As Pokémon’s 30-year anniversary is celebrated on February 27, 2026, the loyal fanbase received a surprising behind-the-scenes account directly from the top about the origins of anime in an intimate way. In a special interview for the occasion of the 30th anniversary, Tsunekazu Ishihara, the president of The Pokémon Company, related his recollection of the first day the beloved anime series found its voice, literally.
Pokémon 30th Anniversary Reveals Pikachu’s ‘Pi-ka’ Origin
Going back to 1997, when Pokémon was still in its development stages, it is quite surprising to know that it all began when Ishihara was asked by the series director about something as innocent as this: “When we decided to make the anime, the director asked, ‘What sounds to Pokemon make?”
This off-the-cuff remark from Ishihara would change the course of history as he said, “Pikachu says ‘Pi-ka, right?’ Just like that, new ideas were born spontaneously, and I think that spirit is why the franchise was able to succeed in so many different areas.”
As time passes by, Tsunekazu Ishihara reminisces about how popular the original Pokémon Red and Green games were because of how realistically life was depicted in them. For example, catching these Pokémon was similar to catching insects, and rumors of Mew being under the truck were spreading naturally among fans.
It was never part of the marketer’s job description to create such rumors because they were happening naturally in classrooms and playgrounds, giving it a sense of community that no amount of money could buy.
Now, after three decades of Pokémon’s creation, Ishihara’s visions are more ambitious and include how spatial technology and smart glasses could bring Pikachu to the kitchen table because he believes that the essence of Pokémon must always remain grounded in the real world and encourage people to explore, walk, share, and socialize.
With time passing by naturally and with the natural call of “Pi-ka,” the world of Pokémon has seen many innovations because of the power of imagination.
