Here are a few fast Pokémon facts that a true Pokémon fan needs to know:
- The word Pokémon is a portmanteau or a word made by joining two words. In this case, the creator Satoshi Tajiri brought together the words ‘pocket’ and monster’ to name his creation. He used to collect bugs as a kid and wanted to share his hobby with others, even with city-dwelling kids so his ‘pocket monster’ series seemed like the perfect way to go.
- Pokémon as we know it today could have had a very different storyline if the original script were followed. This is because Pikachu wasn’t planned as the sidekick. Pokémon’s original partner was supposed to be Clefairy.
- Who says only presidents and politicians have their faces put on money? Pickachu is famous in New Zealand where he face features on five coins. Made in 2001, these coins are ‘legal tender’.
- Elm, Oak, Birch, Rowan, Juniper and Sycamore…do you see the pattern here? These are all the core professors in the animated series. And they are all named after trees. Trees have bugs, right?
- All boxing Pokémons are named after real martial artists. Hitmonchan is Jackie Chan’s namesake while Hitmonlee is named after Bruce Lee. However, the Japanese version of the game has local stars like kickboxer Tadashi Sawamura who is the name inspiration for Sawamular. Boxing champ Hiroyuki Ebihara’s Pokémon is called Ebiwalar.
- Following a natural theme, the names of Pokémon’s Koffing and Weezing were to be named NY and LA respectively. NY and LA stand for the U.S. cities New York and Los Angeles. Because these cities are clogged with smog, people there are obviously coughing and wheezing. See the connection?
- Records show that Pokemon is the secondlargest selling franchise in the world, only slightly behind Mario.