Pokémon in Australia

Pokémon in Australia
Flag of Australia
Language	English
Continent	Australia
Original anime airdates
EP001	1998
AG001	April 26, 2004
DP001	November 28, 2007
BW001	September 10, 2011
XY001	July 13, 2014
SM001	July 17, 2017
JN001	October 30, 2020
HZ001	February 27, 2024

The Pokémon franchise first reached Australia in late 1998 with the release of Pokémon Red and Blue and the airing of the anime.

Pokémon video games

All Pokémon games that have been released in the United States have also been released in Australia, except Hey You, Pikachu!. An English language release of Learn with Pokémon: Typing Adventure was released in Australia, despite the title never being released in North America. Prior to release dates being simultaneous worldwide, the Australian release dates tended to be some time after the American release dates, but before the European release dates. However, there were times when Australian release dates were before the American release dates (such as with Pokémon Gold and Silver, Pokémon Trading Card Game, and PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure), as well as times when Australian release dates were after the European release dates (such as with Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs, Pokémon Rumble Blast, and Pokémon Black and White).

Games that are released in Australia are inconsistent with Australian English spelling. For example, spelling variations such as color and center are not changed to colour and centre for the Australian releases.

Circa 2019-, it was documented that a variation of Pokémon Crystal Version exists for Australia with a different ROM and this was overlooked, even by ROM scene groups. This version is based on Rev A (v1.1). It made some subtle changes to Game Corner texts and an undocumented Mobile System GB coding change for Mobile Stadium, without actually removing the slot machines, unlike what became of international HeartGold and SoulSilver where the slot machines were replaced with Voltorb Flip.

By Evie ChickasaurusGL Evie

Event Pokémon

Until Generation IV, event Pokémon were sporadically released in Australia. A majority of the events since 1999 were organized by Nintendo Australia, including the Poké Tour in 1999 where Mew was distributed, and the Celebi distribution at the Pokémon Tour in 2001 which happened to be the last event to distribute any event Pokémon in Australia until 2007. From 2002-2006, no event Pokémon were distributed in Australia, including Pokémon from the Generation III era, meaning Australian players who had Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, or Pokémon Emerald were not able to obtain all the Pokémon in these games.

Since Generation IV, the introduction of Wi-Fi events has allowed Australian players access to many previously unavailable event Pokémon. However, despite Australia being one of the major countries involved with Pokémon, Australians did not get the chance to obtain certain event Pokémon, including the event Regigigas that would allow players to obtain Regirock, Regice, and Registeel in Pokémon Platinum for those who don't own any of the Game Boy Advance Pokémon games, and the event Celebi that would allow players to battle Giovanni and obtain Zorua in Pokémon Black and White.

In 2013, Australia became part of the 2013 Pokémon World Championships.

During Generation VII, a majority of the international event Pokémon, including the 2018 Legendary Pokémon event and serial code certificates, were available in Australia. However, the Australian Zeraora distribution was delayed by 6 months for unknown reasons.

With the removal of region-locked serial codes in Generation VIII, Australian players can essentially redeem any and all event Pokémon codes.

Pokémon anime

In Australia, the anime is available on Netflix.

Network Ten

Network Ten's logo

Network Ten is a television network which aired the Pokémon anime in Australia.

The Pokémon anime was originally aired Pokémon episodes during its programming block called Cheez TV on Channel Ten before its successor, Toasted TV. For a short time during the peak of Pokémon's popularity in Australia, some anime episodes, such as the first, were aired on Channel Ten as reruns during primetime slots in the late afternoon/night time. However, on 27 February 2012, Toasted TV was moved to Channel Ten's sister channel, Eleven. During this switch, Pokémon: Black & White changed from airing once per week to every day of the week, except for Saturdays.

Toasted TV

Toasted TV's logo

Toasted TV is an Australian programming block broadcast on the free-to-air station Eleven (prior to February 27, 2012, on Network Ten). It screens every day of the week from 6:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. on Saturdays, 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Sundays).

Launched on August 22, 2005, Toasted TV aired the Pokémon anime to Australian audiences beginning on April 26, 2006. It has aired Pokémon: Advanced Battle, Pokémon: Battle Frontier, Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl, Pokémon Diamond & Pearl: Battle Dimension, Pokémon Diamond & Pearl: Galactic Battles, Pokémon Diamond & Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors, Pokémon: Black & White, Pokémon Black & White: Rival Destinies, Pokémon Black & White: Adventures in Unova, Pokémon the Series: XY, Pokémon the Series: XY Kalos Quest, and Pokémon the Series: XYZ. This also includes Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters Out of the Gate!, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time & Darkness, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky - Beyond Time & Darkness, and The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon.

The show also airs other cartoons as well as prerecorded entertainment segments targeted at children. Its current hosts are Ollie McCormack and Elly Bailey. Former hosts include Jono Symons, Seamus Evans, Kellyn Morris, Sean Kennedy, Palmer Marchese, Dan Sweetman, and Pip Russell.

Along with showing the anime series, Toasted TV also aired the Australian FreeTV debut of The Rise of Darkrai on April 23, 2012. Since then, Toasted TV has continued to show the FreeTV debut of the Pokémon movies up to Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel.

Due to the popularity of Pokémon by viewers, apart from the usual showing of the anime, Toasted TV frequently runs events such as many Pokémon focused competitions and promotion of the Pokémon games.

Toasted TV was originally filmed at Warner Bros. Movie World, then moved to Sea World in 2007. Episodes were also occasionally filmed at Wet'n'Wild Water World and at the Australian Outback Spectacular. After the 2011 road trip, Toasted TV was filmed at Dreamworld. In July 2012, Toasted TV moved to a studio rather than being filmed at a theme park.

On 13 July 2020, Network 10 announced that Toasted TV has been axed and that the show would end production in August; the final episode aired on 18 September 2020 with all Pokémon anime and movie airings being transferred to Channel 9Go!.

Channel 9Go!

9Go! logo

Channel 9Go! also airs the Pokémon anime during the "Go! Kids" programming block. On July 17, 2017, Channel 9Go! aired the premiere of Sun & Moon. followed by Ultra Adventures on April 27, 2018, and Ultra Legends on August 1, 2019. The recent series, Pokémon Journeys, began airing on October 30, 2020.

Channel 9Go! aired the first 8 episodes of Pokémon Horizions continuously on Feburary 27, 2024, marking the show's Australian FreeTV debut.

It is currently airing repeats of Indigo League, Black & White and Pokémon Journeys.

Disney Channel

Disney Channel began airing the series with Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon on January 7, 2019. Disney XD used to air the series from July 2, 2018, but the channel was shut down on January 6, 2019.

Pokémon movies

Mewtwo Strikes Back, The Power of One, and Spell of the Unown: Entei were screened in cinemas (via Warner Bros./Roadshow Films); while Celebi: The Voice of the Forest and Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias were released straight to video (via Miramax Home Entertainment). In 2016, Jirachi: Wish Maker and Destiny Deoxys were released on DVD. All subsequent movies, from Lucario and the Mystery of Mew to Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel, have all been released on DVD and/or Blu-ray by Magna Pacific (now Beyond Home Entertainment).

After a long hiatus from cinema screening, Hoyts began screening Pokémon movies with a two-day limited release of Pokémon the Movie: White—Victini and Zekrom on February 18 and 19, 2012. With thanks to Hoyts, Bulbagarden was able to provide 10 free double passes to this screening. The movie was then released along with Pokémon the Movie: Black—Victini and Reshiram as separate DVDs on March 7, 2012, and a combined DVD released later on May 1, 2013. Since then, Hoyts has screened all the movies from Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem VS. The Sword of Justice to Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel in selected cinemas, with DVD releases shortly afterwards.

Pokémon Origins was released on DVD in Australia by Beyond Home Entertainment on April 28, 2014.

On August 3, 2020, due to the departure of Beyond International from the home entertainment business, all Pokémon anime movie home media releases were transferred to Shock Entertainment.

Shock Records itself would enter voluntary administration in February 2023, leaving the current rights to distribute Region 4 home media releases in the air.

Pokémon manga

Pokémon manga translated into English by Chuang Yi was distributed in Australia through Madman Entertainment. However, as of early 2014, it has been reported that Chuang Yi has entered voluntary liquidation and is ending their manga publishing business. As a consequence, Madman Entertainment have announced that they will begin distributing VIZ Media's translations of some of their titles as the stock of Chuang Yi volumes continues to be depleted.

As of 2024, Viz Media remains as Australia's main distributor for Pokémon manga, including the Pokémon Adventures series (which also includes The Art of Pokémon Adventures as well as the omnibus releases) and the Movie manga adaptations with QBD as the main retailer of Pokémon manga in Australia.

Pokémon Trading Card Game

The Pokémon Trading Card Game was very popular when it was first released in Australia. However, some schools banned this card game (along with other card games) as it was deemed to be a "classroom distraction". Despite this setback, the card game is still being sold in Australia and is currently being distributed by Banter Toys & Collectibles (previously known as Croftminster).

Unlike the Video Game Championships, Australia has always taken part in the World Championships. In 2011, Christopher Kan became the first Australian player to become the world champion in the senior division.

Pokémon merchandise

In Australia, an exclusive two-disc special version of Pokémon 3: The Ultimate Soundtrack was released which also includes the score to Pokémon the Movie 2000.

The Pokémon McDonald's Happy Meals campaigns have been available in Australia starting from 2011 to present (excluding the 2013 campaign).

Events

Nintendo Australia

In September and October 2006, Nintendo Australia hosted the Pokémon 10th Anniversary - Journey Across Oz Tour (similar to the Journey Across America tour in the United States). Bulbagarden webmaster Archaic worked at the Brisbane stops on this tour.

Date	Location
September 16, 2006	Melbourne, Chadstone Shopping Centre
September 17, 2006	Melbourne, Westfield Fountain Gate
September 30, 2006	Sydney, Westfield Chatswood
October 1, 2006	Sydney, Westfield Burwood
October 7, 2006	Brisbane, Indooroopilly Shopping Centre
October 8, 2006	Brisbane, Logan Hyperdome
October 14, 2006	Perth, Centro Galleria

In 2007, Nintendo Australia hosted the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Connection Tour to celebrate the release of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. During the tour, Nintendo DS users who owned Pokémon Diamond and Pearl got the chance to participate in the tournaments for a chance to win prizes, including a limited edition Nintendo DS Lite which had the "Nintendo DS Connection Tour '07 Champion" engraving for the winners at each tournament. The very first event was held on June 30, 2007, exactly nine days since the release of the games in Australia.

Date	Location
June 30-July 1, 2007	Victoria, Westfield Fountain Gate, Centre Court
July 2–3, 2007	Victoria, Westfield Southland, Centre Court
July 6–7, 2007	Queensland, Westfield Carindale, Centre Court
July 8, 2007	Queensland, Westfield Garden City, Centre Court
July 10–11, 2007	South Australia, Westfield Marion, Centre Court
July 12–13, 2007	New South Wales, Westfield Hurstville, Centre Court
July 14–15, 2007	New South Wales, Westfield Chatswood, Centre Court
July 20–21, 2007	Western Australia, Westfield Carousel, Centre Court

On March 29, 2011, Nintendo Australia announced that more than 77,000 copies of Pokémon Black and White game were sold on its first week of release. As a result, this was the biggest selling first week release of any Nintendo game in Australia. Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver made over 45,000 sales in its first week.

In April and May 2011, after a month from the release of Pokémon Black and White, Nintendo Australia held the Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version Battle Competition tournaments at Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. The winner at each location won a Nintendo 3DS.

Pokémon World Championship

In 2000, Sydney hosted the first ever Pokémon World Championship during the 2000 Summer Olympics which were also held there. It was held at the University of Sydney where players from Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States competed using Pokémon Red and Blue and Pokémon Yellow. At the same time, Pokémon Park was opened for the general public where they had the chance to play Pokémon Gold and Silver for the first time, watch the latest Pokémon episodes and see live performances.

Between 2009 and 2012, Australia was not represented at the Video Game Championships, despite its inclusion in the World Championships. However, since the 2013 World Championships Australia has been represented, being acknowledged in the VGC's opening presentation prior the events starting.

Other

Six performances over five dates for Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions have been played for Australia in 2015 — one concert in Melbourne on November 13, one concert in Perth on November 15, one concert in Adelaide on November 17, and three concerts in Sydney on November 20 and 21. The Perth performance was cancelled for unknown reasons.

See also

• List of English language Pokémon movie home video releases (Region 4)

External links

• The official Australia Pokémon website (single page)

References

This article is part of Project Globe, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon franchise around the world.