Pikachu

Pikachu is an -type Pokémon which first appeared in the Generation I games, Pocket Monsters Red and Green Versions (Pokémon Red and Blue Versions in regions outside Japan). Pikachu is a yellow mouse, and is the most popular Pokémon, and is generally regarded as the mascot of the entire Pokémon franchise. Pikachu has been voiced by Ikue Ōtani since the Pokémon anime began in 1997.

Being a mascot, Pikachu has often appeared as a main character. In Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition and Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!, a Pikachu is both the Starter Pokémon and the mascot. In the Pokémon anime, the main character, Ash Ketchum, has a Pikachu as his main Pokémon. A Pikachu is also the main character of several spinoff games, such as Hey You, Pikachu!. In the manga, Pikachu stars in Electric Tale of Pikachu and Ash & Pikachu. A talking Pikachu named Detective Pikachu stars in both the film and game of the same name. Another recurring Pikachu is the Surfing Pikachu, who can use the move Surf.

Pokémon Red and Blue Versions
In Pokémon Red and Blue Versions, wild Pikachus are encountered in both Viridian Forest and the Power Plant.

Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition
In Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition, the player character is given a Pikachu as their only option of a Starter Pokémon. Their Pikachu is based on Ash's Pikachu from the Pokémon anime: neither of them like to be contained within a Poké Ball so they follow their respective Pokémon Trainer around, and both refuse to evolve into Raichu. As is typical of Starter Pokémon, there are no wild Pikachus encountered in the game. If the player character interacts with their Pikachu, it gives various reactions depending on the circumstance. The game also marks the debut of Surfing Pikachu appears.

Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions
Starting with Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions, while Pikachu is holding a Light Ball, its Special Attack stat is doubled, even surpassing Raichu's.

Hey You, Pikachu!
A Pikachu is featured in title and as the main Pokémon of Hey You, Pikachu!. The player uses a microphone peripheral for the Nintendo 64 to converse with the Pikachu.

Pokémon Snap
Pikachu makes several appearances in Pokémon Snap, famously portraying the Surfing Pikachu sidequest in Pokémon Yellow.

Super Smash Bros. series
Pikachu is a playable character in every Super Smash Bros. game. Its special moves have been consistent throughout the series. Nearly all of them are from the Pokémon franchise except Thunder Jolt. Pikachu's battle entrance in every installment has it appear from a Poké Ball that has been thrown.

Super Smash Bros.
In Super Smash Bros., Pikachu is one of the eight starting characters. It is one of the game's faster characters in both running and walking speed, but is also among the lightest, meaning that while it can move quickly it can also be KO'd earlier than other characters. Its standard special move is Thunder Jolt, which sends out a ball of electricity that travels along the ground and causes opponents to flinch. Its up special move is Quick Attack, which allows it to move with two sudden bursts of speed. Its down special move is Thunder, which sends down a bolt of lightning from the top of the stage to strike opponents.

Super Smash Bros. Melee
In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Pikachu returns as a playable fighter. In the game, Pikachu was given a side special move, Skull Bash, allowing it to launch itself across the screen and headbutt opponents. In addition, its down special Thunder now appears from a cloud instead of the top of the screen. Pikachu's down smash is now a multi-hitting, electrical spin; additionally, its back throw from the previous game has been moved to its forward throw, though it is much weaker than before.

Pichu, the pre-evolution of Pikachu, is also a playable fighter, and it has a similar moveset to Pikachu's. One of Pikachu's alternate costumes is Red's hat from the Pokémon Red and Blue Versions.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, like all other fighters, Pikachu was given a Final Smash. Pikachu's specific one is Volt Tackle, in which it becomes a ball of electricity that can be maneuvered across the screen, damaging any opponents it runs in to.

Pikachu retains most of its alternate costumes, although its blue alternate costume, the party hat, has been replaced with a pair of goggles, similar to the ones worn by Pichu as one of its alternate costumes. Pikachu is the only fighter to have only four palette swaps.

The Subspace Emissary
Pikachu begins the game trapped within a strange device that harnesses its electrical energy to provide power to the complex. Samus, infiltrating the complex in search of her Power Suit, sees that the device causes Pikachu pain, and breaks it. In thanks, Pikachu helps Samus continue through the lab. Eventually, the pair come across Samus's Power Suit within a tank. After dispatching two clones of Samus, Pikachu helps Samus (in her newly regained Power Suit) through the rest of the facility and helps her defeat Ridley.

After escaping from the complex, Pikachu and Samus infiltrate the Subspace Bomb Factory and encounter the Ancient Minister. Despite Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Captain Falcon, and Captain Olimar coming in soon after, the Ancient Minister does not fight back, and tries to stop the other R.O.B.s from obeying Ganondorf. Ganondorf gets the R.O.B.s to set up multiple Subspace Bombs, and the Ancient Minister, with the R.O.B.s no longer under his control, reveals himself to be the head R.O.B. of the island and helps Pikachu and the others defeat the Subspace Army and escape the island in the Falcon Flyer before it is consumed by Subspace.

Pikachu and the rest of its team join the remaining heroes in their last stand against Subspace, only to be defeated by Tabuu. Fortunately, King Dedede had planned this in advance and created badges that revived fighters from being trophies. Using these, he is able to form a team consisting of himself, Luigi, and Ness. Dedede and his group then revived most of the others, including Pikachu, before everyone has rejoined and proceeded to face Tabuu in a final battle.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Pikachu returns as a playable fighter, and retains its moveset. Pikachu's Thunder move, which still summons a cloud, now acts as a meteor smash, which can do further damage to opponents.

In addition to its alternate costumes in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, two of its new alternate costumes are the hats of Ethan and Calem, the male trainers in Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions and Pokémon X and Y, respectively.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Pikachu returns as a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Pikachu's Final Smash has it travel across the screen at a much faster speed than before, though the move needs to connect with another fighter in order to continue, and missing can lead to a self-destruct. It also has two new alternate costumes, one that swaps it out for the female Pikachu Libre and another where it wears Selene's cap from Pokémon Sun and Moon. Pikachu has various alterations to its moves and now appears angry during many attacks. Some of Pikachu's standard attacks receive names: its standard attack is Headbutt, its dash attack is Running Headbutt, its down smash is Electric Flower, its back aerial is Glider, and its down aerial is Electric Skew.

Classic Mode route
Like all other fighters, Pikachu has its own Classic Mode route. Pikachu's in particular is named "I Choose You!," a common phrase used throughout the Pokémon franchise

By completing Pikachu's Classic Mode route, it is possible to unlock Villager, Shulk, R.O.B., Mega Man, Isabelle, Mr. Game & Watch, or Pichu. Pikachu's Classic Mode route has it facing off against other Pokémon.

Pokémon Channel
A Pikachu is also interacted with throughout Pokémon Channel, just like in Hey You, Pikachu!.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team / Blue Rescue Team
Pikachu is also one of the sixteen starters and ten partners in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team.

Pokémon Battle Revolution
Pikachu is available as a prize for completing the 10 colosseums in Pokémon Battle Revolution, complete with a Light Ball, Volt Tackle, and Surf.

Super Mario Maker
Pikachu appears as a costume in Super Mario Maker, obtainable by collecting a Mystery Mushroom. The Pikachu costume is unlocked after the player either scans a Pikachu amiibo or completes the 100 Mario Challenge on Normal difficulty or higher.

Pokémon anime


Ash's Pikachu is one of the most notable members of Pikachu. Its first appearance in the anime is "Pokémon, I Choose You!". In the episode Ash Ketchum, an inhabitant of Pallet Town, arrived late at Professor Oak's lab (having slept in from a late night of Pokémon trainer fantasizing). The traditional three starting Pokémon had already been taken by other new trainers, and Ash was given a Pikachu instead. At first, Pikachu largely ignored Ash's requests, shocking him frequently and refusing to be confined to the conventional method of Pokémon transportation, a Poké Ball. However, in the first episode "Pokémon, I Choose You!", Ash put himself in danger to defend Pikachu from a flock of wild Spearow, then rushed the electric mouse to a Pokémon Center (notably stealing Misty's bike to do so). Through these demonstrations of respect and unconditional commitment to Pokémon, Pikachu warmed up to Ash, and their friendship was formed.

When Pikachu cannot release its electricity, it develops flu-like symptoms and can sometimes lose control of itself. Most notably, exposure to a magnetic field will cause Pikachu to get this illness. This has happened to Pikachu twice in the series, both times by Team Rocket: the first time, Pikachu was cured when the extra electricity was used in attacks against a group of Grimer and Muk, and in the second time, Pikachu was inadvertently cured by one of Team Rocket's battery robots (that uses Pikachu's power to charge itself), which subsequently overloaded and exploded. During the Hoenn arc, Ash trained Pikachu to use Iron Tail, which greatly improved its ability to fight Pokémon with resistance to Electric attacks.

In Pokémon: The First Movie, Pikachu is the only "original" Pokémon, besides Meowth, that refused to fight its clone. Pikachu also attempts to revive a downed Ash (who had been turned to stone, and thus, killed) with repeated thundershocks, to no avail; a grief-stricken Pikachu bursts into tears, which (along with the tears of all other Pokémon present) return Ash to life.

Many of the Pokémon animated shorts with all-Pokémon dialogue have featured Pikachu as the main character. As such, Pikachu is often a leader, helping to break up conflicts among other Pokémon.

Pikachu typically eats a specially formulated pellet made by Brock. It also likes fresh fruit, especially apples. Sometimes it is shown eating the same meal that his human companions are eating, in smaller portions.

Like most other Pokémon, Pikachu communicates only by saying syllables that are in its own name. Its most common sentence is "Pika-pika". When it wants to talk to Ash it says "Pika-pi," which sounds similar to "Satoshi" (the name of his trainer in the Japanese version). It also calls Misty "Pi-ka-chu-pi" similar to her Japanese name of "Kasumi", calls Takeshi (Brock) "Pika-pi-pi".

Many other Pikachu have appeared in the anime. The most notable among these is Sparky, a Pikachu belonging to Richie. It has mussed hair on its forehead. Unlike Ash's Pikachu, Sparky is indifferent to being inside its Poké Ball, but save for the first season, it is always shown outside, similar to Ash's Pikachu. In fact, every captured Pikachu in the anime has been shown spending most or all of its time outside of a Poké Ball, even though this is not noted by any characters to be typical of the species. Another notable Pikachu is Michael, a surfing Pikachu owned by a surfer named Victor. Puka has blue eyes instead of the usual black and also seems to have a harmony with the sea - it glows a bright blue when it feels a powerful wave. It is claimed that Puka is over 20 years old (it is unknown whether such longevity is unusual for a Pikachu), and is noticeably larger than Ash's Pikachu (though still smaller than a Raichu). It also has somewhat frazzled hair on around the tips of its ears.

Many episodes of the anime have also featured other unnamed Pikachu. Among them is "Pikachu's Goodbye", in which a large group of wild Pikachu appeared, and in "Pokémon Emergency", a group of Pikachu are always hidden in the Viridian City Pokémon Center as their backup electrical generator, which was used when Team Rocket cut the power to the center. The footage of these Pikachu is later reused for a group of Pikachu aboard the SS Anne.

At the end of the episode "Hocus Pokémon!", a magician-in-training accidentally transforms Ash into a Pikachu (he keeps his hair and his hat). He then plays with Pikachu. At the start of the following episode, "As Clear as Crystal!", Ash is still a Pikachu for a while, although the spell wears off and Ash returns to normal.

There is a special episode of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters Out Of The Gate! in which a Pikachu got captured by Skarmory leaving his little brother Pichu alone. After Skarmory captures Pichu, Pikachu apologized to Pichu for getting Pichu in the middle of getting captured. When Team Go-Getters arrived, Pikachu told Pichu to open the treasure bag and the Quick Seed fell out. Pikachu kicked the seed to Squirtle, and when Squirtle swallowed the seed, he got super speed. Team Go-Getters defeated Skarmory and freed Pikachu and Pichu.

Pokémon manga
A Pikachu has appeared in every Pokémon manga series. In Pokémon Adventures, Red captures a mischievous Pikachu causing trouble for the people of Pewter City, and it becomes one of his main Pokémon from there on. After Red goes missing two years later, his Pikachu teams up with Yellow to find him. Yellow is accompanied by Pikachu throughout the Johto saga, as well as her own Pikachu, Chu Chu.

In the Magical Pokémon Journey manga, Hazel, the main character of the series, obtained a Pikachu as her first Pokémon. Although Hazel's task is to capture Pokémon for a scientist, her and Pikachu often fall into trouble because of their joint scatterbrained personalities. This Pikachu, along with Hazel's other main Pokémon, Clefairy, re-appears in the spin-off series, Pokémon Chamo-Chamo Pretty.

In the Electric Tale of Pikachu series, often referred to as the series (known in Japan as "Dengeki! Pikachu"), Ash's Pikachu was originally a feral Pokémon he caught chewing on wires in his walls. This manga follows the storyline of the Pokémon anime, featuring Ash, Misty and Brock alongside Pikachu battling Team Rocket. This series was released in four volumes called The Electric Tale of Pikachu, Pikachu Shocks Back, Electric Pikachu Boogaloo and Surf's Up Pikachu''.

In the Getto Da Ze manga, the main character Shuu owns a Pikachu, whom he communicates with because of a device called an In-Com. This Pikachu is very feisty and a little sarcastic.

In Ash & Pikachu manga series, unlike Electric Tale of Pikachu and the Pokémon anime, Professor Oak gave Pikachu to Ash as his first Pokémon rather than him finding Pikachu by himself. Another difference between the two is that Ash and Pikachu continued to follow the anime storyline, leading Ash and Pikachu to Hoenn, being accompanied by May and Max.

Pokémon Trading Card Game
Most Pikachu cards are typical, Basic Pokémon cards, primarily used to play stronger cards. Some Pikachu cards are similar in attack and defense (see picture) to other Basic Electric-types, such as Mareep and Electrike, but often have stronger promo cards, giving them an advantage, because of their popularity.

Pikachu has been seen in at least thirteen incarnations in Pokémon Trading Card Game sets released in North America, and that number increases to twenty when limited edition promotional cards are included, these limited edition cards were won in prizes, and copied, fake cards were made by places such as cinemas to encourage people to buy their tickets. The expansion sets Pikachu cards are found in are the Base Set (as well as Base Set 2 and Legendary Collections reprints), Jungle, Gym Heroes (As Lt. Surge's Pikachu), Gym Challenge (As Lt. Surge's Pikachu), Neo Genesis, Expedition, Skyridge, EX Sandstorm, EX Team Magma VS. Team Aqua, EX Firered & LeafGreen, EX Emerald, EX Legend Maker (as a secret card), and EX Holon Phantoms (appears twice).

Pikachu cards are often sought after because of their wide appeal and often unavailability. Although most Pikachu cards are Common variety, meaning that they can be found very often in booster packs of cards, promo cards were only available by purchasing tickets for the Pokémon movies. An often overlooked error in the original Base Set Pikachu design was known as the "Red-Cheeked Pikachu." The name came from the mouse's mis-coloured cheeks that were supposed to glow yellow from the protruding electric sparks, but were changed to red when the first English versions of the cards were released. This error was fixed in later printings of the original Base Set and Base Set 2 version to the original Japanese artwork.

amiibo

 * Pikachu has charmed fans and given a jolt to opponents for nearly 20 years—whether in the Pokémon TV series, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, or Pokémon video games, Pikachu has always been there as a stalwart companion for any Pokémon Trainer willing to take on the challenge of becoming the very best.

Physical appearance and traits
Pikachu are mouse Pokémon that possess short yellow fur with brown markings covering their backs and parts of their tails. They have black pointy ears and red circles on their cheeks, which contain electrical sacs. Their tails are shaped in form of a lightning bolt. In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Versions, gender differences were introduced for some Pokémon. For Pikachu, the females now have an indent on the end of their tails.

Pikachu often forage for berries. Instead of climbing trees, they use small electrical bolts to release the berries from the tree, roasting them at the same time. They store electricity in their cheeks, and discharge them in sparks, thunderbolts or other forms of electricity. An inability to discharge electricity in this last way, as in the presence of strong magnetic field, causes an illness with flu-like symptons. Pikachu gather in areas with high amounts of thunderstorm activity such as powerstations.

Some Pikachus refuse to evolve to evolve into Raichu, notably Ash's Pikachu in the Pokémon anime and the Pikachu in Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition.

Etymology
The name "Pikachu" is a portmanteau of the Japanese words "pikapika", an onomatopoeia for electric sparkling, and "chuuchuu", which is the Japanese onomatopoeia for a mouse's squeak.

In popular culture
Pikachu, being the mascot of Pokémon, has made multiple appearances in popular culture. A "got milk?" advertisement featured Pikachu in 1999. A Pikachu balloon has been featured in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade since 2001. Its appearance on May 22, 2006 during the morning rush hour was as part of a test examining parade balloon handling procedures. The original balloon was retired following an appearance at the Pokémon Tenth Anniversary "Party of the Decade" on August 8 in Bryant Park in, and a new Pikachu Balloon that chases a Poké Ball and has light-up cheeks debuted at the 2006 Parade.

 has made references to Pikachu as well. In the episode "", after watching too much TV, has strange visions of television characters surrounding him, one being Pikachu. was also dressed as a Pikachu in the openings of episodes 320 and 335 that were parodying anime.

In the movie  a Pikachu plush can be seen many times in the movie.

A picture of Pikachu has also been featured on the ANA Boeing 747-400 (JA8962), landing at. In 2002, Ash's Pikachu received fifteenth place in 's 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time.

A Pikachu appears in  as Austin Powers arrives in Tokyo.

Parodies
Pikachu, as one of the most popular Pokémon, are often parodied. In the comic  by Jeremy "Norm" Scott that appears in the magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly features a character named Chernobyl, a radioactive chipmunk who vaguely resembles Pikachu.

The character design of The Cheat from  was modified by to resemble Pikachu after the Pokémon anime made its debut in America. In The Cheat's Theme Song video, when the singer says "who's the guy that looks like The Cheat", a Pikachu flies by onscreen. In the anime universe of "Stinko Man K: 20X6", The Cheat's equivalent is "Cheatball", a Pikachu parody, who only says his own name like a Pokémon. Cheatball debuted in the e-mail "trading cards".

The American stop motion series , has a sketch that delves into what happens in Pikachu's Poké Ball (contradicting the actual series, where Pikachu doesn't like being in a Poké Ball) and what it's saying to Ash. Another episode of Robot Chicken has a Pikachu and a Squirtle holding a discussion where the Squirtle expresses being tired of saying his own name.

In the adult sitcom , the "Battle Master" Ling-Ling (a spoof of Pokémon) somewhat resembles Pikachu.

The anime  features a Pikachu-like character named Guano, who speaks only his name during the "LilyMu" action sequences like Pikachu, but off camera serves as the writer/producer/director of the series within the series.

Trivia

 * Pikachu is the only playable Pokémon in the Super Smash Bros. series to have a gender difference. Female Pikachu have a heart-shaped dent at the end of their tail, while the Pikachu in the Super Smash Bros. series does not except in its two new palette swaps in Ultimate, which may indicate that the Pikachu in the Super Smash Bros. series is male. However, this distinction was first apparent in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Versions.
 * A "Mario Pikachu" line of merchandise was released in Japan. It features a plush of Pikachu dressed as Mario and another of it dressed as Luigi. "Mario Pikachu" has an associated artwork parodying a Super Mario Bros. group artwork, with other Pokémon taking the place of Mario characters, such as Diancie for Princess Peach and Blastoise for Bowser.