The RetroBeat: How Pokémon is celebrating its 25th anniversary

I’ve been a fan Pokémon for as long as it’s been in the U.S. I got into the original Game Boy games back in 1998 (two years after they debuted in Japan). My love soon extended to the trading card game, anime, and all sorts of merchandise.

Somewhat to even my own surprise, Pokémon is even more relevant than it was when I was a kid. The franchise managed to be a “fad” long enough that it is now a cultural institution. And now Pokémon is celebrating its 25th anniversary, a huge milestone for any brand.