Pokémon originated as a pair of role-playing games developed by Game Freak, from an original concept by its founder, Satoshi Tajiri. Released on the Game Boy on February 27, 1996, the games became sleeper hits and were followed by manga series, a trading card game, and anime series and films. From 1998 to 2000, Pokémon was exported to the rest of the world, creating an unprecedented global phenomenon dubbed "Pokémania". By 2002, the craze had ended, after which Pokémon became a fixture in popular culture, with new products being released to this day. In the summer of 2016, the franchise spawned a second craze with the release of Pokémon Go, an augmented reality game developed by Niantic. Pokémon has since been estimated to be the world's highest-grossing media franchise and one of the best-selling video game franchises.

Some of my favorite Pokémon include:

Squirtle

Squirtle is a Water-type Pokémon introduced in Generation I. It resembles a small, blue turtle-like creature with a distinctive shell on its back. Squirtle has a rounded body, short legs, and a long, curly tail. One of its defining features is its ability to withdraw into its shell for protection, which also helps reduce water resistance for swimming. Squirtle is known for its powerful water-based attacks and can shoot water jets from its mouth. It is one of the three starter Pokémon available at the beginning of Pokémon Red, Blue, and their sequels, alongside Bulbasaur and Charmander.

Pikachu

Pikachu is an Electric-type Pokémon introduced in Generation I. It is known for being the mascot of the Pokémon franchise and one of Nintendo's major mascots. Pikachu has a yellow, rodent-like body with red circles on its cheeks that store electricity. It stands about 1 foot 4 inches tall and weighs around 13.2 pounds. Pikachu evolves from Pichu when leveled up with high friendship and evolves into Raichu when exposed to a Thunder Stone. Its ability to generate electricity from its cheeks makes it a popular and iconic Pokémon design.

Eevee

Eevee is a Normal-type Pokémon introduced in Generation I. It is known for its unique genetic structure that allows it to evolve into multiple different species, including Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Espeon, Umbreon, Leafeon, Glaceon, and Sylveon. Eevee has brown fur, big ears, and pink paw pads, and is typically found in urban areas near cities. Its ability to adapt to different environments through evolution makes it one of the most versatile Pokémon in the franchise.

Jigglypuff

Jigglypuff is a small, round Pokémon with pink fur and a tuft of curly hair on its head. It has short arms and legs, pointy cat-like ears, and large blue eyes. Jigglypuff is known for its ability to sing a powerful lullaby that can put opponents to sleep. It can also inflate its body like a balloon when angered. In the Pokémon anime, Jigglypuff often tries to use its singing to put opponents to sleep, though this doesn't always work on Pokémon with insomnia-type abilities. Overall, Jigglypuff is considered one of the more iconic and beloved Pokémon designs, with its cute appearance contrasting with its potentially annoying singing habit.