Pikachu′s Global Adventure

“Pikachu’s Global Adventure is a compelling volume, as each essay offers new insights with few weak links or needless repetition.” - Jason Mittell , Popular Communication

“A valuable contribution to debates about the guiding forces and diverse effects of global media cultures. . . . The fascinating Pikachu’s Global Adventure extends the study of contemporary Japan by taking seriously transnational media in reconfiguring the boundaries of ‘Japanese culture.’” - Ian Condry , Journal of Asian Studies

"Pikachu's Global Adventure is of interest to scholars in the social sciences who will see in the empirical studies solid observations on the meanings and uses of play. . . ." - Brian C. Phelan, Enterprise & Society

"[P]rovides a refreshing look at issues of international communication and media and children. . . [and] a fascinating look into the growing international embrace of Japanese popular culture. . . . The essays provide a nuanced look at the intersection of globalization and children's media, which has been lacking to date in the field of media studies." - Patricia A. Curtin, Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly

"All of the essays present well-researched and interesting perspectives on different areas of study concerning Pokémon. . . . All the essays in the book are interesting and engaging. . . ." - Dana Gallwey , M/C Reviews

"The contributors to this volume provide thoughtful explanations to account for the popularity of Pokémon among children in Japan, America, Israel, and France. Although these essays focus on Pokémon, many of the insights found in this book are also applicable to other examples of children's popular culture that have Japanese origins." - Mark I. West , Children's Literature Association Quarterly

"This is a well structured and edited book that will appeal to all those who engage with children's cultural activities inside and outside of schools. The international authors are all experts in the fields and contribute scholarly and thought-provoking work as they unpick the world of Pokemon phenomenon." - Andrew Lambirth, British Journal of Educational Studies

“I took a peek at the table of contents for Pikachu’s Global Adventure, then read a little of the introduction, and the next thing I knew I was deep, deep in the book and didn’t want to stop. The writing was that engaging, the information and arguments that compelling.” - Henry Jenkins, coeditor of Hop on Pop: The Politics and Pleasures of Popular Culture

“The contributors to this volume are the smartest scholars working today in the areas of global media and children’s media. This book tells an entertaining and surprising tale of how the little Japanese Pokémon transformed children’s culture and global media economics. The changes that Pikachu wrought are only the beginning of fascinating new trends in role-playing games, video games, cartoons, and toys and the accelerated spread of such fads via the Internet.”
  - Ellen Seiter, author of Sold Separately: Children and Parents in Consumer Culture