Had an anime series that ran for 1 or 2 seasons, maybe a handful of merch, and then was just quietly forgotten by the general public.
Considered cult classics by hardcore gamers, that decades later make hours-long video essays with titles like “Pokémon: A Forgotten Classic” and “Why Didn’t Pokémon Take Off?”.
A small but dedicated fanbase that regularly discuss what a “Pokémon 2” could’ve looked like had there been a sequel.
Isn’t it a property that’s bigger than Disney now?
Single largest franchise by merchandise sales in the world. I don’t think it is bigger than Disney in total, but bigger than any individual Disney property.