Original artwork, not a still
Pokémon's English slogan, from the 1998 anime theme
Gotta catch 'em all!
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The slogan hands a whole hobby to a child in four words: a checklist so big it can never be finished, which is exactly what keeps people playing and trading. It was written in English to sell the idea, while the Japanese original is an excited shout rather than a command. It has long outlived the box art it first sat on and is the franchise's most recognisable sentence in English.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Pokémon seriesShow the scene
This is a slogan rather than a scene. Gotta catch 'em all! was created by Norman J. Grossfeld, president of 4Kids Productions, who pitched it to Nintendo, Hasbro and 4Kids as the English answer to the Japanese catchphrase meaning get the Pokemon. A lawyer thought it too declarative, but the room liked it best. It sat under the logo on the North American box art of Red and Blue, Gold and Silver and Crystal, and it is the hook of the English theme song for the anime, written by John Loeffler and first sung by Jason Paige.
Sources (3)
- Bulbapedia: Gotta catch 'em all!History; In the core series gamesReference checked
- Bulbapedia: Pokemon ThemeIntroductionReference checked
- Wikipedia: PokemonAnime marketingReference checked
Context reviewed
