Pokémon turns 30: Fans still chasing the dream of ‘catch ‘em all’

The global entertainment franchise Pokémon, created by Satoshi Tajiri, marked 30 years since its debut with Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green released for the Nintendo Game Boy in 1996.

Over the past three decades, Pokémon has grown from a Japanese gaming concept into a worldwide cultural phenomenon spanning animated television series, mobile games such as Pokémon Go, and a highly lucrative trading card market.

Fans continue to engage deeply with the franchise. In the United States, collector Benson Lu said he plays Pokémon Go daily, watches the animated series weekly and maintains a trading card collection worth more than $70,000. He described Pokémon as something he thinks about almost constantly.

Why Pokémon remains globally popular

Experts attribute the franchise’s longevity to strong character design and world-building. Academic researcher Heather Cole from West Virginia University said Pokémon’s unique characters help sustain emotional attachment across generations.

The brand’s trading cards have also become valuable collectibles. Some rare cards have sold for millions of dollars. Social media personality Logan Paul reportedly sold a graded Pikachu card for about $16.5 million.

Card authentication companies such as Beckett Grading Services and Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) grade cards on a scale of 1–10, with higher grades commanding premium prices in secondary markets.

Trading card craze and security concerns

The high resale value of Pokémon cards has also attracted criminal activity. Several card stores in California and New York have reported thefts, with losses running into hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Store owner Adam Corn said his Pokémon card business helped him buy a house, adding that Pokémon cards often appreciate in value over time. However, collectors also face risks similar to speculative markets, where opening random card packs does not guarantee valuable returns.

Nostalgia and community drive fandom

Many fans remain attached to Pokémon for nostalgic reasons rather than financial gain. Young collectors and gamers continue to memorise character abilities, game lore and regional origins of Pokémon species.

Teen collector Aiden Zeng said his interest began during childhood when he studied Pokémon guidebooks and later attempted to collect cards for specific characters.

The franchise’s creator, Tajiri, drew inspiration from his childhood experience of collecting insects in nature, which influenced Pokémon’s concept of capturing and cataloguing creatures.

Cultural impact

From augmented reality gaming events to school-age fandom communities, Pokémon continues to evolve with new technology while retaining its core theme of exploration and collection.

Industry observers believe the franchise’s combination of nostalgia, character design and interactive gaming ensures its relevance for future generations.

The Pokémon brand remains one of the most successful entertainment properties in modern pop culture history.

--With AP inputs