'Christian pastors declared Pikachu to be a demon': how Pokémon went from moral panic to unifying global hit

Christian pastors in the US declared Pokémon's iconic character Pikachu to be a demon during its initial surge in popularity in the late 90s, sparking a moral panic that saw the TV show being banned from airing. The creator of the game, Satoshi Tajiri, was portrayed as a 'delinquent' and 'criminal' figure who was leading children astray with his 'sinister monsters'.

However, today Pokémon is viewed as an imaginative, challenging, and wholesome series of games that rewards every hour spent by children playing it. It has earned a place among the greats of children's fiction alongside Harry Potter, The Famous Five, and Narnia, offering a powerful fantasy of self-determination set in a world almost totally free of adult supervision.

The game was designed from the beginning to be social, encouraging players to trade and battle with each other to complete their collection of virtual creatures. This concept has become normalised with the internet, but it was novel back then, requiring people to huddle together using cables or converge in public spaces like parks.

Pokémon's astronomical success wasn't instant, but the result of slow-burning sales over years. The franchise has brought in more money now than it ever did at its peak, becoming the highest-grossing entertainment property of all time with a global phenomenon that transcends age and culture.

The creator Satoshi Tajiri was born in Japan and was an avid collector of bugs as a child, earning him the nickname 'Dr Bug'. The idea for Pokémon began to percolate around 1990 but took six long years to transform into the monochrome world full of 151 collectible critters that we know today.

Today, Tajiri is a reclusive figure who remains at Game Freak and still involved in the creation of each new Pokémon game. The launch of Pokémon Go in July 2016 saw the mobile game become the most popular in US history with over 232 million players worldwide.

There's a unique aspect to Pokémon Go that makes it different from other video games, which is its focus on connection rather than escapism. It connects players with their local area and the people around them, creating a sense of community and shared experience among players.

The pastoral nature of Pokémon has persisted throughout the years, focusing on interrelationships between humans and Pokémon as well as an environmentalist bent to its stories. This resonance with nature prevents the franchise from feeling cynical or exploitative, instead showcasing a powerful vector for connection between people born from one boy's love of the natural world.
 
omg i was so confused when my little sis was into pokémon back in the day she had this huge poster of pikachu on her bedroom wall and i was like why do u need to collect all those monsters lol now im totally nostalgic 4 it i remember playing pokémon gold with my friends at school and we were all so competitive who could catch 'em all first lol fast forward 2 today and pokémon is still going strong i love how its evolved from this initial moral panic to being a wholesome series that promotes friendship & community ❤️ the fact that its been around 4 so long is truly amazing btw has anyone else noticed how much its changed over the years? 🤔
 
you know what's wild about pokemon? it's crazy how something that was seen as 'evil' back in the day is now viewed as wholesome and imaginative 😊. i mean, can you imagine a time when pikachu wasn't associated with cute and fun, but with 'demon'? 🤣 it just goes to show how our perspectives can change over time and how we should try not to judge things too harshly.

i also love how the creator, satoshi tajiri, is still involved in the creation of new pokemon games, even after all these years. that's some dedication right there! 🙌 and have you noticed how pokémon go brought people together? it's amazing how a game can create a sense of community and connection among players. 👫
 
😊 I remember when Pikachu was first out, I thought it was so cool but some pastors in the US were like "no way" 🙅‍♂️, they said Pikachu was a demon or something 😳. But now we all know that Satoshi Tajiri is a genius and Pokémon is just an awesome series 🤩. The fact that it was banned back then shows how strong the moral panic was, but I think it's crazy how opinions have changed over the years 🔄.

I mean, who would've thought that something like trading and battling with other players to catch creatures would be a normal thing? 💸👊 It's wild to see how Pokémon has evolved (pun intended) from those early days to becoming this huge global phenomenon 🌎. And did you know that Satoshi Tajiri was nicknamed "Dr Bug" because he loved collecting bugs as a kid? 🐜 That's so cool! 👍
 
The whole Pikachu demon thing was super unnecessary 🙄. I mean, what's wrong with kids playing video games and using their imaginations? It sounds like some pastors just wanted to stir up controversy to get attention. And now Pokémon is this amazing franchise that's all about friendship, adventure, and exploration... it's like the ultimate childhood experience 😎. Satoshi Tajiri was a genius who turned his passion into something truly special 🤩. I love how Pokémon has evolved over the years and how it brings people together through gaming and community events 🌐. The fact that it's still going strong today is a testament to its timeless appeal 💖.
 
🤔 so i was reading about how pokémon got this reputation back in the day and it's wild to think that some ppl thought pikachu was a demon lol imagine being like "this is what's corrupting kids" 🙄 but i get why there was a moral panic back then, idk if anyone's actually seen the games but they seem pretty wholesome now. Satoshi tajiri was a kid who loved bugs and it shows in the design of pokémon - the game just grew on ppl over time and now it's a global phenomenon 🌎 the fact that it encourages social interaction and exploration is really cool, especially with pokemon go where you can meet ppl in real life 👥 and yeah, it's interesting to see how the franchise has evolved into this powerful symbol of connection with nature
 
man i'm so glad this old news is getting some love again 🙌 pokémon has come such a long way since those crazy 90s days when it was all about banning it from TV and calling its creator a delinquent lol what a generation gap 😂 now we see it as this wholesome, imaginative world that's all about connection and community and i think that's what makes it so enduring i mean, who doesn't love the idea of catching 'em all and exploring new worlds with your friends? 🌳👫 for me, pokémon will always be about the joy of discovery and the thrill of adventure and it's amazing to see how something that started as a hobby has grown into this global phenomenon 🤯
 
🤔 I mean, can you believe what happened back in the 90s? Pokémon was literally banned from TV because some Christian pastors thought Pikachu was evil! 😂 It's crazy to think about how much our views on it have changed. Now, Pokémon is just so wholesome and imaginative - my kids love playing it with me (okay, they mostly beat me 😜). I love how Satoshi Tajiri's passion for bugs as a kid inspired the whole concept of collecting and battling creatures. It's amazing to see how something that was once seen as 'sinister' has become a global phenomenon that brings people together in parks and online. The fact that Pokémon Go focuses on connection over escapism is so refreshing - it's like they tapped into something special! 🌳💻
 
🐰💡 I think it's wild how far we've come since back then. Pokémon was actually banned in the US because some pastors thought it was evil 🙅‍♂️, but now it's all about kids learning to trade and battle with each other 💻. It's crazy how a game that started as just catching bugs can turn into this massive global phenomenon 🌎. Satoshi Tajiri's passion project has brought in more money than ever before 💸, and he's still involved after all these years 😮. I love how Pokémon Go connects players with their surroundings and each other 👫. It's amazing how something that started as a childhood hobby can grow into this powerful force for community 🌻
 
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