The Pokémon Company



The Pokémon Company is an entity that oversees various aspects of the Pokémon franchise. It was established as a joint venture between three companies: Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures Inc. The company is responsible for managing the brand, licensing and merchandising, as well as the production and distribution of Pokémon video games, trading card games, animated TV series, movies, and other forms of media.

They work closely with Niantic – the developers and publishers of Pokémon GO, to ensure that their intellectual property is represented appropriately.

History
In 1998, Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak collaborated to establish The Pokémon Center Company (ポケモンセンター株式会社, Pokemon Sentā Kabushiki gaisha) with the primary objective of effectively managing Pokémon Center stores in Japan. Following the immense success of Pokémon Gold and Silver, the franchise started receiving numerous merchandising proposals from companies worldwide, expressing interest in partnering with the Pokémon brand. At the time, Tsunekazu Ishihara from Creatures was responsible for approving licensed products. However, due to the overwhelming volume of proposals, Ishihara realized that it was becoming too much for a single person to handle. Simultaneously, in order to ensure the continued growth of the franchise and pursue long-term goals like sustaining the anime series and releasing an annual movie, Ishihara believed that a new organization was necessary to consolidate brand management efforts.

Consequently, the three companies decided to transform The Pokémon Center Company into The Pokémon Company, expanding its scope, responsibilities, and areas of business. Satoru Iwata, the then-president of Nintendo, regarded the establishment of The Pokémon Company as one of his initial projects at the company. Managing the Pokémon Center stores remained a fundamental aspect of the company's operations. Currently, there are stores located in 11 different places: Sapporo, Tohoku (Sendai), Tokyo, Skytree Town (Oshiage), Tokyo-Bay (Chiba), Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka.

To oversee licensing activities in the Americas, a branch called Pokémon USA, Inc. was opened in 2001. Additionally, Nintendo Australia takes charge of certain licensing and marketing responsibilities for Pokémon products in Australia and New Zealand, as The Pokémon Company does not have a branch specifically in Australia. Since 2001, the copyright acknowledgments for nearly all Pokémon products feature the symbol "©Pokémon" along with the customary trio of "©Nintendo," "©GAME FREAK inc.," and "©Creatures Inc." In Japan, the three companies possess ownership of all Pokémon-related trademarks, while Nintendo exclusively owns Pokémon-related trademarks in other countries. Third- and second-party companies like Tomy and Jazwares are responsible for producing licensed toys.

In October 2001, 4Kids Entertainment acquired a 3% stake in The Pokémon Company, although the exact amount remains undisclosed. Four years later, they sold their stake for US$960,000. In 2006, Pokémon Korea, Inc. was established to oversee the company's operations in South Korea, with its headquarters located in Seoul. In 2009, Pokémon USA and Pokémon UK merged to form The Pokémon Company International, which manages Pokémon operations in the American and European markets under the leadership of Kenji Okubo. The company's United States office is situated in Bellevue, Washington, while its United Kingdom office is in London. Some operations in Australia are under the control of Nintendo Australia.

In August 2011, Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. was founded to oversee the Pokémon Center brand and stores in Japan. Its responsibilities include managing the Pokémon Store and Pokémon Center stores, maintaining Pokémon Stand vending machines, operating Pokémon Center Online, and supervising the design and production of Japanese Pokémon Center merchandise. Yomiomi Uego currently serves as the president and CEO. In April 2022, The Pokémon Company International announced its acquisition of Millennium Print Group, an undisclosed printing company. Since 2015, Millennium has been involved in producing and packaging cards for the Pokémon Trading Card Game through a partnership with The Pokémon Company. The acquisition will not significantly impact Millennium's day-to-day operations, as the company will continue functioning as a separate entity. The Pokémon Company will instead provide investment and industry

Video game series
Pokémon is a highly successful video game series developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. Created by Satoshi Tajiri, the franchise's first games, Pokémon Red and Green, were released in 1996 in Japan and later as Pokémon Red and Blue internationally. In relation to their roles in the games, Game Freak is responsible for developing the main Pokémon games, while Creatures provides support through their Pokémon CG Studio, creating 3D models for the Pokémon in the games and developing some spin-off titles. Nintendo, the original publisher of the series, has been assisting The Pokémon Company since the 2000s by publishing the games on their consoles for international markets outside of Japan. The Pokémon Company, jointly owned by the aforementioned companies, is tasked with handling licensing, production, publishing, marketing, and worldwide deals related to the Pokémon franchise as a whole. In addition to the core series of Pokémon games, there are numerous spin-off titles that offer unique gameplay experiences and explore different genres. Pokémon Go is one of the Spin-off games developed by Niantic. It has crossed 1 billion mobile game downloads worldwide.

The core series of role-playing games (RPGs) has continued on each generation of Nintendo's handheld consoles. The Pokémon franchise releases its core games in generations, each featuring different Pokémon, storylines, and characters. Typically, remakes of the games are launched approximately ten years after the original versions, specifically designed for the latest console at that time. The Pokémon Company oversees all licensed Pokémon properties, which are divided into generations. These generations align with the release of official sequels in the main role-playing game series, introducing new Pokémon, characters, and gameplay concepts. With the start of a new generation, the main games, spin-offs, anime, manga, and trading card game are all updated to include the new Pokémon properties. The current generation, known as the ninth generation, began with the release of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet worldwide on November 18, 2022, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.


 * First generation (1996-1998): Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow were the first games in the series, released for the Game Boy. They introduced 151 Pokémon and basic gameplay concepts like capturing, training, battling, and trading. Spin-off titles included Pokémon Pinball, Pokémon Snap, and Pokémon Puzzle League.
 * Second generation (1999-2001): Pokémon Gold and Silver were released for the Game Boy Color, introducing 100 new Pokémon and a day-night cycle. The games took place in the Johto region and allowed players to explore the adjacent Kanto region. Spin-off titles included Pokémon Puzzle Challenge and Pokémon Stadium 2.
 * Third generation (2002-2005): Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire were released for the Game Boy Advance, introducing 135 new Pokémon and the region of Hoenn. The games featured a more visually detailed environment, Pokémon Contests, and a new 2-on-2 battling mechanic. Spin-off titles included Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team.
 * Fourth generation (2006-2009): Pokémon Diamond and Pearl were released for the Nintendo DS, introducing 107 new Pokémon and the region of Sinnoh. The games featured 3D graphics for background elements and various gameplay enhancements. Spin-off titles included Pokémon Battle Revolution and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time.
 * Fifth generation (2010-2012): Pokémon Black and White were released for the Nintendo DS, introducing 156 new Pokémon and the Unova region. The games featured a real-time seasonal cycle and continued the day-night cycle from the previous generation. Spin-off titles included Pokémon Rumble Blast and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity.
 * Sixth generation (2013-2015): Pokémon X and Y were released for the Nintendo 3DS, introducing full 3D graphics and a new region called Kalos. The games brought significant visual upgrades and new features like Mega Evolution. Spin-off titles included Pokémon Conquest and Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon.
 * Seventh Generation (2016-2019): Pokémon Sun and Moon was set in the Alola region, these games introduced a new generation of Pokémon, Alolan forms of existing Pokémon, and the new Z-Moves battle mechanic. Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon had enhanced versions of Sun and Moon with an expanded storyline and additional features.
 * Eighth Generation (2019-2022): Pokémon Sword and Shield was set in the Galar region, inspired by the United Kingdom, these games introduced new Pokémon species, the Dynamax and Gigantamax mechanics, and the Wild Area, an open-world environment with multiplayer functionality. Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl remakes of the fourth generation games, Diamond and Pearl, featuring updated graphics, gameplay improvements, and online features. Pokémon Legends: Arceus: Set in the Hisui region, inspired by ancient Japan, this game offers an open-world experience and explores the early days of the Pokémon world. It introduces a new combat system and a unique storyline.
 * Ninth Generation (2022-present): On February 27, 2022, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet were announced for the Nintendo Switch, with a late 2022 release date. The games were released on November 18, 2022. This generation introduced a total of 103 new Pokémon so far giving a total of 1008 Pokémon overall.

The following references to other Pokémon games are present in Pokémon GO:
 * A Pester Ball Easter Egg from Pokémon Snap.
 * Eevee Easter Eggs of appearing on top of the avatar's shoulder after 10km as buddy, like in Pokémon Let's Go.

Trading Card Game
The Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) is a collectible card game based on the Pokémon video game series. It was first published in 1996 by Media Factory in Japan and later by Wizards of the Coast internationally. Players use decks of cards depicting various Pokémon creatures to battle against each other, utilizing their Pokémon's abilities, attacks, and energy cards. The TCG follows similar mechanics to the video game series, with players aiming to knock out their opponent's Pokémon and collect prize cards. The game has expanded to include numerous sets, featuring new Pokémon, artwork, and gameplay mechanics. It has also gained a competitive scene with organized tournaments and championships. The Pokémon TCG has become a popular hobby and has amassed a large following of collectors and players worldwide. The following references to TCG are present in Pokémon GO:
 * Pokémon TCG Crossover Event with Stickers and Avatar items related to TCG
 * Professor's Research a set of Special Research tasks for Trainers who redeem a code from a Professor Willow-themed Professor's Research card for the TCG

Trading Figure Game
The Pokémon Trading Figure Game (TFG) was a collectible tabletop game based on the Pokémon franchise. Released in 2006 by Pokémon USA, it featured small, pre-painted figures of Pokémon characters that players would use to engage in battles and strategic gameplay. Each figure had specific statistics, abilities, and movements, and players would take turns moving and attacking with their figures on a game board. The objective was to strategically position figures and defeat opponents to achieve victory. The game had its own set of rules and mechanics, separate from the Pokémon video game series and Trading Card Game. However, despite an initial release, the Pokémon Trading Figure Game was discontinued and is no longer actively supported by the Pokémon Company.

Anime
The Pokémon TV series is an animated franchise based on the Pokémon video games and trading card game. It first premiered in Japan in 1997 and has since become a global phenomenon. The series follows the adventures of Ash Ketchum, the main protagonist, as he travels through various regions, captures Pokémon, and competes in Pokémon battles. Alongside his loyal Pikachu, Ash is joined by a rotating cast of friends and Pokémon companions. The show combines elements of adventure, friendship, and teamwork, and explores themes of growth, determination, and the bond between humans and Pokémon. The Pokémon TV series has received critical acclaim and has been praised for its diverse characters, engaging storylines, and positive messages. It has spawned multiple seasons, movies, and spin-off series, captivating audiences of all ages and contributing to the franchise's immense success and popularity.

The Pokémon anime film series consists of a collection of animated movies set in the Pokémon universe. These films expand on the adventures of Ash Ketchum and his Pokémon companions, featuring unique storylines, exciting battles, and memorable characters. The films often introduce new legendary Pokémon and explore themes of friendship, courage, and the power of teamwork. Each movie is a standalone story but retains the core elements of the Pokémon franchise. With their vibrant animation, captivating narratives, and catchy music, the Pokémon anime films have garnered a dedicated fan base and have become an integral part of the overall Pokémon media franchise.

The following references to the anime are present in Pokémon GO:
 * Pikachu Easter Eggs such as been a starter Pokémon, having a anime cry, and appearing on top of the avatar's shoulder (like Ash's Pikachu) after 10km as buddy.
 * Eevee Easter Eggs such as naming trick for evolution and appearing on top of the avatar's shoulder after 10km as buddy.
 * Event Pikachu wearing Ash's hat.
 * April Fools 2019 event shows Ash in the Photobomb.
 * Animation Week event shows Goh in the Photobomb.
 * Jessie and James and their Pokémon such as Ekans and Koffing.
 * Secrets of the Jungle Event in 2020 and 2021 to celebrate the release of the.

Manga
The Pokémon manga series refers to the various comic book adaptations of the Pokémon franchise. These manga series are based on the Pokémon video games and feature their own unique storylines and art styles. Several manga adaptations have been created, each with its own focus and target audience. Some manga series, like Pokémon Adventures (known as Pokémon Special in Japan), follow the adventures of trainers as they journey through different regions, capturing and battling Pokémon. Pokémon Adventures often incorporates more mature themes and complex storylines compared to the anime series. Other manga series, such as Pokémon Pocket Monsters and Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!, target a younger audience and provide lighthearted and comedic stories featuring Pokémon and their trainers. The Pokémon manga series offers fans an alternative way to experience the Pokémon universe through the medium of comic books, showcasing unique interpretations of the beloved characters and their adventures.

Live-action
Detective Pikachu is a live-action/animated film based on the Pokémon franchise. Released in 2019, the film is directed by Rob Letterman and stars Ryan Reynolds as the voice of Detective Pikachu. The story follows Tim Goodman, played by Justice Smith, who teams up with the wise-cracking, amnesiac Detective Pikachu to unravel the mystery behind his father's disappearance. Together, they navigate the neon-lit Ryme City, a metropolis where humans and Pokémon coexist. As they delve deeper into the case, they uncover a conspiracy that threatens the peaceful harmony between humans and Pokémon. The film blends elements of mystery, adventure, and humor, and features a variety of Pokémon characters brought to life through CGI animation. Detective Pikachu received positive reviews for its entertaining storyline, visual effects, and Reynolds' performance. It offers a unique and immersive cinematic experience for Pokémon fans and general audiences alike.

The following references to the Live-action are present in Pokémon GO:
 * Detective Pikachu Celebration event hat celebrates the release of the film featuring event costume Pikachu with detective hat, movie-themed Pokémon spawns and avatar items.