Japanese media franchise Pokemon is celebrating its 25th anniversary and the prices of its trading cards have skyrocketed. Three Indian fans share their merchandise collection, telling us what makes it special
Pokemon
Love it or hate it, you just can’t ignore it - even if you aren’t a ’90s kid. Pokemon is a force to reckon with. The names of those tiny fictional pocket monsters (like Pikachu or Bulbasaur) may not be known to you either, but you know they’re Pokemon. Their relevance and value continue to grow, even during a pandemic. And by value, we mean big money.
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The Japanese media franchise is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and its worth is estimated to be around $1 million. The Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG), an integral part of the franchise, is making waves at auctions; an unopened box of first edition cards was sold for $408,000 in January. We spoke to three Indian fans and collectors of Pokemon merchandise about their collections and the franchise’s legacy.
Time to get official in India
Saubhagya Dev Thakur’s most valuable Pokemon card is worth Rs 58,000
The fact that publishers Creatures Inc, Media Factory, The Pokemon Company, Wizards of the Coast (Hasbro), and The Pokemon Company never officially released their products in India, has played a role in the low demand of merchandise here, Saubhagya Dev Thakur, 21, feels. As knock-offs dominate the Indian market, the Shimla-based collector is part of a WhatsApp group of 15 members that help each other to find genuine products. “I’m sure if Pokemon decides to invest in India, the demand will only go up, as most of our childhood has been spent watching the show, talking about it with friends and collecting different kinds of tazos, cards and plushies,” he says. Thakur, whose card collecting hobby was fuelled by watching YouTuber Leon Hart, says his most prized card is the Charizard VMAX from Shining Fates, released last month, which is already worth around $800 (Rs 58,000 approximately).
A shared experience
Sean Andrade’s gold and silver Gameboy cartridges
Borivali-based educator Sean Andrade, 30, hasn’t watched the anime series in over 10 years but he still has a nostalgic connection with it. Hence, he started collecting cards and developed an interest in video games eventually. Today, his collection includes a few thousand cards, game sets, cartridges, and figurines bought locally or procured from McDonald’s Happy Meals and Kellogg’s boxes in the 2000s.
“As an educator who teaches marketing and topics related to creativity, I introduce these cards to my students and give some to them, too,” he shares. Andrade enjoys striking conversations with others in the country with the same interests. At least once a week, one can find him searching for a Charizard collectible or a Poke Ball on Olx or Quikr.
Everything is precious
Avaneeth K’s TGC collection
For Avaneeth K, it was the mystery of a new world the series promised that appealed to him as a seven-year-old. The Keralite would collect local variants of cards but began acquiring original TCG products only last year. Ask him what’s his most prized possession, and he’ll tell you everything is. Because, well, procuring it is hard work.
“For most people the [original] products are unseen or unheard of. The few who know about this don’t want to go through the hassle of paying customs, waiting a month for it to arrive, going through import procedures and then running the risk of damage in transit,” Avaneeth, 18, informs. The oldest cards he has are the Unlimited Base Set Starter Deck which were released in 1999. “I’m more of a Team Rocket collector and have some first-edition Team Rocket cards from 2000. Talking about modern ones, I’ve got a Lillie card which sells for anywhere between $35 to $65,” he reveals.
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