Editing Pokémon (section)

=== 1999–2000: Pokémania ===
<!-- Success of the game, anime, and cards -->
In North America, the debuting ''Pokémon'' franchise quickly rose to success. [[Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow|''Red'' and ''Blue'']] sold 200,000 copies in its first month. By December 1998, the [[Pokémon (TV series)|''Pokémon'' anime]] had become the highest-rated syndicated children's show during the weekdays.<ref name="Dinoff_(1999)" /> This attracted the attention of two media companies: [[Warner Bros.]], co-owner of [[The WB]] channel; and [[Saban Entertainment]]/[[Fox Family Worldwide]], owners of the [[Fox Kids]] channel. A bidding war ensued between the parties, which was won by Warner Bros.<ref>{{Harvp|Dockery|2022|p=55-56}}.</ref> On 13 February 1999, ''Pokémon'' launched on the [[Kids' WB]] national television block. The debut episode became the most watched premiere in Kids' WB's history.<ref>{{Cite web | first=Josef | last=Adalian | title='Pokemon' powers Kids' WB | website=[[Variety.com]] | date=21 February 1999 | url=https://variety.com/1999/tv/news/pokemon-powers-kids-wb-1117491518/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522173551/https://variety.com/1999/tv/news/pokemon-powers-kids-wb-1117491518/ | archive-date=22 May 2020 | url-status=live}}</ref> In European countries, the anime received similar levels of success. For example, in Germany, "a highly competitive kids market", ''Pokémon'' was purchased by [[RTL Zwei|RTL 2]]. The show's popularity bolstered the entire program block, more than tripling its viewers. Andrea Lang, RTL 2's editor of cartoons and children's programs, said: "We were speechless. We've never had a comparable success".<ref name="proves_to_be_gold" /> By March 1998, half a year before ''Pokémon''{{'}}s overseas launch, 499 million ''Pokémon'' cards had been produced. By March 1999, the total number of cards shipped reached 764 million. By March 2000, this figure would grow further to 4.255 billion cards, manufactured in both Japanese and American factories.<ref name="Hatakeyama_Kubo_(2000)_p246-247" />

<!-- Severe scarcity occurs -->
By April 1999, there was a general consensus in the US that ''Pokémon'' had become a phenomenon and the newest children's [[fad]].{{efn-ur|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="Mcfarland_Parvaz_(1999)" /><ref>{{Cite news | first=Laura Sessions | last=Stepp | title=The 'Pokemon' Phenomenon | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | date=9 April 1999 | page=C04 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1999/04/09/the-pokemon-phenomenon/434d2658-da94-4a3a-baad-d72dec12384a/ | url-access=subscription | archive-url=https://archive.today/20230406152019/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1999/04/09/the-pokemon-phenomenon/434d2658-da94-4a3a-baad-d72dec12384a/ | archive-date=6 April 2023 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | first=Laura | last=Evenson | title=MONSTER BASH / Pokemon characters from Japan capture kids' imaginations | work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] | date=20 April 1999 | page=B1 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/411368309/A906EC9370884139PQ | url-access=subscription | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522162504/https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/MONSTER-BASH-Pokemon-characters-from-Japan-2935506.php | archive-date=22 May 2023 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | first=Sharon R. | last=King | title=Mania for 'Pocket Monsters' Yields Billions for Nintendo | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=26 April 1999 | page=A1 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/04/26/business/mania-for-pocket-monsters-yields-billions-for-nintendo.html | url-access=subscription | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118053852/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/04/26/business/mania-for-pocket-monsters-yields-billions-for-nintendo.html | archive-date=18 January 2017 | url-status=live}}</ref>}} By some, the fad was referred to as "Pokémania",{{efn-ur|Attributed to multiple references:<ref>{{Cite news | first=Darryl | last=Owens | title=Kids have contracted 'Pokemania' | work=[[The News & Observer]] | date=16 June 1999 | page=E9 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/402827992/719E00527A444213PQ | url-access=subscription | archive-date=27 June 2023 | access-date=27 June 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627082010/https://www.proquest.com/docview/402827992/719E00527A444213PQ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | first=D'Arcy | last=Doran | title=Prepare for Pokemania: Video game expo expected to lure thousands of kids | work=[[Toronto Star]] | date=22 July 1999 | page=1 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/437976460/44257CE500BA48F6PQ | url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | first=Rachel | last=Lipton | title=Pokemania | work=[[National Post]] | date=6 November 1999 | page=31 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/329619943/73801BE051A64C4CPQ | url-access=subscription | archive-date=27 June 2023 | access-date=27 June 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627082908/https://www.proquest.com/docview/329619943/73801BE051A64C4CPQ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | title=Pokemania hits town | work=[[Birmingham Evening Mail]] | date=31 July 2000 | page=17 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/323292064/D027956C0A7C496BPQ | url-access=subscription | archive-date=27 June 2023 | access-date=27 June 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627082016/https://www.proquest.com/docview/323292064/D027956C0A7C496BPQ | url-status=live }}</ref>}} including journalists of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''<ref name="Chua-Eoan_Larimer_(1999)" /> and ''[[USA Today]]''.<ref>{{Cite news | first=Mike | last=Snider | title=Pokemania builds as monster games spawn a hydra-headed empire | work=[[USA Today]] | date=17 March 1999 | page=08D | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/408752577/3DEAFB3D372A4E73PQ | url-access=subscription | archive-date=27 June 2023 | access-date=27 June 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627082909/https://www.proquest.com/docview/408752577/3DEAFB3D372A4E73PQ | url-status=live }}</ref> In the US, severe [[scarcity]] occurred of ''Pokémon'' goods,<ref name="Thomas-Lester_(1999)" /> especially ''Pokémon'' cards,<ref>{{Cite news | first=Kent | last=Gordon | title=The Pokemon SHUFFLE // Stores can't keep the cards in stock, some schools have banned them, and many adults don't get it | work=[[Star Tribune]] | date=8 April 1999 | page=01B | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/427116686/F4E588F33D334380PQ | url-access=subscription}}</ref> causing companies to miss profits.<ref>{{Cite news | first=Kent | last=Gordon | title=Pokemon cards are a monster craze | work=[[The Vancouver Sun]] | date=30 April 1999 | quote=I could have sold 10 times that amount if I had them and we have done better than most to keep them in stock. | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/242787482/A2850B0113C04AA5PQ | url-access=subscription}}</ref> A ''[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]'' article, published on 3 August 1999, cited a [[Toys "R" Us]] manager as saying that a supply of 600 [[booster pack]]s would last 24 hours. The CEO of one card distributor stated that they were "thousands of boxes behind" on orders. In the same article, a Wizards spokeswoman stated that more employees and printers had been hired to increase card production.<ref>{{Cite news | first=Rick | last=Romell | title=High-stakes card game Pokemon packs sell out in hours as kids' demand far exceeds retailers' supply | work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] | date=3 August 1999 | page=1 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/260984239/EAAC187231BB4762PQ | url-access=subscription}}</ref> However, near the end of the month, a different Wizards spokeswoman told ''[[The Washington Post]]'' that they had "exhausted most of the card-printing capacity of the United States".<ref name="Baylis_(1999)" /> Similarly, ''USA Today'' reported in November 1999 that factories making [[Hasbro]]'s ''Pokémon'' toys had expanded production by 20 times, but demand still exceeded supply.<ref>{{Cite news | first=Thomas | last=Content | title=Pokémon poised to stomp Elmo, Furby Kids choose to collect 'em all, and marketers are raking in billions | work=[[USA Today]] | date=10 November 1999 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/408811083/42E9D09984674624PQ | url-access=subscription}}</ref> In Europe, scarcity of ''Pokémon'' merchandise also occurred.<ref name="proves_to_be_gold" />

<!-- Effect of Pokémon's success on Nintendo and its consoles -->
In part due to the ''Pokémon'' craze, Nintendo saw a 250% increase in profits in 1999 compared to the previous year,<ref name="Baylis_(1999)" /> reaching a six-year high.<ref>{{Cite news | first=Gary | last=Schaefer | title=Pokemon boom helps push Nintendo profit to six-year high | work=[[National Post]] | date=27 May 1999 | page=C11 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/329405610/B83119DE03E34790PQ | url-access=subscription}}</ref> The ''Pokémon'' franchise accounted for over 30% of Nintendo's revenue that year.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Week of November 8–14, 1999 | website=[[Gamasutra]] | url=http://www.gamasutra.com/newswire/news/index19991108.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021003082227/http://www.gamasutra.com/newswire/news/index19991108.htm | archive-date=3 October 2002 | url-status=dead | quote=The Pokemon franchise has accounted for over thirty percent of Nintendo's revenues this year.}}</ref> ''Pokémon''{{'}}s popularity also caused a sharp increase in sales of the Game Boy line.<ref name="Moss_(2019)" /><ref>{{Cite news | first=Joe | last=Hutsko | title=88 Million and Counting; Nintendo Remains King of the Handheld Game Players | work=[[The New York Times]], Late Edition | date=25 March 2000 | page=C1 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/25/business/88-million-and-counting-nintendo-remains-king-of-the-handheld-game-players.html | url-access=subscription | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221121400/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/25/business/88-million-and-counting-nintendo-remains-king-of-the-handheld-game-players.html | archive-date=21 February 2018 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Harvp|Hatakeyama|Kubo|2000|p=383}}.</ref> The financial windfalls came at a time when Nintendo lost dominance in the home console market, with the [[Nintendo 64]] being outsold by [[Sony]]'s [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]].<ref>{{Cite web | first=Luke | last=Holland | title=PlayStation vs. Nintendo 64 Was the Last Console War That Mattered | website=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]] | date=20 March 2015 | url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/playstation-vs-nintendo-64-was-the-last-console-war-that-mattered-957/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819113425/https://www.vice.com/en/article/playstation-vs-nintendo-64-was-the-last-console-war-that-mattered-957/ | archive-date=19 August 2024 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | first=Damien | last=McFerran | title=The ultimate console war: How Sony beat Nintendo and Sega at their own game | website=[[TechRadar]] | date=10 November 2021 | url=https://www.techradar.com/news/the-ultimate-console-war-how-sony-beat-nintendo-and-sega-at-their-own-game | archive-url=https://archive.today/20230309165602/https://www.techradar.com/news/the-ultimate-console-war-how-sony-beat-nintendo-and-sega-at-their-own-game | archive-date=9 March 2023 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | first=Mike | last=Minotti | title=Here's who won each console war | website=[[VentureBeat]] | date=20 August 2014 | url=https://venturebeat.com/2014/08/20/heres-who-won-each-console-war/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822194702/https://venturebeat.com/2014/08/20/heres-who-won-each-console-war/ | archive-date=22 August 2014 | url-status=live}}</ref> The global success of ''Pokémon'' compensated this loss somewhat.{{efn-ur|Attributed to multiple references:<ref>{{Cite web | title=N64 Fade Out | website=[[Game Developer (website)|Game Developer]] | date=2 December 1999 | url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/n64-fade-out | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827100925/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/n64-fade-out | archive-date=27 August 2021 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title=N64 Resurgent | website=[[Game Developer (website)|Game Developer]] | date=20 April 2000 | url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/n64-resurgent | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912145239/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/n64-resurgent | archive-date=12 September 2021 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine | first=Kevin | last=Restivo | title=Pokemon set to sweep Canada | magazine=Computer Dealer News | date=19 October 1998 | volume=14 | issue=39 | page=45 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/202773561/B080B5EA04884D34PQ | url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | first=Robert A. | last=Guth | title=Nintendo Offers New Players For Games | work=[[Asian Wall Street Journal]] | date=25 August 2000 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/315432212/3D77204091F64D84PQ | url-access=subscription}}</ref>}} Scholars [[David Buckingham (academic)|David Buckingham]] and Julian Sefton-Green went even further, writing in 2004: "while Nintendo is now among Japan's most profitable corporations, it could be argued that the company would have struggled to survive without Pokémon".<ref>{{Harvc | first1=David | last1=Buckingham | author-link1=David Buckingham (academic) | first2=Julian | last2=Sefton-Green | year=2004 | chapter=Structure, Agency, and Pedagogy in Children's Media Culture | in=Tobin | p=14}}</ref>

<!-- Effect of Pokémon's success on 4Kids and other companies -->
4Kids, initially a little-known firm,<ref name="Lippman_(1999)" /><ref name="4Kids_History" /> expanded thirty times in revenues,<ref name="Hatakeyama_Kubo_(2000)_p455">{{Harvp|Hatakeyama|Kubo|2000|p=455}}.</ref> and was named the fastest-growing company in America in the 4 September 2000, issue of ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' magazine.<ref name="Rogers_(2000)" /><ref>{{Cite magazine | title=FORTUNE's 100 Fastest-Growing Companies | magazine=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] | date=4 September 2000 | url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2000/09/04/286805/index.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918055916/https://archive.fortune.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2000/09/04/286805/index.htm | archive-date=18 September 2020 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release | title=Al Kahn, Chairman and CEO of 4Kids Entertainment – Fortune Magazine's No. 1 Fastest-Growing Company in America – Featured Tonight on CNBC's 'Business Center' | publisher=[[4Kids Entertainment]] | date=17 August 2000 | url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Al+Kahn,+Chairman+and+CEO+of+4Kids+Entertainment+--+Fortune...-a064343953 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214073254/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Al+Kahn,+Chairman+and+CEO+of+4Kids+Entertainment+--+Fortune...-a064343953 | archive-date=14 February 2018 | url-status=dead}}</ref> Many businesses that timely obtained a ''Pokémon'' license reaped considerable profits.<ref name="Hatakeyama_Kubo_(2000)_p455" /><ref>{{Harvp|Allison|2006|p=249}}.</ref> In the summer of 1999, a massive run on stocks of publicly traded ''Pokémon'' licensees caused their value to increase dramatically. However, by November, most investors were [[Short (finance)|shorting]] their shares. Realizing that ''Pokémon'' was a [[fad]] that would peak and fall at some point, investors were [[bearish]] about its prospects.<ref>{{Cite news | author=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | title=Pokemon is no longer in cards for bearish investors | work=[[Orlando Sentinel]] | date=27 August 1999 | url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1999-08-27-9908260634-story.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20230402134439/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1999-08-27-9908260634-story.html | archive-date=2 April 2023 | url-status=live}}</ref>

<!-- The First Movie is released, Burger King promotion, toy recall -->
''[[Pokémon: The First Movie]]'' premiered in North America on 12 November 1999, and in Europe the following year. Despite being negatively received by many Western critics, it became one of the most successful Japanese animated films of all time.<ref name="Sammut_(2023)">{{Cite web | first=Mark | last=Sammut | title=The Highest-Grossing Anime Movies Ever (& Where To Stream Them) | website=[[Game Rant]] | date=27 April 2023 | url=https://gamerant.com/anime-movies-highest-grossing-box-office-stream/#pokemon-the-first-movie-163-644-662 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328080636/https://gamerant.com/anime-movies-highest-grossing-box-office-stream/ | archive-date=28 March 2022 | url-status=live}}</ref> In the United States, November 1999 was estimated to have been the peak of Pokémania.{{efn-ur|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="Yano_(2004)_p121">{{Harvc | first=Christine R. | last=Yano | year=2004 | chapter=Panic Attacks: Anti-Pokémon Voices in Global Markets | in=Tobin | p=121}} "November 1999 seemed to be a peak month for Pokémon-related crime and violence."</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title=Pokemon Sensation At Its Peak: Movie Has Pushed Craze Out Of Control | website=[[NewsNet5]] | date=16 November 1999 | url=http://www.newsnet5.com/news/stories/news-19991116-173305.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000915145856/http://www.newsnet5.com/news/stories/news-19991116-173305.html | archive-date=15 September 2000 | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title=Kids send 'Pokemon' to top of box office list | website=[[The Morning Sun]] | date=15 November 1999 | url=http://www.morningsun.net/stories/111599/usw_1115990014.shtml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031129065115/http://www.morningsun.net/stories/111599/usw_1115990014.shtml | archive-date=29 November 2003 | url-status=dead}} "Pokemon couldn't be hotter than it is right now"</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine | first=Peter | last=Breen | title=Monster Marketing: Pokemon is white-hot now. But will it be evergreen? | magazine=PROMO Magazine | date=January 2000 | url=http://promomagazine.com/mag/marketing_monster_marketing_pokemon/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040618111725/http://promomagazine.com/mag/marketing_monster_marketing_pokemon/ | archive-date=18 June 2004 | url-status=dead}} "[Pokémon] began fully living up to its hype in November, when the release of Pokemon the First Movie and a corresponding Burger King promotion sent sales of licensed merchandise – and alleged incidents of criminal behavior – soaring. (...) [Pokémon products] built up the buzz before the movie release opened the floodgates."</ref>}} Supporting the American release of ''The First Movie'' was a promotional action with [[Burger King]], one of the largest in the history of the [[Fast food|fast-food industry]].<ref>{{Cite news | first=Gregg | last=Cebrzynski | title=Burger King latches on to Pokemon craze with six-week movie promotion | work=[[Nation's Restaurant News]] | date=18 October 1999 | url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_42_33/ai_57006889 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040910123312/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_42_33/ai_57006889 | archive-date=10 September 2004 | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | first=Tom | last=Held | title=Undivided attention: Pokemon attracts kids and parents to Burger King | work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] | date=13 November 1999 | page=1 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/261025518/C8A12F46B49343D3PQ | url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="Hernandez_(1999)">{{Cite news | first=Greg | last=Hernandez | title=Pokemon Fever Turns Into a Headache at Burger King | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=12 November 1999 | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-nov-12-mn-32706-story.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523100157/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-nov-12-mn-32706-story.html | archive-date=23 May 2023 | url-status=live}}</ref> The success of the promotion resulted in supply issues; restaurants often ran out of ''Pokémon'' toys to include with their meals.<ref>{{Cite news | first1=Shannon | last1=O'Boye | first2=Oshrat | last2=Carmiel | title=The Pokemon Craze Now Consuming Burger King | work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] | date=13 November 1999 | page=A1 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1844346122/78327ADD5A324DDEPQ | url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | first=Bryan | last=Long | title=Hold the pickle, hold the Pokemon cards and toys | work=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]] | date=2 December 1999 | page=2 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/270631876/CB0441B2E27B441FPQ | url-access=subscription}}</ref> On 27 December,<ref>{{Cite news | author=[[Associated Press]] | title=Burger King Recalling Pokemon Containers | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=28 December 1999 | page=A18 | url=https://poke-sources.info/pdfs/Burger_King_Recalling_Pokemon_Containers.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523121634/https://poke-sources.info/pdfs/Burger_King_Recalling_Pokemon_Containers.pdf | archive-date=23 May 2023 | url-status=dead}} [https://www.proquest.com/docview/110092429/pageviewPDF/2DC5EAE9F7334A9FPQ ProQuest]. NB: this [[Associated Press|AP]] announcement cites "Dec. 27" as the date on which the recall was issued.</ref> Burger King [[Burger King Pokémon container recall|recalled its Poké Ball toy]] after a 13-month-old girl died suffocating on one.<ref>{{Cite news | title=Burger King Recalls Balls Encasing Pokemon Toys | work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | page=B8 | date=28 December 1999 | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB94635088438819093 | url-access=subscription | archive-url=https://archive.today/20230627114234/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB94635088438819093 | archive-date=27 June 2023 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | first1=Greg | last1=Hernandez | first2=Robin | last2=Fields | title=Regulators Say Burger King Balked at Recalling Toy Balls | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=29 December 1999 | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-dec-29-fi-48488-story.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331143050/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-dec-29-fi-48488-story.html | archive-date=31 March 2023 | url-status=live}}</ref>

<!-- Gold and Silver released -->
[[Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal|''Pokémon Gold'' and ''Silver'']], the successors to ''Red/Green/Blue'', were released in North America on 15 October 2000.<ref>{{Harvp|Dockery|2022|p=129}}.</ref> In Europe, they were released on 6 April 2001.<ref>[https://www.mobygames.com/game/5515/pokemon-gold-version/releases/ ''Pokémon Gold''] and [https://www.mobygames.com/game/5426/pokemon-silver-version/releases/ ''Silver''] at ''[[MobyGames]]''.</ref>

==== The Pokémon Company and Pokémon USA established ====
<!-- Pokemon Center, the forerunner of The Pokémon Company, is founded -->
[[File:Mega Tokyo Pokémon Center wares 4.jpg|thumb|350px|Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo, a large Pokémon merchandise shop in [[Sunshine City, Tokyo|Sunshine City]], [[Ikebukuro]].<ref>{{Cite web | title=Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo | website=pokemon.co.jp | url=https://www.pokemon.co.jp/shop/en/pokecen/megatokyo/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240621072852/https://www.pokemon.co.jp/shop/en/pokecen/megatokyo/ | archive-date=21 June 2024 | url-status=live}}</ref>]]
On 23 April 1998, Pokémon Center Co. Ltd. was founded as a joint venture by Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Company Profile | website=pokemon.co.jp | url=http://www.pokemon.co.jp/corporate/en/outline/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108090446/http://www.pokemon.co.jp/corporate/en/outline/ | archive-date=8 November 2017 | url-status=dead}}</ref> It was initially formed for the management of specialized merchandise stores called Pokemon Centers, of which the first location opened in [[Nihonbashi]], Tokyo, on 18 July 1998.<ref name="Company_History">{{Cite web | title=Company History | website=pokemon.co.jp | url=http://www.pokemon.co.jp/corporate/en/history/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205054303/http://www.pokemon.co.jp/corporate/en/history/ | archive-date=5 December 2017 | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>See [https://web.archive.org/web/20230407091240im_/https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/HVEAAOSwAJpj9t-N/s-l1600.png this phone card].</ref> Throughout the years, multiple Japanese Pokémon Centers would open and close. {{As of|2024|January}}, a total of 24 Pokémon merchandise shops exist in Japan.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Official Shop List | website=pokemon.co.jp | url=https://www.pokemon.co.jp/shop/en/}}</ref> An American Pokémon Center also existed in New York City from 2001<ref>{{Cite press release | title=Pokémon says "I Choose You!" To Rockefeller Center for First U.S. Store Dedicated To the Growing Worldwide Phenomenon | publisher=Pokémon USA | date=1 November 2001 | url=http://www.pokemoncenter.com/pkstore/text_2.asp | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011119104638/http://www.pokemoncenter.com/pkstore/text_2.asp | archive-date=19 November 2001 | url-status=dead}}</ref> to 2005.<ref>{{Cite web | title=announcement | website=pokemoncenter.com | url=http://www.pokemoncenter.com/store/announcement.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050116021019/http://www.pokemoncenter.com/store/announcement.html | archive-date=16 January 2005 | url-status=dead}}</ref> It was then remodelled into Nintendo World,<ref>{{Cite web | first=Marc-André | last=Sarrazin | title=Nintendo World Store Opening Party | website=Nintendo Spin | date=21 April 2005 | url=http://www.nintendospin.com/news/nintendo-world-store-opening-party/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714185247/http://www.nintendospin.com/news/nintendo-world-store-opening-party/ | archive-date=14 July 2011 | url-status=dead}}</ref> later renamed [[Nintendo New York]].<ref>{{Cite web | first=Allegra | last=Frank | title=Nintendo NY opens its doors to fans from around the world | website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] | date=19 February 2016 | url=https://www.polygon.com/2016/2/19/11064418/nintendo-ny-opening-photos | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219221452/https://www.polygon.com/2016/2/19/11064418/nintendo-ny-opening-photos | archive-date=19 February 2016 | url-status=live}}</ref>

<!-- The Pokémon Company is created -->
After the release of ''Gold'' and ''Silver'', Tsunekazu Ishihara began setting out a number of long-term goals for the ''Pokémon'' franchise, which included releasing a movie every year.{{efn|Shogakukan kept this condition until 2021. {{As of|2024}}, the last animated ''Pokémon'' feature is {{nihongo||ポケモン ココ|Pokemon: Coco}}, released in Japan on 25 December 2020. It was released worldwide (excluding Japan, Korea, and China) as ''[[Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle]]'' on 8 October 2021. Between 1998 and 2021, [[List of Pokémon films|a total of 23 anime films]] were released.}} As part of Ishihara's plan, the Pokemon Center Co. Ltd. was reformatted into [[the Pokémon Company]] (TPC), and officially renamed in October 2000.<ref name="Company_History" /><ref name="Iwata_Asks_3">{{Cite interview | title=Just Being President Was A Waste! | series=[[Iwata Asks]] | interviewer-first=Satoru | interviewer-last=Iwata | interviewer-link=Satoru Iwata | url=https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/ds/pokemon/0/2/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328012415/https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/ds/pokemon/0/2/ | archive-date=28 March 2023 | url-status=live}}</ref> The goal of TPC is to centralize and streamline the global management of Pokémon.<ref name="4Kids_another_5_Years">{{Cite press release | title=4Kids Entertainment Signs New Five-Year Agreement With Pokémon USA | date=10 October 2001 | publisher=[[4Kids Entertainment]] | url=http://www.4kidsentertainment.com/docs/news/2001-1010b.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051024051709/http://www.4kidsentertainment.com/docs/news/2001-1010b.pdf | archive-date=24 October 2005 | url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Satoru Iwata]], who had joined Nintendo of Japan in June, was involved with the company's creation, which was one of his first jobs at Nintendo.<ref name="Iwata_Asks_3" />

<!-- Pokémon USA established -->
In February 2001, [[Pokémon USA]] (PUSA) was established, an affiliated firm of the Pokémon Company.<ref name="Company_History" /> The company's first president was [[Tatsumi Kimishima]] (who would later become president of NoA, and subsequently president of NoJ).<ref>{{Cite web | first=Nick | last=Summers | date=14 September 2015 | title=Nintendo appoints Pokemon USA head as company president | url=https://www.engadget.com/2015/09/14/nintendo-president-tatsumi-kimishima | website=[[Engadget]] | language=en-US | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916164820/http://www.engadget.com/2015/09/14/nintendo-president-tatsumi-kimishima | archive-date=16 September 2015 | url-status=live | quote=Kimishima has also been chief financial officer for the Pokémon Company, president of Pokémon USA, and president of Nintendo of America.}}</ref> In 2002, Kimishima was succeeded by [[Akira Chiba]].<ref>{{Cite web | first=Gary | last=Rusak | title=Pokémon USA president steps down | website=[[Kidscreen]] | date=12 December 2007 | url=https://kidscreen.com/2007/12/12/pokemon-20071212/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814172507/https://kidscreen.com/2007/12/12/pokemon-20071212/ | archive-date=14 August 2011 | url-status=live | quote=Chiba joined the company in 2002}}</ref>