The popular YouTube channel behind fan-made Pokemon documentaries, PokeNational, is facing permanent deletion after Nintendo issued multiple copyright strikes. Nintendo and The Pokemon Company are known not to hold back when it comes to copyright infringement, to the point of filing million-dollar lawsuits. However, many Pokemon players deem the companies’ practices to be controversial when they affect fan creations.
After 30 years since the first Pokemon Red and Green games, the franchise has gathered a large community. Players frequently share their fan creations to express their love for the saga while showcasing their abilities. YouTube channel PokeNational shared high-quality Pokemon fan animations in a nature documentary style. The channel’s PokeNational Geographic series gained popularity for creatively imagining how Pokemon would behave in real life. However, PokeNational has likely come to an end due to accusations of copyright infringement.
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Why Nintendo Copyright Struck PokeNational YouTube Channel
Elious, the creator of the PokeNational Geographic YouTube channel, revealed that Nintendo had copyright struck several of his Pokemon animations, and the channel would likely be deleted. In an April 26 YouTube video titled “I have 7 days,” Elious explained that he received the strikes in batches overnight, and the platform had already removed around 20 videos in the span of 12 hours. “It all seems legitimate,” said the creator. “From the actual, real Nintendo of America.” Elious quoted Nintendo of America’s reasoning for striking PokeNational, sharing that it’s tied to using content from Pokemon video games, “including audiovisual works, characters, and imagery.” However, the animator defended that he doesn’t use any video game content, except for small audio extracts of Pokemon sounds, but this usage should “fall under fair use.” Beyond this, nearly all animated content in his videos is original.
“I can’t fight this,” continued the PokeNational creator. “I don’t know how to save the channel, I don’t know if I can.” Elious said that his channel already had four strikes from YouTube. According to the platform’s copyright policy, a channel can face a permanent ban after three strikes in 90 days. Moreover, PokeNational has already received a seven-day warning of deletion. At the time of writing, the channel can no longer be accessed on YouTube. “PokeNational is dead,” concluded Elious. He will continue to share original animations on his other channel, EliousEntertainmentYT, but will never create Pokemon content again. The animator added that he won’t oppose Nintendo of America’s strikes, as the legal battle would be too hard. Surely, Nintendo is known for its strict consequences for trademark violations. In 2024, for example, The Pokemon Company won a $15 million lawsuit for copyright infringement.
Elious acknowledged that his PokeNational channel opened many doors for him. It allowed him to show his animation skills and helped him earn internships and jobs. Regardless, the creator expressed concern about other popular Pokemon fan channels like Pokemon Conservationist potentially meeting the same fate. Nintendo has been criticized in the past for being too ruthless regarding copyright infringement. For instance, Nintendo’s lawsuit against Palworld was deemed “a clear case of bullying” by industry experts.
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Nintendo and The Pokemon Company’s drastic copyright sanctions can sometimes affect fan merch artists and creators. Despite this, Pokemon players will likely continue to share fan art in different forms of media. With the 2027 release of Pokemon Winds and Waves, even more fan creations are bound to exist in the years to come.
