A Look Back, A Look Ahead!
Pokémon's 10th Anniversary was quite a year to remember. Here's a look at some of the Pokémon events of 2006, and a look ahead at 2007!
This year saw the release of three new Pokémon video games, each providing a unique Pokémon experience: the addictive puzzle game Pokémon Trozei, the deep story and strategy of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team, and the fast-paced capture action of Pokémon Ranger. Haven't played them yet? You may want to get cracking - especially because Pokémon Ranger is the only way to get a Manaphy Egg, which will make this elusive new Pokémon available in the upcoming Pokémon Diamond and Pearl!
Pokémon video game fans had something else to celebrate when the Journey Across America tour made its way, well, across America! Fans had a chance to get fan favorite Pokémon and compete for a spot in the Pokémon Video Game National Championships, hosted in New York's Bryant Park by none other than Hulk Hogan himself! Together with Space Center Houston, Pokémon held an event that gave fans the chance to download Deoxys, and Pokédexes could be completed at last when Mew was available in a one-day event at Toys R' Us.
This was also a remarkable year for the Pokémon TV series, which welcomed a talented new cast to the Pokémon family for Pokémon: Battle Frontier, now on Cartoon Network! It was a good year for Pokémon animation fans all around - Pokémon Chronicles made its US debut and we aired two new TV specials: The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon and a special Pokémon Mystery Dungeon episode. Not to mention the release of the long-awaited eighth Pokémon movie, Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew!
Let's not forget the Pokémon Trading Card Game, either! This year brought exciting new expansion series and revised Pokémon Organized Play rules for the 2006-2007 season. A new league season and the City Championships are underway even as you read this!
So what's in store for the future? Well, in 2007, fans can look forward to Pokémon Diamond and Pearl for the Nintendo DS, Pokémon's 10th season on TV, the Pokémon X: Ten Years of Pokémon CD, new Pokémon toys coming to major retailers, and a new Pokémon movie: Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea! Now that the Nintendo Wii is out, will Pokémon make an appearance on that console too? It's hard to imagine why not - be on the lookout for Pikachu in the upcoming Super Smash Bros. Brawl! And as always, Pokemon.com will be here to keep you updated with all the official Pokémon news throughout this year and many more!