>>58929707Both original games and anime were made in Japan. February 1996 and April 1997.
Japanese Blue, the base of Red and Blue was released at 1997 too.
Yellow at September 1998, in-between USA releases.
Gold and Silver were already in the making by that date.
If you wanna talk exclusivity by western released then it was to brain marketing idea to rush up the release of first episodes of the anime, before the game, since ameritards kid wouldn't enjoy a game without guns and lightsabers without previous propaganda. At least not as much and in time of crazy Christmas sales
