Pokémon, also known as Pocket Monsters, is a hugely popular media franchise that originated in Japan in the mid-1990s. The franchise includes video games, anime series, movies, trading card games, and various merchandise. Pokémon was created by Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori, and the first video game was released for the Game Boy in 1996. In the Pokémon universe, players take on the role of Pokémon trainers and venture out into the world to catch and train these creatures, which come in various shapes, sizes, and abilities. The trainers then use their Pokémon to battle against other trainers to become the champion of the region. The franchise has a cast of iconic characters, including Pikachu, one of the most recognizable and beloved characters in the world.