Pokémon as a franchise was created in the mid‑1990s, with the first games, Pokémon Red and Green, released in Japan on February 27, 1996.

Quick Scoop: Core Facts

  • The franchise originated as a pair of role‑playing video games for the Nintendo Game Boy.
  • The first titles, Pokémon Red and Green, launched in Japan on February 27, 1996, a date now celebrated as “Pokémon Day.”
  • The creator is Japanese game designer Satoshi Tajiri, who drew inspiration from his childhood hobby of collecting insects.
  • The name “Pokémon” is a contraction of “Pocket Monsters,” reflecting small creatures you can carry with you.

Mini Timeline

  1. 1989–early 1990s – Tajiri conceives the idea after seeing the Game Boy’s link cable and imagining creatures traveling between devices.
  1. 1996 – Pokémon Red and Green release in Japan on February 27, effectively marking the birth of the franchise.
  1. 1996 (later) – Pokémon Trading Card Game launches in Japan.
  1. 1997–1998 – Anime begins in Japan (1997) and games/anime reach North America and other regions (1998), turning Pokémon into a global phenomenon.

Why 1996 Is “The” Creation Date

While the concept and development began a few years earlier, most sources consider 1996 the creation year because that’s when the franchise first appeared publicly as games, characters, and brand. In fan communities and official celebrations, February 27, 1996 is treated as Pokémon’s “birthday.”

Today and Ongoing “Creation”

Since 1996, Pokémon has expanded into anime, movies, trading cards, toys, mobile games like Pokémon Go, and more, making it one of the highest‑grossing media franchises ever. New Pokémon games, regions, and species continue to be introduced, so in a way the world of Pokémon is still being “created” decades after that original 1996 launch.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.