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 As a little boy, Satoshi Tajiri (the man behind Pokémon) loved catching insects and tadpoles
near his home in Tokyo. When he was older, he enjoyed watching a television show called
‘Ultra Seven’. In this programme, the main character used giant monsters, which he kept
inside small capsules, to help him fight. One day, Tajiri stumbled across Game Boy - a handheld
computer console for playing games - and he began to dream... By combining these ideas,
Satoshi Tajiri hoped that he’d be able to create a computer game which allowed children all
over the world to catch and battle creatures, just like he had enjoyed doing as a child.
With the help of some friends, Satoshi Tajiri planned to begin work on his electronic game,
but they needed money and help. Together, they approached Nintendo, who they hoped would
fund the making of the game. However, after several failed attempts, things weren’t looking
good. Although they didn’t like the idea to begin with, Nintendo finally decided to support the
game, and work could begin. Six years later, the game was released under the name ‘Pocket
Monsters’ - later shortened to ‘Pokémon’.
The first Pokémon games were only available in Japan and were released on 27th February
1996. These ‘Red’ and ‘Green’ versions of the game allowed people of all ages to catch and
trade 151 ‘pocket monsters’. Satoshis Tajirii’s dream had come true! Due to the huge
popularity of the games, Pokémon Red and Green were quickly followed up by Pokémon Blue,
which had improved graphics and sounds.
After the high-selling computer games came a Pokémon Trading Card game. The card game,
which was released on October 20th 1996, contained 102 cards, and also proved to be very
popular. Less than a year later, the success continued, and the Pokémon franchise became
even bigger when a cartoon series based on the game was released. The television show
followed a Pokémon trainer called Ash Ketchum, and his quest to catch every Pokémon and
become the world’s greatest Pokémon trainer! The cartoon would go on to grow from strength
to strength - a film version of the show was later released in the United States in November
1999.
Due to the Pokémon games’ success in Japan, they were later released in other countries.
America received the Red and Blue versions of the game, along with the cartoon, in
September 1998, and soon countries across the world were trying to catch ‘em all!
As time has gone by, there have been many more versions of the game, including Gold and
Silver versions. The lastest versions to be released are Sun and Moon. With each of these
new games, more and more Pokémon have been added. From the first 151, there are now
over 700 !
1) Who had the original idea for Pokémon? 1 mark
__________________________________________________________________
2) How long did it take to make the first Pokémon game? 1 mark
__________________________________________________________________
3) How was Pokémon Blue better than Pokémon Red and Green? 1 mark
____________________________________________________
4) Do you think that all of the Pokémon from the first computer games were in the original card game?
Explain your answer. 1 mark
Yes/No because _______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

5) How are the names of the two latest Pokémon computer games different to the ones which had come
before them? 1 mark
_________________________________________________________________
6) Tick the table below to show whether the statements are true or false: 2 marks

True False
Pokémon was always popular with Nintendo.

Tajiri got the idea of catching creatures from a television

programme.
The Pokémon cartoon led to a Pokémon film.

7) Put these events in the order that they happened, one is done for you: 2 marks
Order
Pokémon computer game released in America.

Pokémon cartoon series released.

Pokémon film released in the United States.

Pokémon card game is released.

Red and Green Pokémon games released in Japan. 1

8) In the cartoon series, Ash (the main character) has a Japanese name in the Japanese version of the
show. What do you think this might be. Why? 1 mark

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________
1) Who had the original idea for Pokémon? 1 mark
Satoshi Tajiri
2) How long did it take to make the first Pokémon game? 1 mark
6 years
3) How was Pokémon Blue better than Pokémon Red and Green? 1 mark
Improved graphics and sound
4) Do you think that all of the Pokémon from the first computer games were in the original card game?
Explain your answer. 1 mark
No, because there are 151 Pokémon in the original game, but only 102 cards.

5) How are the names of the two latest Pokémon computer games different to the ones which had come
before them? 1 mark
They aren’t colours - the others are (red, green, blue, gold and silver)
6) Tick the table below to show whether the statements are true or false: 2 marks

True False
Pokémon was always popular with Nintendo.
Tajiri got the idea of catching creatures from a television
programme.
The Pokémon cartoon led to a Pokémon film.

7) Put these events in the order that they happened, one is done for you: 2 marks

Order
Pokémon computer game released in America. 4

Pokémon cartoon series released. 3

Pokémon film released in the United States. 5

Pokémon card game is released. 2

Red and Green Pokémon games released in Japan. 1

8) In the cartoon series, Ash (the main character) has a Japanese name in the Japanese version of the
show. What do you think this might be. Why? 1 mark

Satoshi (Tajiri) because he might be named after the inventor (they both want to catch all the creatures/
Pokémon).
Also accept other answers with plausible explanations.