CGC Trading Cards Grades Entire 25th Anniversary Creatures Inc. Corporate History Deck

In 2021, the Pokémon Trading Card Game celebrated its 25th anniversary. The momentous occasion included the release of special 25th Anniversary Celebration sets in no less than 10 different languages. While these are fun cards to collect — they include reprints of popular issues from earlier sets — they are by no means rare.

However, there does exist one 25th anniversary set that is exceptionally rare and cannot simply be bought. This set is the 25th Anniversary Creatures Inc. Corporate History deck, which consists of a 30-card half deck issued to Pokémon TCG Illustrators and some Creatures Inc. employees, presented in an attractive wooden box along with some other goodies. CGC Trading Cards was honored to be selected to authenticate and grade one of these amazing rarities in its entirety.

CGC Trading Cards is aware that good photos and descriptions of these cards are not readily available in English anywhere online, so below, each card is shown in high-resolution. Also included is the translation (in italics) of the back of each card courtesy of DeepL.com.

1995 – Chansey – Kouichi Ooyama Test Card

The black and white art on this Chansey is a simple line drawing by Kouichi Ooyama. This card, like all cards in set, features a shiny gold "25th" stamp on the front.

1995 – Founding of Creatures Co., LTD

Creatures Co., Ltd. was founded by Tsunekazu Ishihara in 1995 as a planning and production company that creates a variety of media works such as video games, trading card games and books. Creatures is one of the three original creators of the Pokémon series and has produced a variety of Pokémon related works. Creatures was established with partial funding from Nintendo. The name "Creatures" refers to all creatures created by the Creator. I like the mixed feeling, the jumble of different things (or diversity, as we call it now), so I made it my company name. Hopefully, what this company produces will be a mix of things. (Tsunekazu Ishihara – Nov. 8, 1995)

1996 – Charizard – Base Set

Of course, any 25th anniversary set wouldn't be complete without a reprint of one of the most iconic cards in Pokémon history! The back of this card talks about the creation of the first Pokémon Trading Card set.

1996 – Pocket Monster Card Game Vol. 1

Pocket Monster Card Game Vol. 1 is a trading card game that shares the same world as the Pocket Monster Red and Green video games. Directed by Tsunekazu Ishihara, the game was developed by game designers Isao Oyama and Akihiko Miura. "We became obsessed with incorporating the characteristics and types of Pokémon into the game's mechanics and logic. The goal was to expand the strategic aspects of Pokémon Red and Green and to increase the synergy of promotions. I was happy that we were able to release the trading card game only eight months after Pokémon Red and Green." (Tsunekazu Ishihara – Oct. 20, 1996)

1997 – Rainbow Energy – Rocket Gang

1997 – Pokémon Picture Book – Mini 4 Wheel Drive Gameboy Let's & Go!

"I was in charge of planning and editing 'Pokémon Picture Book' and 'Mini 4WD GB Let's Go!.' I oversaw the planning and editing of "Pokémon Picture Books", producing a total of 50 books between 1997 and 2000. I was challenged to find a creative way to focus on each of the 151 Pokémon at the time, so I came up with the concept of a 16-page book with embossed covers that could not be thrown away." (Hiroyuki Jinnai) (1997-2000) "Mini 4WD GB Let's & Go!" reproduced Mini 4WD racing on the Game Boy. You could enjoy the simulator-like setting. Using a communication cable, you could exchange parts and play against other players. (May 23, 1997)

1998 – Erika – Gym Booster 1: Leaders' Stadium

1998 – Hey You, Pikachu!

"In "Hey You, Pikachu" and "Let's Play, Pikachu!" we developed a headset with a microphone exclusively for the Nintendo 64, and for the first time in the world, children can communicate with the characters on the screen through conversation. The voice recognition device had to be customized to meet the needs of children, but when they saw the game in action, they were so excited that they shouted, 'PIKACHU!'" (Muneaki Koeki – Dec. 12, 1998)

Pokémon Trading Card Gameboy Game

"I participated in the planning and supervision of Pokémon Trading Card Gameboy Game, which brought battle, deck editing, collection, and trading to the Game Boy, and drew detailed card illustrations using dots." (Dec. 18, 1998)

1999 – Rocket's Zapdos – Challenge from the Darkness

1999 – Meowth's Party

"'Meowth's Party' is the ending theme of the TV animation 'Pokémon.' I produced the entire video, including 3D Computer Graphics, backgrounds and editing of the Pokémon. The lyrics were written by Shogo Toda, the composition is by Hirokazu Tanaka, and the song is sung by Inuko Inuyama as Meowth. When I write Pokémon songs, I hope that children will experience the same impact that I have had from various kinds of music. A melody in a minor key can carry a lot of emotions. It can be dreamy or sad. It's like a major, but minor. Minor but major. I followed this methodology in composing the Pokémon song." (Hirokazu Tanaka, October 27, 1999)

2000 – Sneasel – Gold, Silver, to a New World…

2000 – Pokémon Card Game Tropical Mega Battle

The first international exchange tournament in the history of the Pokémon Card Game. It was held at a hotel in Hawaii, and elementary school students from Japan and the United States participated. In the courtyard where all the participating players gathered, they couldn't wait for the tournament to start and started trading and playing spontaneously. "I was surprised and happy to see that Pok&eacusquo;te;mon cards can transcend language barriers. I want to have a Pokémon card tournament, and a serious one at that. And in the future, I want to be able to hold a world tournament. This tournament was the realization of that fantasy." (Tsunekazu Ishihara – Aug. 24-27, 1999, Aug. 26-27, 2000)

2001 – Lightning Energy – Darkness, and to Light…

2001 – "Chee-Chai Alien" and "Pokémon Card GB2: GR Squad!"

In "Chee-Chai Alien," we created a game in which you discover aliens in the light. When you hold up a Game Boy Color with built-in infrared communication to a light or remote control, you can capture a Chailian. The game has an epic storyline where you must get rid of the dark matter on the Chailian to reclaim the dark universe. "Existence is light, and in the light, there are living things. This discovery is one of our themes." (Hirokazu Tanaka – Feb. 27, 2001)

"Pokémon Card GB2: The GR Squad! In "Pokémon Card GB2", twice as many cards as in the previous game were introduced, so that players can enjoy more advanced deck editing and battles. (March 3, 2001)

2002 – Crystal Energy – Wind from the Sea

2002 – Pokémon Card e-Series

The "Card e Reader," a peripheral device for the "Pokémon Card e" series Game Boy Advance, was jointly developed with Nintendo and Olympus. By reading the 2D barcodes printed on Pokémon cards, users could enjoy mini-games and movies. It was an attempt to create a type of play similar to editing a deck by distributing programs on Pokémon cards. A representative example is the action game "ACTION Q," which is played by creating a map, and in Pokémon card game play, "hidden moves," in which the effect of a move changes randomly, were realized. "The hardest part was the durability test, where we tested from morning to night until the card became unreadable." (Tadashi Anami – Dec. 1, 2001)

2003 – Fighting Energy – Magma vs. Aqua: 2 Ambitions

2003 – "Smooth Bemanju Crab in Love"

I was in charge of the video production for the song "Smooth Bemanju Crab in Love" on the Japan Broadcasting Corporation's TV show "Minna No Uta" which translates to "Songs For Everyone." I used a variety of drawing methods including 2D animation, clay animation, and 3D Computer Graphics. The lyrics were written by Chiyoko Mori, the music by Hirokazu Tanaka, and the song was sung by Imakuni?. "I was creating it like a student. NHK was interested in the freedom of my spirit, which led to my later works." (Hirokazu Tanaka) (Aug. 2003)

"Pokémon Channel – Live with Pikachu!!"

In "Pokémon Channel – Live with Pikachu!", we created a game where you can watch the TV program "Pokémon Channel" on the Nintendo 64 with Pikachu. There are more than 10 different programs, including quizzes and news. (July 18, 2003)

2004 – Charmeleon – Charizard Random Constructed Starter Deck

2004 – "Pokémon Dash"

"Pokémon Dash" is a full-fledged racing game in which you slide the stylus to make Pikachu dash. The game also incorporates an element of gliding in the air by utilizing the upper and lower screens of the Nintendo DS. "I planned a racing game based on my desire to create a game that touches the screen and it was my goal to take advantage of the new features of the DS." (Muneaki Komuka – December 12, 2004)

Tonosama Frog

The frogs of Japan Broadcasting Corporation's TV show "Frogs" were first broadcast in 2004. It is an animated version of Shiriagari Kotobuki's ink drawing of a frog character. The lyrics are by Hiroaki Tsukamoto, the music is by Hirokazu Tanaka, and the song is by 2who'z. The narration is by Koji Ishizaka. (April, 2004)

2005 – Mew ex – Mirage Forest

2005 – Nonono Puzzle Chai Lian

"Nonono Puzzle Chai Lian" is a puzzle game for the Game Boy Advance that features three types of puzzles that share the same controls: "Kuru Kuru Challenge," "Kuru Kuru Walk," and "Kuru Pachi 6." The game features several amusing effects based on the world of Chit-chai Alien. "We made frame-by-frame adjustments in the pursuit of a sense of exhilaration while maintaining a balance between the silly effects. As a side note, the staff enjoyed the food that appeared in the film after shooting." (Hiroshi Igarashi – June 16, 2005)

2006 – Fighting Energy – Holon Phantom

2006 – "Pokémon Ranger"

This action RPG depicts the activities of a Pokémon Ranger who works with Pokémon to solve natural disasters and other problems faced by the area's inhabitants. If you successfully capture a Pokémon with the Nintendo DS stylus, you can make the Pokémon your friend. "We have created a unique worldview that is different from the "Pokémon" series. The idea came from wondering if it would be possible to create a story with a character other than a Pokémon trainer as the protagonist, while keeping the world of Pokémon and intact." (Hiroyuki Jinnai – March 23, 2006)

2007 – Charmander – World Champions Pack

2007 – Pokémon Card Game World Championships 2007

The Pokémon Card Game World Championship 2007 was an international tournament to determine the world's best Pokémon Card Game players. It was held at a hotel in Hawaii, and more than 900 players from a total of 28 countries participated in the event. The tournament, commonly known as the WCS, began in 2004 and has been divided into Junior, Senior, and Master age categories. "It was a memorable tournament where all operations, such as interpretation and judging during the matches, were stabilized and became the foundation for the subsequent management of the tournament." (Teach Nagashima) (2007/8/10-12)

2008 – Uxie – Cry from the Mysterious

2008 – Pokemon Ranger Batonnage – Walking to Understand Life Rhythms DS

This is a sequel to "Pokémon Ranger Batonnage – Walking to Understand Life Rhythms DS," and "Pokémon Ranger." "I designed a system in which the protagonists' abilities improve as they complete quests, and a challenging facility called 'Capture Arena.' The subtitle of the game, " Batonnage," comes from the image of going around in circles and is based on the wine term "batonage." It was the brainchild of Ishihara-san." (Katsuyoshi Irie – March 20, 2008)

In "Walking to Understand Life Rhythm DS," the attached life rhythm meter measures the number of steps taken every minute. It also includes a number of games that make walking more fun. This is the first time I've ever used it." (Nov. 1, 2008)

2009 – Lightning Energy – HeartGold & SoulSilver

2009 – "Poke Park Wii: Pikachu's Big Adventure"

"Poke Park Wii: Pikachu's Big Adventure" is an action game in which you control Pikachu. "We have developed a vast field full of Pokémon and more than 10 competitive attractions. The target age group for the game was kindergarten-aged children, and the game was thoroughly designed for young children. We purposely avoided gameplay and challenging elements, and focused on primitive sensations and emotions." (Dec. 5, 2009)

"Ranzen! Pokémon Scramble" and "Brawl! Pokémon Scramble"

"Ranzen! Pokémon Scramble" and "Brawl! Pokémon Scramble" are action games where you can enjoy the exhilaration of kicking enemy Pokémon around with simple controls. Pokémon Scramble" was released as WiiWare for download and purchase. (June 16, 2009)

2010 – Fighting Energy – Beginning Set – Snivy Half Deck

2010 – The Pokémon Ranger: Trails of Light

The Pokémon Ranger: Trails of Light further enhances the system perfected in the previous \ games in the Pokémon Ranger series. New elements include aerial movement, battles, and a stylus that support capture. "We also developed a "Communication Cooperation Mission" that allows up to four players to play together via DS wireless communication. In response to the demand for capturing with friends, we designed a game that features strong Pokémon that can never be defeated by one person, and that can be captured using a variety of techniques." (Katsuyoshi Irie) (Mar. 6, 2010)

2011 – Mewtwo EX – Psycho Drive

2011 – "Poké Park 2: Beyond the World" and "Pokémon Battle Chess BW Version"

In "Poké Park 2: Beyond the World" the number of main characters was increased to four: Pikachu, Turtwig, Oshawott, and Snivy. "We made it so that everyone can choose the Pokémon they want to control. I'm going to make sure everyone can use all four as soon as possible. To express the meaning of switching Pokémon. This was a tough adjustment." (Masamichi Anamo – 2011/11/12)

"Pokémon Battle Chess BW Version" is a board game that combines the rules of chess with the world of Pokémon. We devised a battle that incorporates plenty of reversal elements. (Dec. 26, 2011)

2012 – Blend Energy GFPD – Dragon Blast

2012 – "Pokédex 3D Pro" and "Pokémon AR Searcher"

"Pokédex 3D Pro" was developed as a database that allows you to view Pokémon and their official information on your Nintendo 3DS. You can view high quality 3D Computer Graphics of Pokémon from any angle you like. "I created the models and motions for over 600 Pokémon from scratch, with the goal of maximizing the 3DS's drawing capabilities." (Junko Ujiie – July 14, 2012)

"Pokémon AR Searcher is a shooting game that uses the camera and gyroscope of the Nintendo 3DS. Players search for Pokémon that appear in real space and shoot them to capture them." (Ku – June 23, 2012)

2013 – Double Colorless Energy – Collection Y

2013 – "Pokémon Scramble U"

In "Pokémon Scramble U", we planned to use NFC for the first time on Wii U. When you hold the "Pokémon Scramble U NFC Figure" over the Wii U GamePad, Pokémon that you can train will appear. If you hold an ordinary IC card over the Wii U GamePad, a Pokémon that can be trained will appear. "We had to finalize the data to be burned into the NFC figures when the game specifications were still being finalized. So, I continued to design the game saying, 'is that OK?'" (Muneaki Ogie – April 24, 2013)

2014 – Lightning Energy – XY & XY BREAK Promos

2014 – "aDanza"

"aDanza" is a music player application in which strange characters such as alpacas and pandas dance around. "The impetus for its development was a 3D Pokémon dance that we created as an experiment. I had a good feeling that it would be interesting, so I completed it as a work using original characters. It became a hit among high school students, with 1.35 million downloads. Young people have a high capacity for discovery. They noticed the small changes in the dance motions and found them interesting." (Hirokazu Tanaka – July 18, 2014)

2015 – M Mewtwo EX – Red Flash

2015 – "Dancing? Pokémon Band"

"Dancing? Pokémon Band" is Pokémon's first rhythm/dancing game. It was released for free as part of the campaign for the short film "Pikachu and the Pokémon Music Box." When you tap the button in time with the falling notes, you can hear the sounds of different Pokémon. The mechanism of the Pokémon dancing at super high speed is based on our experience in developing "aDanza." (Kota Okamoto – June 30, 2015)

"Minna No Pokémon Scramble"

"In 'Minna no Pokémon Scramble,' the first in the series, item charges were implemented. We devised a system that allows players to play the game at full specs once they've reached the equivalent of a single software copy." (Muneaki Kogie – April 8, 2015)

2016 – Professor Oak's Hint – Expansion Pack 20th Anniversary

2016 – "Detective Pikachu: Birth of a New Duo" and "Pokémon GO"

"Detective Pikachu: Birth of a New Duo" was the first Pokémon adventure game. It shattered stereotypes and presented a new image of Pokémon. "Pikachu, who calls himself a great detective, speaks repulsively in human language. I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea." (Hiroyuki Jinnai Feb. 3, 2016) The company provides 3D models of Pokémon and avatar costumes for Pokémon GO. We used soft colors for the Pokémon and shadows to make them look natural when combined with real space in AR mode. (Junko Ujiie – July 22, 2016)

2017 – Tapu Lele GX – Alolan Moonlight

2017 – Established the Pokémon CG Studio for Pokémon GX

Pokémon GX, created by Pokémon CG Studio, is a mechanism created for the Pokémon Card Game Sun & Moon series. It was inspired by the Z move in Pokémon Sun & Moon. Each Pokémon has its own GX move, and we adjusted it to create a high level of tactics depending on the Pokémon used and the timing. "In order to improve the quality and quantity of Pokémon 3D production, we created the Pokémon CG Studio. We wanted to be a team that supports the expansion and quality of the Pokémon world, so we created a studio bearing the name Pokémon." (Junko Ujiie – June 26, 2017)

2018 – Pikachu & Zekrom GX – Tag Bolt

2018 – "Great Detective Pikachu"

"Great Detective Pikachu" was developed as a complete version including "Detective Pikachu: Birth of a New Duo." If you have save data from "Detective Pikachu: Birth of a New Duo", you can start from where you left off. A help mode was also implemented to show the next action to be taken. "The story of solving the "R Case" caused by the antagonist Roger is the basis for the Hollywood movie "Detective Pikachu" to be released in 2019. As the author of "Detective Pikachu," I will be involved in the production of the movie's scenario until the end." (Hiroyuki Jinnai – March 23, 2018)

2019 – Aurora Energy – Shield

2019 – Detective Pikachu: The Movie

The movie "Detective Pikachu" is the first live-action Pokémon movie to be released worldwide. "Since 2016, there has been a surge of offers from Hollywood to make Pokémon movies. This movie was one of them that actually came to fruition. "I had planned to make "Detective Pikachu" as a game until the end, but Jinnai's story idea was so good that I decided to use it all in the movie. He asked me, 'Then what should I do about the game?' I said, 'We'll think about that later'" (laughs). (Tsunekazu Ishihara - May 10, 2019)

2020 – Marnie – Shiny Star V

2020 – Creatures Inc. 25th Anniversary

"Creatures, Inc. celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2020. The anniversary is a festival. One of the original meanings of a festival is to become nothing and be reborn. People live by this repetition. Please lose sight of yourself. This is the message I give to our employees every anniversary." (Hirokazu Tanaka)

In the same year, we merged with Umbrella Co. and took over its rights and obligations. Umbrella's creators are now participating in game development as employees of Creatures. (Nov. 8, 2020)

2021 – Rapid Strike Urshifu V – Rapid Strike Master

2021 – Pokémon Card Game 25th Anniversary

In October 2021, the Pokémon Card Game celebrated its 25th anniversary. Looking back, it has been 25 years since the number of people playing the game increased. I'm simply happy that the age range of the players has expanded and the number of countries and regions where the game is sold has increased. The Pokémon Card Game was created with the support of many different people. I'm filled with gratitude right now. (Yuji Kitano)

The Company History Deck was developed to represent the 25 years of the Pokémon Card Game and all the employees worked together to create it based on the concept of using cards that represent each year to enjoy playing against each other. (Oct. 20, 2021)

2021 – PokéBall

2022 – Pokémon Card Game 25th Creatures Special Interview with Hirokazu Tanaka, President and CEO, Creatures Co., Ltd., and Tsunekazu Ishihara, Chairman of the Board, Creatures Co., Ltd.

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Pokémon Card Game, Tsunekazu Ishihara and Hirokazu Tanaka held a special interview. A wide range of topics were covered, from the secret story of Creatures' birth to messages for the future.

2021 – Switch

Special Interview – Tsunekazu Ishihara × Hirokazu Tanaka

Why did you establish Creatures, Mr. Ishihara?

Ishihara: I founded Creatures in 1995 with the support of Nintendo, because I wanted to do something even more interesting with the staff who developed "MOTHER 2: GIG's Counterattack" (Nintendo/Super Nintendo Entertainment System, 1994), which I produced. With the support of Nintendo, we established Creatures in 1995. We rented one floor of the Nintendo Kanda Building in Kanda-Sudacho, and that was our start.

Why did you invite Mr. Tanaka to be the president?

Tanaka: The main reason was that Mr. Ishihara established Pokémon Inc. and became the president of the company.

Ishihara: When I thought about who I would entrust Creatures to, Mr. Tanaka was the first person who came to mind. He has a sense of mischievousness and thinks differently and therefore is someone who can give me answers that I haven't thought of.

Tanaka: I was called into the president's office and asked by Mr. Ishihara, "Mr. Tanaka, you're the president. I had no idea what to expect. I had no idea what to expect, so I said, "I need to buy a suit.... I had to buy a suit... I had to wear leather shoes..." (laughs) I had consulted with Mr. Ishihara at an Izakaya in Kanda a long time ago. At that time, I had no idea that I would become the president of the company, but I had a strange experience at the counter where I unconsciously and quietly made a decision about my future, although I did not know what it was.

2021 – History's Gate

Special Interview – Tsunekazu Ishihara × Hirokazu Tanaka

What do you want to tell your employees in the field of manufacturing?

Tanaka: What I want to tell everyone [to ask themselves] is what kind of value am I offering to the company. Is the value you create useful to others? I want you to be aware of these things. I think this can be said for any job.

Ishihara: What I say to producers is to ask whether they have the right perspective on the project as a whole, and whether the project will really work. In the creative field, there is inevitably a situation where everyone is convinced that things are going well. When I have doubts, I try to point them out as soon as I can. It's the people who determine the success or failure of a project, right? Success or failure depends on whether you have been looking at people correctly or incorrectly.

The full text of the special dialogue is available online for a limited time only! Access the secret page here: creatures.co.jp/history_special_interview.

An Awesome Display

Translated from the Inside Top Cover

The year 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the birth of the Pokémon Card Game. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of you for your continued support. We would like to send you two small commemorative gifts. The first item is a blue pouch in our company's image color, dyed by a traditional indigo-dyeing craftsman with our energy mark and other information. The second item is a "Pokémon card-shaped company history," which was made at the halfway point of our company's 26th anniversary. The front side is a valuable vintage Pokémon card, but the back side is a bit of company history for that year! If you put the cards in the deck sleeves included in the package, you can play it as a 30-card deck. We look forward to your continued patronage of the Pokémon Card Game.

Tsunekazu Ishihara, Chairman and Representative Director, Creatures Inc.