The Idea Behind Pokémon | Smartest Year Ever (Jan 14, 2025)
About this episode
1/14/25 - A Boy, Bugs, and Pokémon
Before Pikachu or Charmander, Pokémon’s creator Satoshi Tajiri was just a boy obsessed with catching bugs. 🐞 In today’s episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy shares the story of how Tajiri’s childhood curiosity and love for discovery inspired one of the world’s most beloved franchises.
Learn about his early days as “Dr. Bug,” the challenges of creating Pokémon, and the brilliant idea sparked by a Game Boy link cable. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just curious about gaming history, this story is sure to inspire.
Sources:
Kohler, C. (2005). Power-Up: How Japanese Video Games Gave the World an Extra Life.
Tajiri, S. (1999). Interview in Time Magazine: “Pokémon: The Phenomenon.”
Nintendo. (1996). The Making of Pokémon Red and Green.
Sugimori, K. (2016). Interview in Game Informer: “Designing the World of Pokémon.”
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