On what date did the Pokémon franchise begin with its first games in Japan?

The Pokémon franchise began in Japan on February 27, 1996, with the release of Pocket Monsters Red and Green.

Those Game Boy role-playing games introduced the central ideas of catching, training, battling, and trading creatures. They were developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, forming the foundation for the later anime, trading card game, films, and merchandise.

The date is often confused with other major Pokémon milestones. The television anime premiered in Japan on April 1, 1997, while the games reached North America as Pokémon Red and Blue in 1998. February 27 is now celebrated as Pokémon Day, making the 2026 anniversary the franchise’s 30th anniversary.

The original Japanese releases were Red and Green, not Red and Blue. A revised Blue version followed in Japan, and its programming became the basis for the international Red and Blue releases.