Attention, 'Pokémon Trainers'! Are you tired of searching far and wide for those elusive 'pocket monsters'? Look no further! We're here to provide an expert guide to the world of Pokémon.

This National Pokémon Day, join us and learn about the ins and outs of this popular game, from its origins to the reasons why people are drawn to this fantastic universe today. So what are you waiting for? Let's get started on our journey through the Pokémon universe!

Overview of the Pokémon Franchise

Nation, it's time to get your Poké Balls ready! That's right, this beloved franchise has been around since 1996 and has captivated kids and adults alike with its fantastical creatures called 'Pokémon'. To become a true Pokémon Master, you have to train, care for, and battle with these creatures, all while trying to catch 'em all. 

It started out as the video games Pocket Monsters: Red and Green for the Game Boy, and it has since grown into a multimedia franchise. It's the third best-selling video game of all time, with over 440 million copies sold, and it's spawned a wildly popular anime television series that's been broadcast in 192 countries. It's also the highest-selling trading card game of all time, with 43.2 billion cards sold. And if that wasn't enough, there are also films, books, manga comics, music, merchandise, and even a theme park!

Pokémon has been a media giant since its inception in 1996 with the release of Red and Blue, with subsequent games, manga, movies, and more. Nintendo initially thought that the franchise was too Japanese for Western tastes, but 4Kids Entertainment's CEO Alfred Kahn saw the potential and made it a huge success.

Since then, it's been more than 25 years of Pokémon madness and the franchise shows no signs of slowing down. To celebrate, they've released two new titles for the Nintendo Switch — Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl — as well as ninth generation games Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. With all the hype surrounding this beloved franchise, one can only imagine what other surprises are in store for us in the future!

But Why Pokémon?

Pokémon is a term that refers to both the franchise and its many species of fictional characters. In Japanese, it stands for Pocket Monsters, and you can use the singular and plural forms of the word interchangeably — like "one Pikachu" or "many Pikachu". 

So, today, all you true Pokémaniacs out there can celebrate these adorable monsters in whatever way you want, because there's no wrong way to catch 'em!

Gameplay

Pokémon is all about collecting, training, and battling! Players are called Trainers, and their goal is to catch all the Pokémon of a certain region, transfer them from other regions, and train them to compete in Pokémon leagues. To catch a wild Pokémon, you throw a Poké Ball at it — if it can't escape then it's yours! 

You can also send out your Pokémon to battle against others. When they win, they gain experience points and can level up. Sometimes they can even evolve into new forms. To become the champion of the region, you have to beat the Elite Four and the Regional Champion. So seize the day, Trainers — go out there and catch 'em all!

The Pokémon Universe

Let's talk more about the exciting world of Pokémon, shall we? It's a universe made up of nine regions full of adventure and mystery, each based on a real-world location.

We've got Kanto from Japan, Johto from Kansai, Hoenn from Kyushu, Sinnoh/Hisui from Hokkaido, Unova from New York City, Kalos from France, Alola from Hawaii, Galar from the United Kingdom, and Paldea from Iberia. 

And if that wasn't enough to whet your appetite for exploration and discovery, there are even two islands in the Pokémon anime that you can explore — the Orange Islands and Decolore Islands. This is definitely one universe you won't want to miss out on!

In Other Media

Now, let's talk about Pokémon in other media. We're here to give y'all the 411 on all that's been happening in the world of Pokémon, from the anime series to the movies and even the trading card game! 

The Pokémon anime series has been around since '97, and we've seen 1,000+ episodes air since then! It follows Ash Ketchum and his pals as they travel around the world of Pokémon with their partners. Plus there's a whole bunch of Pokémon Junior books based on the show!

And in 2020, an eight-part anime series called Pokémon: Twilight Wings aired on YouTube. And if that wasn't enough, it was also announced that a live-action Pokémon series is in development at Netflix!

As far as movies go, we've got 23 animated theatrical Pokémon features directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and Tetsuo Yajima. Collectibles like trading cards have come with some of these films. In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Pokémon, an eight-part anime series called Pokémon Evolutions was released in 2021 on YouTube. 

On top of all this awesome content for our eyes, there's also soundtracks to jam out to — 10 album releases since 1998 (the latest one in 2017) featuring music from the North American versions of the 17th through 20th movies.

And don't forget the Pokémon Trading Card Game! It's a collectible card game with a goal similar to a Pokémon battle in the video game series, with players using cards with individual strengths and weaknesses to try and "knock out" their opponent's cards. There was even a Game Boy Color version released in 1998, plus a sequel released in Japan in 2001.

Its Lasting Influence

Pokémon has made a huge mark on our culture, and it just keeps getting bigger! From Pikachu balloons in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to Pokémon-themed planes operated by All Nippon Airways, this franchise is everywhere. And not just that — there have even been Pokémon species named after real animals, like Stentorceps weedlei (named after the Pokémon Weedle) and Chilicola charizard (named after the Pokémon Charizard). Plus, Nintendo even opened up a store in Rockefeller Center called the Pokémon Center, where you could get all kinds of Pokémon merchandise and battle other players in the Trading Card Game. 

And if that wasn't enough, Pokémon has been making waves in the scientific community - there's even a protein named after Pikachu called Pikachurin! But don't think this means it's only for adults — children love it too. Professor Joseph Tobin theorizes that kids enjoy learning all the names of the different species, and they take pride in being able to show off their knowledge to their peers.

Finally, let's talk about Twitch Plays Pokémon — an anonymous video streamer on Twitch launched an experiment trying to crowdsource playing subsequent Pokémon games that got so popular it made headlines! Now that's a lasting influence!

Conclusion

Again, happy National Pokémon Day, trainers! May your Pokédex be full of all the rarest creatures and your battles be victorious! May the Kanto region be forever in your heart and may Pikachu always keep you company! Until next time, stay safe, stay healthy, and Gotta Catch 'em All!