1. The first Pokemon games were originally only released in Japan in 1996, and it wasn't until 1998 that they were released internationally.
2. In the Pokemon anime, Ash Ketchum's Pikachu is voiced by actress Ikue Otani, who also voices several other Pokemon characters.
3. Mew, the mythical Pokemon, was initially meant to be removed from the first generation of games, but it was eventually included as a secret character.
4. The Pokemon franchise has sold over 340 million copies of its various games worldwide, making it one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time.
5. The highest-selling Pokemon game to date is Pokemon Red/Green/Blue/Yellow, which collectively sold over 31 million copies worldwide.
6. In the Pokemon world, there is a mythical creature known as Arceus that is believed to be the creator of the entire Pokemon universe.
7. The highest level that a Pokemon can reach in the games is level 100, and it takes a significant amount of time and effort to train a Pokemon to reach this level.
8. The names of many Pokemon species are based on real-world animals, plants, and objects. For example, Pikachu's name is a combination of "pika," the Japanese word for "sparkle," and "chu," an onomatopoeic word for the sound a mouse makes.
9. The Pokemon anime has been on the air for over 20 years, with over 1,100 episodes and counting.
10. The Pokemon Trading Card Game, which was first released in 1996, has become a popular collectible card game with its own competitive scene and tournaments.