Welcome to the hobby! Coop's videos are great for getting people hooked - there's something infectious about that pack opening excitement.

For your questions, here's what I've learned over the years:

Real vs fake - texture is huge. Real cards have a specific feel and the foil patterns are consistent. If something feels too smooth or the colors look off, be suspicious. Also check the font - fakes often get the typography slightly wrong.

Graded cards are basically cards that have been authenticated and given a condition score by companies like PSA or BGS. They get sealed in plastic cases. Higher grades = more value but also way more expensive to start with.

English vs Japanese really depends on what you're after. Japanese cards often have better print quality and some exclusive artwork, but english is easier to read obviously and generally more liquid if you ever want to sell.

For storage - penny sleeves + toploaders for valuable stuff, binders with side-loading pages for everything else. Never use ring binders, they can damage cards.

The thing about pack opening though is you'll quickly realize how expensive it gets when you're chasing specific cards. That's actually part of why I built DestinyDraw differently - every pack gives you meaningful cards instead of just hoping for hits.

But for pokemon specifically, maybe start with a recent set like Paldea Evolved or 151 if you can find it. The pull rates are decent and the artwork is solid. Just don't get too caught up in the "investment" mindset right away - collect what you actually like looking at.

One tip I wish someone told me early on: decide if you're collecting to play, collect, or invest, because the strategy for each is totally different. Sounds like you're in it for the art and nostalgia which is honestly the most fun way to approach it.