Generation IV
Diamond and Pearl
Just like with Kecleon in Generation III, the public learned of Generation IV through a new Pokémon — Munchlax — in May 2004. Munchlax was soon featured in Pokémon Dash, as well as the seventh movie and later the main anime. Others such as Lucario, Bonsly, Mime Jr., and Weavile then made their way to the eighth movie, and Mantyke, Buizel, and Chatot appeared in the ninth, which featured Manaphy — a new Mythical Pokémon that even became obtainable in Pokémon Ranger.
Diamond and Pearl Versions were eventually released for Nintendo DS in Japan on September 28, 2006, and in North America on April 22, 2007. Along with 107 new Pokémon in the new huge land of Sinnoh, these games offered a pseudo-3D rendering of the overworld, the return of the time system, visible gender differences between Pokémon, a split between physical and special moves, a new villainous team, known as Team Galactic and Pokémon Super Contests.
The anime Diamond & Pearl series started in Japan and in the US in synchronization with the release of the games. Like the previous series, it introduced a new female character, Dawn, based on her game counterpart.
The three movies of this series form a continuous trilogy. The first part of the trilogy, The Rise of Darkrai, premiered on July 14, 2007 in Japanese theaters, and aired on February 24, 2008 on North American televisions. The second part, Giratina and the Sky Warrior premiered in Japan on July 19, 2008, and aired on February 13, 2009 on North American televisions. The third and final movie of the trilogy, Arceus and the Jewel of Life, premiered on July 18, 2009 in Japan, has aired on Cartoon Network in the United States on November 20, 2009.
A new TCG set was released in Japan on November 30, 2006 and in the United States on May 23, 2007, featuring the new Pokémon from Sinnoh.
New sequels
On December 14, 2006, two weeks after the launch of Nintendo's Wii console, Generation IV Pokémon turned 3D in the form of Pokémon Battle Revolution. It was released in the United States on June 25, 2007.
Several manga series were written for the fourth generation. The first volume of Pocket Monsters DP, the new sequel of Pokémon Pocket Monsters and Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire, was published in Japan on January 26, 2007. One month later, on February 27, Shigekatsu Ihara's Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure! was first published.
The paired sequels for Pokémon Mystery Dungeon for Nintendo DS were released in Japan on September 13, 2007 and in North America on April 20, 2008. Just like before, an anime adaptation was also produced and a manga series was published.
Pokémon Rangers were also brought into the fourth generation in a sequel called Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia, set in the new land of Almia. It was released in Japan on March 20, 2008 and in North America on November 10, 2008. An Anime special was also produced and aired on the same day as the Japanese release, and a short manga was posted as a webcomic on the Japanese Pokémon website. In March 6, 2010, another Ranger game, Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs was released in Japan. The new game set in the region of Oblivia was followed by several anime specials.
Like with Pokémon Box: Ruby and Sapphire in Generation III, a storage game titled My Pokémon Ranch was released on March 25, 2008 in Japan and on June 9, 2008 in North America, featuring the character of Hayley.
Another manga series, Miho Asada's Phantom Thief Pokémon 7 was collected and published on March 28, 2008. Pokémon Adventures then started its Diamond & Pearl chapter with Volume 30 on December 25, 2008 and later the Platinum chapter with the Volume 38 on February 28, 2011.
The third version of Generation IV, Platinum Version, was released on September 13, 2008 in Japan and on March 22, 2009 in North America, bringing new Pokémon forms into the ring for Giratina, Shaymin, and Rotom, as well as updates similar to those found in Pokémon Emerald.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness was followed by a third version, Explorers of Sky, which was released in Japan on April 18, 2009. Just like the third versions of the core series, Explorers of Sky had additional content. Another anime adaptation was produced as well. Another set of games of the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series was also produced for WiiWare, released in Japan on August 4, 2009.
Johto's Heart and Soul
Ever since the Generation III remakes for the incompatible Generation I Red and Green games, Pokémon fans have widely speculated that remakes of the Generation II Pokémon games, Gold and Silver, would be made for Nintendo DS. Indeed, the paired remakes, titled HeartGold and SoulSilver, were eventually released in Japan on September 12, 2009, and were released in the United States on March 14, 2010. The games were referred to in the anime in an episode that featured the counterpart of the new player character and the three starter Pokémon of Johto, one of whom even joined the regular cast. A new expansion set for the TCG was also released to celebrate the new games.
Some manga series followed the release of the games, such as a new sequel to Pokémon Pocket Monsters, titled Pocket Monsters HGSS, of which the first volume was released in June 28, 2011. A new chapter of Pokémon Adventures was released, with the first volume coming out in June 28, 2012.
A new game for the Wii: PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure, was released on December 5, 2009. The game was released in North America and Europe in the spring of 2010.
Generation V
A fresh start
On February 7, 2010, Pokémon Sunday revealed a new Pokémon: Zoroark. Generation V was dawning, and it quickly became clear that even though the new games, Pokémon Black and White, would again be on the Nintendo DS platform, everything about them would be quite new. In an unexpected move, Nintendo revealed that no old Pokémon would be available in the games until the main storyline had been completed, effectively giving both new and old Trainers in Unova, a region based on the New York City metropolitan area, rather than Japan, a completely fresh experience. On September 18, 2010, when the games were released in Japan, 156 new Pokémon were introduced, making this the biggest Pokémon generation yet.
Maintaining the innovations of Generation IV, Black and White added further to the time system that had been introduced more than ten years prior, now having the seasons change, and with them, Pokémon distribution and the time of day, with days being longer during summer and shorter during winter. The sprite animation system introduced in Generation III with Emerald was also done away with, returning Pokémon sprites to a system more like that of Crystal in Generation II - though now Pokémon move throughout the battle. Pokémon Contests have disappeared completely, with Pokémon Musical taking their place, though moves and conditions have no purpose in these competitions. Triple Battles, an expansion on the Double Battle concept introduced two generations prior, made position, as well as team cohesiveness, an important part of battle.
Unlike previous paired games, which generally differed only in Pokémon distribution, and ultimately, the availability of the Pokémon on the boxart at the conclusion of the main storyline, Black and White feature greater differences between the worlds of the opposite versions on level with those between paired and third version of earlier generations - Opelucid City in Black is highly technological, while in White it is laid-back and traditional, whereas two version-exclusive locations, Black City and White Forest, appear in the same location in their same-name version.
The anime was quick to follow with a new series, Best Wishes. Unlike previous generations, no Pokémon from Generation V were shown in the closing episodes of the Diamond & Pearl series, although the thirteenth movie, Zoroark Master of Illusions, featured Zorua and Zoroark as major characters, the only Generation V Pokémon featured prior to Best Wishes.
Similar to the original series, Ash's companions this time around are two Gym Leaders: Cilan and Iris. Like the games, the new series was also given a facelift. No Pokémon from previous generations (apart from Ash's Pikachu and Meowth) are shown in the episodes. Longtime anime characters, including the protagonist Ash Ketchum receive an upgraded appearance, most notably in regards to their eyes.
In an unprecedented move, two movies, rather than one, were released together as the fourteenth Pokémon movie, though the differences between the two are much alike the differences between Black Version and White Version.
Several manga series were released based on the games, such as a sequel to Pokémon Pocket Monsters, titled Pocket Monsters BW, Pocket Monsters BW: The Heroes of Fire and Thunder, among many others. Pokémon Adventures also jumped to the new generation, with the first volume of Black & White chapter released in January 25, 2013.
It's a second step into Unova
It was always anticipated that Black and White would eventually get a third version, as past generations have. Many assumed it would be called "Pokémon Grey Version". However, this time there would be sequels, and with a different plot altogether.
Sequels to Black and White, Pokémon Black and White Versions 2, were released to Japan in June 2012 and came to North America, Europe and Australia in October 2012. The games feature two new forms of Kyurem, called Black Kyurem (Japanese: ブラックキュレム) and White Kyurem (Japanese: ホワイトキュレム), as well as new forms of the Forces of Nature and Keldeo. The games take place two years after Black and White, and many things have changed in the Unova region.
Some manga series followed the release of the second paired versions, most notably a new chapter of Pokémon Adventures which began its serialization in July 2013 (although a round featuring Hugh's backstory had been published prior to this).
Generation VI
The next evolution
On January 8, 2013, Nintendo simultaneously announced to the world that a new generation of Pokémon will be coming to the world through a special edition of Nintendo Direct, called Pokémon Direct. Pokémon X and Y, the first games in Generation VI, were revealed and were released worldwide on October 12, 2013. These two games introduced several new Pokémon, and the Pokémon series took a new leap into the 3D world on the Nintendo 3DS. The concept of Mega Evolution was also introduced. During the unveiling of the new versions, three new Starter Pokémon were introduced: Grass Type Chespin, Fire Type Fennekin and Water Type Froakie. The games take place in a new region called Kalos, based off of real-world France.
The anime was quick to follow with a new series, XY. As with the previous three series, the XY series began with Ash Ketchum, headed off to the new region with his Pikachu. His previous companions, Iris and Cilan, have left the series. Ash began his journey in Lumiose City. Clemont, Bonnie and Serena having joined him in the series as companions.
Pokémon Adventures started the serialization of its X & Y chapter following the games' release in October 2013. The first volume of a new series by Kosaku Anakubo, known as Pocket Monsters XY, was released on April 28, 2014.
Welcome back to Hoenn
Just like the Generation III remakes for the incompatible Generation I Red and Green games and the Generation IV remakes for the incompatible Generation II Gold and Silver games, Pokémon fans have widely speculated that remakes of the Generation III Pokémon games, Ruby and Sapphire, would be made for Nintendo 3DS. Indeed, the paired remakes, titled Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, were revealed in a worldwide announcement on the official Pokémon websites on May 7, 2014 and were eventually released in Worldwide on November 21, 2014.
Twenty years of Pokémon
2016 officially marked the 20th anniversary of Pokémon, and it was celebrated with a re-release of the original Generation I core series games on the Nintendo 3DS's Virtual Console worldwide. These games were released on February 27, 2016, coinciding with Red and Green's original release date in Japan in 1996. In addition, there will be further celebrations of the occasion throughout the year.
Generation VII
Seven's a lucky number
The seventh generation of Pokémon was announced on February 27, 2016, the franchise's 20th anniversary with the new games Pokémon Sun and Moon and was released on November 18, 2016.
The anime was quick to follow with a new series, Sun & Moon. As with the previous four series, the Sun & Moon series began with Ash Ketchum, headed off to the new region with his Pikachu. His previous companions, Clemont, Bonnie and Serena, have left the series. Ash Ketchum heads off to a new region, Alola, wearing a new set of clothes with his partner Pikachu. He receives a Z-Ring and becomes a student at the Pokémon School on Melemele Island. Lillie, Kiawe, Mallow, Lana and Sophocles having joined him in the series as his classmates.
A New Light Shines on Alola
Two follow-up games, Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, were announced during a Nintendo Direct presentation on June 6, 2017. The games were released exclusively on the Nintendo 3DS on November 17, 2017, feature an alternate storyline set in Sun and Moon's world, and will feature new Pokémon not available in the original games.
Let's GO Back to Kanto with Pikachu and Eevee
On May 30, 2018, it was announced that two new Pokémon games in the main Pokémon franchise, Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, were going to be released on November 16, 2018. They are the first installments of the main Pokémon RPG series for Nintendo Switch and are inspired by Pokémon Yellow with gameplay mechanics borrowed from Pokémon GO.