Whether we like it or not, we have to give credit to Pokémon for withstanding the trials of time. After surviving the Golden Age of Boybands, RockBand/Guitar Hero era, and the Wii U's downfall (don't laugh, it's true!), Pokémon is still one of the most successful IP in video games and is still considered a strong landmark series in the anime industry. Celebrated by adults & kids alike, Pokémon is a true example of friendship, teamwork, and perseverance. However, Pokémon hasn't always been the mega-hit phenomenon that it is today (although it didn't take long in the grand scheme of things). To celebrate the 21 years of the franchise, it's time to look at the false facts and misconceptions that man fans (shockingly) still think are true. Of course, the most devoted Pokémon fans should know this stuff, but there are some rumors and ideas that never die. Especially when you consider that Pokémon has been around long it predates Wikipedia and soc🌊ial media, there are some obvious facts that weren't able to be verified at the click of a button — facts that would slowly become pseudo-realities in player's mind's eye. So stick around, put on your trainer's gloves, and get ready to learn a thing or two about one of the most beloved children's video game franchises in the history of the medium.

15 𝓰 Pokémon Adult Guide 101 ♔

There is always this particular moment in a parent's life when your overcurious child asks about how they were created. This uneasy question is always solved by funny-yet-unlogical answers (the birds and the bees, the baby-carrying stork). Fortunately, Pokémon is there to answer our kids🃏 in a very conventional way!

Since Pokémon Gold & Silver, players were able to breed Pokémon of opposite genders in order to create new baby Pokémon. Players would need to go to the daycare and give their soon-to-be parent pokémon to the day-care (usually run by a Day-Care Couple), in order to create the offspring. These baby Pokémon may also inherit their abilities𝄹 from theirꦑ parents.

So whether you need to explain to your kid how they were made, or why they have their parent's nose, Pokémon is here to help!

14 No Matter How You Look At It, Ash ♐Ketchum Is A Failur✨e

For all the late 80s and early 90s babies out there, I'm sure you can all relate when your middle-aged elementary teacher was trying to apply the Pokémon sensation into her lessons (to very mild results). Mine was constantly using Pokémon trainer Ash Ketchum as an example of perseverance and s💫trong will. Wrong.

Ash is just the epitome of failure. After more than 20 years of action, traveling to eight major areas and participating in countless gym battles, our main character has never attained the rank of Pokémon Master. In fact, he's only captured 70 Pokémon despite being in contact with many lege🤡ndary Pokémon.

With that in mind, we strongly advise teachers to insteadไ use Gary Oak a𓆏s a model...at least he's cool and charismatic.

13 Poli... Wait! What?!

Poliwags are known for their tiny and ad෴orable forms. They're actually Pokémon's creator Satoshi Tajiri's favorite Pokémon due to its adorable whirlpool form in his stomach. However, this pattern is a bit less cute when we know its true meaning.

According to Tajiri, Poliwag's design was based off a tadpole in which his spiral pattern is a reference to the spiral intestines we can see through a tadpole's crystal-clear skin. This is proved in many Pokédex entries, as it explicitly describes that they represent the intestines.  For instance, Poliwag's Crystal game entry reads as the following "The swirl on its belly is its insides showing through the skin. It looks clearer after it eats." Though we'll always find Poliwag adorable, we just don't feel like we'll look at him the same way 𝐆we used to...

12 Secret Pokémon Fans

Pokémon have always been traditionally associated with the "nerd" culture. Sadly, people tend to have a prejudice towards this group. However, you'd be surprised to know that even your favorite sports celebrities have been huge fans of the Pokémon franchise.

UFC champion Ronda Rousey has admitted to being a Pokémon fan, owning every major game and logging more than 200 hours in the original Pokémon Blue. NFL Los Angeles Rams' Johnny Hekker & Seattle Seahawk's Richard Sherman are also big fans of the ser♉ies and have even been featured in an official Pokémon commercial. 

With these major stars endorsing Pokémon, being a nerd have never been this pleasant. Now if you'll excuse me, but I need to go play Pokémon Go with these celebrities.. in my head...

11 Pokémon Hasn't Only Bee🍰n Exclusive To Nintendo Platforms

Excluding the Pokémon games onও the mobile platforms, you'd be surprised to know that the beloved franchise hasn't always been with Nintendo. Back in 1993, video game company Sega released their fꦗirst iteration of the Sega Pico educational gaming console.

In the early 20✱00s, Sega, in collaboration with Nintendo, rele🐻ased a Pikachu-themed Pico bundled with the game Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation: Hiragana Katakana Kakechatta. This Japan-exclusive treat teaches toddlers how to properly write Japanese alphabets. Other Pokémon games came on the Pico and its successor, the Advanced Pico Beena. The latest release of a Pokémon themed game was . With this pﷺiece of information, we guarantee you to make some heads turn in your next casual Pokémon conver🌺sation with your friends — you're welcome!

10 The Dark Story Of Lavender Town

Lavender Town is a mysterious town in the Kanto region where his setting is closely associated with the afterlife. From a Pokémon cemetery to the "souls of dead Pokémon" haunting the town, this city's definitely apart from the Pokémon friendly environment. Noꦗt only this town has affected the morale of NPC, but it supposedly had real-life effects on children players adventuring this town.

Commonly called The Lavender Town Syndrome (LTS), an urban myth goes that children would either experience sickness (dizziness, nausea, etc.) or commit suicide when they'd first set foot on the town. The reason? Because of the high frequency of the Lavender Town theme song. According to studies, children are more prone to hear delicate sounds than adults as our hearings decrease with time. Thus, high-frequency noises affect the mood of the player. Though it's only an urban legend, we sure do know that Lavender Town is far from being any player's favorite place in Pokémon.

9 Koffing & Weezing Were Initially Named After Two Popular America𝐆n Cities

Koffing & Weezing are two of ꦰthe most grotesque pocket monsters in Pokémon. Theꦯir physical appearances seem to mimic a solid body of gas, and their attacks are heavily based on pollution. Although their names are dire📖ct references to polluted symptoms, the localization team had originally intended other names for those two Pokémon.

Apparently, Koffing and Weezing were supposed to be called NY and LA, respectively. Though the aesthetic of these two beautiful cities shouldn't even be compared to these unattractive Pokémon, the localization team initially wa𒅌nted to highlight the high pollution rate of these two cities before finally opting for their current names. On a side note, we're definitely glad to see that the didn'💞t go forward with it as we would have found it very odd to hear these Pokémon yell cities name, instead.

8 Contrary To𒐪 Popular Belief, Pikachu Wasn't The First Pokémon Created Nor The Original෴ Considered Mascot.

 

Whenever we look at the Pokémon franchise, the first thing that crosses our mind would be its mascot Pikachu. Though we're used to seeing our beloved electric mouse, It would only be a natural fit for this mascot to be the fi🀅rst Pokémon to be created. Th🐓at's where we're wrong.

Apparently, the first monster that was first coded was actually Rhydon, the rhinoceros inspired Pokémon. Oddly𒈔 enough, Rhydon appears as the 112th entry in the Pokédex data.

Despite that, you'd think Pikachu was long considered to be the mascot of the franchise... Wrong again! During the initial development of Pokémo🎃n, Clefairy was actually supposed to be the main face of the series. However, for unknown reasons, she was dropped near the end of development. Though we're delighted to see Pikachu, we'd still wonder how Ash would've fared with this fairy Pokémon as her sidekick.

7 Hitmonlee And Hi🙈tmonchan𝔉 Are More Than Your Typical Fighting Pokémon

Hitmonlee ☂and Hitmonchan are pꦗerfect representations of Western and Eastern martial arts, respectively.

First off, It isn't much a surprise that Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan English names are references to legendary fighters Bruce Lee and👍 Jackie Chan, respectively. What is most surprising is that even their Japanese name versions also pays homage to two Japanese fighters. Sawamura, Hitmonlee's Japanese name, is a reference to Japanese kickboxer Tadashi Sawamura. On the other hand, Ebiwara, Hitmonchan's Japanese name, is a reference to kickboxer Ebihara Hiroyuki. Bot💜h martial artists were at the top of their careers during the 70s and are considered as legends in Japan. So there you go!... Oh and If you don't like either of the two Pokémon, there's also Hitmontop... but we'll cover it for another time!

6 When Pokémon Also Rhymes With Seizure...Man?

Back in 1997, the broadcast of the episode Denno Senshi Polygon was responsible for hospitalizing many young kids in Japan. The episode features Ash and his team in a cyber-world in order to stop the evil schemes of Team Rocket. In the climax of the episode, Pikachu uses his Thunderbolt attack to destroy missiles in which the explosions are depicted in a flashing red-and-blue pattern. Unfortunately, accounts of children experiencing epileptic seizures and illness were reported following its original airing. Commonly called the "Pokémon Shock," the aftermath of the incident was definitely unforgettable. which forced the anime series to go on hiatus for 4 months. Nintendo's share also took a 5% dive. Even government officials had to nose in on the controversy with police officers questioning the producers about the incident and an emergency meeting ꧃was called by the Japanese Health and Welfare Ministry. The producers also had to alter the conception of its futu🐓re episodes to make sure this incident never repeats itself. Needless to say, the episode never aired again on a Japanese broadcast.