Top anime in the Arab world (based on Arab News Japan's How Arabs view Japan Study)
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
Original run: 1997
“Pokemon” is a Japanese manga series based on the “Pokemon” media franchise created by video game designer Satoshi Tajiri and managed by The Pokemon Co.
The series follows the adventures of aspiring Pokemon master Ash Ketchum who is given an electric mouse named Pikachu on his 10th birthday. The two set off on a life-long journey and work up the ranks of the world’s many Pokemon leagues.
According to the ‘How Arabs View Japan survey’ conducted by Arab News and YOUGOV, 48 percent of respondents ranked “Pokémon” as their favorite anime of all time
The “Pokemon” anime series was largely credited for allowing anime to become more popular and familiar around the world, especially in the US, where the two highest-grossing anime films have both been “Pokemon” movies.
It is also considered to be one of the first anime series on television to reach this level of mainstream success with Western audiences.
In 2021, it was announced that a live action “Pokemon” series was in early development at Netflix with Joe Henderson attached to write and executive produce it.