: The series introduced Ash Ketchum (Satoshi in Japan), a young boy from Pallet Town with dreams of becoming a Pokémon Master.
: While Clefairy was originally considered for the role, Pikachu was chosen as Ash's starter, a decision that would eventually make it one of the most recognized fictional characters in history. PokГ©mon (1997)1997
The year marked the definitive explosion of Pokémon into a multimedia juggernaut. While the video games debuted in Japan in 1996, 1997 was the year the franchise solidified its cultural footprint through the launch of the iconic animated series and the expansion of its trading card game. 1. The Animated Series Launch : The series introduced Ash Ketchum (Satoshi in
: These expansions were released in Japan during this year, introducing iconic cards like the holographic Scyther and Flareon. While the video games debuted in Japan in
: By late 1997, Game Freak was already deep into development for the "Generation II" sequels, which were showcased at Nintendo Space World '97 (featuring many "beta" designs that never made the final cut). 3. The Trading Card Game (TCG)
: Initially a mail-order exclusive, it became more widely available, featuring updated graphics and dialogue.
The Pokémon TCG, which launched in late 1996, saw its first major expansions in 1997.