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Celebrate Pokémon 20th Anniversary With New Games, Old Games, Poké Fashion

By Jovi Figueroa
Published on: 03:41 PST, Feb 28, 2016

Do you remember your first Pokémon? The first time it evolved? The first time you made a successful trade with another Pokémon trainer? It all seems just like yesterday, but it has been 20 years since Pokémon debuted with the Pokémon Red and Blue in Japan. Many nostalgic Pokémon trainers celebrate Pokémon‘s 20 year anniversary by reminiscing, and playing a Pokémon game or two.

Inquisitr shares more ways fans can celebrate with the rest of the world during the 20th year of Pokémon.

First stop is memory lane. Join Nintendo as they reminisce the last 20 years of Pokémon in this promotional video of Nintendo’s newly announced Pokémon titles, Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon.

https://youtu.be/hmzDL1l3Fag

Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon were just announced this week and they will arrive before 2016 ends. Fans have little knowledge about Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon so far, but check out Comicbook.com’s “What We Know So Far” list which contains spoilers on new Pokémon, vehicles and regions, and the new Pokémon app, Pokémon Bank.

If you’ve set your eyes on that new Pokémon title, then better start warming up with a few rounds of Pokémon Red, Blue, or Yellow, natively on your Nintendo 3DS. Entertainment Weekly confirms that the original Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow are now available for digital download on the Nintendo 3DS.

Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow now playable on Nintendo 3DS (via GameStop)
Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow now playable on Nintendo 3DS (via GameStop)

Travel back to the Kanto region, battle the original Elite Four, and try to get your hands on all 151 original Pokémon. These versions are ported to the Nintendo 3DS in such a way that players will be able to trade Pokémon wirelessly and store Pokémon at the Pokémon Bank for use in the upcoming Pokémon Sun and Moon games.

Purchase the digital copies of Pokémon Red, Blue, or Yellow at GameStop for $9.99 a pop.

You can also don yourself in Poké fashion by dropping by the Pokémon Boutique in Los Angeles by JapanLA Clothing. The store is filled to the brim with Pokémon-inspired clothing, from wearable t-shirts and pants, to over-the-top Pikachu slippers and bonnets. IGN visited the shop and reports that the new Fairy-Type Pokémon are the new trend in 2016’s Poké fashion.

The JapanLA Pokémon Boutique is the second annual specialty boutique held by the company. Monika Salazar, Director of Licensing for The Pokémon Company, shares how excited they are to share unique, exclusive Pokémon merchandise with fans.

“People that wear the Pokémon-inspired clothing, they’re happy. It brings a smile to everyone’s face and all the friends that they go meet. Everyone smiles when Pokemon is around, so we just want to bring joy, fashion, fun, and adventure to the brand.”

If fashion is isn’t your thing, you can always opt to check out other Pokémon-inspired merchandise at different online stores. Grab a comfortable zip hoodie that speaks of your trainer skills at the Gametee, available in Red Gamer or Blue Gamer. Or you can always plop down on a Snorlax cushion, which is so huge it is bigger than an actual kid! For sale by Bandai Japan, this oversized Snorlax cushion is selling for 52,000 yen or roughly $460.

Or, you can always drop by the Pokémon Center online store for some legitimate and licensed Pokémon merchandise. Get the official 20th anniversary Pokémon shirt at the Pokémon Center for $25.95. If you’re feeling particularly feisty, you can always grab a Magikarp shirt, notebook and socks, too.

Happy Pokémon Day, everyone!

[Image via Shuttertstock]

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