As a 90s kid myself, I have fond memories of watching the Pokémon anime after school and playing the video games for hours. Now as a parent, I want to make sure this franchise I loved is age-appropriate to share with my own children.
After doing extensive research, I‘ve put together this comprehensive guide on Pokémon content ratings and recommendations for different ages. Let‘s take a nostalgic walk back through the world of Pokémon!
A Look Back at Pokémon‘s Origins and Popularity
Pokémon first debuted in 1996 with the video games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. The monster-catching and battling gameplay was an instant hit.
The anime series by OLM Incorporated followed in 1997, bringing the iconic characters like Ash and Pikachu to life. This show exploded Pokémon into a full-blown international phenomenon.
Within just a few years, Pokémon became the highest-grossing media franchise of all time, surpassing Hello Kitty and Mickey Mouse with over $90 billion in total revenue. It‘s still hugely popular today with kids, tweens, teens and adults alike.
Pokémon Anime Ratings – Gauging Appropriateness for Kids
The Pokémon anime series and movies have maintained a consistent rating of PG by the MPAA, meaning parental guidance is suggested but not mandatory.
According to Common Sense Media, Pokémon content is generally suitable for kids aged 5 and up. However, some parents may find the fantasy battle violence too intense for children under 7.
Indeed, certain Pokémon episodes have been controversially banned or edited for sensitive content. For example, one episode featuring guns pointed at Ash and others was pulled after the Columbine shooting. Another episode was censored due to James from Team Rocket seeming to have inflatable breast implants.
So discernment is needed even though Pokémon series strictly avoid profanity, sexuality and graphic violence. Where you draw the line depends on your child‘s maturity and sensitivities.
Pokémon Video Games Keep It Safe for Kids
Unlike the anime, the Pokémon video games consistently receive E (Everyone) ratings from the ESRB for their mild cartoon violence.
Recent titles Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are rated by PEGI as appropriate for ages 7 and up in Europe. So the games are generally safe for average elementary school-aged kids to play.
However, each child‘s ability to handle the complexity of RPGs varies. As a parent I recommend gauging your child‘s reading comprehension and cognitive focus before allowing long gaming sessions.
Pokémon YouTube and Netflix – Filter By Age
Today‘s kids have access to a Pokémon media overload! Hundreds of episodes, movies, trailers and spin-offs are available on streaming platforms.
Fortunately, both Netflix and YouTube offer parental controls to filter content based on age ratings. Carefully curate what your kids can view based on your personal guidelines.
For younger children, Pokémon Junior provides sing-alongs and simple stories. As kids grow older they can better comprehend the anime‘s complex world of training, evolving Pokémon and thwarting enemy Teams.
Physical and Online Safety Tips for Pokémon Go
The Pokémon Go augmented reality game took the world by storm in 2016 as people explored real neighborhoods, parks and cities to catch Pokémon.
Due to safety concerns, Pokémon Go is rated ages 13+ on app stores. Unsupervised children could be vulnerable to traffic injuries or stranger danger.
If you allow kids to play Pokémon Go, make sure they understand basic traffic and personal security rules first. And set limits to balance gaming with outdoor exercise and real world socialization.
Finding the Right Pokémon Fit at Each Age
Based on child development factors and expert recommendations, here are my suggested Pokémon guidelines for different ages:
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Ages 3-6: Watch selected episodes of Pokémon Junior or play supervised Snap on Nintendo Switch
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Ages 7-8: Try main series games with parental assistance. Watch anime with 30-60 min limits.
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Ages 9-12: Play Pokémon GO with supervision. Enjoy anime independently in moderation.
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Ages 13+: Responsible independence with Pokémon entertainment, with continued parental discussions.
In the end it comes down to using your best judgment as a parent. Pokémon can be a mostly positive force, but should not dominate childhood completely. Find balance between real and virtual monsters!
