February 27 is National Pokémon Day, celebrating the global phenomenon that first began in 1996 and never really went away. What started as a pair of video games has grown into one of the most successful entertainment franchises in history.
The journey began with the release of Pokémon Red and Green, developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo. Released in Japan on February 27, 1996, the games introduced players to a world where humans and creatures known as Pokémon coexist — training, battling, and exploring together.
The success quickly expanded into trading cards, animated series, movies, and merchandise. By the late 1990s, the craze — often called “Pokémania” — had spread worldwide. Today, Pokémon is widely recognized as one of the highest-grossing media franchises in history.
Behind the scenes, the brand is jointly owned by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures Inc., which together formed The Pokémon Company to manage the franchise globally. And in 2016, Pokémon experienced a second massive surge in popularity with the release of Pokémon Go, bringing the characters into the real world through augmented reality.
Even decades later, the message remains the same — adventure, friendship, and, of course, “Gotta Catch ’Em All.” From kids discovering it for the first time to adults who grew up with it, Pokémon continues to connect generations around the world.
Before you head out today, here’s your Tillsonburg fuel update:
Pioneer: $124.9
Esso: $121.0
Shell: $124.9
Petro Canada: $124.9
A global phenomenon that started with a handheld game in 1996 — and it’s still going strong.
