>>12607280Pokemon isn't a grimdark fantasy universe. It's a universe full of disgustingly cute fantasy animals.
Oh, and they've gotten progressively more disgustingly cute with each generation. Non-evolved Pokemon back in the first gen weren't anywhere near the kind of cutesy-wootsy nonsense we have in Black/White.
Point is, Pokemon is in the same pool as all other kawaii stuff. Which means that while chlidren are a given in terms of target demographics, the "adult children" that Japan is so full of are also a primary target demographic.