Pokémon has grown since its release. Infographic by Jay Bloomfield.
Story by Jay Bloomfield
Recently, there have been many new releases for Pokémon, such as Mega Zeraora for Pokémon Z-A and the Vaporeon release in Pokémon Unity. Pokémon has been around since 1996 in Japan, while it has been around since 1998 in North America. Many great things about Pokémon have brought much joy and super effective memories for players of video games, consumers of the anime, and for the tabletop trading card game(TCG).
Pokémon has captured the hearts of the older generations from the past three decades to the new generation, who are starting to join the franchise with the new generation.
Fans of the franchises love sharing their favourite Pokémon memories, their favourite designs, their favourite characters and what Pokémon someone would want in real life.
- Top Pokémon
One would think the most common answers for someone’s top Pokémon would be either Charizard or Pikachu, but what is seen with multiple people is just not the case. As amazing as Charizard and Pikachu are, they just didn’t make the cut.
Josh Dalhuisen has been playing Pokémon since childhood and has shared his top Pokémon.
“The top five Pokémon would have to be Piplup, Pikachu, Squirtle and Pichu. Then also including Jigglypuff. They are all adorable,” he said.
Enjoying cute Pokémon as one of the top five Pokémon is respectful, as many other players would do the same.
A member of the Pokémon League, Quincy Sun, also had a chance to explain his top Pokémon.
“My top five Pokémon would be Groudon, Aggron, Ceraledge, Tyranitar, and always picking a fifth one is hard, would have to be just base Cyndaquil. I always like this type of Pokémon because they resemble movie monsters. I like Godzilla-type looking monsters,” said Sun.
Basing Pokémon off of their designs is not wrong for making it into someone’s top Pokémon.
- Memories
Many memories are made with Pokémon for many players. It could be from the trading card game or just the video games, but memories are made.
Dylan Wike, the local professor with the Pokémon League, shared his favourite memories.
“My top five favourite Pokémon memories were going to school, everybody wanting to play Pokémon, all the kids trading, and maybe fighting over stuff. It was an experience. My first trade link on the Game Boy Colour with local friends through gold and silver was fun, along with becoming a professor,” he added.
Having such memories from childhood to adulthood gives such a warm feeling to the community. The first link trade was available in North America in 1999, while in Japan it was in 1998. The Gold and Silver link trade came out in North America in 2000, while Japan was a year before.
Dalhuisen has many fond memories of playing Pokémon growing up.
“My top favourite memories would be opening my first pack of Pokémon cards. Then, playing the actual video game. Along with catching my first shiny Pokémon and legendary, both normal and shiny.” He said.
Nostalgic memories from childhood, even if Dalhuisen is 18, but these are great memories to have, as they may seem small, but many other fans can relate to these memories as well.
- Favourite Designs
Pokémon has so many designs from the video games, anime, and trading cards, and everyone has their favourite.
A TCG player in the Lethbridge Vault Pokémon League, Sam Mead, shared some of her favourite designs.
“The Revavroom EX illustration is rare, because it’s a car, Revivroom’s a freaking car engine, and a go-kart. And there are flames. Also, I think a peak design is like the Snom, Kukumiku, Joltik, like all of the really tiny, squishy bugs.” Mead said.
Revavroom EX illustration came out in the Obsidian Flames in 2023. The design is really cool, and everyone should see it. Along with the tiny bug Pokémon are adorable.
Sun also gave some opinions on designs for Pokémon.
“Once again, my only likes are any Pokémon that look like any Kaiju or the small but deadly ones like Tinkatuff. I like that one because it’s just like this small Pokémon with a big hammer. Once again, Godzilla-like looking monsters. And I’m kind of enjoying the ones that look like flowers, birds, and mice,” said Sun.
Tinkatuff is a little pink creature with a big hammer made out of metal.
- Favourite Character
There are so many characters within the franchise. From video games to anime.
Dalhuisen also shared his favourite characters.
“I think my favourite characters would have to be Missy, Brock, Ash, Professor Oak and Gary. They are all from Pokémon Indigo League, which I had watched a lot of times,” he added.
Pokémon Indigo League was released in 1998 in North America, while in Japan it was released in 1997.
Sun has also shared his favourite characters.
“I think one of my favourite characters, I don’t remember her name in the anime, but it was Iris, because she is a dragon Pokémon tamer. I actually looked all like Lance, but I love the dragon Pokémon tamers,” he added.
Just having the same Pokémon-type trainer characters as a favourite is pretty cool, especially since Dragon types are also very cool-looking Pokémon.
- Real-Life Pokemon
There are so many Pokémon that would be so cool or very cute to have in real life.
Dalhuisen shared which one he would want.
“I would want Mewtwo and Mew because they are strong, and they also grant wishes. Then I would want Squirtle, Charmander and Pikachu. Squirtle because it can put out fires for me, Charmander to help cook my food and Pikachu just because he can power my home.” He added.
Logical answer for picking Pokémon that can help with daily life, but also ones that can help make dreams come true.
Mead also added their final shared Pokémon they would want in real life.
“Joltik, Turtwig, Chargeabug, probably a Lucario. Except if it started talking to me, I think I’d have a mental breakdown because I wouldn’t be prepped for that. I’d also have to get like one of the big like macho Pokémon that are like really questionable on why you have that as a pokémon. Or like a Lopunny too, or like a Vaporeon or one of those like ones where people go ‘huh?’” she added.
Must include the macho Pokémon for the memes somewhere. As the franchise grows, more people will join and have their own answers to what their top five things are for Pokémon.
