Breakthroughs Involving Pokémon

When Pokémon was released for the first time in 1996, it was considered a breakthrough RPG game of sorts, especially for the people that came to play it, including me a few years later. Over the course of its presence of 25+ years, it has expanded and made other breakthroughs, not just in games but also popular culture as well. Some of those breakthroughs are fascinating to know about and particularly to discuss and highlight, and that becomes the purpose of this post.

Those who watch the Pokémon anime on US television might notice that there is an "FV" tag under the displayed program rating (which for most Pokémon episodes is TV-Y7, meaning for audiences of 7 years of age or older). That "FV" tag means "Fantasy Violence", and it refers to content involving portrayed acts of aggression that are imagined rather than realistic. The Pokémon anime does indeed have that in spades, from plant vines that beat things (Vine Whip) to light beams that cause great damage (Hyper Beam). Because of its popularity along with similar animated series, it was one of the things that contributed to the creation of this rating tag to indicate the presence of the content; the tag itself can thus be described as a "breakthrough" that involves Pokémon.

Years ago, for an April Fools campaign, Google Maps put up a way to "hunt" for Pokémon across its maps. It was popular as it reflected a way of hunting for Pokémon in real life, although it was rather indirect. If this sounds like it parallels the existence of Pokémon Go, there's a certain truth to that, as Google led to the existence of Niantic and Niantic obviously led to the existence of Pokémon Go. The game itself can be billed as a realization of the hunting experience, and it more or less lines up with the core mission of Pokémon in general. As such, the breakthrough link is rather evident.

Another "breakthrough" is both comical and critical. The meme of "putting on clown makeup" illustrates the progression of an argument that falls apart but in a humorous manner, with a comparison to a clown as a "fool". Although the first instance of the meme wasn't too popular and somewhat isolated, it took another instance of the meme for it to gain traction (that is, become "viral"), and that instance involved Pokémon. Specifically, the viral instance involved a criticism of including Pokémon in the Sword and Shield games as the "National Dex fiasco" and the factors that are believed to be involved. Despite the circumstances, this is more or less a "breakthrough" as well for how the meme started.

In the course of over 25 years, Pokémon has truly started something. The games started a phenomenon, and the phenomenon started a lifestyle, plus everything major and minor that is related to any of these areas. If any of the above breakthroughs are indicative of anything, it is that the spirit for those breakthroughs seems to be omnipresent in whatever and however Pokémon becomes involved. That may just be a precursor for starting even more things.

One year ago: The Challenges of the Juvenile

Two years ago: Pokémon Movements in Pokémon Go

Three years ago: Being Young and Proud

Four years ago: PokéNumbers