Mariko Oi and Mel Ramsay
BBC News
The Pokemon Company
Pik-a-Boo: Pokémon is one of the most precious media franchises in the world
The boss of the Pokémon Company thinks that the series can last at least 50 years if it continues to innovate.
Launched for the first time on the game of Nintendo Game Boy in 1996, the video game extended to films, television and toys to become one of the most profitable media franchises in the world.
More recently, the trading card game based on cute creatures at the center of her universe has seen an increase in popularity – but it also brought scalpters and fraud to the pastime.
CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara, who has been in charge of the company since 1998, has met in BBC News before its annual update on the secret of its success, the challenge of challenges and the future of the series.
Pokémon Day Ads
Pokémon Day is an annual showcase of versions, upgrades and upcoming events.
Fans hope for news on the next title Nintendo Switch Pokémon Legends: ZA, and info on the popular commercial card game.
Mr. Ishihara did not give too much before the event, but says that the long -term objective is to “enrich both the real world and the virtual world”.
Pokémon GO – The successful mobile phone application of the company that works with the GPS of a device to place monsters in the real world – is an example.
“This is what I think to be the greatest force of Pokémon, and it is important for us to find this kind of idea,” he said.
“This is how I think of what we want to achieve afterwards.”
Pokémon Scalpers, Fakes and Palworld
Pocket package
Pokémon Company continued the creators of Palworld (photo) – accusing them of patent counterfeit
One of the hottest subjects among long -term Pokémon fans today is the scalpers.
The resurgence of the collecting card game has drawn the attention of resellers who buy new packs in the hope of landing rare and precious cards.
YouTuber Logan Paul has changed many people with potential profits from the pastime when he paid $ 5.3 million (3.9 million sterling pounds) for the most expensive Pokémon card of all time.
Gaming companies have long had a problem with the second -hand market, and Mr. Ishihara says that he “prevents new products from being sold”.
“When the secondary market becomes more precious due to rarity, it is problematic because our company is assigned.”
Fans have suggested that the Pokémon Company could produce a larger volume of articles that are difficult to find or limited, but Mr. Ishihara says that he cannot do much to control the resale market.
“These articles are considered precious because they are rare or considered vintage – and it is not our place to say that they are not,” he said.
On the subject of counterfeit products, Mr. Ishihara is more direct and says that the company’s legal teams have fought “rigorously” against clones and false from the start.
He recently won a long legal battle against the Chinese company behind a Copycat mobile application.
And earlier this year, he joined Nintendo to continue the manufacturers of Palworld – an online multiplayer survival game described as “Pokémon with rifles”.
He alleges that the developer PocketPair violated patents, which he denied.
The secret of Pokémon’s success
Getty images
Pokémon international championships include cards to exchange, video games and mobile application events
Pokémon continued to bring new franchise fans by developing in anime, card games, films and toys alongside his video game titles.
Mr. Ishihara says that fans “now extend over several generations” and believe that “the greatest reason for their success is the fact that Pokémon has become a communication tool”.
Last weekend, around 13,000 Pokémon fans headed for the European leg of international championships in London’s Excel Center.
This demonstrates Mr. Ishihara’s point that people have found their way in the series by various means.
Justin fans, 25, and Marina, 28, who showed up at the event in rocket team costumes, BBC News told Pokémon watching the television show animated as a child.
“I loved all designs, all the different characters,” explains Justin.
“They were really really cute.”
Marina says that events in person have become a chance for her to meet other fans.
“I always wanted to go to conventions and this kind of event.
“So being able to be here and network and make friends has been such a blessing,” she said.
We have a goal … Pokémon
Getty images
Tsunekazu Ishihara has been in charge of Pokémon company since 1998
The Pokémon Company is unusual because it is a private company.
Other well -known Japanese brands, such as Nintendo and Hello Kitty, the Kitty manufacturer, are listed on the stock market and managers towards shareholders.
Mr. Ishihara thinks that this allows his business to keep an accent on something.
“Pokémon is the only thing we do at the Pokémon Company,” he said.
“So, whatever the profit we make of Pokémon is reinvesting in Pokémon.”
He adds that this means that the company does not have to ask questions about the expansion or the creation of new characters from shareholders.
“Our answer will be:” We are going to go bankrupt when Pokémon is no longer popular “.
“I don’t think they like it.”
Where are Ash and Pikachu now?
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Terré all: Ash and Pikachu left the animated series in 2023
At the end of 2023, the longtime hero Ash Ketchum and his best boyfriend Pikachu bowed from the animated series Pokémon.
The series continued without the beloved duo, but one of the “most difficult questions” that Mr. Ishihara is asked is what they do now.
“Even if the television camera may not follow them, Ash’s trip continues and his partner Pikachu is right next to him.”
With the franchise that should mark its 30th anniversary next year, rumors are already starting to swirl on special plans for the occasion.
The remakes or the re -editions of the original game games are high on the lists of wishes of many fans.
Mr. Ishihara does not have much to say on this subject for the moment, but wants to focus on “the connection of the real and virtual worlds”.
“If we continue to focus on our mission, Pokémon can probably continue in its 50th or 100th anniversary,” he said.
“But if we become complacent and we go with the flow, that’s when Pokémon will go down.”
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