This issue has been discussed many times before, and it comes down to one simple premise -- Either one likes Pokemon or dislikes it. There seems to be no middle ground when it comes to a person's views on this very "controversial" brand.
Will the anime act as a catalyst to boost the brand's popularity?
The best way to answer that, is first to lose the mindset that Pokemon is still in its "fad" stage. It isn't, and good riddence.
Pokemon, is now working on becoming a lasting brand, and as such, its marketing focus has been 'refocused' to reflect long-term stability. This "niche marketing" principle is now being adopted with this premise in mind.
Pokemon's market has been established, and marketing towards that key demographic is now being implemented. This is NOT to say, that Pokemon ONLY appeals to a certain demographic, in fact, Pokemon is a very "broad based" product that appeals to people from very young to much older adults.
As an adult myself, I must say, I enjoy watching the series, probably more now, during the "Master Quest" arc, then I have since the "Kanto Arc".
The writing has been fantastic, especially during the last dozen or so episodes, where this series is really showing that it can "break out" of the formularic rut that has plagued it for so long.
The main character, Ash, has also shown some major improvements as a character/trainer in these later episodes as well.
Like I have stated before, the character of Ash is not meant to be a hero, never has been. He is meant to emulate a human being, and while there are times, when "cartoon physics" play too great a role, honestly I think the writers have done a good job with developing this character over the 5 year period. Is it the best anime? No. Is it the worst? No.
I can say though, as far as a network is concerned, when it comes to ratings, which either "makes or breaks" a series, Pokemon has shown to be a very solid contender in a very competitive genre, consistently ranking in the TOP 3 programs on children's television, which as anyone in the TV industry will most likely tell you, tends to be VERY fluid.
So, as far as the brand goes, I think it is still very popular. Not as much as back in the "fad" days, but still a viable contender nonetheless. I think it will stay that way for quite some time.
Take Care,
Skywolf1