Pokemon-the
small, adorable creatures with special fighting abilities-have been around for
more than two decades, and they're as popular as ever, mainly due to families
sharing the legacy. More than 7,500 people from 49 different countries are
expected to attend the annual Pokemon World Championships in Washington this
weekend. On Friday, as the event kicked off, most of the attendees appeared to
be in their twenties or older. "I'm 24, but I know I look young,"
joked Amanda Gunkle, who was decked head-to-toe in the gear of Pikachu, the
iconic yellow Pokemon.

She came in from
Pittsburg with her twin brother to watch the tournament. "I've been a fan
(of Pokemon) since my early childhood," she said. It's clear why Pokemon
appeal to younger children. But for many of the older fans, Pokemon
simultaneously represent nostalgia and novelty. The Pokemon franchise launched
in Japan in 1996 but didn't take off in the United States until the early
2000s. The brand, which is currently estimated to be the highest-grossing media
franchise ever, produces video games released in pairs every one to two years,
alongside a new batch of Pokemon species.

It also makes
trading cards that players use to battle each other, an animated television
series and several movies. "We're definitely seeing some intergenerational
fans," said Elvin Gee, a spokesman for the Pokemon Company, who was a big
fan of Pokemon himself growing up. "It's amazing to see parents pass on
their cards or pass on their video games to their children," he said.

'Something for
everyone'

The franchise's
popularity is also due to the recent success of smartphone app Pokemon Go, a
game that lets players walking the real world hunt virtual Pokemon, as well as
the film "Detective Pikachu," which opened in May and has made more
than $430 million worldwide. "There's something for everyone," Gee
said. New Jersey native John Kim drove down with his family so his two older
sons, ages 11 and eight, could compete in the tournament.

"I really
like it for (my sons), because... they have to learn to lose gracefully, to win
gracefully. They learn rules, they learn to accept outcomes," the
40-year-old said. For the Kim family, Pokemon's legacy moved in the opposite
direction: John became interested when his sons started playing. Now, the whole
family plays together, even the youngest boy, who at four years old plays
alongside his brothers-albeit with a simpler deck. "They have to sit with
an opponent" and engage with others, Kim said. That engagement is a staple
of the Pokemon community, with many players developing close friendships,
despite only seeing each other at the World Championships once a year.

The Championships
prize money-which runs up to $25,000 for the card game tournament-is mainly
offered in the form of scholarships or travel certificates, particularly for
players under 18 years old. The goal is to encourage education and strong
principles among the participants, many of whom are minors.

"It's about
sportsmanship, it's about great characters, it's about a great game," said
Gee. Like the Kims, Yannick Daunais' interest in Pokemon was sparked when his
daughters started playing. The 38-year-old from Joliette, Quebec drove to
Washington so his 11-year-old son could compete in the Championships.
"We're like a huge family," said his daughter Mya, 14. She and her
sister Lidya, 12, were dressed as Pikachu and Eevee, another Pokemon.
"Exactly," her father agreed. "We're part of a huge Pokemon
family." - AFP