Pokemon turns 20: Lesser-known trivia that will pluck your heart strings

Ninetales draws inspiration from a magical fox that pops up a lot in Japanese mythology.

As the iconic franchise Pokemon celebrates its 20th anniversary, here’s some lesser-known trivia on the Pokémon games.

Animated character Pokemon has turned 20 now.

1. Created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996, Pokémon games have sold around 250 million units.

2. Gold and Silver were expected to be the last Pokémon games to be developed. In fact, CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara admitted in an interview that he “didn’t intend to make any more Pokémon titles”. “I even thought that once we entered the 21st century, it would be time for me to do something else entirely,” he said.

3. Ninetales draws inspiration from a magical fox that pops up a lot in Japanese mythology.

4. A constant source of wisdom within the series, Professor Oak was someone you could battle with in the original game.

5. Reportedly, the South Pacific island of Niue, put Pikachu on the back of their one dollar coin in 2001 to celebrate the series.

6. In 2011, while Herman Cain was trying to get a Republican presidential nomination, apparently used the quote, “Life can be a challenge. Life can seem impossible. It’s never easy when there’s so much on the line. But you and I can make a difference. There’s a mission just for you and me.” Turned out, it was from the movie, Pokémon (2000).

7. Rhydon was the first character to be designed. Apparently, the random statues of him that players often see in the games are a tribute to his importance.

8. The Kanto region in the game actually exists in Japan. It houses cities like Tokyo and Yokohama.