Pokémon isn’t just a game or a hobby—it’s a universe that has captivated millions worldwide. For Ando, Pokémon was more than just entertainment; it was a way of life from a young age. What started as a childhood fascination turned into a thriving YouTube career, making him one of the most recognisable faces in the Pokémon community. From opening rare booster packs to traveling the world for Pokémon events, his journey is proof that passion, consistency, and a little bit of childhood nostalgia can create something extraordinary. But before YouTube fame and massive card collections, Ando was just a kid mowing the lawn for Pokémon cards instead of pocket money.
“I’ve been obsessed with Pokémon since I was a kid. My dad knew how much I loved it, so instead of paying me for chores with money, he paid me with Pokémon cards. If I mowed the lawn, I got to pick a card from a Team Rocket booster pack. That felt like the best deal in the world, and honestly, I still think it was! My collection started growing because of those little trades, and I have photos on my Instagram from back then showing how it all came together. Looking back, I had no idea that my childhood love for Pokémon would turn into something much bigger.”
While many kids collected Pokémon cards casually, Ando’s love for the franchise led him to document and share his experiences. Even before YouTube, he was always behind the camera, filming family trips and creating small home movies. “I’d film everything and make little movies, and my dad and I would edit them together. I even added my own commentary, which, in hindsight, was probably my first step toward being a YouTuber. It taught me how to tell a story, capture fun moments, and most importantly, make things engaging for people watching. That same energy is something I try to bring into my Pokémon videos today.”
Despite his love for content creation, becoming a full-time YouTuber was never the original plan. Ando worked multiple jobs—including being a lifeguard, swimming instructor, and retail assistant—while making videos on the side. But YouTube always felt like second nature. “I used to say I wanted to be either Oprah Winfrey or Ellen DeGeneres because I loved entertaining people. Eventually, one of my videos went viral, and that changed everything.”
The turning point in his career came when he spent his last paycheck on a Plasma Freeze booster box. “I had just saved up my last paycheck from my retail job (which I actually got fired from), and I spent every cent on a Plasma Freeze booster box that I pre-ordered on eBay. I’d always wanted to open a booster box, but I could never afford it before. A week later, it arrived at my door, and the crazy part was—it wasn’t supposed to be released for another three months!”
His excitement was off the charts. Wanting to capture the moment, he rushed into his closet—the most soundproof place in the house—and filmed his first-ever booster box opening. “The mix of my genuine excitement, the early release, and the pure joy of finally opening that box made the video explode overnight. It hit 100,000 views really fast, and that was the moment my YouTube journey truly began.”
Since then, his content has evolved along with the Pokémon franchise. “One of the best things about Pokémon is that it never stops evolving. There’s always something new, whether it’s the latest card sets or hunting for vintage ones at card shows and garage sales. The nostalgia factor keeps people coming back, but the constant innovation keeps things fresh. I feel incredibly lucky that every day, I get to create content around something I genuinely love. It never feels like I’m running out of ideas because there’s always a new adventure to chase.”
With millions of followers, Ando has had some unforgettable fan interactions. “One of the things that always blows my mind is the age range of people who watch my videos. I’ve had newborn babies at meet-and-greets (with their parents, of course), but I’ve also had fans in their 60s and 70s queue up just to say hi. It’s surreal to think that my videos can connect with people of all ages, and no matter how old someone is, they can still be just as excited (and sometimes even nervous) to meet me. That’s something I never take for granted.”
Managing a large and diverse online community comes with challenges, but he has learned to stay true to himself. “The key is staying authentic while also being open to different perspectives. Not everyone will agree with my opinions, and that’s okay. I try my best to listen and understand where people are coming from, especially when discussing topics that might be controversial. At the end of the day, I’m really fortunate that I don’t have to play a character—I just get to be myself on YouTube, and that’s something I always encourage others to do as well.”
Being an Australian content creator also adds a unique layer to his journey. “I absolutely love being from Australia! It definitely makes collecting a bit more challenging since Pokémon cards from the USA take longer to reach us, and new sets can be delayed by a month or so. That can make YouTube trickier, but at the same time, it gives my videos a unique perspective. There aren’t a ton of Australian Pokémon YouTubers, so I get to share my experiences from Adelaide. Funnily enough, that’s often what people bring up first when they meet me—they’re surprised I’m still based here!”
Looking ahead, Ando has exciting projects lined up. “I’ve got some amazing trips planned this year, visiting a record number of countries, which I can’t wait to share with everyone. I’m also working alongside Pop Attack vending machines to help make Pokémon cards more accessible to collectors across Australia. That’s been a really rewarding project, and I’m excited to see how it grows.”
For aspiring content creators looking to turn their passion into a career, his advice is simple: “Stay consistent and create the kind of videos you would want to watch. When you open YouTube, what’s the one video you’d click on immediately? That’s the type of content you should be making. If it excites you, it’ll resonate with others too. Plus, if you genuinely enjoy what you’re creating, you’ll naturally want to keep posting more and more. Over time, that consistency will lead to your viral moment. Good luck—you’ve got this!”
