PIKACHU

are one of the fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar Pokémon Franchise Approaches 150 Million Games Sold ''Pokémon'' media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. As do all Pokémon, Pikachu fight other Pokémon in battles central to the anime, manga, and games of the series. ''Pokémon Ruby'' and ''Pokémon Sapphire'' Review (page 1) ''Ign.com''. URL Accessed June 1, 2006. Pikachu is among the most recognizable of Pokémon, due to the fact that a Pikachu is a central character in the ''Pokémon'' anime series.
The name ''Pikachu'' is a portmanteau of the Japanese words ''pikapika'', an onomatopoeia for electric sparkling, and ''chū'', which is the Japanese onomatopoeia for a mouse's squeak. It may also be based on the pika. The name ''Pikachu'' refers to both the overall species, and to individual Pikachu within the games, anime, and manga series. Pikachu is also the name of an individual character that belongs to this species and is the Pokémon companion of the anime's main protagonist, Ash Ketchum.
In the Pokémon franchise, Pikachu are often found in forests,'Pokédex:' It lives in forests with others. It stores electricity in the pouches on its cheeks. plains, and occasionally near mountains, islands and electrical sources (such as power plants), on most continents throughout the world. When threatened, a group of Pikachu can generate an intense electrical offensive, and the electro-magnetic forces exerted by the resulting field can even produce a short-lived, localized thunderstorm.'Pokédex:' When several of these POKEMON gather, their electricity could build and cause lightning storms.

Contents

Biological characteristics

In the video games

In the ''Pokémon'' anime

In Pokémon manga

In the ''Pokémon Trading Card Game''

Cultural impact

Background

Popular culture

Notes and references

External links

Biological characteristics

Pikachu are short, stocky mouse^[1] Pokémon that possess short, yellow fur with brown markings covering their backs and parts of their tails. They have black-tipped pointy ears and light red circles on their cheeks, which contain electrical sacs. Their tails are shaped in the form of a lightning bolt. In ''Pokémon Diamond'' and ''Pearl'', gender differences were introduced for some Pokémon. For Pikachu, the females now have a "dent" at the end of their tails given it a heart shaped appearance.
Pikachu often forage for berries. In lieu of climbing trees^[2][3] they use small electrical bolts to release the berries from the tree, roasting them at the same time. For fallen berries, they use their electricity to roast the berries with electricity, tenderizing them.'Pokédex:' This intelligent POKEMON roasts hard BERRIES with electricity to make them tender enough to eat. They store electricity in their cheeks, and by simply squeezing them they can discharge them in sparks, bolts 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 symptoms.^[4] Pikachu gather in areas with high amounts of thunderstorm activity such as power stations.
Pikachu evolve into Raichu via use of a Thunder Stone. However, it is somewhat common for Trainers to choose not to evolve their Pikachu into Raichu. For example, in ''Pokémon Yellow'', Pikachu refuses to evolve as attempting to use a Thunderstone on it makes it cry and refuse. It is numbered as #25 in the National Pokédex. Also, from the second generation of the ''Pokémon'' games onward, Pikachu has an evolutionary predecessor, Pichu, which is the pre-evolution of Pikachu and evolves into Pikachu after establishing a friendship with its trainer.

In the video games

''Pokémon Yellow'', a variation of ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Pokémon Blue'' incorporating many qualities of the anime.

In the video games, Pikachu is a typical low-level Pokémon, usually found around levels 3-6 in Viridian Forest, and around 25 in the Power Plant or in the ''Ruby'', ''Sapphire'' and ''Emerald'' versions, Safari Zone. In ''Pokémon Yellow'', Pikachu is the starting Pokémon.
Few players use Pikachu in competitive head-to-head play, however, because of its relatively low defense stats. It does see occasional play after ''Pokémon Gold'' and ''Silver'', which added an item
called the Light Ball.List of In-game items ''Pokémon Elite 2000'' URL Accessed July 17, 2006 This item, when given to Pikachu to hold, doubles the special attack stat that determines the power of its Special attacks, making it useful in competitive play. While holding the Light Ball, Pikachu's Special Attack surpasses Raichu's Special Attack. Because of this, some competitive players refuse to evolve their Pikachu.
Pikachu is featured in ''Hey You, Pikachu!'',^[5] ''Pokémon Yellow'', ''Pokémon Channel'',^[6] and the ''Pokémon Pikachu'' digital pet. It also makes several appearances in ''Pokémon Snap'',^[7] famously portraying the ''Surfing Pikachu'' sidequest in ''Pokémon Yellow''.
There has also been a special edition Game Boy Color handheld specifically created for ''Pokémon Yellow'', sporting a yellow color with Pikachu featured on the handheld. In addition, a special-edition Nintendo 64Pikachu N64 ''vidgame.net'' URL Accessed January 21, 2007 game console was released, featuring Pikachu as well as saying "Pikachu!" when ''Pokémon'' video games were started. This was released along with the game ''Hey You, Pikachu!'', in which you use a microphone to converse with the Pokémon.
Pikachu has also made cameo appearances in ''Pokémon Pinball'', '', ''Pokémon Trozei'', ''Pokémon Colosseum'', '', ''Pokémon Dash'' and ''Pokémon Ranger''. It has also played a role in various games for the Pokémon mini handheld games console. Pikachu is also one of the sixteen starters and ten partners in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games. Pikachu has also appeared in a video of ''Pokémon Diamond'' and ''Pearl''.
Pikachu will be available as a prize for completing the 10 colosseums in ''Pokémon Battle Revolution'', complete with a Light Ball, Volt Tackle, and Surf. Before this, a Pikachu with Volt Tackle and Surf did not exist, as Volt Tackle was obtained via breeding and Surf through Pokémon Stadium or Pokémon Yellow (In a special surfing minigame), as well as certain Nintendo Events.
Pikachu has also appeared in ''Super Smash Bros.''http://www.smashbros.com/ Smash Bros.com URL Accessed July 17, 2006 and ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''Super Smash Bros Melee. ''detstar.com'' URL Accessed July 17, 2006 as a very agile and mobile playable character, equipped with Quick Attack, Thundershock, and Thunder. In ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', Pikachu's Skull Bash move was introduced, and its Quick Attack ability was upgraded so that it did a small amount of damage to opponents. Pikachu is also set to appear in the upcoming ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'',^[8] and Volt Tackle will be introduced as its Final Smash.^[9]

In the ''Pokémon'' anime

Ash Ketchum and Pikachu together in the pilot episode, Pokémon, I Choose You!

The ''Pokémon'' anime series and films are a meta-series of adventures separate from the canon that most of the ''Pokémon'' video games follow (with the exception of ''Pokémon Yellow'', a game loosely based on the anime with the inclusion of some of its characters, particularly Pikachu and Team Rocket). The anime follows the quest of the main character, Ash Ketchum Or Satoshi. ''Pokémon'' anime overview ''Psypokes.com''. URL Accessed May 25, 2006.—an in-training Pokémon Master—as he, Misty, May, and Dawn (as well as several other companions) travel around the fictitious world of Pokémon along with their Pokémon partners.
In the ''Pokémon'' anime, beginning trainers from the Kanto region traditionally choose from Charmander, Bulbasaur or Squirtle as a 'starter' Pokémon. However, the series protagonist 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. Ash's Original choice was Squirtle. 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, when Ash confronts Pikachu about its attitude towards him and asks "Is it because you don't like me?" Pikachu confirmed by nodding its head and saying "Pika-pika". However, in the first episode,^[10] 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 Ash had to battle Misty for the Cascade Badge, Pikachu refused to fight "A Friend.".
The bond between Ash & Pikachu is a prominent motif in the series and inviolable in terms of the series ethos. Pikachu is the only Pokémon in Ash's party that has been with him in every episode, movie, and TV special. It is implied that Ash's Pikachu is male, but it is rarely addressed with a gendered pronoun; the official Pokémon web site neither confirms nor denies this, stating that "Pikachu is Pikachu". However, in a recent Sinnoh episode, "Setting the world on its Buneary", a female Buneary (which Dawn later captures) has a crush on Pikachu, further more establishing this rumor.^[11] It is explicitly shown that there is something 'unique' about Ash's Pikachu which sets it apart from others of its kind; Team Rocket's Meowth says early in the first series that the strength of Ash's Pikachu exceeded that of its evolutionary power. For this reason, Team Rocket's attempts to capture Pikachu become a significant theme throughout much of the first series. It is shown in some episodes that they intend to present it to their boss, Giovanni, in order to win favor. However, in some other episodes, they also try to catch other Pokémon.
Like most other Pokémon, Pikachu communicates only by saying syllables that are in its own name. Pikachu is voiced by Ikue Otani in all versions of the anime (and even the Pokémon Yellow game), except in the English language episode ''Pokémon, I Choose You'', in which Rachael Lillis, who was the regular voice of Misty and Jessie of Team Rocket for the show's first nine season when 4Kids produced the English dub, provided the voice.
Many episodes, such as "Bulbasaur's Mysterious Garden" and "It's Love! Pokémon Transformation convention!" depict Pikachu as a master of impressions, stretching and squeezing his face as well as moving its ears to look like a Mudkip, a Lotad, a Budew, a Buneary, a Bulbasaur, a Wobbuffet, and a Seviper, among other Pokémon.

Ash Ketchum as a Pikachu.

In an episode of , Ash Ketchum was transformed into a Pikachu, with aspects of his physical appearance - his hat, hair, eyes, and voice - remaining the same as his human form. That lasted till the beginning of the next episode.
Many other Pikachu have appeared in the Pokémon anime. The most notable among these is Richie's Pikachu,BIOS information on Richie ''Serebii.net'' URL Accessed July 17, 2006 with mussed hair on its forehead. This one is nicknamed Sparky (Leon in the Japanese original). Sparky, unlike Ash's Pikachu, 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.
In "Cooking Up a Sweet Story," Theresa's aunt owns a Pikachu called Sugar who helps her with cooking. When Sugar disappeared, Theresa couldn't find it and asked Ash if she can borrow his Pikachu. When it turns out that Theresa's aunt already knew that, Team Rocket captured Pikachu and almost got away with it before being stopped by Sugar. However, Sugar had evolved into a Raichu when training new moves which it used on Team Rocket's latest machine where Staravia's Wing Attack wouldn't work on.

In Pokémon manga

A Pikachu has appeared in every Pokémon manga series as of 2005. In ''Pokémon Adventures'', Red, the "first protagonist" of the ''Pokémon Adventures'' series, captures a mischievous Pikachu causing trouble for the people of Pewter City which became one of his main Pokémon from there on. After Red goes missing two years later, his Pikachu teams up with Yellow, the "fourth protagonist" of the series, 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 using a device called an In-Com. This Pikachu is very feisty and a little sarcastic.
Pikachu also stars in the ''Ash & Pikachu'' manga series, another to closely follow the Pokémon anime. Unlike in the ''Electric Tale of Pikachu'', Professor Oak gave Pikachu to Ash as his first Pokémon, rather than Ash finding him in the former. 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 Haruka and Masato, May and Max in the English version.

In the ''Pokémon Trading Card Game''

Pikachu in the ''Pokémon Trading Card Game'' (Base set).

The ''Pokémon Trading Card Game'' is a collectible card game first published by Wizards of the Coast in North America, in 1999, which simulates a Pokémon battle in the video games and anime.
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. 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),^[12] EX FireRed & Leaf Green EX Diamond & Peal EX Electric Dreams EX Holon Phantoms (appears twice), EX: Power Keepers, POP 2, POP 4 and POP 5 (appears twice).^[13]

Cultural impact

Background

Pikachu is the most well-known Pokémon, and is regarded as the official mascot of the Pokémon franchise. Pikachu are obtainable in all of the Pokémon video games to date, with a prominent role in Pokémon Yellow. The leading characters of many of the anime and manga series have all captured Pikachu, including Pokémon Adventures, and Magical Pokémon Journey.
The "Advanced Generation" drawing and sprite design of Pikachu was created by Ken Sugimori's team for its 2003 release on the Nintendo Game Boy Advance.^[14]

Popular culture

Pikachu, being the most famous of the Pokémon mascots, has made multiple appearances in popular culture. A "got milk?" advertisement featured Pikachu in 1999. In addition, a Pikachu balloon has been featured in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade since 2001.^[15] Its appearance on May 22, 2006 during the morning rush hour was as part of a test examining parade balloon handling procedures.^[16] The original balloon was retired following an appearance at the "Party of the Decade" on August 8 in Bryant Park in New York City, and a new Pikachu Balloon that chases a Poké Ball and has light-up cheeks debuted at the 2006 Parade.
A picture of Pikachu has also been featured on the ANA Boeing 747-400 (JA8962), landing at London Heathrow Airport. (). In 2002, Ash's Pikachu received fifteenth place in ''TV Guide's'' 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time.^[17]

Notes and references

★ ''Pokémon Snap'', ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Blue'', ''Pokémon Yellow'', ''Pokémon Stadium'' and ''Pokémon Stadium 2'', ''Pokémon Gold'', ''Silver'', and ''Crystal'', ''Pokémon Ruby'', ''Sapphire'', and ''Emerald'', ''Pokémon FireRed'' and ''LeafGreen'', ''Pokémon Colosseum'', ''
;Notes
1. The in-game Pokédex of the ''Game Boy'' series (A copy of them from ''pokémondungeon.com'') URL accessed on March 27, 2006.
2. http://pokezam.com/anime/episodes/challenge/366.php
3. http://www.serebii.net/anime/epiguide/houen/394.shtml
4. ''Sparks Fly For Magnemite'' Episode Summary ''tv.com'' URL Accessed December 17, 2006
5. Hey You, Pikachu! ''Nintendo.com'' URL Accessed July 17, 2006
6. Pokémon Channel ''IGN.com'' URL Accessed July 17, 2006
7. Pokémon Snap ''Nintendo.com'' URL Accessed July 17, 2006
8. Smash Bros. Dojo! Pikachu
9. Smash Bros. Dojo! Pikachu: Final Smash
10. Episode 1, Pokémon, I Choose You! ''Serebii.net'' URL Accessed July 16, 2006
11. Mailbag: More Evolution Confusion!, ''Pokémon.com''. URL last accessed March 4, 2007.
12. EX Legend Maker set card list ''Pokebeach.com''. URL Accessed October 15, 2006.
13. EX Holon Phantoms set card list ''Pokebeach.com''. URL Accessed October 15, 2006.
14. ''Pokémon Sapphire'' information ''Amazon.com''. URL accessed on March 27, 2006.
15. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade ''Ncytourist.com'' URL Accessed July 17, 2006
16. Giant Pikachu Runs Flights Through NYC
17. "TV Guide's 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time" ''Archives.cnn.com.''. URL Accessed October 15, 2006.

;Books

★ Barbo, Maria. ''The Official Pokémon Handbook''. Scholastic Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0-439-15404-9.

★ Loe, Casey, ed. ''Pokémon Special Pikachu Edition Official Perfect Guide''. Sunnydale, CA: Empire 21 Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-930206-15-1.

★ Nintendo Power. ''Official Nintendo Pokémon FireRed Version & Pokémon LeafGreen Version Player’s Guide''. Nintendo of America Inc., August 2004. ISBN 1-930206-50-X

★ Mylonas, Eric. ''Pokémon Pokédex Collector’s Edition: Prima’s Official Pokémon Guide''. Prima Games, September 21 2004. ISBN 0-7615-4761-4

★ Nintendo Power. ''Official Nintendo Pokémon Emerald Player’s Guide''. Nintendo of America Inc., April 2005. ISBN 1-930206-58-5

External links

★ Official Pokémon website

★ Bulbapedia entry on Pikachu species

★

★ Psypoke

★ PokeRealm Pikachu battle analysis

★