>>47968931The anime would have done fine for what it was originally meant to be, but there's no chance in hell Pokemania would EVER take off the way it did without Pikachu taking the lead.
Pokemon 2 would be a completely different game from GS that might not even leave Japan unless Red and Blue did good enough overseas to warrant it, the only movies would probably be M01 and maybe M02 depending on if anyone saw merit in Lugia, the Johto anime would optimistically be a lot better off without executive meddling or any particularly damning sterilization, and the series would have likely either wrapped up with Gen 2's end, or kept going in a far more humble, soulful, effort-required state, at least until mobile gaming becomes a thing.
