I loved Pokemon as a kid and now that I’m older, apart from the old cards that I collect from my childhood, I struggle to relate to the products and animation that are released today. I really liked how Pokemon was maturing during the e-reader era. There was a lot of detail and lore that was showing up in various arts in the tcg. For example, Skyridge: Oracle, Desert Shaman, and Relic Hunter. I miss these types of releases from Pokemon. (Is the secret to just have Himeno draw all the trainers? lol)
I understand that Pokemon is so huge now that they are not likely to take risks like they were in this era of the tcg. I also understand that Pokemon was/is primarily geared towards kids as a whole. I wish that Pokemon would just entertain the older audience a little. Maybe they could release a branch of anime that has more intense fighting scenes or something. Being older now and having accomplished most of my collecting goals, I just feel that there is not a lot left for me apart from still collecting what I did enjoyed as a child and the full arts that I like the artwork of now.
I love this hobby and Pokemon will always have a place in my life but I just wish that there was something that Pokemon did to entertain the older audience. Although, I must say that I am hyped for Darkness Ablaze which is releasing in August since it has a lot of my favorite Mons. I would love to hear if you guys feel the same or have a different opinion on things than I do!
Edit: The Pokemon Festival of Champions manga is perfect for anyone looking for more mature content. It tells a lot of backstory on Oak and Karen and also gives more detail on the battles among the challengers of the Elite 4.
To be fair, modern Pokemon has done more for the adult/collector fans than any era before. It started with Evolutions (basically a Base Set reprint) which had zero usefulness for the TCG but sold in massive numbers and is still accessible to distributors according to some people. In the Sun and Moon era, we had Shining Legends and Hidden Fates which again have limited relevance for the TCG but are clearly collector-focused. The Tag Team GX era introduced the alternate art Tag Teams, more than making up for the horrific blandness of the regular GX Full Arts. From current news (i.e. S3a Legend Heartbeat releasing soon) it appears that Pokemon is continuing these intermittent collector-focused sets.
I think we have a lot of nostalgia for the original eras of Pokemon and we wish they could somehow do that again. Nothing Pokemon can do will be able to capture that nostalgia and experiences of the original sets we grew up with. However, there’s still a lot to be enjoyed in modern Pokemon, and the idea that Pokemon isn’t focusing on this part of the fanbase is incorrect. I still wish they would do more, we need collector-focused events and more Shining Legends-style sets where they revive old mechanics and breathe new life into them.
Detective Pikachu was a step in the right direction, and since it was successful afaik, that direction will probably be pursued further.
I just wish for more adult oriented games. I thought they were afraid of too much… “violence” associated with Pokemon, but since the Switch fighting games with Pokemon now exist… I don’t know. So many possibilities like MMOs, crossovers etc.
Star Wars did it - Clone Wars is immensely satisfying to the hardcore audience and covers some very dark themes, while Rebels is more geared towards kids, and both coexist.
@fourthstartcg, I can get behind that. I think I’m still struggling to appreciate the newer era of cards. You’re right that nothing will capture the original nostalgia of the early sets. I’ll try and be less picky when Pokemon doesn’t portray the image I think that they should. I think that’s what it boils down to. I have these ideas and images in my head of what I wish Pokemon would do and I probably don’t appreciate what they actually do like I should.
I do really enjoy the modern sets like Hidden Fates and am looking forward to S3a but as you said, nothing can ever match the originals that we grew up with. I too wish that there were more collector focused events.
If you haven’t dipped into the cardass set, it’s pretty dark. Pokemon are eating and killing each other. Also there’s a charizard card getting analized by a venusaur. The VS set also has some more mature looking art styles. Check out some of Aya Kusube’s art from that set.
@burnedos, Exactly! I love how Star Wars separated those: Rebels for the kids; Clone Wars for those older. That’s a great comparison. I’m far from giving up hope on Pokemon releasing something similar to that format in the future.
People always say the same about the virtual pet site neopets because almost all the players (not anecdotal, there was a site wide poll) are in their 20s/30s by now still having anything PG 13 text wise censored.
Unfortunately as long as there are kids using the site or the product it’s not worth it for them. Obviously neopets is an extreme compared to pokemon but some of the things suggested might appeal to you at the risk of alienating others. If I have young kids and want them to watch Pokémon or play the ganes it’s because of the relatively wholesome reputation, I don’t want them watching violent fight scenes, and if I am marketing Pokémon I don’t want parents telling each other Pokemon is suddenly more edgy or adult oriented.
@qwachansey, I see your side. I don’t have kids yet myself but that makes sense to me. I really like what @burnedos, said. I think it would be nice to have maybe two different versions of the anime like Star Wars has done. I would never want Pokemon to become truly violent or “edgy.” I like the charm that Pokemon carries and would like it to hold onto that but it would be nice to maybe follow the story of Gary in a more mature light or something like that apart from the highly child friendly story of Ash. Not necessarily mature in the sense of adding blood or absolute brutal battle scenes but more in the light of adding depth and lore to the franchise.
I probably should have been more clear on that in the initial post. I must say I do love what Pokemon is doing on their Youtube channel with the mini series episodes that they are releasing. I like to see that kind of depth.
The only brand I can think of that ever matured with its core audience was Dragon Ball. It went from a pretty campy fun kids show to super edgy and violent, full of teen angst in DBZ, and now it’s sort of come full circle and become a childrens show again in DBS. That strat def worked. Every time they release something, its pure gold, an easy money grab.
To me it feels like the shorts they release on youtube geared towards teens and up. I would agree the majority of it is geared toward a younger audience but this helps with nosgatic feelings. I’d be curious of the % of adult collectors in japan vs USA.
Jokes aside I do feel you. I don’t like where pokemon is going at all, also the problem is not that “it is ment for kids” because pokemon red and green were also ment for kids. Cards too, pokemon designs in general were more realistic and not just big eyed cartoony cute crap. Honestly all I care about are old cards, period. I’m a vintage collector. That’s where nostalgia is. I would consider the franchise dead till proven otherwise (in my eyes, I know it had record sales with the bullcrap of sword and shield). The only modern game that hooked me like a b***h was pokemon go, it also made me purchase my first pokemon cards as I was a yugioh collector. Now I prefer pokemon over yugioh, but yeah, new releases are like fake cards to me. And games are shit.
@papafrankgod, I feel ya. That’s one of the things I don’t really get is the newer designs. I don’t really like all the cutie Pokemon (except for Morpeko, I actually like that one). I miss the sharp and really defined designs from gen 1, 2, and even 3. I also really miss having sprites of Pokemon versus the 3D graphics of the modern gens. The sprites looked so good! I think that the older gen mons look better in their sprite form versus their 3D animation.
I have enjoyed the sword and shield games. That probably has a lot to do with it being the first game that I played where I actually have friends to play and battle with. I was all by myself playing the games as a kid.
I think in terms of the TCG, Pokemon will always pay some attention to the older audience because we have the disposable income to spend on the products that they’re trying to sell. But I feel the anime will always be geared towards the younger audience, I grew up with the original and know that I won’t watch the new stuff because things have changed so much. I think so long as there are still things to enjoy with the franchise on the whole, then I’m happy.
@andrewajc, I can see that. Maybe one day Pokemon will leave their comfort zone and create something more off the wall. I too am happy with Pokemon. It’s still fun to dream though