Transmedia: Pokemon

        Since the turn of the century, technology has been growing at a rapid pace and as such the spread of information or ideas become much more defined and easy. Due to this many companies seize the opportunity to spread their products throughout the globe through multimedia or transmedia. Now first off what is the difference between multi-media and transmedia. Multi-media utilizes just one product and spreads it out in a variety of forms such as video, audio or photos, while Transmedia expands on the product and creates a variety products from it and distributes it through many platforms using technology.
        One of my all-time favorite games throughout my life is Pokemon. Even though I did not manage to play the original Red and Blue games, I still managed to play its subsequent generations. Anyway, the game allows you to catch and train Pokemon so that eventually you can become the strongest in the game. Once the game released worldwide, everyone was going crazy for these Pokemon. As such Japan capitalized on this and created multiple sequels to the games and thus expanding the story throughout multiple generations.

Then even after the success of multiple games, Japan even generated a manga that expanded the game and introduce new characters and their adventures within the region. Eventually it even led to the creation of the Pokemon anime that most people have come to love. Although the protagonist never changes throughout the anime (even though its been over 10 years), it is still ongoing and coincides with the consistent release. Furthermore, the franchise expanded through a variety of ways such as clothing, toys and even a trading card game. However one of its most popular spin-offs known as Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, which involves the player to actually play as a Pokemon.This in turn brought out a variety of new story elements within the Pokemon world.




Now it has been over 20 years since Pokemon has debut with Pokemon Red and Blue and even now the franchise has been looking stronger than even. One example is even Pokemon Go which has expanded the boundaries of virtual reality. Furthermore, the release of its 7th generation games brought about a fresh new way to play, and a more potent and fresh looking anime was created titled Pokemon Generations. This new anime helps to expand of the Pokemon world and its lore that was created throughout the previous generations of games.



This brings it back to Henry Jenkin's Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide in which he states "Transmedia storytelling refers to a new aesthetic that has emerged in response to media convergence-one that places new demands on consumers and depends on the active participation of knowledge communities" (20). At first it may have seem that Pokemon was dying out as new generations just followed the same old routine established beforehand but Pokemon Go allowed Pokemon to achieve relevance again and kick started the company to expand and in their new game Pokemon Sun and Moon which clearly took in opinions and support from the players to make new improvements.