Who is Satoshi Tajiri, the father of Pokémon?

If you're passionate about video games, manga andanime, there's no way you didn't grow up with Pokémon. But do you know who's behind these creatures that have fascinated millions of young people around the world? Today, we Cartoon Toi we bring you the story of Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of Pokémon. From his childhood fascination with insects, to the creation of the Pokémon universe, to his contributions as a video game scriptwriter, discover anecdotes and key moments in his career.

The rise of Satoshi Tajiri

A young boy with a passion for insects

Born in Tokyo on August 28, 1965, Satoshi Tajiri grew up in a suburb close to the Japanese capital, which at the time was still surrounded by greenery and nature. As a child, he would spend hours in the forests and fields near his home, feeding his passion for insects.

Beyond their behavior, he was fascinated by the way they interacted with their environment. His classmates often called him "Dr. Bug", such was his passion for insects. Satoshi even organized insect exchanges with his friends, a bit like children swapping Pokémon cards in the playground.

This aspect of his youth, combined with his vivid imagination, nurtured his creativity, but above all laid the foundations for his future career as a screenwriter. Those days spent tracking and trading creatures would, decades later, become a reality for many Pokémon fans.

His love of video games

As a teenager, when the first consoles appeared in Japanese homes, young Satoshi fell in love with video games. This budding interest quickly turned into a real passion as arcades began to open around him. He spent hours playing, testing each new game with insatiable curiosity.

It wasn't the game itself that captivated him, but the creative potential behind each title. He was fascinated by the way developers used technology to tell stories and build virtual adventures. This led him to train himself in programming and game design.

Satoshi imagined how he could improve the games he played. He dreamed of creating his own worlds, his own games that could offer players unique experiences. As a visionary, he saw video games not just as entertainment, but more as a way of connecting people.

The founding of Game Freak

Satoshi absolutely wanted to work in this universe, so in 1989 he founded his own magazine, Game Freak. Shortly afterwards, he met Ken Sugimori, with whom he transformed his fanzine into a video game development studio. It was Ken who drew all the Pokémon characters. This was the beginning of an adventure that would revolutionize the gaming industry!

The name "Game Freak" came from their shared dream of creating unconventional games, something that was sorely lacking on the market. Their goal was clear: to create entertaining games that would stimulate the imagination of gamers the world over. This ambition led them to seek innovative ways of integrating never-before-seen gameplay elements.

From the very first days of Game Freak, the two partners have shown an unbridled creative energy. Satoshi and his team work hard, often late into the night, to bring their ideas to life. It was in this passionate and relentless environment that the Pokémon concept began to take shape, inspired by Satoshi's childhood passion for insects.

The success of the Pokémon phenomenon

After years of development and refinement, the first Pokémon Red and Green game was launched in Japan in 1996. This innovative game gave players the chance to capture, trade and battle with unique creatures called Pokémon.

The response from the public was incredible. Children all over Japan were fascinated by the possibility of collecting these creatures and becoming Pokémon Masters. The game introduced an unprecedented social dimension, with the ability to exchange Pokémon between Game Boy devices via the link cable. It was a revolutionary idea that created a community as passionate as it was committed.

And internationally, the Pokémon franchise has enjoyed even greater success, becoming a true global pop culture phenomenon. In addition to the appearance of Pokémon cards, manga and anime soon followed, further cementing Pokémon's notoriety with millions of fans worldwide. Later, there would even be a Pokémon movie...

This success exceeded all expectations and firmly established Game Freak as a benchmark in the gaming industry. Satoshi Tajiri has transformed his passions into one of the most beloved and followed franchises of all time.

A few anecdotes about Satoshi Tajiri

Is Satoshi Tajiri autistic?

Rumors often circulate that Satoshi Tajiri is autistic, suffering from Asperger's syndrome. This information has never been officially confirmed by the Pokémon scriptwriter or those close to him. Such speculation seems to stem from his intense focus on his interests from childhood, a trait commonly associated with Asperger's. Despite thelack of confirmation, this belief persists in numerous articles and discussions on the Internet.

What are his favorite Pokémon?

Satoshi Tajiri has mentioned in various interviews that of all the Pokémon, Poliwhirl is his favorite. This Pokémon looks like a small frog with a spiral on its belly. It's a very simple Pokémon, symbolizing Tajiri's love of nature and aquatic creatures.

Who designed the Pokémon?

Satoshi is only the Pokémon scriptwriter, not the designer. The original Pokémon designs were mainly the work of Ken Sugimori, Game Freak's art director. It was Sugimori who brought Tajiri's concepts to life, drawing most of the original 151 Pokémon for the first Pokémon games. His artistic style became emblematic of the franchise and continues to influence Pokémon character design to this day.

There is a manga about the life of Satoshi Tajiri

In addition to Satoshi Tajiri's many achievements in the gaming world, his life and career have inspired Nintendo to dedicate a manga to him. Entitled "The Origins of a Global Phenomenon - Biography of the Creator of Pokémonthe manga traces his story from childhood through to the creation of the Pokémon franchise.

How wealthy is Satoshi Tajiri?

Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri is estimated to be worth between $10 and $15 million in 2024. Despite the fact that he has created one of the most profitable media franchises, his fortune is not as high as one might think because he does not fully own the Pokémon franchise. Nintendo and other entities hold significant shares of the intellectual property, which limits the share of profits accruing directly to him.

The work of Satoshi Tajiri

Title	Year	Role	Description
Mendel Palace	1989	Producer, Director, Game Designer	An action-puzzle video game.
Magical Tarurūto-kun	1992	Producer	Game based on a popular Japanese manga and anime.
Mario & Wario	1993	Director, Game Designer	A puzzle game for the Super Nintendo, using the SNES mouse.
Pulseman	1994	Direction, Game Design	Platform game created for the Mega Drive.
Pokémon Red and Blue	1996	Director, Game Designer, Script	The first games in the Pokémon series, launching a worldwide franchise.
Bushi Seiryuuden: Futari no Yuusha	1997	Concept, Game Design	An RPG for the Super Nintendo.
Pokémon Yellow	1998	Director, Game Designer, Scriptwriter	Special version of Pokémon Red and Blue, featuring Pikachu.
Pokémon Gold and Silver	1999	Director, Game Designer	Second generation of Pokémon, introducing new features and Pokémon.
Pokémon Crystal	2000	Director	Improved version of Pokémon Gold and Silver.
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire	2002	Executive Director	Third generation of Pokémon for the Game Boy Advance.
Pokémon Box: Ruby & Sapphire	2003	Executive Director	Application for managing and storing Pokémon on GameCube.
Pokémon Emerald	2004	Executive Director	Improved version of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire.
Pokémon Fire Red and Leaf Green	2004	Scriptwriter, Executive Director	Remakes of the first Pokémon, with new features.
Drill Dozer	2005	Line producer	Action game for the Game Boy Advance.
Pokémon Pearl and Diamond	2006	Line producer	Fourth generation of Pokémon for the Nintendo DS.
Pokémon Platinum	2008	Line producer	Improved version of Pokémon Pearl and Diamond.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl	2008	Senior supervisor	Popular multi-character fighting title for the Wii.
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver	2009	Line producer	Pokémon Gold and Silver remakes with enhanced features.
Pokémon Black and White	2010	Line producer	Fifth generation of Pokémon introducing the Unys region.
Pokémon Black and White 2	2011	Line producer	Sequel to Pokémon Black and White, with new features.
Pokémon X and Y	2013	Line producer	Sixth generation of Pokémon. Set in the Kalos region. With Mega-Evolution mechanics.
Pokémon Ruby Omega and Sapphire Alpha	2014	Line producer	3D remake of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire.
Tembo the Badass Elephant	2015	Line producer	2D game in which players control a fighting elephant battling an evil force.
Pokémon Sun and Moon	2016	Line producer	Seventh generation of Pokémon, with new species and the tropical region of Alola.
Pokémon Ultra-Sun and Ultra-Moon	2017	Line producer	Improved version of Pokémon Sun and Moon.

Satoshi Tajiri's awards

• IGN's Best of 1999 : Pokémon Red and Blue named Best RPG for the Game Boy Color.
• Interactive Achievement Awards (2000): Pokémon Red and Blue received several nominations, including Game of the Year.
• Game Developers Choice Awards (2000): Tajiri received the Innovation Award for his role in the development of Pokémon.
• Game Developers Conference (2001) Tajiri was honored with the Excellence in Game Design award.
• Golden Joystick Awards (2016) Pokémon Go wins Innovation of the Year.
• Game Developers Choice Awards (2017) Pokémon Go also won Best Mobile/Handheld Game.
• IGN Top 100 Game Creators: Tajiri is listed as one of the best game creators of all time for turning Pokémon into a worldwide phenomenon.