Pokémon in Greater China

Alternate logo used on merchandise in mainland China

Since 2019, the official Chinese translations of both "Pocket Monsters" and "Pokémon" have been unified under the name 寶可夢 / 宝可梦, an approximate transcription of Pokémon.^[1] Previously, after the release of Pokémon Sun and Moon in 2016, the term "Pocket Monsters" was distinguished by translating it as 精靈寶可夢 / 精灵宝可梦, including the word 精靈 / 精灵 (creature). According to Tsunekazu Ishihara, the intention of the rename was to keep the pronunciation of "Pokémon" consistent throughout the world. However, the newer name still takes its former translations into account by incorporating parts from the two into it.^[2]

The current name was first introduced in mainland China in December 2010. Following the announcement of the rename, Pokémon Adventures received a reprint with updated translations, while iQiyi gradually uploaded the animated series for streaming under the new title. In addition, Takara Tomy had also released a new line of Pokémon toys from Pokémon the Series: Black & White. On July 10, 2015, a special event was also held during the premiere of M17 in Shanghai to promote the new name^[3]. In mainland China, from 1998 to 2000, the Cantonese name 宠物小精灵 was used; from 2000 to 2010, starting when Jilin acquired the rights to publish Pokémon Adventures, the Taiwanese name 神奇宝贝 was used; in 2010, the name was changed to the current name, 精灵宝可梦.

Prior to Sun and Moon, Pokémon was officially translated as 神奇寶貝 ("magical creatures") in Taiwan and 寵物小精靈 ("pet creatures") (commonly abbreviated as 小精靈) in Hong Kong. According to the opening text and narrations in the Taiwanese dub, the term 神奇寶貝 is a contraction of the phrase 「神奇的口袋中的寶貝」 ("the magical creatures in the pocket"). Nintendo had previously used both translations on its official website prior to X and Y. The Pokémon.com page for Hong Kong used the former Hong Kong name in early 2016, while the Japanese Pokémon Center website used the former Taiwanese name in its FAQ page before 2014 and the Chinese-language Pokémon Store page used it until early 2018.

However, since the announcement of the new Chinese translation of Pokémon (精靈寶可夢 / 精灵宝可梦), the Pocket Monsters XY&Z season, M19 and Adventures manga distributed in Taiwan and Hong Kong remains translated under their respective former translation. However in late 2017, the Adventures manga distributed in Taiwan and Hong Kong gradually adapts the official translations provided by Nintendo HK despite the translation of Pokémon (神奇寶貝 / 寵物小精靈) remaining unchanged. The Pocket Monsters Sun & Moon series released in Taiwan and Hong Kong was the first media to fully use the new Chinese translation of Pokémon (精靈寶可夢), along with the other official translations that are used in Pokémon Sun and Moon provided by Nintendo HK. In September 2018, the Pocket Monsters animated series was re-dubbed in Hong Kong using official translations that are used in Pokémon Sun and Moon, however, many Gen I translations remain unchanged from the previous dub version, despite them being changed in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.

Previously, the animated series, manga, and various guidebooks have also given names to the Pokémon, characters, locations and other important terminologies. With the release of Sun and Moon, Nintendo has provided a new set of names for the first 151 Pokémon, with some receiving completely new names^[4]. For more information on these localized names for Pokémon, see List of Chinese Pokémon names.

Due to the lack of official Chinese translations of games prior to Generation VII and the proliferation of bootlegs in the market, the unofficial name 口袋妖怪 (literally meaning "pocket monster") is commonly used by fans in mainland China. The name was also trademarked by Nintendo in mainland China and Taiwan, but has never been used by official media. Similarly, the names 神奇小魔怪 ("magical little monsters") and 魔怪家族 ("monster family") were trademarked by Nintendo and Top-Insight in Taiwan, but were also never used.

Bulbanews has an article related to this subject:

Protest in HK in response to Pokémon name change

The rename of the series has met some criticism among the fanbase, particularly in Hong Kong where it became a topic of socio-cultural and political controversy^[5]. Fans have taken complaints about the name change to Nintendo HK's Facebook page, pointing out that its Cantonese translation did not match local pronunciation and citing examples of other franchise where various regions received its own localization. On May 31, 2016, members of a radical political group named Civic Passion protested Pikachu's name change outside the Japanese consulate in Central, Hong Kong, as its original Cantonese name 比卡超 was changed to its Mandarin name 皮卡丘. To avoid public backlash, all animated series episodes and movies released in Hong Kong afterwards, as well as all public events, use the English pronunciation of 'Pikachu' instead of its Mandarin name 'Pèihkāyāu'.

Bulbanews has multiple articles related to this subject:

• Pokémon Sun and Moon announced in Pokémon Direct
• Video Game National Championships announced for HK and Taiwan
• Hong Kong Video Game National Championships to be held on July 3

Pokémon Sun and Moon are the first set of games to be officially translated into Chinese, available in both Traditional and Simplified characters. In the years prior to the release of the Chinese localizations, only the Japanese and English versions of the video games were made available in Taiwan and Hong Kong, while video games were banned in mainland China around that period^[6]. The release came two years after the lifting of the 14-year ban of video games in mainland China^[7].

As a result of lack of Chinese localizations in the previous games, many Chinese-translated language hacks and bootleg versions of the series are distributed into the mainland. Interactions between these bootlegs and any official game cartridges are possible, but not recommended since the Chinese characters were never programmed into any official cartridges, and could result in file corruption on both cartridges, forcing the gamers to start over from the beginning.

The Simplified Chinese version of Super Smash Bros. (任天堂明星大乱斗), which was released in 2005, contains unique cries for most of the Pokémon characters. Those in question are the same ones with unique cries in the game's English version.

In 2016, the Pokémon Video Game National Championships was held in Taipei on June 11 and in Hong Kong on July 3.

With the exception of summarizing episodes, side story episodes, the infamous EP038, The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon, and the clip shows, all episodes and the first 21 movies have been dubbed into both Mandarin and Cantonese.

In Taiwan, all episodes prior to Pokémon Journeys: The Series have been aired. The first 21 Pokémon movies have also been released, with the thirteenth movie being released just 20 days after the Japanese premiere. Subsequent movies were released within a few months after the Japanese premiere.

In Hong Kong, all episodes prior to the Pocket Monsters Sun & Moon season have been aired, with the Pocket Monsters Sun & Moon season currently on air. The first episode of Pokémon the Series: Black & White premiered on November 19, 2011, while the first episode of Pokémon the Series: XY has premiered on July 13, 2014. 21 Pokémon movies have also been released. On May 1, 2023, the inaugural episode of Pokémon Journeys: The Series was also made available to the public.

In mainland China, the first 54 episodes (excluding the infamous EP038) and parts of the Orange League arc have been aired in the 2000s. The Pokémon animated series returned after three years of hiatus when Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl (精灵宝可梦 DP：钻石与珍珠) premiered on July 3, 2011. The show went on an indefinite hiatus after airing only 27 episodes. On December 2012, iQiyi put the first 84 episodes of the Taiwanese dub of Best Wishes up for online legal viewing, with episodes from the BW Season 2 and the original series added in the subsequent months. The series is released under the title 精灵宝可梦 超级愿望. Episodes of the original series, Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire, Diamond and Pearl series, Pokémon the Series: XY, and Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon were later added, these episodes are of the Taiwanese dubs but with simplified Chinese subtitles.

The Journey of One Dream, a 12-minute animated short was released on Weibo and Bilibili in mainland China on February 28, 2023.

Music

Unlike the other dubs, the Mandarin dub subtitles the original Japanese opening and ending themes. However, for the Kanto saga of the original mainland dub, the localization team used an original Mandarin song, with minor edits made to the original video. For the Taiwanese dub and mainland redub, both dubs had instead subtitled the original Japanese theme. However, due to the request of the Japanese officials^{[citation needed]}, an original Mandarin theme song was used in the place of the Japanese theme when Pokémon the Series: Black & White is broadcast on YoYoTV. Nevertheless, the Japanese theme was used in the fourteenth movie. In addition, the animated series tends to switch back to the original Japanese theme for unknown reasons. However, the new episodes in MOD continued to use the new Mandarin theme after the switch from the Japanese theme. As of Pokémon the Series: XY, the dub has fully returned to subtitling the Japanese theme.

For the Cantonese dub, it used Cantonese openings that are either original or based on the Japanese version. It continued up until midway through Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire (寵物小精靈超世代), before using the subtitled Japanese themes like the Taiwanese dub. However, a Cantonese version of Best Wishes! was used during the premiere of the series. The dub later switched back to subtitling the Japanese themes. For more information on these theme songs, see List of Chinese Pokémon themes.

Cast and crew

Many voice actors and actresses have contributed to the production of the Chinese dubs of the Pokémon animated series.

Distribution

All dubs of the animated series are mainly based on the original Japanese version with the exception of M22.

Since Spring 2019, the Pokémon the Series: XY and the Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon have been made available on Netflix for Taiwan and Hong Kong with subtitles in both traditional and simplified Chinese. On February 28, 2020 (UTC+8), Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution had also seen its worldwide release (excluding Japan and Korea) on Netflix with a Mandarin dub featuring a completely different set of actors.

Pro-Insight International Co., Ltd. (博英社國際股份有限公司), a subsidiary of Top Insight International, was the former distributor of animated series and movie-related merchandise such as toys and DVD sets in parts of Asia. As of January 2014, all Pokémon-related content have been removed from both its corporate and commercial website, while its Pokémon-related merchandise have now been pulled out from the Taiwanese market.

Taiwan

The Mandarin dub of the Pokémon animated series and Pokémon movie is currently distributed by Mighty Media (曼迪傳播). Prior to BW130 and M17, the Taiwanese dub of both the animated series and movie were distributed by Top Insight (群英社). The animated series has aired in several different channels, such as China Television, YoYoTV, MOMO Kids, Cartoon Network, and MOD.

Hong Kong

The animated series is currently distributed by i-CABLE (有線寬頻). Prior to the Pocket Monsters Sun & Moon season, the Cantonese translation of the animated series was distributed by Mighty Media Hong Kong (曼迪香港). Between BW123 to BW142 and BWS01, the animated series was distributed by TVB. Prior to BW123, the Cantonese translation of the animated series was distributed by Top Insight (群英社). Moreover, the Cantonese translation was initially distributed by Medialink Animation International Ltd. (羚邦國際), but had already lost the rights to distribute the animated series after EP076. The animated series has aired in several different channels, such as TVB Jade, TVB Kids, HOY TV, aTV and Hong Kong Cable.

Prior to M20, the Cantonese dub of the movie was distributed by Universe International Financial Holdings Limited (寰宇國際金融控股有限公司). Universe Films Distribution Co., Limited held the license to distribute the Pokémon movies in cinemas, while Universe Digital Entertainment Co., Limited holds the license to distribute DVDs for the Pokémon movies prior to M20 and the Pikachu shorts. Currently, the Cantonese dub of the movie is distributed by Sundream Motion Pictures (驕陽電影), a subsidiary of i-CABLE.

Mainland China

The Taiwanese dub of the animated series and several movies are currently available as online streaming services on video platforms such as iQiyi. M19 and POKÉMON Detective Pikachu had been dubbed and screened on Chinese cinemas respectively in 2017 and 2019, .

The first 52 episodes of the series had first been dubbed and distributed by Medialink Animation. Some years later, EP104 to EP159 and DP001 to DP026 have also been redubbed by Beijing DynamicMedia Co., Ltd. (北京迪美文化发展有限公司) and aired on CCTV-6 for a short period.

Pokémon Adventures has been translated into various versions in Chinese. The Traditional Chinese (Taiwan) version is translated by Ching Win Publishing Co., Ltd. (青文出版社有限公司), while the Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong) version is translated by its subsidiary, Hong Kong Ching Win Publishing Co., Ltd. (香港青文出版社有限公司). The Simplified Chinese (Mainland China) version had previously been translated by Jilin Publishing Group (吉林出版集团). The manga has also been launched on bilibili with current translations being handled by Shanghai Viz Communication Co., Ltd. (上海碧日咨询事业有限公司), a subsidiary of Shogakukan.

CoroCoro was also distributed within the three regions under the names 快樂快樂月刊 (Taiwan), 快樂龍 (Hong Kong), and 龍漫CORO-CORO (Mainland China). As of 2015, CoroCoro has ended serialization in all three regions. Since February 2015, a digital version of the magazine (無限誌) has taken CoroCoro's place in the serialization of various manga, which includes the Traditional Chinese (Taiwan) version of X & Y chapter of Pokémon Adventures.

In Taiwan, various manga series are currently translated by Ching Win Publishing Group with the exception of Pokémon Pocket Monsters, Magical Pokémon Journey, The Electric Tale of Pikachu, and Pokémon: Yeah! I Got Pokémon! that were translated by Da Ran Culture (大然文化). As the latter company had become defunct since 2003, the sequels of Pokémon Pocket Monsters such as Pocket Monsters Diamond and Pearl were taken over by Ching Win Publishing Group. Ching Win has also translated Pokémon Zensho, Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys, Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl Adventure!, Pokémon Try Adventure, and several movie manga adaptations as well as a number of guidebooks.

In Hong Kong, most of the manga sold in Taiwan are also sold there, as Ching Win Publishing Group also owns the distribution rights of the manga in Hong Kong. However, the names are given some changes due to difference in the dialect and terminologies between the two regions, and is translated completely separately by its Hong Kong subsidiary, Hong Kong Ching Win Publishing Co., Ltd., with 神奇寶貝 changed to 寵物小精靈 being one of the major changes. Pokémon Pocket Monsters, Magical Pokémon Journey, The Electric Tale of Pikachu, and Pokémon: Yeah! I Got Pokémon! were all translated by Da Ran Culture (Hong Kong) (大然文化（香港）). As the company had become defunct since 2003, the sequels of Pokémon Pocket Monsters such as Pocket Monsters Ruby and Sapphire were taken over by Ching Win Publishing Group. However since 2018, Ching Win no longer distribute Pokémon manga in Hong Kong exclusively possibly due to the new translation issue. Rightman Publishing Ltd. (正文社出版有限公司) has since published Pokémon Horizon, Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us: Zeraora's Story and Pokédex guidebooks using the new Chinese translation of Pokémon (寶可夢/精靈寶可夢).

In Mainland China, Pokémon Pocket Monsters and its sequel Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire have also been translated. Ash & Pikachu, Pokémon: Yeah! I Got Pokémon!, and Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys have also been translated as well. Pokémon Adventures was also previously translated by China Light Industry Press (轻工业出版社) under its Cantonese name before 2000. While the Cantonese term of Pokémon is used in that translation, all other names and terminologies were based on the Taiwanese translation. As Jilin took over in 2005, it was renamed to the Taiwanese translation for consistency. As of 2011, Pokémon Adventures had been renamed to its current name.

Translations

Gallery

Taiwan

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  The Electric Tale of Pikachu in traditional Mandarin (Taiwan)

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  Magical Pokémon Journey in traditional Mandarin (Taiwan)

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  Pokémon Diamond & Pearl Adventure! in traditional Mandarin (Taiwan)

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  Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All in traditional Mandarin (Taiwan)

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  Golden Boys in traditional Mandarin (Taiwan)

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  Pokémon Adventures volume 3 in traditional Mandarin (Taiwan)

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  Pokémon Try Adventure in traditional Mandarin (Taiwan)

• 

  Pokémon Zensho in traditional Mandarin (Taiwan)

Hong Kong

• 

  The Electric Tale of Pikachu in Cantonese (Hong Kong)

• 

  Magical Pokémon Journey in Cantonese (Hong Kong)

• 

  Pocket Monsters Film Comic volume 6 in Cantonese

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  Golden Boys in Cantonese (Hong Kong)

• 

  Pokémon Try Adventure in Cantonese (Hong Kong)

Mainland China

• 

  Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All in simplified Mandarin (Mainland China)

• 

  Golden Boys in simplified Mandarin (Mainland China)

Pre Sun & Moon Era

Prior to the Sun & Moon era, only two sets of the Trading Card Game were officially printed in Traditional Chinese. The Pikachu card from the Jungle expansion was released in Traditional Chinese as part of the 2000 Pikachu World Collection. This was followed by Base Set, which was released by Wizards of the Coast in 2000 and distributed by Hasbro Hong Kong (孩之寶香港) in Taiwan and Hong Kong using the red variant of the Pokémon logo with the title 神奇寶貝集換式紙牌遊戲. Later in 2006, EX Legend Maker (傳說的締造者) and EX Trainer Kit 2 (訓練家裝備組) were released by Pokémon USA, Inc. and distributed by Funbox Toys (麗嬰國際) in Taiwan under the title 集換式卡片遊戲 to commemorate the PokéPark theme park.^[8]

After 2006, TCG products released in Taiwan and Hong Kong are English-language sets and decks released by The Pokémon Company International and distributed by Maxsoft. In 2009, JFL Trading was authorized by Maxsoft as the local distributor in Hong Kong with the rights to hold local Play! Pokémon tournaments. In 2017, MTG Mint Card was authorized to distribute TCG products in Taiwan, who then authorized local company KKTCG (名卡有限公司) to handle local release and Play! Pokémon events.

While TCG products were introduced in Taiwan and Hong Kong during this period, they were never officially released in Mainland China, and none of the cards were printed in Simplified Chinese, which is mainly used in Mainland China over Traditional Chinese.

Sun & Moon and Later Eras

Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao

In 2019, The Pokémon Company started localizing, manufacturing and releasing the Trading Card Game in several regions across southeast Asia, including Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao. The Pokémon Trading Card Game (集換式卡牌遊戲) was localized in Traditional Chinese and made available in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao under the new unified translation (寶可夢) in October 2019 starting with the All Stars Collection (眾星雲集組合篇) expansion. MTG Mint Card was authorized by The Pokémon Company to be the main distributor and now manages release and organized play in Hong Kong and Macao. KKTCG continues to be the distributor in Taiwan until 2020, when the distributor role was taken over by Justan (傑仕登股份有限公司), a local company purchased by MTG Mint Card and received authorization by The Pokémon Company to manage the Pokémon brand in Taiwan, including TCG products.

4 Traditional Chinese sets were released over the Sun & Moon era, with each set covering cards from multiple sets released in Japan in an effort to catch up with Japanese releases. In June 2020, Traditional Chinese releases entered the Sword & Shield era with the Sword & Shield (劍&盾) expansion, and with the next expansion Infinite Power (無極力量) including cards from Legendary Heartbeat - the latest set in Japan at the time, the catch-up was considered done, and starting from Amazing Volt Tackle The Pokémon Company switched to releasing Japanese sets in Traditional Chinese instead of sets exclusive to the language. New Traditional Chinese sets are now being released at a regular pace, with most sets released 2 weeks after the releases of corresponding Japanese sets.

Mainland China

In September 2022, Pokémon Shanghai Toy Limited (宝可梦（上海）玩具有限公司) - The Pokémon Company's subsidiary in Mainland China - announced the upcoming release of the Pokémon Trading Card Game (宝可梦集换式卡牌游戏) in Simplified Chinese.^[9] The first set 横空出世 is scheduled to release on October 28, 2022.

Pokémon Battrio (神奇寶貝 三隻組對戰) was released in Taiwan in 2010, making it the only country outside of Japan to have released the arcade game. Many of the machines were found in department stores throughout Taiwan. Nine sets were released with the last being Rayquaza.

The merchandise ended in Taiwan on December 2012 due to lower-than-expected popularity, the end of the Taiwanese contractor's contract, and the earlier retirement of the machines in Japan. All Taiwanese versions of the arcade machine have been removed and it is still unknown whether the Taiwanese game chips were playable in Japan.

Pokémon Tretta (PokémonTRETTA) was released in Taiwan in April 2016 by SEGA Taiwan, and in Hong Kong in 2017 by Hit-Style Ltd..

PokéPark logo used in Taiwan

There are also several events held in Taiwan. One of the first events were featured in PokéPark during 2006, but only for the Japanese language games. Mew, Jirachi and Celebi were distributed. Old Sea Map was also distributed for the pre-release ticket of the eighth movie. Keldeo and Meloetta were distributed in commemoration of the 15th movie during 2012, while Genesect and Mewtwo were distributed in 2013. Both Pikachu and Sylveon were also distributed in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Nintendo HK currently handles the distributions in both regions.

Bulbanews has an article related to this subject:

PokéPark Taiwan to open Friday

A PokéPark theme park was opened in Taiwan in 2006.

• List of Chinese Pokémon names
• List of Chinese Pokémon themes

The Pokémon Company

• Pokémon Asia (Mainland China)
  • Pokémon on WeChat
  • Pokémon on Weibo
  • Pokémon on Bilibili
  • Pokémon on Douyin
  • Pokémon on Youku
• Pokémon Asia (Hong Kong)
  • Pokémon Hong Kong on Facebook
  • Pokémon Hong Kong on YouTube
• Pokémon Asia (Taiwan)
  • Pokémon Taiwan on Facebook
  • Pokémon Taiwan on YouTube

Nintendo

• Nintendo Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
  • Pokémon Sun and Moon minisite
  • Pokémon X and Y minisite
• Nintendo Hong Kong (Taiwan)
  • Pokémon Sun and Moon minisite
  • Pokémon X and Y minisite
• Nintendo HK on Facebook
• Nintendo HK on YouTube

Video games

• Pokémon Sun and Moon website (Traditional Chinese)
• Pokémon Sun and Moon website (Simplified Chinese)
• Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon website (Traditional Chinese)
• Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon website (Simplified Chinese)

Animated series

• Mighty Media
• HOY TV
• TVB Jade
  • XY season subpage
• Universe Films on Facebook
• iQiyi

Manga

• Ching-win
• Rightman

Others

• Takara Tomy