Pokémon on TIME: 25 Years of Pokémania

TIME Magazine just did something that hits every nostalgic nerve in my body. Three covers, three starters, all celebrating 25 years of Pokémon. Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur. Boom. Instant iconography.

For 25 years, this franchise has been at the center of childhoods, friendships, and even a few competitive rivalries.

The original starters is a callback to the roots, to that moment when you had to pick your first Pokémon. Fire, water, or grass? Each choice felt like it said something about who you were. This isn’t just nostalgia bait. It’s a reminder that Pokémon has been evolving with us. From the pixelated sprites of Red and Blue to the augmented reality craze of Pokémon GO, it’s adapted. It’s thrived. It’s somehow managed to stay relevant through it all.

Whether you’re a lifelong fan or someone just discovering the magic, these covers are a moment to pause and appreciate the legacy. Because if there’s one thing Pokémon has taught us, it’s that even after 25 years…

…the journey is just beginning.