Pikachu

Pikachu
Cosplay of Pikachu
Game series	Pokémon series
First game	Pokémon Red and Blue (1996)
Designed by	Ken Sugimori
Voiced by (English)	Ikue Ōtani Rachael Lillis (some Indigo League episodes) Chika Sakamoto (Puka; episode 67) Satomi Kōrogi (Sparky; episode 78) Craig Blair (PMD special) Ryan Reynolds (Detective Pikachu)
Voiced by (Japanese)	Ikue Ōtani Chika Sakamoto Satomi Kōrogi Tomoe Hanba (PMD special)
Live action actor(s)	Jennifer Risser (Pokémon Live!)

Pikachu is a yellow mouse Pokémon from the fictional Pokémon world that was created by Satoshi Tajiri. Pikachu is the mascot of the Pokémon franchise, and one of the main characters of the Pokémon anime series. It has also appeared in most Pokémon video games and merchandise. In the video game Pokémon Yellow, it is the player's starter Pokémon. In the anime series, Pikachu is Ash's first Pokémon.

Pikachu has electricity-storing pouches on its cheeks, and it releases electric powers when wary and it immediately discharges the energy stored inside in a burst when angered or attacked, which is equal to a lightning bolt. Pikachu that can generate powerful electricity have cheek sacs that are extra soft and super stretchy, but it can feel stressed now and then if it can't fully discharge the electricity. It makes electricity in the sacs while its asleep, though it will be able to use only weak electricity if its not getting enough sleep and sometimes uses electricity when it's slowly waking up.

It will try to bite you if you yank its tail, but you'll feel a tingly shock if you touch it. Pikachu live in forests away from people with others of its kind, though forests where nests of Pikachu live are dangerous. When it raises its tail to check its surroundings, and since the tail is sometimes struck by lightning in this pose, the trees are so often struck as well.

When Pikachu meet, they'll touch their tails together and exchange electricity through them as a form of greeting, though they'll also sometimes use an electric shock to recharge a fellow Pikachu that is in a weakened state. When several Pikachu gather, their electricity could build and even cause lightning storms to happen, and a plan was even recently announced to gather many Pikachu and make an electric power plant. Pikachu is smart enough to blast things with a jolt of electricity when it comes across something new, roasting hard Berries with electricity to make them tender enough to eat. So if you come across a blackened berry, it means that Pikachu didn't realize the power of its charge.

There is a somewhat rare form of Pikachu in which it's wearing its Trainer's cap. It's a nice symbol of a fateful encounter, being filled with memories of it and its partner traveling across lots of different regions and even the world together. It's proof of the strong bond Pikachu and its partner formed as the two have been through many hard times together, but since the cap's not the right size, the fit's a bit loose.

Pikachu evolves from a baby Pokémon called Pichu if it loves its trainer. Pikachu can evolve into Raichu, which is darker orange than Pikachu, though if a Pikachu evolves in Alola, the Raichu it evolves into has the ability to fly and use its tail kind of like a hoverboard.

Design

Pikachu is a yellow mouse Pokémon that has long ears with black tips, red cheeks that store electricity and brown stripes on its back. Pikachu has a lightning bolt-shaped tail, while female Pikachus have a heart-shape at the end of their tails.

Pikachu is 40 centimeters (1 foot, 4 inches) tall and it weighs 6 kilograms (14 pounds).

The name "Pikachu" comes from the Japanese words "pikapika" (the sound of electricity) and "chuchu" (the sound that a mouse makes).

Appearances

In the Pokémon anime, the trainer Ash Ketchum's first Pokémon is a Pikachu. At first, it does not like him, but then he saves it from a group of Spearow and their friendship grows slowly from there.

Pikachu has also appeared in the Super Smash Bros. series. He has appeared in Super Smash Bros., Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a very fast and light playable character. In the game Pokémon Go, Pikachu can be found wearing different hats based on the time of year.

Ryan Reynolds voiced Pikachu in the 2019 movie Pokémon: Detective Pikachu.

Pichu

Pichu is the pre-evolved form of Pikachu. It is a small yellow electric mouse, but is not as powerful as Pikachu. It evolves to Pikachu when it is very happy, such as loving its trainer. There are special forms of Pichu: a notched-ear Pichu, and a Pikachu-colored Pichu as event Pokémon in the Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver games. Pichu has appeared as an unlockable character in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate where it has a cloned moveset to Pikachu's but takes damage when it uses electric attacks. Pichu features in the intro of the third Pokémon movie.

Raichu

Raichu is the evolved form of Pikachu and has orange fur, unlike Pikachu's yellow fur. In order for a Pikachu to evolve into a Raichu, it must use a Thunderstone. It can hold much more electricity in its cheeks. In Alola, it can evolve into Alolan Raichu by using a Thunderstone in Alola. It is a Psychic/Electric type. In the Pokémon anime, in Kanto, Gym Leader Lt. Surge's Raichu has a battle with Ash's Pikachu. At first, Raichu wins, but Pikachu beats it in a rematch.