Who conceived the main idea behind the Pokémon video game franchise?

Satoshi Tajiri conceived the main idea behind the Pokémon video game franchise.

Tajiri’s childhood interest in collecting insects helped inspire a game about discovering and collecting creatures. He also recognized the potential of the Game Boy’s Link Cable, imagining that players could exchange creatures between separate handheld systems.

The concept developed over several years at Game Freak. Ken Sugimori became the principal early illustrator and character designer, while Junichi Masuda worked on programming, music, and sound. Nintendo producer Shigeru Miyamoto also offered important guidance, including support for releasing paired versions.

A frequent misunderstanding is that Pokémon began as an anime concept. The video games came first, debuting in Japan in 1996; the television series followed in 1997. Tajiri’s original idea combined collecting, exploration, role-playing, and social exchange in a portable format.