Mischievous characters cause headaches all round
A horde of fluffy, mischievous pocket monsters - better known as Pokemons - is following hot on the heels of Snoopy, Hello Kitty and Tamagochi.
Half the children in Japan follow every episode of the Pokemon cartoons.
Thousands of kilometres away, American children are also glued to the same Pokemon scenes.
The first Pokemon was a Nintendo game character in 1995.
There are now 151 of the creatures, each with its own personality, creating endless potential for merchandising, from lollipops and key chains to giant dolls and plastic models.
Just a quick look on the Internet will reveal more than 1,000 Web sites produced by Pokemon fans on subjects ranging from strategies to win the computer game to exchanging collectibles.
The children's cartoon first caught the world's attention in December 1997, when hundreds of young Japanese TV viewers were taken to hospital suffering from seizures brought on by flashing lights from Pikachu, the most famous Pokemon character.
Children feverishly trade Pokemon cards in playgrounds in Hong Kong and across the world.
The cards, based on the Nintendo video game, depict pocket monsters that change into more powerful creatures during battle - some gnaw, some squirt water and some wield flames.
Card-game battles are complicated affairs that end when one monster's strength, counted in 'hit points', is depleted.
Fans also try to collect all 151 monsters through trading.
The craze began in Japan three years ago and hit the United States a few months later.
A pack of Pokemon cards costs about $45 in Hong Kong.
A rare card can be traded for several common ones and, based on this rule, players work to accumulate the most expensive and rare cards.
Last November, the feature- length film Pokemon: The First Movie further fuelled the already huge Pokemon phenomenon worldwide.
The movie has become the top box-office earner in cinemas in the US.
Pokemon card-swapping became such a nuisance that schools in the US and Hong Kong banned them. Teachers said it disrupted classes and caused playground fights. Some pupils even stole cards from others, a Hong Kong teacher said.