Satoshi Tajiri first conceived the idea for Pokémon in 1990.
Tajiri was inspired by his childhood interest in collecting insects and by the Game Boy's ability to connect two systems with a Game Link Cable. He imagined creatures moving between players, transforming a handheld game into a social collecting experience.
Nintendo approved a development contract at the beginning of the 1990s, but the project took roughly six years to complete. Tajiri directed the work at Game Freak, while Ken Sugimori handled much of the artwork and Shigeru Miyamoto advised the team during development.
The year is sometimes confused with the franchise's public debut. Pokémon Red and Green did not launch until February 1996, and the anime began in 1997. The 1990 date refers to the conception and early development of the idea, not to the release of a Pokémon product.