Facts / Pokémon

6 Pokémon Facts You Probably Didn't Know

From a bug collector's hobby to world champion.

ポケットモンスター · Since 1997 · OLM · Satoshi Tajiri (games)

1. One episode sent hundreds of kids to hospital

   The 1997 episode "Dennō Senshi Porygon" had flashing red and blue lights that triggered seizures and other symptoms, and about 685 viewers were taken to hospital. Porygon has been almost entirely absent from the anime since.

2. Ash and Gary are named after game legends

   In Japanese, Ash is Satoshi, after Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri, and Gary is Shigeru, after Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto.

3. Bug collecting started it all

   Satoshi Tajiri loved collecting insects as a child, and the idea of catching and trading creatures grew out of that hobby.

4. Ash finally became world champion

   After 25 years, Ash won the Pokémon World Coronation Series in a 2022 episode. His journey as lead character ended in 2023.

5. One actor voiced Ash for 26 years

   Rica Matsumoto voiced Ash in Japanese from the 1997 premiere through his final episodes in 2023.

6. Clefairy almost got Pikachu's job

   Clefairy was originally planned as the franchise's mascot before Pikachu was chosen for the anime.

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