Pokemon is a multi-billion dollar media franchise created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996 (it celebrated its tenth anniversary on February 27, 2006). The original Game Boy video games have since been merchandised into anime, manga, trading cards, toys, books and other media. The name, Pok?mon, is a portmanteau of its Japanese name, ?Pocket Monsters? The game?s catchphrase, in the English language versions of the franchise, used to be ?Gotta catch ?em all!?, although it is now no longer officially used (except by Hasbro and in the title sequence to Pok?mon Chronicles).
The concept of the Pok?mon saga stems from the hobby of insect collecting, a popular pastime in Japan, and one which Pok?mon's creator Satoshi Tajiri had enjoyed as a child. Tajiri?s formula took off in Japan and was adapted (and translated) in 1998 for the American market, with the release of Pok?mon Red and Blue. These games allowed players to catch, collect, and train hundreds of creatures, known as Pok?mon; and battle them against each other to build their strength. These Pok?mon could then ?evolve? into more powerful Pok?mon and learn new and stronger techniques. Pok?mon never bleed or die in battle, only faint - (however they can still become confused, poisoned, paralyzed, frozen, sent to sleep and burned) this was a very touchy subject to Tajiri, as he didn?t want to further fill the gaming world with pointless violence.