BBC News
The Pokemon BusinessThe Pokémon Company’s manager claims that if the series keeps on evolving, it is live for at least another 50 years.
Initially launched on Nintendo’s Game Boy in 1996, the film sport has expanded into movies, TV and products to become one of the country’s highest-grossing media company.
The popularity of the trading card game based on the adorable animals at the center of its world has increased recently, but it also has brought in scalping and thefts.
CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara, who has been in charge of the company since 1998, spoke to BBC News ahead of its annual release about the mystery of its accomplishment, tackling challenges, and the line ‘ potential.
Pokémon Day disclosures
Pokémon Day is an annual display of future releases, upgrades and activities.
Fans are anticipating information on the future Pokémon Legends: Z-A sport for the Nintendo Switch and updates on the acclaimed trading card game.
Mr. Ishihara said the event’s long-term objective was to “enrich both the real world and the virtual earth,” but he wouldn’t divulge too little.
An example of this is Pokémon GO, the effective mobile phone app developed by the company that uses a phone’s GPS to locate villains in the real world.
” This is what I think is the biggest power of Pokémon, and it’s important for us to come up with this kind of idea”, he says.
” So that’s how I think of what we want to reach next”.
Pokémon resellers, scams and Palworld
PocketpairOne of the hottest issues among long-term Pokémon fans now is resellers.
Distributors who purchase up fresh boxes in the hope of getting unique, useful tickets have been attracted to the revival of the collectible card activity.
YouTuber Logan Paul switched a lot of people on to the potential profits of the hobby when he paid $5.3m (£3.9m) for the most expensive Pokémon card ever.
The second-hand industry, according to Mr. Ishihara, “prevents fresh items from being sold” because gaming companies have long had this problem.
” Our firm is impacted when the second-hand industry becomes more valuable because of scarcity,” says one author.
Enthusiasts have suggested that The Pokémon Company could generate more hard-to-find or limited-run things, but Mr. Ishihara claims that it is unable to effectively manage the resale market.
” Those products are seen to be beneficial because they’re unique or seen as vintage – and it’s not our place to say that they’re not”, he says.
On the topic of false goods Mr Ishihara is more clear, and says the company’s legal groups have fought “rigorously” against replicas and scams since the outset.
It recently won a long legal battle against the Chinese company behind a copycat mobile app.
Additionally, it filed a lawsuit against the creators of Palworld, an online multiplayer life sport dubbed” Pokémon with cannons,” earlier this year.
It alleges designer Pocketpair infringed patents, which it has denied.
The technique of Pokémon’s victory
Getty ImagesAlong with its video game names, Pokémon has continued to win new fans for its brand by expanding into animation, card games, films, and toys.
Mr Ishihara says fans today” period some generations” and believes” the biggest reason behind their success is the fact that Pokémon became a tool of conversation”.
Last weekend, about 13, 000 Pokémon fans headed to the European leg of the International Championships at London’s Excel Centre.
It demonstrates Mr. Ishihara’s claim that viewers have a way into the series through various means.
Fans Justin, 25, and Marina, 28, who turned up to the event in Team Rocket costumes, tell BBC News they got into Pokémon by watching the animated TV show as children.
” I just loved all the designs, all the different characters”, says Justin.
” They were just really really cute”.
Marina claims that she has gotten to know other fans at in-person gatherings.
” I wanted to go to conventions and these kinds of events always.”
So being able to network and make friends here has been a blessing, she says.
We have one focus… Pokémon
Getty ImagesThe Pokémon Company is unusual because it is a private company.
Other well-known Japanese brands, such as Nintendo and Hello Kitty maker Sanrio, are publicly traded and answerable to shareholders.
According to Mr. Ishihara, this enables his company to maintain a single-minded focus on one thing.
” Pokémon is the only thing we do at the Pokémon Company, “he says.
” So whatever profit we make from Pokémon gets reinvested in Pokémon.”
He goes on to say that this prevents the company from having to ask shareholders about expanding or developing new characters.
” Our answer will be:’ We’ll go bust when Pokémon is no longer popular’.
” I don’t think they will like that”.
Where are Pikachu and Ash now?
Getty ImagesAt the conclusion of the animated Pokémon series, Ash Ketchum and his best friend Pikachu, a devoted fan, departed from the series.
The series has continued without the well-loved duo, but one of the “hardest questions” Mr Ishihara gets asked is what they’re up to now.
” As Ash continues his journey and his partner Pikachu is right next to him,” he said, “even though the TV camera may not be following them.”
The franchise is scheduled to celebrate its 30th anniversary next year, so rumors are already beginning to circulate about special plans for the occasion.
Remakes or re-releases of the original Game Boy games are high on many people’s wishlists.
Mr. Ishihara wants to keep his attention on” connecting the real and virtual worlds,” but doesn’t have much to say yet.
” If we continue focusing on our mission, Pokémon can probably continue to its 50th or 100th anniversary”, he says.
” But if we become complacent and go with the flow, that’s when Pokémon will go downhill”.
