Are you a Pokémon fan? Test your knowledge!

The Pokémon is a Japanese multimedia anime that includes video games, animated series, films, a trading card game. It is set in a universe where humans live alongside creatures called Pokémon, diverse species with unique powers. While primarily aimed at children aged 5 to 12, the franchise appeals to a broad audience of all ages.

The Pokémon franchise, created by Satoshi Tajiri, originated as a pair of role-playing games developed by Game Freak and released on the Game Boy in 1996. The games became sleeper hits, leading to the creation of manga series, a trading card game, and anime series and films. The franchise was exported to the rest of the world from 1998 to 2000, causing a global phenomenon known as "Pokémania."

Although the craze ended by 2002, Pokémon remained a part of popular culture, with new products continuing to be released. In 2016, the franchise experienced a second surge in popularity with the release of Pokémon Go, an augmented reality game developed by Niantic. Today, Pokémon is estimated to be the world's highest-grossing media franchise and one of the best-selling video game franchises.

Pokémon has a unique ownership structure compared to most intellectual properties. Instead of being owned by a single company, Pokémon is jointly owned by three entities: Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures.

Game Freak, the developer of the core Pokémon role-playing games, works exclusively with Nintendo to publish these titles on their gaming platforms.

Creatures, on the other hand, manages the Pokémon trading card game and related merchandise, occasionally developing spin-off video games as well.

In 1998, these three companies established The Pokémon Company (TPC) to oversee the Pokémon property within Asia.

The Pokémon anime series and films are co-owned by Shogakukan.

Since 2009, The Pokémon Company International (TPCi), a subsidiary of TPC, has been responsible for managing the franchise in all regions outside of Asia.

This unique arrangement, with three companies sharing ownership and responsibilities, is uncommon in the entertainment industry, where most intellectual properties are typically owned by a single entity.

The Pokémon universe is inhabited by both humans and a diverse array of creatures called Pokémon. The original Pokémon Red and Blue games featured 151 unique Pokémon species, with additional species being introduced in later installments of the franchise. As of January 2024, the total number of Pokémon species has reached 1,025.

Many Pokémon are inspired by real-world animals, such as Pikachu, a yellow mouse-like species with a lightning bolt-shaped tail that can generate and manipulate electricity. This blend of familiar animal-like creatures with fantastical powers has contributed to the franchise's widespread appeal and imagination-capturing nature.

Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of Pokémon, grew up in Machida, a suburb of Tokyo, where he enjoyed catching and studying insects and small creatures in the local ponds and fields

However, as Japan's economy grew, much of Machida's natural environment was destroyed by urban expansion. During his second year of junior high school, Tajiri discovered video games when an arcade hall opened in his neighborhood.

While studying electrical engineering at Tokyo College of Technology, he began publishing a doujinshi magazine called Game Freak, inspired by the 1932 film Freaks. The first issue was self-published in March 1983, when Tajiri was 17 years old.

At the time, video game magazines were not yet common in Japan, allowing Game Freak to fill a niche in the market. Concurrently, aspiring manga artist Ken Sugimori became Game Freak's illustrator after being contacted by Tajiri. Game Freak folded in the late 1980s, by which point Tajiri had become a respected game journalist in Japan's growing video game industry.

The idea for Pokémon stemmed from Tajiri's childhood experiences of exploring nature and catching insects, which he wanted to recreate for children in an urban setting through video games. He pitched the concept to Nintendo, and with the help of Shigeru Miyamoto, the first Pokémon games, Red and Green, went into production between 1990 and 1995.

Now get ready, with Pikachu by your side, let the adventure begin! Show the world your Pokemon spirit with a fun and exciting quiz!