Pikachu

2008/9 Schools Wikipedia Selection. Related subjects: Cartoons

Pikachu (ピカチュウ, Pikachū ^?) is one of the fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar 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. Pikachu is among the most recognizable of Pokémon, due to the fact that a Pikachu is a central character in the Pokémon anime series. Pikachu is the most popular Pokémon, and is regarded as the official mascot of the Pokémon franchise.

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. 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, plains, and occasionally near mountains, islands, and electrical sources (such as power plants), on most continents throughout the world. As an Electric-type Pokémon, Pikachu can store electricity in its cheeks and release it in lightning-based attacks.

Biological characteristics

Pikachu are designed as short, stocky mice Pokémon that have 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 are said to 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; a female Pikachu now has a "dent" at the end of its tail, giving it a heart-shaped appearance.

The Pokédex states that Pikachu forage for berries in the games that include berries. In lieu of climbing trees, they use small electrical bolts to release the berries from the tree, roasting them at the same time. For already fallen berries they use their electricity to roast and tenderize them. They are said to store electricity in their cheeks, and by simply squeezing them they can discharge sparks, bolts or other forms of electricity. Discharging sparks and thunderbolts may be a sign of wariness from the Pokémon. An inability to discharge electricity, as in the presence of a strong magnetic field, causes an illness with flu-like symptoms. Pikachu tend gather in areas with high amounts of thunderstorm activity. 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 thunder and lightning storms.

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 Thunder Stone on it makes it cry and refuse. Also, from the second generation of the Pokémon games onward, Pikachu has an evolutionary predecessor, Pichu, which evolves into Pikachu after establishing a close friendship with its trainer.

Roles

In the video games

In the video games, Pikachu is a typical low-level Pokémon usually found in Viridian Forest, and the Power Plant in the earlier games, or in the Safari Zone in the Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald versions. Pokémon Gold and Silver add an item called the Light Ball. This item, when given to Pikachu to hold, doubles its Special Attack statistic. Pikachu also appears in Diamond and Pearl, by evolving Pichu, which is found in Trophy Garden.

The game Pokémon Yellow features a Pikachu as the representative Pokémon, featured on the box art and as the only starting Pokémon. Based on the Pikachu featured in the Pokémon anime, it refuses to stay in its Poké Ball, and follows the main character around on screen. The trainer can speak to it; it features many different reactions depending on how it is treated. Another game centered around Pikachu is Hey You, Pikachu! for the Nintendo 64. The player interacts with Pikachu through a microphone, and can issue commands to play various mini-games and act out situations. The game Pokémon Channel follows a similar premise of interacting with the Pikachu, though without the microphone. Pikachu is also one of the sixteen starters and ten partners in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games.

Pikachu has also appeared in Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee 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 also appears in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and Volt Tackle is its Final Smash. In the game's Adventure Mode, the Subspace Emissary, Samus Aran frees Pikachu from a machine that is sapping its electric energy, alerting an army of R.O.B.s.

In the Pokémon anime

The Pokémon anime series and films feature the adventures of Ash Ketchum and his Pikachu. They travel the various regions along with various friends, such as Misty, Brock, May, Tracey, and Dawn. Many other wild and trained Pikachu appear throughout the series, often interacting with Ash and his Pikachu. The most notable among these is Richie's Pikachu, Sparky. 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, except in a number of English language episodes in which Rachael Lillis played the role this occurred when another person overlapped Pikachu's voice.

In the first episode, Ash Ketchum receives his Pikachu from Professor Oak as a starting Pokémon given to all new trainers. At first, Pikachu largely ignores Ash's requests, shocking him frequently and refusing to be confined to the conventional method of Pokémon transportation, a Poké Ball. However, Ash puts himself in danger to defend Pikachu from a flock of wild Spearow, then rushes the electric mouse to a Pokémon Centre. Through these demonstrations of respect and unconditional commitment to Pokémon, Pikachu warms up to Ash, and their friendship is formed. Soon after, Pikachu shows a large amount of power that sets it apart from others. This causes Team Rocket to constantly seek to capture it in order to win favour from their boss, Giovanni.

Cultural impact

Background

Pikachu is the most well-known Pokémon, and is regarded as the official mascot of the Pokémon franchise. Pikachu is even regarded as the Japanese answer to Mickey Mouse. Pikachu is also regarded as being part of a movement of " cute capitalism". 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, including Pokémon Adventures, and Magical Pokémon Journey, have captured or befriended Pikachu.

Popular culture

The ANA Boeing 747-400 airplane painted with Pikachu and other Pokémon.

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. 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 New York City, and a new Pikachu Balloon that chases a Poké Ball and has light-up cheeks debuted at the 2006 Parade.That balloon was chosen on an online survey at iVillage as the second-best balloon in the 2007 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.

Ling-Ling, a character in the adult cartoon Drawn Together, is a parody of Pikachu.