Pokémon is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, having outlived the moral panic of its early days in Australia. The franchise, created by Satoshi Tajiri and developed by Game Freak, was released in Japan by Nintendo and has since become the single largest media franchise in the world.
From Cheez TV to Pokémania
For many Australians, the cartoon debuted on Cheez TV in September 1998. The show, which premiered in 1995, dominated the children's breakfast market by 1998. Its hosts, Jade and Ryan, introduced Pokémon to a generation of kids.
Within a month of its debut, the quest to "catch 'em all" became central to many young lives. When the Game Boy games hit Australian shelves, they were an instant sensation, jointly selling more than 400m worldwide.
Moral panic and school bans
The Pokémon Trading Card Game, released midway through 1999, turned recess into a trading frenzy. Australians spent $11m on the cards in the first two months, leading to school-wide bans. Some schools saw protests, including a sit-in at one school to debate the matter with the principal.
Media coverage in 1999 included a Channel Seven feature citing Sunshine Coast pastor Chas Gullo, who expressed concerns about witchcraft and violence. ABC radio's Mark Colvin warned about the company's aims, and a reporter called it "a worldwide craze over a collection of odd-looking creatures."
Community and global connection
Despite the backlash, Pokémon encouraged community. To catch 'em all, players had to interact, befriend, and trust fellow players. The franchise also connected people across borders, as shared experiences with Pokémon cards linked kids globally.
Today, Pokémon remains popular, though it still attracts controversy. A wave of hobby-shop burglaries has been sparked by the inflated value of trading cards, with the most valuable auctioning for $16.5m.
Pokémon's staying power has proved that the kids were right. It remains at the top of the food chain because of its emphasis on simple joys, uniting people through one simple question: do you want to have some fun?
