Pokémon is the newest craze. Created by Nintendo, it has spawned an anime cartoon series, a movie, Game Boy and Nintendo 64 games, toys, stuffed animals, card game, school supplies, toothpaste, shampoos, etc! Pokémon are little animals with special abilities. Humans, when they reach the age of ten, are allowed to train Pokémon and set out on a quest to become Pokémon masters. In order to become Pokémon masters, the trainers must raise Pokémon and have them battle other Pokémon. Battles may occur with Pokémon in the wild or with other trainers. Trainers start out with one Pokémon and can capture wild Pokémon by weakening it and throwing a Pokeball at it. If it is a successful capture, the Pokémon will be contained in the Pokeball. The captured Pokémon may then be used by the trainer to battle. A trainer may not, however, capture another trainer's Pokémon.
If a trainer decides to follow the path to the Pokémon League, in which they can earn the title Pokémon Master, they must battle Gym Leaders. A gym is where a trainer may earn a badge by defeating the leader of that particular gym. There are eight gyms, so a trainer must earn all eight badges to enter the Pokémon League. After earning all eight badges, the trainer may then compete in the Pokémon League.