Trends and fads have come and gone over the years, butPokemoncontinues to stand strong. Since its origin in the 1990s, many fans have remained dedicated to the franchise, and many people who weren’t even alive yet whenPokemonwas created have also become big fans.
WhenPokemonlaunched in the westin the late ’90s, many parents and adults were bewildered at the overwhelming takeover the series of games and anime presented. Suddenly kids all over the country and world were obsessed with the Japanese franchise, and an old Time Magazine page shows that attitudes regarding the obsession were seriously mixed.
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Reddit user AxlCobainVedder shared a photo of a Time Magazine page featuring letters from readers writing in about a recentPokemonarticle featured in the publication. The letters are fascinating to read, especially considering how varied the opinions are. One might expect kids to write in with positive feelings aboutPokemon, but there were also some adults praising the series as well, highlightingPokemon’s ability to help teach kidsand give their skills in language, math, and memory a boost.
Of course, nearly 23 years following the publication, practically everyone is at least aware ofPokemon.Pokemon’s 25th anniversary celebration saw a huge release of games, merchandise, cards, and even musical collaborations to celebrate the games and series as a whole, showing how much it still means to so many people. Even prior to that, though, it became clear thatPokemonhadn’t gone anywhere whenkids and adults alike took toPokemon GOin droves.
Perhaps the most amusing letter in the magazine is one from a reader in New Hampshire, who said that the craze would be over in six months and that kids should save their money. While it’s reasonable to think thatPokemoncould fade away like other trending toys and franchises like Furby or Beanie Babies,Pokemonhas persisted. In fact, some pieces ofPokemonmerchandise have seen a huge increase in value, so some of the things kids ‘wasted their money on’ may have actually been a wise investment, instead.
