The first generation (generation I) of the ''Pokémon'' franchise features the original 151 fictional species of monsters introduced to the core video game series in the 1996

Game Boy The is a handheld game console developed by Nintendo, launched in the Japanese home market on April 21, 1989, followed by North America later that year and other territories from 1990 onwards. Following the success of the Game & Watch single-ga ...

games ''Pocket Monsters Red'', ''Green and Blue'' (known as ''Pokémon Red,'' ''Green and Blue'' outside of Japan). Later, Pokemon Yellow and Blue were released in Japan. The following list details the 151 Pokémon of generation I in order of their National Pokédex number. The first Pokémon, Bulbasaur, is number 0001 and the last, Mew, is number 0151. Alternate forms that result in type changes are included for convenience. Mega evolutions and regional forms are included on the pages for the generation in which they were introduced. MissingNo., a

glitch A glitch is a short-lived technical fault, such as a transient one that corrects itself, making it difficult to troubleshoot. The term is particularly common in the computing and electronics industries, in circuit bending, as well as among pl ...

, is also on this list.

Design and development

Pokémon are a species of fictional creatures created for the ''

Pokémon is a Japanese media franchise consisting of List of Pokémon video games, video games, Pokémon (TV series), animated series and List of Pokémon films, films, Pokémon Trading Card Game, a trading card game, and other related media. The fran ...

'' media franchise. Developed by

Game Freak is a Japanese video game developer, best known as the primary developer and co-owners of the ''Pokémon (video game series), Pokémon'' series of role-playing video games. History Predating the video game company, ''Game Freak'' was a self- ...

and published by

Nintendo is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto. It develops, publishes, and releases both video games and video game consoles. The history of Nintendo began when craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi ...

, the Japanese franchise began in 1996 with the video games ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Green'' for the

, which were later released in North America as ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Blue'' in 1998. In these games and their sequels, the player assumes the role of a Trainer whose goal is to capture and use the creatures' special abilities to combat other Pokémon. Some Pokémon can transform into stronger species through a process called evolution via various means, such as exposure to specific items. Each Pokémon have one or two elemental types, which define its advantages and disadvantages when battling other Pokémon. A major goal in each game is to complete the Pokédex, a comprehensive Pokémon encyclopedia, by capturing, evolving, and trading with other Trainers to obtain individuals from all Pokémon species. The designs of each Pokémon started as pixel art sprites by the development team first, with a single color identity chosen to work within the

Super Game Boy The is a peripheral that allows Game Boy cartridges to be played on a Super Nintendo Entertainment System console. Released in June 1994, it retailed for in the United States and in the United Kingdom. In South Korea, it is called the Supe ...

hardware limitations. With the early development team consisting of three men, character design lead Ken Sugimori brought female developers into the project feeling they would be better able to create "cute" designs. While conceived as a group effort by multiple developers at Game Freak, the finalized designs and artworks were done by

Ken Sugimori is a Japanese video game designer, illustrator, mangaka, manga artist, and Video game director (disambiguation), director. He is best known as the primary character designer and art director for the ''Pokémon'' franchise. Sugimori is also credi ...

. Originally tasked with drawing the characters to illustrate a planned strategy guide by Game Freak when the games released, Sugimori drew all the sprites for the game in his style to not only unify their designs visually but also modify any design elements he felt were amiss, while trying to retain the original sprite artist's unique style. While some Pokémon have been attributed to certain developers over the years, such as Atsuko Nishida for Pikachu and Motofumi Fujiwara for Eevee and its evolutions, Game Freak has avoided attributing many Pokémon to particular individuals to keep a sense of all the developers being involved in their creation. The majority of Pokémon in generation I had relatively simple designs and were similar to real-life creatures including Pidgey (a

pigeon Columbidae is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with small heads, relatively short necks and slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. ...

), Krabby (a

crab Crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura (meaning "short tailed" in Greek language, Greek), which typically have a very short projecting tail-like abdomen#Arthropoda, abdomen, usually hidden entirely under the Thorax (arthropo ...

), Rattata (a

rat Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents. Species of rats are found throughout the order Rodentia, but stereotypical rats are found in the genus ''Rattus''. Other rat genera include '' Neotoma'' (pack rats), '' Bandicota'' (bandicoo ...

), and Ekans (a

snake Snakes are elongated limbless reptiles of the suborder Serpentes (). Cladistically squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales much like other members of the group. Many species of snakes have s ...

). Many Pokémon in the original games served as the base for repeating concepts later in the series. Some Pokémon, such as Squirtle, Bulbasaur and Charmander were designed based on their final evolutions and working backwards. During development they ran into issues with digital cartridge space, and many Pokémon were removed. Specifically, several Pokémon that had a three-stage evolution line were instead changed to evolve only once, resulting in a planned final evolution for Pikachu called "Gorochu" being removed from the final game. When the games were localized for English-speaking audiences as ''Red'' and ''Blue'',

Nintendo of America is a Japanese multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto. It develops, publishes, and releases both video games and video game consoles. The history of Nintendo began when craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi founded the company to p ...

gave the various Pokémon species "clever and descriptive names" related to their appearance or features as a means to make them more relatable to American children. This resulted in several pop-culture references being worked into the character's names, such as Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee, who are references to martial arts actors

Jackie Chan Fang Shilong (born Chan Kong-sang; 7 April 1954), known professionally as Jackie Chan,; is a Hong Kong actor and filmmaker, known for his slapstick, acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, and innovative stunts, which he typically perf ...

and

Bruce Lee Bruce Lee (born Lee Jun-fan; November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was an American-born Hong Kong martial artist, actor, filmmaker, and philosopher. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy which was formed from ...

respectively. Overseen by translator Nob Ogasawara, he voiced concern over some of the choices presented, specifically "Barrierd", which was renamed to "Mr. Mime" based on its masculine appearance. Ogasawara wanted to avoid gendered, binary names for the Pokémon species in the event genders were introduced for them in later titles, a concern proven valid with the sequel titles ''Pokémon Gold'' and ''Silver''.

List of Pokémon

* Bulbasaur * Ivysaur * Venusaur * Charmander * Charmeleon * Charizard * Squirtle * Wartortle * Blastoise * Caterpie * Metapod * Butterfree * Weedle * Kakuna * Beedrill * Pidgey * Pidgeotto * Pidgeot * Rattata * Raticate * Spearow * Fearow * Ekans * Arbok * Pikachu * Raichu * Sandshrew * Sandslash * Nidoran♀ * Nidorina * Nidoqueen * Nidoran♂ * Nidorino * Nidoking * Clefairy * Clefable * Vulpix * Ninetales * Jigglypuff * Wigglytuff * Zubat * Golbat * Oddish *

Gloom Gloom is a low level of light which is so dim that there are physiological and psychological effects. Human vision at this level becomes monochrome and has lessened clarity. Optical and psychological effects Light conditions may be considered g ...

* Vileplume * Paras * Parasect * Venonat * Venomoth * Diglett * Dugtrio *

Meowth Meowth, known in Japanese as , is a List of Pokémon, Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon, ''Pokémon'' media franchise, and the first stage of its Gameplay of Pokémon#Pokémon evolution, evolved form, Persian (Pokémon), Pers ...

* Persian * Psyduck * Golduck * Mankey * Primeape * Growlithe * Arcanine * Poliwag * Poliwhirl * Poliwrath * Abra * Kadabra * Alakazam * Machop * Machoke * Machamp * Bellsprout * Weepinbell * Victreebel * Tentacool * Tentacruel * Geodude * Graveler *

Golem A golem ( ; ) is an animated Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphic being in Jewish folklore, which is created entirely from inanimate matter, usually clay or mud. The most famous golem narrative involves Judah Loew ben Bezalel, the late 16th-century ...

* Ponyta * Rapidash *

Slowpoke The SLOWPOKE (acronym for Safe LOW-POwer Kritical Experiment) is a family of low-energy, swimming pool reactor, tank-in-pool type nuclear research reactors designed by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) beginning in the late 1960s. John W. H ...

* Slowbro * Magnemite * Magneton * Farfetch'd * Doduo * Dodrio * Seel * Dewgong * Grimer * Muk * Shellder * Cloyster * Gastly * Haunter * Gengar * Onix * Drowzee * Hypno * Krabby * Kingler * Voltorb *

Electrode An electrode is an electrical conductor used to make contact with a nonmetallic part of a circuit (e.g. a semiconductor, an electrolyte, a vacuum or a gas). In electrochemical cells, electrodes are essential parts that can consist of a varie ...

* Exeggcute * Exeggutor * Cubone * Marowak * Hitmonlee * Hitmonchan * Lickitung * Koffing * Weezing * Rhyhorn * Rhydon * Chansey * Tangela * Kangaskhan * Horsea * Seadra * Goldeen * Seaking * Staryu * Starmie * Mr. Mime * Scyther * Jynx * Electabuzz * Magmar * Pinsir * Tauros * Magikarp * Gyarados * Lapras * Ditto * Eevee * Vaporeon * Jolteon * Flareon * Porygon * Omanyte * Omastar *

Kabuto ' (兜, 冑) is a type of helmet first used by ancient Japanese warriors that, in later periods, became an important part of the traditional Japanese armour worn by the samurai class and their retainers in History of Japan#Medieval Japan (118 ...

* Kabutops * Aerodactyl * Snorlax * Articuno * Zapdos * Moltres * Dratini * Dragonair * Dragonite *

Mewtwo Mewtwo (; Japanese: , Hepburn: ) is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's ''Pokémon'' media franchise. It was first introduced in the video games ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Blue'', and later appeared in subsequent sequels and spin-off ...

* Mew * MissingNo.

Notes

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:List of generation I Pokémon Generation 1 Video game characters introduced in 1996