Every year, World Pokémon Day falls on the 27th February, with this year marking the 30th anniversary of the very first Pokémon video games launching in Japan.
Since 1996, the brand has taken the world by storm, consistently being ranked as one of the top selling toy and game brands in the world.
Like many, I have a personal connection to the franchise. Although I vaguely remember people trading Pokemon cards when I was at school, it’s only in recent years when I have taken an interest in the game.
Several members of my family have a huge fondness for Pokémon, collecting the cards, taking part in battles, amassing the associated merch and playing the video games. It’s pretty much impossible to escape in my house. When faced with a situation like that you can either join in or miss out.
I chose the former.
Since I started to take an interest I’ve been really keen on many of the gorgeous artworks that are featured on the cards. These things may be designed primarily for children, but as the volume of adult collectors surely attests, they have serious appeal for grown-ups too.
Personally I love “cute” designs (I’m also a big fan of Hello Kitty and Miffy but that’s a story for another day), so when I first came across the Pokemon cards seen here, by the Japanese artist Yoka Morii, I was especially enthralled.
Even more so when I realised they’re not drawings or illustrations – they’re photographs! And really cool ones at that.
Sadly, Morii was not available for interview about her work, but I remain a huge fan and always enjoy it when I see one of the cards. They are featured in the Pokemon Trading Card Pocket Game (TCPG) App which I may have become very much enchanted by over recent months (let’s not get into that).
But seeing the cards in real life is even more fun, with each one being a much more precious object than its material value.
Anyway – all of this is to say, Happy Birthday Pokémon and to show you some of my favourite photographic cards, I hope you enjoy them!
Special thanks to Torin Mellor for the loan of the cards – you can have them back now!
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