This year 2026, Pokemon, the highest grossing intellectual property in the world, celebrates 30 years! Pokemon has made one hundred billion dollars in the span of a year. It also lamented itself into the childhoods’ of many. Being a staple both in video games and card collecting and merchandise.

Pokemon was created in 1996 by a man of the name Satoshi Tajiri, it was made based on the hobby of bug catching. Then Game Freak, a video game company, took over and made the first two Pokemon games “Leaf Green” and “Fire Red” which launched Pokemon into stardom in the late nineties to early two thousands. 

For it’s 30th anniversary, many old classics are being ported to the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, such as Pokemon Red and Green and Pokemon Stadium 2, as well as, the announcement of two new games, Pokemon’s 10th generation games, Winds and Waves. They also created a 30th anniversary logo for every single Pokemon

Over the course of 30 years, Pokemon has made it into the hearts of many and has been a now generational shared franchise from parents who grew up with the trading cards, to kids who enjoy its games. Through it all Pikachu has remained the shining mascot of Pokemon for all thirty years.