Trends and fads have come and gone over the years, but Pokemon continues to stand strong. Since its origin in the 1990s, many fans have remained dedicated to the franchise, and many people who weren't even alive yet when Pokemon was created have also become big fans.
When Pokemon launched in the west in the late '90s, many parents and adults were bewildered at the overwhelming takeover the series of games and anime presented. Suddenly kids all over the country and world were obsessed with the Japanese franchise, and an old Time Magazine page shows that attitudes regarding the obsession were seriously mixed.
Reddit user AxlCobainVedder shared a photo of a Time Magazine page featuring letters from readers writing in about a recent Pokemon article featured in the publication. The letters are fascinating to read, especially considering how varied the opinions are. One might expect kids to write in with positive feelings about Pokemon, but there were also some adults praising the series as well, highlighting Pokemon's ability to help teach kids and give their skills in language, math, and memory a boost.
However, the majority of the letters seem to be absolutely bewildered at the craze. One writer from Florida accused the series of being a waste of time, while another declared that Time Magazine was just delivering an advertisement for the series with its original article. Others worried about what kind of consequences Pokemon obsession would have on kids in the long-term, heading into the new millennium.
Of course, nearly 23 years following the publication, practically everyone is at least aware of Pokemon. Pokemon's 25th anniversary celebration saw a huge release of games, merchandise, cards, and even musical collaborations to celebrate the games and series as a whole, showing how much it still means to so many people. Even prior to that, though, it became clear that Pokemon hadn't gone anywhere when kids and adults alike took to Pokemon GO in droves.
Perhaps the most amusing letter in the magazine is one from a reader in New Hampshire, who said that the craze would be over in six months and that kids should save their money. While it's reasonable to think that Pokemon could fade away like other trending toys and franchises like Furby or Beanie Babies, Pokemon has persisted. In fact, some pieces of Pokemon merchandise have seen a huge increase in value, so some of the things kids 'wasted their money on' may have actually been a wise investment, instead.