} <small>(Japanese)</small>
*''[https://www.youtube.com/user/PokemonCoJp Pokémon]'' on {{wp|YouTube}} <small>(Japanese)</small>


[[Category:Pokémon meta]]
[[Category:Pokémon meta]]
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[[fr:Pokémon (licence)]]
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Revision as of 16:23, 5 June 2019

This article is about Pokémon, also known as Pocket Monsters, as a series. For other uses of the words, see Pokémon (disambiguation).

International logo of the Pokémon franchises

Pokémon (Japanese: ポケットモンスター Pocket Monsters, ポケモン Pokémon for short), sometimes shortened to PKMN, is an overarching media franchise owned by Nintendo, Creatures, Inc., and Game Freak. First appearing in 1996 with the release of its first entries on the Game Boy[1], the game series has since inspired an array of media, including an anime, a card game, numerous manga, and various spin-off games.

The series focuses on the creatures known as Pokémon, as well as their inhabited world, full of legends, tales, and adventures. Several interpretations of the world explore different themes and elements. Most commonly, Pokémon coexist with humans and can be caught, trained, and used in battles and other activities. Trainers, along with their Pokémon, travel across diverse lands aiming to make their dreams become reality.

Etymology

The Game Boy's limited screen forced short words.

Much as happens with many other words and phrases borrowed from English, the Japanese name for the series, Pocket Monsters, became contracted into "Pokémon" during the development of the original games, likely as much for convenience when referring to it as to save on screen real estate, considering the small size of the Game Boy's screen. The official romanization of "Pokémon" at this time was derived from the contraction of Pocket and Monster, and can be seen explicitly in Primeape Goes Bananas, even in the dub.

The "Pokémon" name used today came about during the translation of the games for an English audience during 1997 and 1998. Whereas in Japan, Pocket Monsters was easily able to be trademarked, the release in the United States would prove difficult had this name been used, due to the unrelated Monster in My Pocket franchise. Thus, an alternate romanization of the contraction was used, with an acute accent over the e to indicate its specific pronunciation, poh-kay-mohn. Despite this issue, however, the fact that Pokémon is short for Pocket Monsters has been referenced in English, with an NPC in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum asking the player what Pokémon is short for after thinking about the name of the Pokétch, itself a contraction, as well as on the back of the DVD set containing the first, second, and third movies.

Franchise

Main article: History of Pokémon

Pokémon, as a series, was originally conceived by Satoshi Tajiri as a way to instill in children of the modern, more urbanized Japan the same enjoyment that he felt as a young boy collecting insects and other bugs near his hometown of Machida. Initially called Capsule Monsters, or CapuMon for short, Tajiri pitched the series to Nintendo after being inspired by the Game Link Cable; he pictured an insect crawling across it between two Game Boy systems.

Charizard's Red and Green sprite

With help from Shigeru Miyamoto, the series began development, with the concepts of the original games, Pokémon Red and Green, going into production between 1990 and 1995. At last, in early 1996, the first games in the series were released in Japan, and Tajiri's dream had become reality. Compared to other games of its time, Pokémon was very limited, with comparatively poor graphics and sound. The series was an overnight success though, and Red and Green were quickly followed by an upgraded third version, Pokémon Blue.

An anime was produced, with the intention of covering the journey players took through the Kanto region in the games over the course of a year and a half. About halfway through the anime's run in late 1997, tragedy struck and an episode of the anime was found to be responsible for epileptic seizures in more than 600 children due to a flashing strobe effect. No one died of these seizures, and after an investigation was put into place, the anime was put on hiatus for four months, later returning to the air to complete the Kanto run in April 1998.

Encouraged by the games' success in Japan and their upcoming release in the United States, Game Freak began development on sequels to them. Rather than releasing the sequels immediately, however, Game Freak instead chose to draw from the story of the anime (which differed from the games in that its protagonist was given a Pikachu instead of the standard starter Pokémon received in Red, Green, and Blue) and created a fourth game, Special Pikachu Edition, to buy some more time for development on the announced sequels.

Several manga series were also produced in this early period, including Pokémon Adventures, which Tajiri has stated is closest to his original idea of the world the series takes place in.

The much-awaited sequels were released in 1999 in Japan and 2000 in the US. Pokémon Gold and Silver revamped the Pokémon world, bringing it into full color, introducing one hundred new Pokémon and addressing many of the issues that had been present in the original games. For example, two new types were introduced to address type imbalances. The anime, manga, and other aspects of the franchise followed suit, bringing their characters into the second generation.

Even after the initial worldwide hype for the series died down, the Pokémon franchise remained strong. A third version was produced for Generation II, focusing on the Legendary Pokémon Suicune. With Pokémon Crystal, a female player character was finally introduced, and the games became fully dependent on the Game Boy Color, abandoning the now long-outdated Game Boy. Generation III was announced for the new Game Boy Advance, and at least among fans, the hype returned.

Despite this, when Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire were initially released many people considered them, and Generation III in general, a disappointment. Misty, Ash's longtime companion in the anime, left the show and a new girl May joined him. Although 135 new Pokémon were introduced, the games, unlike the Generation II games, were completely incompatible with their predecessors, making 184 of the 251 previously released Pokémon unobtainable without cheating. This issue was addressed with the unprecedented release of remakes of the original pair of games, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, which included many of the Pokémon missing from Ruby and Sapphire. In addition, an enhanced version of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, Pokémon Emerald, was released and introduced the Battle Frontier and many other features that would be enjoyed by those who battled Pokémon competitively.

Much like the previous generations, Generation IV was highly anticipated. Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, released in 2006 in Japan and 2007 in the US, received much praise. These games brought with them many enhancements from Emerald, and for the first time, Pokémon could be played online to battle against and trade with other players across the world. This generation was also noted for introducing the physical/special damage category split, another improvement which would be enjoyed by those who battled Pokémon competitively. 107 new Pokémon were added as well, bringing the total to 493.

With the precedent set by the earlier release of remakes for the original pair of games, this generation saw much speculation for a remake of the now-outdated Generation II games, and hidden data in the games seemed to indicate that remakes were planned. A third version, Pokémon Platinum, was released two years after Diamond and Pearl. Due to this, as well as the delay in the release, many became discouraged that the remakes would never come. However, after five years of speculation, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver were finally released in 2009 in Japan and in 2010 elsewhere.

Charizard's Black, White, Black 2 and White 2 sprite

Generation V constituted a "reboot" similar to that of Generation III. The highly anticipated Pokémon Black and White were set far away from the previous games in a region based on New York City called Unova. Initially in the game, only the 156 new Pokémon introduced in this generation were available before beating the Pokémon League, forcing veteran players to rethink old strategies. The games did have the capacity to connect to older games, however, and maintained the international connectivity introduced in the fourth generation. The anime series, Pokémon Trading Card Game, and manga series also embraced the new generation with releases of tie-in media. Breaking the traditional format, Pokémon Black and White were followed by two direct sequels, Pokémon Black and White Versions 2, which included many Pokémon from different regions.

Generation VI started with Pokémon X and Y, which were released worldwide on the same day in October 2013, a first for the franchise. The games introduced many new features, such as fully 3D gameplay including 3D models for every Pokémon, Mega Evolution, the introduction of the Fairy type, Trainer customization, Pokémon-Amie, and new battle formats (such as Sky Battles and Inverse Battles). The games' Kalos region was chosen to be based on France partly because French culture is known for its art and beauty—the main theme of the game. The new Super Training feature offered a simple way to monitor a Pokémon's EVs. New ways to improve the player's chance of finding Shiny Pokémon were also introduced, such as the introduction of chain fishing and the return of the Poké Radar. With the addition of 72 new Pokémon, the total number of Pokémon in Generation VI is 721.

Although there were no remakes in Generation V, Generation VI saw the release of Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire worldwide in November 2014, remakes of Generation III's Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. Similarly to Pokémon X and Y, Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire were released around the same time worldwide, although the games were released in Europe a week after the rest of the world. In addition to being remakes of the Generation III games, the games included new Mega Evolutions and introduced Primal Reversion.

Generation VII began with the release of Pokémon Sun and Moon in November 2016; like Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, these games were released on the same day worldwide except in Europe, where the games' release was delayed a few days. This generation introduced 81 new Pokémon, taking the total up to 802. The games were released on the year of the 20th anniversary of the franchise and are notable for being the first in the core series to lack Gyms, Badges, and HMs. Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, enhanced versions of Pokémon Sun and Moon, were released worldwide in November 2017. These are the first games to introduce new Pokémon during a generation, excluding Mythical Pokémon that were already present in the older games' data, bringing the total to 807. Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, remakes of Pokémon Yellow, were released worldwide in November 2018. These are the first core titles for the Nintendo Switch, and the first time a core title has switched to a new system mid-generation.

Generation VIII will start with the release of Pokémon Sword and Shield for the Nintendo Switch worldwide in November 2019.

Creatures

Main article: Pokémon (species)

The creatures themselves, which are based on various plants, animals, objects, and other concepts, inhabit virtually every corner of the world, no matter which canon's interpretation is seen. Many make their homes in forests and on rural routes stretching across the various regions, while still others are native to cities and other urban centers. Currently, there are 1025 known Pokémon.

Typically, Pokémon that are owned by a person are kept in Poké Balls, which allow for them to be quickly sent into battle or to perform a task while keeping them safe and making them easier to transport, with the balls typically being able to fit into a pocket. HeartGold and SoulSilver have the lead Pokémon out of their Poké Balls. Many Pokémon owned by Trainers, however, choose to remain outside of their Poké Ball, and travel with their Trainer on foot.

Pokémon begin their lives by hatching from Eggs (with the exception of most Mythical and Legendary Pokémon), and many of them will evolve to grow stronger and larger during the course of their lives. Most Pokémon are not immortal, as can be seen from the Pokémon gravestones found in various burial grounds. Though their abilities far surpass those of normal animals, the majority of Pokémon are not immortal (as those who do not follow the series as closely may deduce).

Many Pokémon are much more powerful than others, and some, due to this, have passed into legends that are told in the Pokémon world. It has not been consistently illustrated whether or not these Pokémon really do have the power that their legends state, though the general consensus is that, in the wild, a Pokémon's abilities are truly those of the legends, while a Trainer who captures one in a Poké Ball will limit its strength.

Many Pokémon may also be influenced by yōkai, which are special creatures in Japanese folklore with strange abilities, sometimes even created from inanimate objects.

In other languages

Pokémon

Language Name Origin
Japanese ポケモン Pokémon From ポケットモンスター Pocket Monsters.
English* Pokémon Same as Japanese name. The letter é is used to represent the -ay sound.
Chinese (Mandarin) 寶可夢 / 宝可梦 Pokémon*
神奇寶貝 / 神奇宝贝 Shénqí Bǎobèi*
小精灵 Xiǎojīnglíng*
Transliteration of Japanese name.
From 神奇的口袋中的寶貝 / 神奇的口袋中的宝贝 Shénqí de kǒudài zhōng de bǎobèi. 神奇宝贝 / 神奇寶貝 means magical creatures.
Same as former Cantonese name.
Chinese (Cantonese) 寶可夢 Pokémon*
小精靈 Síujīnglìhng*
寵物小精靈 Chúngmaht Síujīnglìhng*
精靈 Jīnglìhng*
Same as Mandarin name.
From 寵物小精靈 Chúngmaht Síujīnglìhng. 小精靈 means little creature.
Same as the series' name.
From 寵物小精靈 Chúngmaht Síujīnglìhng. 精靈 means creature.
Korean 포켓몬 Pokémon From 포켓몬스터 Pocket Monsters
Arabic بوكيمون Bukimun Transliteration of English name
Cyrillic script Покемон Pokemon Transliteration of English name
Greek Πόκεμον Pókemon Transliteration of English name
Hebrew פוקימון Pokimon Transliteration of English name
Hindi पोकेमोन Pokémon Transliteration of English name
Tamil போகிமொன் Pokémon Transliteration of English name
Telugu పోకీమాన్ Pokémon Transliteration of English name
Urdu پوکيمون Pokémon Transliteration of English name
Thai โปเกมอน Pokémon Transliteration of English name
Vietnamese Pokémon
Bửu Bối Thần Kỳ*
Same as English name
From former Chinese name

Pocket Monsters

Language Name Origin
Japanese ポケットモンスター Pocket Monsters From ポケット poketto (pocket) and モンスター monsutā (monsters).
Chinese (Mandarin) 精靈寶可夢 / 精灵宝可梦 Jīnglíng Pokémon*
神奇的口袋中的寶貝 / 神奇的口袋中的宝贝 Shénqí de kǒudài zhōng de bǎobèi*
宠物小精灵 Chǒngwù Xiǎojīnglíng*
From 精靈 / 精灵 jīnglíng (creature) and 寶可夢 / 宝可梦 Pokémon (transliteration of Japanese name).
Means the magical creatures in the pocket.
Same as former Cantonese name.
Chinese (Cantonese) 精靈寶可夢 Jīnglìhng Pokémon*
寵物小精靈 Chúngmaht Síujīnglìhng*
Same as Mandarin name.
Means pet creature.
Korean 포켓몬스터 Pocket Monsters From 포켓 poket (pocket) and 몬스터 monseuteo (monsters).
Thai พ็อกเก็ตมอนสเตอร์ Pocket Monsters From พ็อกเก็ต pocket and มอนสเตอร์ monsters.

Related articles

References

External links

Official websites
Official social-media website accounts