Timeline of Pokémon facts for kids

Official logo for international release. "Pokémon" is short for the original Japanese title of "Pocket Monsters".

Pokémon, also known as Pocket Monsters in Japan, is a super popular media franchise. It is managed by The Pokémon Company, which was started by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures. Pokémon includes video games, TV shows, movies, trading cards, and much more!

The Pokémon world is divided into "generations." Each new generation brings new Pokémon creatures and a new region to explore. The very first generation started in Japan on February 27, 1996, with the games Pocket Monsters Red and Green. As of 2025, there are nine main video game generations.

The History of Pokémon

This timeline shows the exciting journey of the Pokémon franchise!

The Beginning of Pokémon: 1996-2000

1996: The Start!

• On February 27, the very first Pokémon games, Pocket Monsters Red & Green, launched in Japan. These Game Boy games started Generation I.
• An updated version, Pocket Monsters Blue, also came out in Japan on October 15.
• The Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) was first released on October 20.

1997: Anime Adventures Begin

• The Pokémon Adventures manga (comic books) started in Japan in March.
• On April 1, the first Japanese Pokémon TV show, Pocket Monsters, aired its first episode. It was called "Pokemon, I Choose You!"

1998: Pokémon Goes Global

• The first Pokémon movie, Pokémon The First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back, premiered in Japan on July 18.
• On September 8, the first English TV show, Pokémon: Indigo League, was released in North America.
• Pokémon Yellow, a special version of the first games, came out in Japan on September 12. It was for the Game Boy and Game Boy Color.
• Pokémon Red and Blue, the international versions of the original games, were released in North America on September 28. This was Pokémon's big international debut!

1999: New Games and Movies

• Super Smash Bros. 64, a fighting game featuring Pokémon, launched in Japan on January 21.
• Pokémon Snap, a fun photography spin-off game, was released in Japan on March 21.
• On November 21, Pokémon Gold and Silver, the main games for Generation II, came out in Japan. They were for the Game Boy Color.
• The second English TV show season, Pokémon: Adventures in the Orange Islands, was released in the United States on December 4.

2000: More Johto Adventures

• The third Pokémon movie, Pokémon 3: The Movie: Spell of the Unown, was released in Japan on July 18.
• Pokémon Crystal, an updated version of Gold and Silver, was released in Japan on December 14. It was the last main Pokémon game for the Game Boy Color.

Expanding the Pokémon World: 2001-2005

2001: Five Years of Pokémon!

• Pokémon celebrated its fifth anniversary on February 27!
• The fourth Pokémon movie, Pokémon 4Ever Celebi: Voice of the Forest, was released in Japan on July 7.
• The first Pokémon Center store in New York City opened on November 16.

2002: Generation III Arrives

• The Pokémon anime celebrated its fifth anniversary on April 1.
• The fifth Pokémon movie, Pokémon Heroes: Latios and Latias, premiered in Japan on July 13.
• On November 21, Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire were released in Japan. These were the first main games for the Game Boy Advance and started Generation III.

2003: New Adventures

• The sixth Pokémon movie, Jirachi Wish Maker, was released in Japan on July 19.

2004: Remakes and Emerald

• Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, remakes of the very first Pokémon games, were released in Japan on January 29. These were the first-ever Pokémon remakes!
• The seventh Pokémon movie, Destiny Deoxys, premiered in Japan on July 17.
• Pokémon Emerald, an updated version of Ruby and Sapphire, was released in Japan on September 16. It was the last main Pokémon game for the Game Boy Advance.
• The Nintendo DS handheld console was first released in North America on November 21.

2005: Mystery Dungeons and More

• The eighth Pokémon movie, Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, was released in Japan on July 16.
• Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team, the first games in a popular spin-off series, were released in Japan on November 17.

New Generations and Global Growth: 2006-2010

2006: Ten Years of Pokémon!

• Pokémon celebrated its tenth anniversary on February 27!
• On September 28, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl were released in Japan. These were the main games for Generation IV and the first main games for the Nintendo DS.
• The Pokémon Diamond and Pearl anime series also began in Japan on September 28.
• The Pokémon Trading Card Game celebrated its tenth anniversary on October 20.

2007: More Diamond and Pearl

• The Pokémon anime celebrated its tenth anniversary on April 1.
• The tenth Pokémon movie, The Rise of Darkrai, was released in Japan on July 14.

2008: Platinum and Smash Bros.

• Super Smash Bros. Brawl, another crossover game, was released in Japan for the Wii on January 31.
• The eleventh Pokémon movie, Giratina and the Sky Warrior, premiered in Japan on July 19.
• Pokémon Platinum, an updated version of Diamond and Pearl, was released in Japan on September 13.

2009: HeartGold and SoulSilver

• The twelfth Pokémon movie, Arceus and the Jewel of Life, was released in Japan on July 18.
• Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, awesome remakes of Pokémon Gold and Silver, were released in Japan on September 12. They were for the Nintendo DS.

2010: Black and White Era Begins

• The thirteenth Pokémon movie, Zoroark: Master of Illusions, was released in Japan on July 10.
• On September 18, Pokémon Black and White, the main games for Generation V, were released in Japan. They were for the Nintendo DS.
• The Pokémon: Best Wishes! anime series began in Japan on September 23.

New Horizons: 2011-2015

2011: Fifteen Years Strong!

• The Nintendo 3DS handheld console was first released in Japan on February 26.
• The Pokémon video games and franchise celebrated their fifteenth anniversary on February 27!
• The fourteenth Pokémon movie, Pokémon the Movie: Black—Victini and Reshiram and White—Victini and Zekrom, was released in Japan on July 16. This was the first time two Pokémon movies were released together!
• The Pokémon Trading Card Game celebrated its fifteenth anniversary on October 20.

2012: Sequels and New Consoles

• Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, the first-ever direct sequels to main Pokémon games, were released in Japan on June 23. They were for the Nintendo DS.
• The fifteenth Pokémon movie, Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice, premiered in Japan on July 14.
• The Wii U home console was first released in North America on November 18.

2013: Worldwide Release and XY

• The sixteenth Pokémon movie, Genesect and the Legend Awakened, was released in Japan on July 13.
• On October 12, Pokémon X and Y, the main games for Generation VI, were released worldwide at the same time! These were the first main games for the Nintendo 3DS. This was a big moment for Pokémon fans everywhere.
• The Pokémon: XY anime series began in Japan on October 17.

2014: Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

• The seventeenth Pokémon movie, Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction, was released in Japan on July 19.
• Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, remakes of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, were released worldwide on November 21. They were for the Nintendo 3DS.

2015: Pokémon GO Announced

• The eighteenth Pokémon movie, Hoopa and the Clash of Ages, was released in Japan on July 18.
• The exciting mobile game Pokémon GO was announced on September 10!

Milestones and New Eras: 2016-2020

2016: Twenty Years of Pokémon!

• Pokémon celebrated its twentieth anniversary on February 27! The original Game Boy games were re-released for the Nintendo 3DS.
• Pokémon GO, the popular location-based mobile game, was first released in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States on July 6.
• The nineteenth Pokémon movie, Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel, was released in Japan on July 16.
• The Pokémon Trading Card Game celebrated its twentieth anniversary on October 20.
• On November 18, Pokémon Sun and Moon, the main games for Generation VII, were released worldwide. They were for the Nintendo 3DS.
• The Pokémon Sun and Moon anime series began in Japan on November 17.

2017: Nintendo Switch and Ultra Sun/Moon

• The Nintendo Switch console was released worldwide on March 3.
• The Pokémon anime celebrated its twentieth anniversary on April 1.
• The twentieth Pokémon movie, I Choose You!, an alternate timeline story, was released in Japan on July 15.
• Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, updated versions of Sun and Moon, were released worldwide on November 17. They were for the Nintendo 3DS.

2018: Let's Go and Detective Pikachu

• Detective Pikachu, a unique spin-off game, was released for Nintendo 3DS on March 23.
• The twenty-first Pokémon movie, The Power of Us, was released in Japan on July 13.
• On November 16, Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, remakes of Pokémon Yellow, were released worldwide. These were the first main Pokémon games on the Nintendo Switch!
• Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, a huge crossover game, was released for the Nintendo Switch on December 7.

2019: Live-Action Movie and Sword/Shield

• Detective Pikachu, the first live-action Pokémon movie, premiered in Japan on May 3.
• The twenty-second Pokémon movie, Mewtwo Strikes Back: EVOLUTION, a CGI remake of the first movie, was released in Japan on July 12.
• On November 15, Pokémon Sword and Shield, the main games for Generation VIII, were released worldwide. They were for the Nintendo Switch.
• The Pocket Monsters anime series began in Japan on November 17, focusing on all regions.

2020: DLC and New Mobile Games

• Pokémon Home, a cloud service for storing Pokémon, was released worldwide on February 12.
• Mewtwo Strikes Back: EVOLUTION became the first Pokémon movie to premiere on Netflix worldwide on February 27.
• Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DX, a remake of the original Mystery Dungeon games, was released worldwide on March 6. It was for the Nintendo Switch.
• Pokémon Sword and Shield: The Isle of Armor, the first of two DLCs (downloadable content) for Sword and Shield, was released on June 17.
• Pokémon Café Mix, a fun puzzle game, was released worldwide for mobile on June 24.
• Pokémon Sword and Shield: The Crown Tundra, the second DLC for Sword and Shield, was released on October 22.
• The twenty-third Pokémon movie, Secrets of the Jungle, was released in Japan on December 25.

Recent Adventures and Future Plans: 2021-Present

2021: Twenty-Five Years of Pokémon!

• The Pokémon video games and franchise celebrated their twenty-fifth anniversary on February 27! There was even a virtual concert with Post Malone.
• New Pokémon Snap, a sequel to the photography game, was released worldwide on April 30. It was for the Nintendo Switch.
• Pokémon Unite, a spin-off MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) game, was released for Nintendo Switch on July 21.
• On November 19, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, remakes of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, were released worldwide. They were for the Nintendo Switch.

2022: Legends and Scarlet/Violet

• Pokémon Legends: Arceus, a new kind of Pokémon adventure set in the past, was released worldwide on January 28. It was for the Nintendo Switch.
• The Pokémon anime celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary in Japan on April 1.
• On November 18, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the main games for Generation IX, were released worldwide. They were for the Nintendo Switch.

2023: New Anime and Sleep Tracking

• Pocket Monsters: Liko and Roy's Departure, a new Pokémon anime series with new main characters, began airing in Japan on April 14.
• Pokémon Sleep, a mobile game that tracks your sleep, was released on July 17.
• Detective Pikachu Returns, a sequel to the video game, was released on October 6.
• Pokémon Concierge, a stop-motion animated series, aired on Netflix on December 28.

2024: Looking Ahead

• A sequel to the Detective Pikachu film is planned.
• Pokémon Legends: Z-A, a new game in the Legends series, is coming in 2025.