When Pokémon exploded onto American television screens in 1998, it quickly became one of the most influential anime series ever localized. Yet surprisingly, the franchise nearly never made it overseas. Before 4Kids Entertainment took the gamble, another major distributor dismissed Pokémon outright, believing it would never appeal to American viewers. The reason was becuase they thought it was simply too cute.

Looking back, the idea seems absurd given Pokémon’s immense cultural and financial impact. With billions in yearly revenue, the franchise has proven its staying power across generations. But at the time, anime was still considered niche in the West, and executives often underestimated what kinds of Japanese shows would connect with kids. That climate nearly kept Pikachu, As

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