On the Ralts card, we see a young couple starting out in a new home with Ralts
Reading through various materials online, we can assume that the first Charizard on the left can be dated around July 1996 (CoroCoro August 1996), the second one is from March 1996 (according to information from a playtester as reported by CGC), while the third is the Charizard released with the Base Set on October 20, 1996
They stayed in the anime because there was no way for them to work outside of the anime
This in turn opens up the way to pivot through Mystic Mystery of the White Forest with Elzette + a Level 2, turning into a Snake-Eyes Doomed Dragon (A Fusion for Noble Angel), or otherwise making Rciela, Sinister Soul of the White Forest to grab Diabellze the White Witch
OPCG STARTER DECK -Ace & Newgate- [ST-22] CARD REVEALS: A Whitebeard Pirates deck is not complete without the top 2 crewmates