The history of the first Pokémon cards

By Jessie Schreuders
2 min read

When we think of the first official Pokémon cards , we often immediately think of the Base Set from 1996. But did you know that before the official Pokémon cards of the Base Set, there was another series of cards? These cards, the Bandai Carddass, were not released by Pokémon itself, but by the Japanese company Bandai. Let's dive into the history of these early cards and what they meant for the world of Pokémon.

The first Pokémon cards: The Bandai Carddass

Before the official Pokémon cards of the Base Set were introduced by The Pokémon Company, the Japanese company Bandai released a series of cards called Bandai Carddass. These cards were released in September 1996 in Japan. What made these cards so unique was that they were not sold through regular channels, but through vending machines. They were originally intended as collectibles, not for playing the TCG.

The Bandai Carddass cards were sold in arcade machines and card machines, and they featured images of the popular Pokémon from the anime. The cards were therefore the first introduction for many fans to Pokémon in card format. What is striking is that these cards, unlike the later Pokémon TCG cards, were mainly focused on collecting and not so much on strategic play. They did not contain real play elements as we know them today, but rather images of the Pokémon themselves.

bandai carddass pokemon cards

The First Official Pokémon Cards: The Base Set

The real breakthrough for Pokémon cards, however, came with the Base Set , released in 1999 in the US, and in 1996 in Japan. The cards from this set became the basis for the Pokémon Trading Card Game, and icons such as Charizard , Blastoise, and Venusaur were introduced as playable cards in the TCG. These cards, which were distributed worldwide, are still sought after by collectors and have legendary status.

base set pokemon cards

Where are Pokémon cards made?

As you know, Pokémon cards are produced worldwide. However, the main factory for making the cards is located in Japan. The cards are mainly printed by Creatures Inc., the company responsible for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Creatures Inc. works with several other partners to distribute the cards worldwide.

The Bandai Carddass cards, however, were produced in Japan by Bandai and, unlike the later official Pokémon cards, were more collectibles than playing cards.