The Lost Timeline of Early Pokemon History

[00:00:00] Speaker 1: What's up, Rui? Come here. Oh, wow. How are you? [00:00:14] Speaker 2: All right, Rui, we've been researching this for, I don't know what, how many years? I think three years would sound nice. Three years sounds nice. It's about that. But yeah, I think it's time we finally settle everything we know and show everyone in one place what we've learned over the past few years. And let's put to bed all this information that's out there. [00:00:37] Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, let's do it. If you really want to understand Pokemon before it was Pokemon, you pretty much have to start back at Coral Coral Comics number one from May 1977. Before we even get into Pokemon, you kind of have to start with Coral Coral itself, right? The first issue from 1977, it's important, right? Because Coral Coral eventually becomes one of the most powerful platforms in Pokemon history. [00:01:12] Speaker 2: Exactly. Decades later, this is where kids would discover Pokemon through manga, game features, and all of the exclusive promos and giveaways, and even the mail-order release of Pokemon Blue. So while it's not a Pokemon item yet, it is the birth of the stage where Pokemon would eventually take over. [00:01:30] Speaker 1: So when you go to Game Freak Magazine issue number one, right? Because that's where, like, Tajiri was a fan first, and he was, like, writing about things like arcade games, mechanics, scores, and how games functioned in general, right? [00:01:42] Speaker 2: Exactly. And the best part, they made this at home themselves. And this is the story of where the Tajiri and Sugimori connection begins. [00:01:54] Speaker 1: Then you're gonna move on to Login Magazine number eight, 1983, which gave Game Freak one of the first real public features. [00:02:01] Speaker 2: It matters so much more than people realize, because this is the first time he's not just recognized as some passionate kid. It's now being recognized as something in a valid magazine that opens up doors. I love what comes next. And that's Sugimori's mangas. [00:02:18] Speaker 1: Yeah, these two magazines, Weekly Shonen Sunday's Zoukan number seven, 84, and Weekly Shonen Sunday number 44, 1986. This is where Ken Sugimori started before Game Freak. These are like his one-shot mangas when he was still wanting to be a mangaka. [00:02:35] Speaker 2: Which is incredible, because most people only know Sugimori as the Pokemon artist. But here he is pursuing manga. [00:02:43] Speaker 1: And then there was Quinty in 1989. This is what really got things going. [00:02:50] Speaker 2: Exactly. The first actual Game Freak video game, which you can't overlook. Because if they didn't have success here, they never would have made Pokemon. [00:02:57] Speaker 1: So by 1994, Tajiri appeared in Advertising Criticism number seven. Not sure if you're familiar with this one. But in this, he's reflecting on Game Freak's success. [00:03:08] Speaker 2: Actually, I am. Inside is an article hidden, and it hints at a project still in development. We now, at this time, know he's talking about Pokemon Red and Green. [00:03:19] Speaker 1: Then, later in 1995, there's Design Site number 74. [00:03:24] Speaker 2: And this one is another breadcrumb trail. Tajiri openly references a new Game Boy RPG. Today, that sounds obvious. But at the time, no one knew what this project was going to become. [00:03:35] Speaker 1: Now, one of my personal favorites. Weekly Famicom magazine, 1995, December 1. What's really interesting about this one, it actually came out in mid-November and features the very first screenshot of the Pokemon games ever. Really think about that. For the normal consumer, you never saw this until right now, this moment, if you flip to this page, because you bought this magazine. [00:04:03] Speaker 2: And what's interesting is, it segues as an advertisement into Space World 95. That's right. Which leads to my favorite magazine, the Famicom Space World Guide. And inside of there is the same ad. And what's even more interesting is, there's a map of Space World, and you can actually see the Game Freak booth on the map. [00:04:28] Speaker 1: Yeah. And isn't it crazy to think that the big deal at that Space World was actually the release of the N64, and it had nothing to do with Game Freak or Pokemon Red and Green at the time? [00:04:40] Speaker 2: Now, here is the big, big item that comes out of there, the Space World 95 flyer, which actually has the wrong release date on it. [00:04:50] Speaker 1: Well, wrong or original, because when they were still developing this, they actually wanted it to release in late 1995. But as we all know now, it ended up coming out in February 1996. This flyer is huge, though, because really think about this. This is the very first time that you could take an official Game Freak Pokemon anything back home with you before the games, before anything. This was it. Design site number 79. This is a really cool book because this one has an interview with Tajiri where he goes super in depth about the games, his motivations behind it, everything. And it's got an excellent photo op of him with some of the screenshots of games he's worked on. But most importantly, a great screenshot of Pokemon in the background that includes a sprite of Pikachu. Which might be the first time you ever see Pikachu. [00:05:50] Speaker 2: That's right. And then following that, we see all sorts of different Famicom magazines come out throughout '96 with little teasers telling us different things about the game and what we're going to see. [00:06:03] Speaker 1: Yeah. And some of them would even include some original Sugimori art of the Pokemon for the very first time. And there is even little just blurbs about Pokemon as an upcoming release. The Family Computer Magazine December 15th issue 1995. This one's really cool. It actually has an introductory feature presenting Pokemon as a monster catching encyclopedia concept, right? This article announced like the planned release date, which at the time was still December 21st, though the game was ultimately delayed for February 27, 1996. But this had a very detailed overview of the game and everything that was coming up. [00:06:44] Speaker 2: And then, weekly Famicom magazine, December 15th, 1995. This is one of the first times you see Pikachu in that early Sugimori art. [00:06:53] Speaker 1: Now, weekly Famicom doesn't have a big giant article or anything, but it still does mention Pokemon in the upcoming game section. [00:07:02] Speaker 2: And then it leads into weekly Famicom 367, which updates the release date to 1996. [00:07:09] Speaker 1: That's right. They were having a lot of development issues, so they decided to delay things for a bit. So that magazine there is where we see the brand new rescheduled date for the very first time. [00:07:20] Speaker 2: So then what comes next is the 96 red and green updated flyer of the 95 Space World flyer. [00:07:27] Speaker 1: Yeah, I really like this flyer because they use the exact same imagery from the 95, but now they've corrected the date. But what's really cool about it is that I believe this one was a retail only, right? Correct. The Dengeki RPG 96 is another major moment. Yeah, this one features an entire ad on the back of a magazine. So for the casual person, for most of them, this is how they were really, really exposed to these upcoming games. [00:07:58] Speaker 2: And this is really the first time that they've put some actual serious marketing dollars behind Pokemon. And then there was Coral Coral. [00:08:07] Speaker 1: Yes. Coral Coral known for having strong ties with Pokemon and introducing Pokemon to the masses, specifically children. Inside of it, kids were introduced to the game, the upcoming features, a lot of the different Pokemon that would be featured in the game. And basically how different the game was, the link cable features, the collecting, everything. [00:08:29] Speaker 2: Maybe this is a good point to mention. The cover date is February 15th, 1996, but it would always release a month before on January 15th, 1996. And then we have new game design ideas for TV game production. This was released January 25th, 1996. And why is this so special besides the fact that it has sprites all over the cover? [00:08:52] Speaker 1: Well, Tajiri goes in depth about his entire philosophy around building games. So we get a bit of insight into his mind and what goes into building a video game from his perspective. [00:09:03] Speaker 2: CNVG 171, this is a really interesting one because it's the earliest confirmed English language pocket monsters magazine reference so far. And nonetheless, it's coming from a UK magazine before Pokemon has officially released in the English speaking market. [00:09:18] Speaker 1: That matters because it shows Pokemon starting to leak a bit into international awareness before the global explosion, obviously. [00:09:28] Speaker 2: And then what came next was family computer magazine number five released February 23rd. And that had a massive spread on the game art. And it's just a beautiful place to actually see a lot of images. [00:09:42] Speaker 1: You can already tell that at this point they were spending some money on marketing to feature an entire page with all of these details about the upcoming game. They were really ramping things up. And it also features that giant ad on the back page. And then the moment that changed everything. After all this build up, all this hype, we finally got the video games. February 27th, 1996, kids in Japan could go to the store and pick up their copies of Pokemon Red and Pokemon Green. [00:10:12] Speaker 2: That's the ignition point. Every card, anime episode, plushie, tournament, everything starts here. [00:10:19] Speaker 1: Coro Coro special number four, 1996. To help sell more copies of the game, Nintendo and Game Freak asked Coro Coro to create a manga. This is the very first time that a manga completely focused on Pokemon was ever created. [00:10:35] Speaker 2: Game Fan volume four, number three. It's important because it's the earliest confirmed U.S. magazine reference to Pokemon found to date. A very small one, but it's a big deal because it traces back to Pokemon's international footprint. Exactly. [00:10:49] Speaker 1: And in March, 1996, Pokemon had only just launched in Japan. So for it to appear in a U.S. magazine this early shows how quickly certain gaming circles were starting to notice it. Then we had weekly Famitsu magazine 365, which was the first major game review. Yeah, that's right. And we've got to remember these games were not popular at this point. So these reviews were such a big deal and Nintendo and Game Freak needed them to be positive. [00:11:17] Speaker 2: Coro Coro comic number 215, just right around the launch, the second time we've seen Pokemon in a regular Coro Coro magazine. But pretty important because it's the first time we start teaching kids what Pokemon is. And they're learning about catching, trading, battling in the Pokédex. [00:11:33] Speaker 1: At the time, this was brand new. It was essential, really. Pokemon's formula was something like no one had ever seen before. So Coro Coro helped turn a strange Game Boy RPG into something kids could really understand and talk about and really learn how to play. Because that was one of the biggest challenges at the time. It's how exactly do I even play this so-called game? Super Famicom number four, released on March 8th, 1996. This issue comes just 11 days after Red and Green launched and includes a two page beginner guide on how to play Pokemon. That tells you the game already needed explanation beyond standard review coverage. [00:12:15] Speaker 2: And that's what makes it useful, historically. Early magazines weren't just saying whether Pokemon was good. They were actively teaching players how to enter this new kind of collecting RPG. Now we have Coro Coro 2016, March 15th, 1996 release. It had a strategy guide in it to help kids, but nothing significant. [00:12:34] Speaker 1: Yeah, that's right. This is where kids could get a little bit more information on the games they were playing and maybe a little bit of tips and tricks. [00:12:41] Speaker 2: The illustrated Book of Pocket Monsters, I'm not super familiar with this one. [00:12:45] Speaker 1: Explain to me, Rui, why this is so important. This is where Pokemon starts becoming reference material. It's collectible media, not just the game cartridge. [00:12:54] Speaker 2: Family Computer Magazine number seven is a great snapshot of Pokemon starting to become player driven. You get articles, reader reactions, sales rankings, and even early gameplay tricks. [00:13:04] Speaker 1: And that's what makes it feel alive. This isn't just a promotion anymore. Players are reacting, they're discovering exploits, comparing versions, and pushing the game forward through their own curiosity. Pokemon Red, Green, and Blue Official Game Boy Guidebooks, released April 10th, 1996. This is one of the earliest official Pokemon guidebooks and one of the first standalone guides connected to the games. It helps establish strategy guides as part of the Pokemon's ecosystem. [00:13:32] Speaker 2: And then that leads into Coro Coro 217 coming out May 15th, 1996. This is one of the big turning points because inside is the Mew giveaway issue of Coro Coro. [00:13:43] Speaker 1: Yeah, it was massive. It created this whole mystery rarity, you know, schoolyard culture type stuff. That may be some of the smartest and early marketing moves that they ever made. In mid-1996, this is where we start seeing like a big merchandise push. Everything from stickers, toys, flyers, etc. Family computer magazine number 13, 1996. This features a great early interview with Tajiri and Sugimori during Pokemon's first wave of success, really. Tajiri reflects the game's creation while already talking about a sequel. Quiet presence of Sugimori beside him gives a rare glimpse into the original creative duo, just as Pokemon was starting to become a global phenomenon. [00:14:27] Speaker 2: And then in this Famitsu magazine, an early post-launch piece where two game journalists discuss why Pokemon Red and Green has become so addicted only a few months after release. And they compare Pokemon's collecting appeal to classic RPGs like wizardry and highlight the rumors, trading stories, and playground conversations happening outside the game. Mm-hmm. The Pokemon Club stickers, because this was not only an early toy, maybe the first sticker that you would apply to that toy, and there was a snack inside. And they had an expiration date on them, which gives us some historical reference. Yeah. [00:15:03] Speaker 1: It's important to early Pokemon history because it predates the TCG boom. Coro Coro comic number 219, Rui, tell me about that. Coro Coro number 219 shows Pokemon climbing fast. You've got game ads, toy answers, merchandise pages, and rankings placing Pokemon near the very, very top. [00:15:20] Speaker 2: Exactly. Not every issue needs to be a first appearance to be historically valuable. This shows the month-by-month growth before Pokemon becomes unavoidable later in 1996. You know what I love? Those 100 yen capsule figures. Same. Cheap little Gashapon toys, but historically huge. Some of the first Pokemon toys kids could physically own. Prototype Pokemon TCG cards. Released July 96. Unreleased prototypes of Pokemon TCG cards that represent the earliest known stage of the trading card game's development. [00:15:52] Speaker 1: Coro Coro number 220 gives us the monumental event, the very first time we ever laid eyes on the Pokemon TCG. [00:16:01] Speaker 2: An image of the prototype of the TCG cards that nobody knew would become the biggest game on earth. And then we had the Pokemon snack stickers, which were like a little corn puff style cereal. And then you got a sticker with two images of different Pokemon unrelated to each other on it. [00:16:19] Speaker 1: Yeah, and some of these images were pretty wild. This is actually one of the very first times, rather than getting that stock image look that we had been seeing this entire time. We actually got kind of some original art for the first time in a while. Yes, even little sketches. Yeah. [00:16:35] Speaker 2: Pokemon Forkoma DX is one of the earliest standalone Pokemon manga books. And it shows the franchise expanding into comedy print content. Short form gag manga was a natural fit for Pokemon characters. [00:16:49] Speaker 1: The Mitsubros volume four in issue nine. This is a really unique one because it contains the only known Pokemon manga illustrated by Ken Sugimori. And that alone makes it historically special. Coro Coro comics number 221 1996. This one's really interesting because it features a couple more images of the prototype cards. Famously Mewtwo and Porygon are both here. And it's also the same issue where the very first Pokemon manga was now serialized out of Coro Coro special and into the main Coro Coro magazine. [00:17:25] Speaker 2: These are some of my favorite. The Pokemon Bandai card ass jumbo cards that you would have gotten out of a vending machine. They have early amazing Sugimori art on them. [00:17:34] Speaker 1: Yeah, they almost feel like prototypes of their own. [00:17:37] Speaker 2: Famitsu Bros volume four issue 10. This issue includes the Pokemon manga Purin's Great Adventure and teases a sequel on the way. It captures that moment when Pokemon hype is accelerating fast. [00:17:48] Speaker 1: Pokemon Tommy Battleman Discs. The Tommy Battleman Discs are another example of Pokemon entering the toy market before the TCG dominates the collecting conversation. They're part toy, part collectible, part game. Then for the very first time, Tajiri talks about Pokemon 2 in Famiga before even blue releases. [00:18:09] Speaker 2: Then the Pokemon Bandai card as chip shooters. The Bandai card chip shooters were little pog style chips that would come on a vending sheet. And what's really remarkable about those, out of those came a Mew. And that Mew is the first time you ever see a hologram in Pokemon. Which is interesting because in all of the Coro Coro's that come out, the only hologram in all of the Coro Coro cards was a Mew. [00:18:36] Speaker 1: Coro Coro comics number 222. This is a packed issue featuring the TCG coverage. You got merchandise and some of the very first Coro Coro mention of Pokemon Blue. It captures the franchise rapidly expanding across games, cards, collectibles, all at once. [00:18:52] Speaker 2: This Pikachu is the most important card in the TCG universe. But you'll have to watch the Cardbound documentary to learn more. And then we have the first ever Pokemon cards, Card-S. Yeah, and these came in two different versions. You had the red version and a green version. And there were significant map cards that had all sorts of imagery and artwork on it. They were an amazing set that really kicked this off. And the best part, where did you get these, Rui? In a vending machine. And then Rui, we had the next cards, which were the kids cards. Yeah, and these kids cards were really special because they came with a toy and candy as well. And that's a perfect example of Pokemon translating its core concept into merchandise. The Pokédex becomes something physical, collectible and portable outside the game. And now we have the big one, Coro Coro comic number 223. Not only is this the birth of Pokemon TCG, there are all sorts of advertisements, news, and one of the most significant things and why it sold so well. Inside this magazine, you could pre-order Pokemon Blue. Inside here are the King and Queen of Pokemon, the Adam and Eve of Pokemon, the Ivy Pikachu, Glossy, and the Jigglypuff, Glossy. These were the first two official Pokemon TCG cards. And then that leads into the no rarity base set. This is where you get a lot of your classic art that you see today. You'd see in your English base set. And of course, everyone's favorite, the no rarity Charizard. And then still in '96, you had the Armada stickers coming out in November. These were square little stickers that had their own holograms. [00:20:36] Speaker 1: This is one of the first physical adaptations of the Pokedex idea. Instead of only seeing Pokemon data in the Game Boy, kids could collect mini booklets and accordion style cards through capsule machines. [00:20:51] Speaker 2: Pokemon Club Part 2 continues the early toy, sticker, and food product line. It shows the first version wasn't a one-off. There was already enough demand to keep the format going. [00:21:01] Speaker 1: This Bandai battle toy is one of the earliest products to turn Pokemon's combat mechanics into a tabletop-style physical experience. It's not just a figure, it's a toy system. [00:21:12] Speaker 2: Famitsu Bros Volume 4 Issue 12. This issue includes a 16-page secret techniques and strategy guide for pocket monsters. By late '96, there was clearly a huge appetite for deeper Pokemon information. [00:21:24] Speaker 1: Pokemon poker playing cards, red and green pack. These poker playing cards are one of the earliest premium Pokemon collectibles using Ken Sycamore's original art outside of the video games. They feel a little bit more refined than the typical kids are told. You have Gago Magazine. Tell me about Gago. Gago Magazine, number one, 1997. This would have been the second official Pokemon manga. [00:21:49] Speaker 2: We have the first Pokemon Takoban manga, published December 25th, 1996. [00:21:56] Speaker 1: Yeah, this comic took all of the previous issues that had come out in Korokoro Magazine and Korokoro Special and combined them into one convenient little booklet. [00:22:06] Speaker 2: Pokemon Trainer Jumbo Card Banprestos. These show Pokemon's early merchandise identity before everything became standardized. Pokemon expanding beyond the Game Boy into oversized collectibles. [00:22:21] Speaker 1: And then, Pokemon Blue. This was a Korokoro mail-in exclusive. [00:22:26] Speaker 2: People would have received their Pokemon Blue from their mail-order exclusive from Korokoro 223. Now, moving into 1997, Pokemon is starting to move outside the Korokoro ecosystem. And monthly Shonen Gangan is a good example of that. It's one of the earliest non-Korokoro Pokemon manga publications. [00:22:45] Speaker 1: And that matters because Korokoro was absolutely central to Pokemon's rise. But this shows the franchise spreading into other manga spaces. Pokemon wasn't just a game with one magazine partner anymore. It was becoming something different publishers wanted to touch. This Korokoro issue is a major bridge into the anime era because it contains the first images of Ash and Pikachu from the upcoming show. That's a huge moment. Because this public-facing identity of Pokemon is about to change. [00:23:13] Speaker 2: Up to this point, Pokemon is mostly a game, manga, card, and merchandise phenomenon in Japan. Once Ash and Pikachu enter the picture, Pokemon starts moving toward the version of the franchise the entire world would recognize. Second grade elementary school magazine, February '97. This magazine debuts the Pokemon Miracle World manga serial. And the timing is really interesting because it arrives just two months before the anime launches. Pokemon is already successful, but it's still in the final pre-anime window. [00:23:43] Speaker 1: Satsu Special #106 #4. This issue contains the debut of Toshihiro Ono's The Genki Pikachu. One of the earliest and most recognizable Pokemon manga adaptations tied to the anime era. It's a key item because it shows Pokemon adapting quickly to the new world created by the show. [00:24:03] Speaker 2: Elementary School 4th Grade Magazine. This is a huge one because it features the debut of Pokemon Adventures. That manga becomes the longest-running Pokemon manga ever. [00:24:12] Speaker 1: And historically, Pokemon Adventures is one of the most important adaptations because it treats the Pokemon world with more adventure states and continuity. This magazine marks the start of the manga legacy and keeps going for decades. Nintendo Power Vol. 98 is important because it's the first substantial US magazine feature on Pocket Monsters before the American launch. At this point, Pokemon hasn't fully arrived in the US. But, the signal is starting to reach Western audiences. [00:24:43] Speaker 2: Nagiyoshi's PPV. It's really interesting because it shows Pokemon being aimed at a young female audience in a way that feels different from the game magazines and Shonen-style material. It leans more into romance, comedy, and character-driven storytelling. And Rui, you know, while we were researching all this Japanese material, I was secretly researching the beginnings of the English release era. [00:25:04] Speaker 1: This VHS is a major early US item because it's one of the earliest known official Pokemon releases in America. It was distributed through Toys R Us as a promotional tape before Pokemon fully launched in the US. [00:25:16] Speaker 2: And what's especially cool is that copies had stickers showing which local station would air the show. So, it's not just a VHS, it's a piece of the rollout strategy showing how Pokemon was being introduced region by region before the explosion. Pokemon Power Vol. 1 is the first major dedicated US magazine insert for Pokemon. It's the beginning of the sixth part "gotta catch em all" insert series inside Nintendo Power. [00:25:39] Speaker 1: This is the North American launch of Pokemon as a video game franchise. Red and Blue are the first Pokemon games released in the US. [00:25:48] Speaker 2: And this is when Pokemon truly starts becoming global. Japan already had the games, manga cards, and the anime momentum. But the US release turns Pokemon into an international phenomenon. The Electric Tale of Pikachu #1. This is the first standalone US Pokemon comic from Viz. And it's part of that early American expansion beyond the games and TV show. It gives English-speaking fans a printed comic version of Pokemon almost immediately after the franchise hits. [00:26:17] Speaker 1: And it's also important because it connects back to Shiro Ono's manga work. So, for US fans, this becomes one of the first ways they experience Pokemon as a comic, not just as a cartoon or Game Boy game. These KFC cards are fascinating because they're early Pokemon cards. But they're not part of the official TCG. It's the seven-card, non-TCG set featuring Pokemon like Charizard, Pikachu, Ivasaur, Onyx, Cypher, Snorlax, and Dragonite. [00:26:45] Speaker 2: The KFC toys are another great example of Pokemon entering American everyday life before the card game explosion. You had toys like Treasure Keeper, Tattoos, Plushies, Water Squirters, Puzzle Blocks, and Monster Matcher. [00:26:57] Speaker 1: This is huge English TCG milestone. The Wizards of the Coast demo pack is the first official English Pokemon TCG distribution. [00:27:07] Speaker 2: What's really interesting about these packs is that they contain Shadowless cards, not first edition cards. Meaning that these packs and Shadowless cards predated the English release of base set. The CD promo is an interesting crossover item because it includes an English Pikachu card inside a Japanese music product. So it's an English card, but not a US release. [00:27:28] Speaker 1: And that distinction is important for collectors. It shows how international the Pokemon card identity was becoming. Even before the English TCG fully settled in on its own retail ecosystem. This is the beginning of the major English retail Pokemon TCG era. First edition base set is the release that defines early English Pokemon card collecting. [00:27:48] Speaker 2: And of course, this is where cards like Charizard become cultural icons. The Japanese TCG begins in 1996, but for American collectors, this is the moment the card hobby truly takes off. All right, Rui, I think it's time that we finally lay to rest all of the information that we've been learning over the past few years. [00:28:07] Speaker 1: It's nice that something like this is finally going to be out there, but it's important for people to know that it took three years for us collectively seeking out this information to come up with this. But, you know, things may have been missed and there's probably most likely still things out there to discover as well. [00:28:27] Speaker 2: I can't wait to see what other people find because even as early as last week, Rui, you discovered something new. And if you made it all the way through this timeline, make sure you tune into the Cardbound documentary and hear about the first ever TCG card.