PIKA PIKA PIKACHU!

As Pokémon marks 30 years, CE takes a look at how a simple game that originated in Japan went on to become a global pop culture rage, and keeps fans excited

- PARVANA K B

BACK in the 90s and early 2000s, it was the time of Pokémon rather than pookies.

Many school bags from those years probably still hide tiny pieces of Pokémon history — a faded Pikachu sticker on the side pocket, a notebook with Ash Ketchum on the cover, or a plastic case that once protected a prized Pokémon trading card.

For children growing up then, entertainment was simpler. There were no smartphones or streaming platforms. Primarily, there was only the television.

Today, those children are adults in their late 20s and 30s. So is Pokémon.

“It was a daily routine. Every afternoon we would switch on the TV and watch the latest episode,” recalls Anupama U, a working professional. “We followed Ash Ketchum’s adventures and wished we could have a Pikachu of our own. Back then, nobody called it anime — it was simply the cartoon we rushed home to watch.”

That affection has hardly faded. According to GEM Partners’ Anime Global White Paper 2026, India is now among the world’s biggest anime markets, with Pokémon remaining the country’s most-watched anime title.

Pokémon’s biggest achievement was not just attracting millions of viewers. It made people emotionally invested in imaginary creatures.