Where Do Pokemon Come From?

There is a gap in the Pokemon world that does not seem to bother young people at all. In fact, I never hear them question it. Instead, they just seem to look forward to the new monsters. These are true fans in the sense that they don't have any critical questioning over the background of Pokemon and react with surprise and great enthusiasm toward every new generation that is created. In a very real sense, Pokemon, however much one may try to flesh it out, is not a story. The animation episodes are merely enactments of the game with some generic drama and rivalry thrown in, and the origins and history of the Pokemon themselves and the circumstances surrounding them are never really explained. Do not think though that I am criticizing when I say that fans prefer not to think about such things. The makers of Pokemon I suppose fire their imagination enough that they are satisfied. Probably for most fans asking hard scientific questions about Pokemon is kind of like questioning a fairy tale or asking where dragons come from.

For an older generation however Pokemon gives us a science fiction premise that is left unanswered, to our dissatisfaction. Whereas for younger people Pokemon may be a fable, for us older folks it smacks more of Jurassic Park or something like that. In any case, it is science fiction and we expect science fiction to have a premise and an explanation. Pokemon has neither, but for very simple reasons which I'll explain.

First of all, the game of 'Capsule Monsters,' the first Pokemon concept, was based on Satoshi Tajiri's idea of insect collecting, of which he was an aficionado. He had a game, and he had a vague idea of insect collecting and instead of insect collecting thought, "Why not monsters?" 'Battles,' though admittedly rather cruel in concept, undoubtedly came from the insect fighting that boys engage in. Since this was a game and not a story or a movie, Tajiri didn't see the need to develop the concept any further. Merchandisers did however and had to make early decisions about how to make the appearance of the monsters. Whether Tajiri collaborated on this or not, I don't know, but they decided on a soft cute or handsome look for the Pokemon rather than a scary one. More than anything, that would contribute to later immense popularity of Pokemon.

Quickly Nintendo took over Pokemon and has put its creative team on it non-stop. Each new generation of Pokemon brings new fans and new products. The latest Pokemon incarnation is called Pokemon Black and White and is of course based upon the game of the same name. Extremely popular now are Pokemon Black and White stuffed toys (also known as Pokemon plush toys or Pokemon plushies), Pokemon Black and White trading cards (including shiny Rraikou, Suicune and Entei cards), and Pokeman Tomy figures. Outlets specializing in the Black and White goods are having trouble keeping them stocked. Gotta catch 'em all!

This article was written by Dinah Jackson who is the ultimate Pokemon fan. To find the rarest Japanese Pokemon items, check out the store that has every kind of Pokemon plushie that you can imagine. Also an incredible selection of Pokemon trophy cards, charms, straps, plush toys, Pokedolls, keychains, figures, binders, deck boxes, sleeves, plush toys, and just about anything you can imagine. Delivered right to your front door from Japan.

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