The Japanese company Casio, in collaboration with the Pokémon brand, has once again introduced a special G-Shock watch model to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the first Pokémon video game, released in 1996 for the Nintendo Game Boy portable console.
This vibrant and well-thought-out collaboration is embodied in the Casio G-Shock GA-110PKM model, based on the popular G-Shock GA-110 series. Although the watch is generally dedicated to the anniversary of the legendary phenomenon in the world of collecting and gaming - Pokémon, the GA-110PKM model reflects several key themes from the Pokémon universe.
Historical Motifs and Dial Design
The first theme is the celebration of the first Pokémon video games from 1996. At that time, Nintendo released two versions of the game - red and green, which were separate but interconnected projects for the Game Boy. These red and green colors are prominently highlighted on the watch dial. Additionally, blue elements are present, referring to the third version - Pokémon Blue, which was released shortly after.
Iconic Pokémon Universe Symbols in Design
It is impossible to imagine a Pokémon-related product without the iconic red and white Poké Ball and, of course, the yellow Pikachu - the most popular character in the game. The shape of the hand on the sub-dial is made in the form of Pikachu, and the dial itself is styled like a Poké Ball. Moreover, in honor of Pokémon's 30th anniversary, 30 different characters from the universe are placed on the case and strap of the watch. The semi-transparent strap is adorned with numerous images, giving the model an original and attractive appearance. The design somewhat resembles Casio's "G-Shock Universe" series. Overall, the combination of Pokémon elements, vibrant colors, and classic G-Shock style makes these watches one of Casio's most interesting and successful collaborations this year. The recent Casio G-Shock Coca-Cola model, which I also reviewed on WatchTested, achieved similar success. This indicates that Casio regularly releases popular and high-quality collaborations.
Personal Memory of Pokémon and Game World Evolution
In the 1990s, as a child playing video games, I remember how Pokémon instantly became popular. This coincided with an important commercial period for Casio in Japan and the USA, but the first Casio Pokémon watches appeared only many years later. Personally, I was not a big fan of Pokémon, as by the time it appeared, I was already transitioning to more complex and deeper games with more mature artistic styling. Pokémon offered cute and friendly characters and an accessible approach to traditional Japanese role-playing games. The innovative idea was that the player does not fight alone but acts as a trainer managing battle pets. The word Pokémon comes from "Pocket Monster" - "pocket monster", which fit well into the concept of collectible card games. From my memory, the Pokémon card game appeared after the video game and helped turn the franchise into a large-scale empire of toys, collectibles, and merchandise.
Origins of the Pokémon Idea: Influence of Children's Insect Games
The creator of Pokémon was apparently inspired by children's insect games. From my information, he caught insects, placed them in a container, and observed their interactions with other small creatures, creating miniature "battle arenas". Such a childhood fantasy about battles of small monsters helps to better understand the origin of Pokémon. Although most Pokémon characters look too cute to be taken as serious fighters, it is interesting to know where all this "training Pikachu" begins.
Technical Specifications of Casio G-Shock GA-110
The G-Shock GA-110 model is one of Casio's basic and simple platforms often used for collaborations. It weighs only 72 grams but has a large case: width 51.2 mm, thickness 16.9 mm, and lug-to-lug distance - 55 mm. The dial is protected by mineral glass, and the case is made of semi-transparent matte white resin with a pleasant velvet-like texture. The watch is water-resistant up to 200 meters. The model is equipped with a quartz movement with an analog-digital display and a battery life of about two years. Features include time, stopwatch, full calendar, world time, countdown timers, and several alarms. For easy reading in the dark, there is an LED backlight. Personally, I like this mechanism, but I think the watch would be even more interesting with a solar battery or Casio's Bluetooth module.
Collaboration Features and Price
As someone who often reviews Casio G-Shock collaborative models, I can note that the company has shown clear attention to detail and invested additional resources in this model. The watch case is styled like a Poké Ball, and the packaging is decorated with a special illustration featuring 30 Pokémon characters that are also present on the watch. In Japanese consumer culture, Pokémon holds a special place, making this model popular among fans of both Casio and Pokémon. The retail price of the Casio G-Shock x Pokémon 30th Anniversary GA110PKM-7A is 270 USD.