Pokémon in Australia

The Pokémon franchise first reached in late 1998 with the release of and the airing of the .
==Pokémon video games==
All Pokémon games that have been released in 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 , , 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 ).
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 where the slot machines were replaced with Voltorb Flip.Pokémon Crystal disassembly FAQsThe Cutting Room Floor (breakdown of changes)
===Event Pokémon===
Until Generation IV, event Pokémon were sporadically released in Australia. A majority of the events since 1999 were organized by , including the Poké Tour in 1999 where was distributed, and the 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 , , or 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 that would allow players to obtain , , and in for those who don't own any of the Game Boy Advance Pokémon games, and the event that would allow players to battle Giovanni and obtain in .
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 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 animation==
In Australia, the Pokémon animated series is available on Netflix.
===Network Ten===
 is a television network which aired the Pokémon animated series in Australia.
The Pokémon animated series was originally aired during its programming block called on Channel Ten before its successor, Toasted TV. For a short time during the peak of Pokémon's popularity in Australia, some animated series 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, . During this switch, Pokémon: Black & White changed from airing once per week to every day of the week, except for Saturdays.
====Toasted TV====
 is an Australian programming block broadcast on the free-to-air station (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 animated series 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, , Sean Kennedy, Palmer Marchese, , and .
Along with showing the animated series, Toasted TV also aired the Australian 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 animated series, Toasted TV frequently runs events such as many Pokémon focused competitions and promotion of the Pokémon games.
Toasted TV was originally filmed at , then moved to in 2007. Episodes were also occasionally filmed at and at the . After the 2011 road trip, Toasted TV was filmed at . 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 2020https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2020/07/13/exclusive-toasted-tv-axed with all Pokémon animated series and movie airings being transferred to Channel 9Go!.
===Channel 9Go!===
 also airs the Pokémon animated series 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.https://tvtonight.com.au/2024/02/9go-celebrates-world-pokemon-day.html
It is currently airing repeats of Indigo League, Black & White and Pokémon Journeys.
===Disney Channel===
 began airing the series with Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon on January 7, 2019. used to air the series from July 2, 2018, but the channel was shut down on January 6, 2019.
===Australian Broadcasting Corporation===
The (also known as the ABC) is Australia's primary national broadcaster, which was founded on July 1, 1932. The ABC launched their first on November 5, 1956, which remains on-air to this day.https://www.abc.net.au/about/history As of 2017, the ABC's television operations are operated under the umbrella of which consists of ABC TV/ABC HD, , , and . All six channels are available via eight television stations serving , , , , , the , and the as well as on iview. The division is also responsible for the channel, which airs across Asia-Pacific as well as the Pacific Islands.
====ABC iview====
 is the video-on-demand and catch-up TV service of the ABC, having been launched on July 28, 2008 and features content from the ABC's five linear television channels, including livestreams as well as programming exclusively acquired for iview and/or the ABC. On Feburary 7, 2025, the first 26 episodes of Season 10 were added onto the service.https://iview.abc.net.au/show/pokemon-diamond-and-pearl
====ABC Entertains====
 is a free-to-air digital television channel launched on December 4, 2009 as ABC3 (following the Countdown to 3 special on both ABC3 and ABC1), Australia's second digital channel entirely aimed at children, after Nine's Go! television channel which launched five months prior.ABC to launch dedicated kids’ channel - The Hollywood Reporter The channel was intially aimed at school-aged children. On August 19, 2016, the ABC announced plans to rebrand ABC3 into ABC ME as part of the channel's expansion into mobile-based platforms which took effect the following month.ABC3 rebrands to ABC ME - Kidscreen On May 8, 2024, the ABC announced plans to rebrand its digital television channels. As part of this rebrand, ABC ME would become ABC Entertains and include programming aimed at adults with programs for school-aged children being shown during the morning hours.Introducing ABC Family and ABC Entertains - ABC Media Centre The changes took effect the following month.
ABC Entertains began airing the series with Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl on February 10, 2025.
===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 ).
After a long hiatus from cinema screening, 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,https://www.beyond.com.au/corporate-nbsp-/news/2020/08/02/asx-announcement---beyond-international-exits-home-entertainment-business all Pokémon movie home media releases were transferred to Shock Entertainment.
Shock Records itself would enter voluntary administration in February 2023https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2023/02/09/226530/five-mile-owner-regency-media-appoints-administrators/, 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 . 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 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).http://www.croftminster.com.au/categories/trading-cards-collectibles/pokemon
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.Australia's first Pokemon world champ - ABC Ballarat - Australian Broadcasting Corporation:
==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).Pokémon 10th Anniversary - Journey Across OZ Tour 2006 Bulbagarden webmaster Archaic worked at the Brisbane stops on this tour.
Date 	Location
September 16, 2006	, Chadstone Shopping Centre
September 17, 2006	, Westfield Fountain Gate
September 30, 2006	, Westfield Chatswood
October 1, 2006 	, Westfield Burwood
October 7, 2006 	, Indooroopilly Shopping Centre
October 8, 2006 	, Logan Hyperdome
October 14, 2006 	, Centro Galleria
In 2007, Nintendo Australia hosted the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Connection Tour to celebrate the release of . During the tour, Nintendo DS users who owned 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.Pokémon Diamond and Pearl - Connection Tour 2007
Date 	Location
June 30-July 1, 2007	, Westfield Fountain Gate, Centre Court
July 2–3, 2007 	, Westfield Southland, Centre Court
July 6–7, 2007 	, Westfield Carindale, Centre Court
July 8, 2007 	, Westfield Garden City, Centre Court
July 10–11, 2007 	, Westfield Marion, Centre Court
July 12–13, 2007 	, Westfield Hurstville, Centre Court
July 14–15, 2007 	, Westfield Chatswood, Centre Court
July 20–21, 2007 	, Westfield Carousel, Centre Court
On March 29, 2011, Nintendo Australia announced that more than 77,000 copies of 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. made over 45,000 sales in its first week.POKÉMON BLACK VERSION AND POKÉMON WHITE VERSION BIGGEST EVER SELLING WEEK ONE RELEASE
In April and May 2011, after a month from the release of , 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 TRAINERS UNITE IN SYDNEY FOR BATTLE COMPETITION
===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, , , , , and competed using and . At the same time, Pokémon Park was opened for the general public where they had the chance to play 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.
==External links==
* The official Australia Pokémon website (single page)
==References==
==Related articles==
* List of English language Pokémon movie home video releases (Region 4)
ja:オーストラリアにおけるポケモン