IN-DEPTH RESEARCH & ANALYSIS

Pokemon as Transmedia Storytelling

Pratama, Raditya R.S.radityasurya@hotmail.com

AbstractI chose Pokemon as an example to show what is transmedia storytelling, and how

transmedia storytelling works with Pokemon Worlds.

ABSTRACT1. INTRODUCTIONNowadays, modern technologies helped a lot in such a way for people to share their idea and story. It led into a new way for telling a story or idea that called Transmedia.

Transmedia storytelling is telling a story across multiple media and preferably, although it doesn’t always happen, with a degree of audience participation, interaction or collaboration (http://www.tstoryteller.com/transmedia-storytelling).

In my research, I wanted to use Pokemon as an example of the concept of transmedia storytelling. There are many elements which lead to Pokemon success across multi-media world.

2. THEORIES & EARLIER RESEARCHESA lot of researches and experts has many concept about this transmedia storytelling. The beginning of the terms transmedia storytelling is started from Japanese marketing strategy of media mix that originated in early 1960’s.

In the 1980’s and 1990’s the biggest marketing campaign that introduces this transmedia storytelling was for the film A.I: Artificial Intelligence.

"Transmedia thinking anchors itself to the world of story, the ambition principally being one of how you can ‘bring story to life’ in different places, in

a non-linear fashion. The marketing of motion pictures is the most obvious application, where transmedia maintains that there’s a ‘bigger picture

opportunity’ to punting a big picture.  (The Better Mousetrap: Brand Invention in Media Democracy, 2012).

3. THE STORY WORLDa. History

Pokemon was knows as an original Japanese video game owned by Nintendo. The real name was “Poketto Monsuta”, it was created by one of the greatest Japanese game designer, Satoshi Taijirin.

The beginning of Pokemon started when the Pokemon Red and Green is released in February of 1996. Originally it was going to be called Capsule Monster, and then changed into Pocket Monster (Pokemon).

The factor that made Pokemon was popular was the highly competitive nature of the game. You were meant to catch monsters as well as battle them against other people, leading to cultural phenomenon that followed. Later the card game was introduced.

b. Key Elementsi. The Plot

The plot is about how could a boy become the best Pokemon trainer in the world.

ii. CharactersThe protagonist is a young boy, and his 2 friends.The antagonist are Jessie, James, Team Rocket

iii. SettingPlace: Japan, Kanto Region, Sinnoh

c. Video GamePokemon has more than 10 games that has been released until now. The first game was released back in 14 December 1995 and become the best new coming video games at that time.

The story started with the protagonist, Ash Ketchum, who receives a Pokemon from his professor-relatives.

The main idea of the game was, you choose your first Pokemon from 3 Pokemon starter with Fire, Water or Leaf element. Then you need to explore the map and defeat all the gym leader to become the very best.

The main goals for Pokemon games are: 1. Explore the world2. Catch all Pokemon3. Gain all the gym badges4. Defeating Elite Four.

d. Anime & Film

Pokemon also expand his universe through TV anime series. The shows main target was aimed at children. The shows run from April, 1997 and until now it’s still on going.

e. MerchandiseWhen Pokemon became very successful, In 1998 A Pokemon store opened, featuring various merchandise, such as toys, action figures, cards, clothes, and any other merchandise. They also have website where you can buy it online.

4. ANALYSIS & CONCLUSIONa. The Concept

From Henry Jenkins explanation of transmedia storytelling. The concept of transmedia storytelling is applicable to the development of Pokemon.

Started as a game for Game Boy then continued into cards game. Pokemon keep growing as soon they had manga/comic book adaptaions, following with televions shows (cartoon).

Pokemon was not only a game, but it expanding its world of story through different media platforms.

b. Characters and Plots

Most often, transmedia stories are based not on individual characters or specific plots but rather complex fictional worlds which can sustain multiple interrelated

characters and their stories. This process of world-building encourages an encyclopedic impulse in both readers and writers. We are drawn to master what can

be known about a world which always expands beyond our grasp. This is a very different pleasure than we associate with the closure found in most classically

constructed narratives, where we expect to leave the theatre knowing everything that is required to make sense of a particular story. (Henry Jenkins,

http://henryjenkins.org/2007/03/transmedia_storytelling_101.html)

From this explanation, Pokemon applied that theory. Each of Pokemon games, takes in different location, such as: Johto, Kanto, Sinnoh, Kalos. It is not necessary to know about each location in order to understand the story. It is also not necessary to know the main character, because the goal is same: to catch all Pokemon and explore the world.

c. SubplotsThe subplots from original video game was comic book and cartoon. It is resemble the Pokemon world from the game exactly as it is but has different plot. It expand new adventures of Ash Ketchum with Pikachu, his Pokemon. After this extension, Pikachu become the mascot for Pokemon story.

d. ConclusionPokemon’s success is related into how easy it is for everyone to interact with any part of this franchise, whether by playing video games, watch cartoon or even read the comic book.

REFERENCEShttp://www.Pokemon.com/us/

http://convergenceishere.weebly.com/mario-and-Pokemon.html