Pokémon History

How Pokémon Cards Became a Global Craze Welcome back to our journey through the history of Pokémon cards! At Cardzards, where we Find Magic in Every Card, we believe every collector should understand the roots that shaped today’s Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG). And if you were a kid in the late ’90s or early 2000s, chances are your first introduction to Pokémon cards came with a little black logo in the corner that read: Wizards of the Coast. This four-year period was a cultural explosion—the golden age of vintage cards, playground trades, and binder battles. Let’s rewind and revisit the legendary WOTC era and explore what made it such a defining moment in the Pokémon legacy. 🔥 The Spark That Lit the Flame — U.S. Release of the Pokémon TCG In January 1999, the Pokémon Trading Card Game was officially released in English by Wizards of the Coast (WOTC), the company famous for Magic: The Gathering. Partnering with Nintendo, WOTC localized the Japanese Base Set into English, and almost instantly, Pokémania erupted across the U.S. and much of the Western world. The TCG wasn’t just a hit—it was a phenomenon. Stores couldn’t keep up with demand. Booster boxes flew off shelves. And kids everywhere were practicing their best poker face to pull off trades in the schoolyard. 🧱 Building the Foundation: The WOTC Pokémon Sets The WOTC era is defined by a series of now-iconic sets that built the foundation of what Pokémon collecting still celebrates today. Here’s a breakdown of the core sets released during this time: ⚔️ Base Set (1999) 🌿 Jungle (1999) 🦴 Fossil (1999) 🧪 Base Set 2 (2000) 🦹‍♂️ Team Rocket (2000) 💪 Gym Heroes & Gym Challenge (2000) 🌌 Neo Genesis, Discovery, Revelation, Destiny (2000–2002) 💥 Legendary Collection (2002) 🧿 Expedition, Aquapolis, Skyridge (2002–2003) 🎨 The Art, the Aura, the Nostalgia A huge part of the WOTC magic lies in the artwork. Legendary illustrators like Mitsuhiro Arita, Ken Sugimori, Kagemaru Himeno, and Keiji Kinebuchi brought Pokémon to life in ways that still inspire awe in collectors today. The hand-drawn, minimalist backgrounds gave the Pokémon center stage—especially the holos, which shimmered with a sense of wonder. This era wasn’t just about battling—it was about collecting what felt magical. 📊 Why the WOTC Era Still Dominates the Market Today In 2020, during the pandemic-fueled boom, prices for WOTC cards skyrocketed. 1st Edition Base Set Charizard in PSA 10 condition sold for over $300,000. But it’s not just about price: Even played copies of WOTC holos have value because of their scarcity and emotional appeal. 😢 The End of an Era: Why WOTC Lost the License In 2003, Wizards of the Coast lost their license to print Pokémon cards as Nintendo decided to bring TCG production in-house, launching Pokémon USA (later The Pokémon Company International). With the end of Skyridge, the WOTC chapter closed—but the cards it left behind have become a gold standard for vintage collectors. 🧠 Bottom Line: The Era That Started It All The Wizards of the Coast era (1999–2003) wasn’t just the start of Pokémon cards in the West—it was a cultural movement. For many of us, our first Pokémon cards came from a base set booster or a jungle-themed binder. This era gave us Charizard hysteria, Shining cards, Dark Pokémon, and the unforgettable feeling of cracking open a pack and seeing that rainbow holo flash. Whether you’re hunting down that last Gym Challenge holo or just reminiscing about your first Pokémon trade at recess, the WOTC era is pure cardboard magic. And at Cardzards, we’ll always honor the roots of our favorite hobby.👉 Find Magic in Every Card.

“Every legendary story begins with a single step… or a single card.” At Cardzards, where our slogan is “Find Magic in Every Card!”, we believe every collector should understand the roots of the hobby we all love. The Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) didn’t appear out of thin air—it was the result of passion, creativity, and a lifelong love for exploration and collecting. To fully appreciate where Pokémon cards are today, we must first journey back to where it all began: the humble origins of Pokémon itself. 🎮 The Visionary Behind Pokémon: Satoshi Tajiri In the 1980s, a quiet but imaginative boy from Tokyo named Satoshi Tajiri was obsessed with catching insects. His love of nature and discovery earned him the childhood nickname “Dr. Bug.” But as urbanization swallowed the forests and fields around him, his beloved hobby of bug collecting began to fade. That’s when an idea began to form—a game that would let children everywhere experience the thrill of collecting and exploring, just like he had. Tajiri channeled his passion into game development, eventually founding a company called Game Freak, originally a self-published gaming magazine. With the help of future Pokémon art director Ken Sugimori, Game Freak transformed from fanzine to game studio. 📈 Game Freak’s Evolution and Nintendo’s Role In the early ’90s, Game Freak pitched a wild idea to Nintendo—a game where players could capture creatures, train them, and trade with friends via a link cable. Nintendo wasn’t immediately sold, but Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Mario and The Legend of Zelda, saw the spark in Tajiri’s concept and encouraged the project. After six long years of development, the result was Pokémon Red and Green, released exclusively in Japan on February 27, 1996 for the Game Boy. The rest, as they say, is history. 🔥 The Release of Pokémon Red & Green (1996) These games introduced the world to the first 151 Pokémon, including fan-favorites like Pikachu, Mewtwo, and the original starter trio: Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur. The gameplay loop was unlike anything else at the time—battling wild Pokémon, evolving them, trading with friends, and completing the iconic Pokédex became an instant obsession for Japanese gamers. But what made Pokémon truly revolutionary was its core social mechanic: to “Catch ‘Em All,” you had to trade with other players—Red and Green each had version-exclusive Pokémon. This innovative concept laid the groundwork for a franchise that was far more than just a video game—it was an ecosystem of media, merchandise, and eventually… trading cards. 🃏 The Birth of the Pokémon Trading Card Game (1996–1999) As the Pokémon video game surged in popularity, Japan was introduced to the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) in October 1996, published by Media Factory. Much like the games, the cards featured battle mechanics, evolution chains, and elemental typings—bringing the world of Pokémon into the physical realm for the first time. The first set released was the Japanese Base Set, starring the original Kanto Pokémon. These early cards were simple in design but powerful in nostalgia, with art by now-legendary illustrators like Mitsuhiro Arita (the original Charizard) and Ken Sugimori. The cards were a hit, and the idea of collecting Pokémon began to grow beyond the Game Boy screen. 🇺🇸 Pokémon TCG Arrives in the U.S. — Wizards of the Coast Era Begins By 1998, Pokémon had made its way to North America, thanks to an anime that captivated kids and a Game Boy release of Pokémon Red and Blue. But it was in January 1999 that the Pokémon TCG landed in the U.S., with the Base Set published by none other than Wizards of the Coast—the same company responsible for Magic: The Gathering. Almost overnight, Pokémon cards became a schoolyard phenomenon. What followed was a golden era of collecting, where shadowless Charizards, 1st Edition holos, and binder bragging rights became cultural currency. ✨ Why This Origin Story Still Matters Today Understanding Pokémon’s roots gives depth to every card you pull. That Base Set Machamp? It’s not just a card—it’s part of a legacy that began with a boy catching bugs in Tokyo. When you open a pack today, whether it’s from Scarlet & Violet or a special anniversary reprint, you’re taking part in a tradition nearly 30 years in the making. Every evolution, every trading post, and every Master Set chaser owes its thanks to the journey that began with Red & Green and Wizards of the Coast’s cardboard magic. 🧠 Bottom Line: From Game Boy to Global Phenomenon From Satoshi Tajiri’s love of nature to the first Japanese card set, the origins of Pokémon are built on imagination, adventure, and community. The Pokémon TCG started as a side project to the games—but it quickly became one of the most iconic card games in history. Today, with millions of collectors worldwide, rare vintage cards worth tens of thousands, and new generations discovering Pokémon for the first time, the legacy lives on. And here at Cardzards, we’re honored to be part of that journey with you. So whether you’re chasing your first holo or finishing a Master Set, always remember—👉 “Find Magic in Every Card!”