Summary
According to a recent report, Nintendo of America almost changed the design of iconic Pokemon such as Pikachu beforePokemon’s official launch in the United States.Pokemoncurrently has 1,025 monsters and is widely praised for its visual design, so this decision could have backfired horribly for Nintendo of America if it was approved.
It’s no secret thatPokemonis immensely popular in Japan. The first games of the franchise,Pokemon Red and Green– the latter of which is known asPokemon Bluein the west – have sold over 10 million units in Japan alone, claiming the spot as the best-selling games in the country for years. Naturally, Nintendo of America wanted to replicate the success of the popular series in the United States, and one of the first challenges tackled by its team was how to adaptPokemonto Western audiences.
Now, aPokemonfan called Jack_Hardin spotted an interestingstory originally reported by Time magazineearlier this year. The story covers points such as why the marketing team decided to releasePokemon Redinstead ofGreen, and how the names of some critters were translated, but one of the most interesting details is that Nintendo of America almost completely changedthe visual design ofPokemon. The marketing team at Nintendo of America wanted to replicate the game’s Japanese popularity in 1998, and they initially thought that new designs with a more “graffiti” art style would resonate better with local audiences.
Nintendo of America Wanted Alternative Designs for Pokemon
In the excerpt shared by Jack_Hardin, it’s possible to see that the original designs were thought to be “too cute” for Americans, so Nintendo of America had its team recreate them. Pokemon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara disliked the new designs, stating that “they turned Pikachu into something like a tiger with huge breasts. It looked like a character from the musicalCats.” Luckily, these designs were scrapped, and the games were released with their original art. AsPokemonis widely praised for the amazing designs of its creaturestoday, the decision would likely put in jeopardy its popularity in the country.
In the end, only names were replaced, and no visual changes were made, and this allowedPokemonto be a global hit that sold over 480 million units when considering all games. The next game in the series,Pokemon Legends: Z-A, is expected to be released sometime in 2025. Unfortunately, recent rumors indicate thatPokemon Legends: Z-Amay not arrive until the second half of 2025, but it will likely be a very popular game with fans.
Pokemon
Pokemon is a franchise that needs no introduction. One of the most successful media empires in history, Pokemon spans games, television, films, manga, merchandise, music, and more.
