It all started humbly: a pair of creature-collecting RPGs, released to little fanfare.

Looking back, it's quaint to think Pokémon Red and Green evolved into what the series is today. On

Feb. 27

, Pokémon turns 30.

Beyond the games, anime, and trading cards that defined its early days, Pokémon now encompasses blockbuster films, major storefronts, bazillion-player mobile games, even theme parks. Pokémon is on track to catch 'em all — "all," in this case, referring to the hearts, minds, and wallets of every human on Earth.