Pikachu


 * ''This article is about the Pokémon Pikachu. For other uses, see Pikachu (Disambiguation)

Pikachu (ピカチュウ Pikachu) is a -type Pokémon and the evolved form of Pichu. It can evolve into a Raichu by use of a Thunder Stone. It can evolve from Pichu via Happiness. Pikachu is famous for being the most well-known and recognizable Pokémon. Over the years, Pikachu has become so popular that it serves as the Pokémon franchise mascot. In 1998 it became a Version Mascot for the game Pokémon Yellow. In the series, Ash's pikachu had extremely strong powers, which is the reason Team Rocket are after it.

Appearance


Pikachu is a small, chubby rodent-like Pokémon, covered almost completely by yellow fur. It has long yellow ears that are tipped with black. A Pikachu's back has two brown stripes, and its large tail is notable for being shaped like a lightning bolt. On its cheeks are two circle-shaped red pouches used for storing electricity, which turn yellow when its about to use an attack such as Thunderbolt.

A female Pikachu looks almost exactly the same as a male with the exception of her tail. A female Pikachu's tail is rounded at the end and has an inward dent, giving it the appearance of a heart.

Special Abilities
Pikachu's special ability is Static, which can cause paralysis in battle if hit by a physical move.

In Anime




Pikachu in the Anime series is most notable for being under the ownership of Pokémon Trainer Ash Ketchum. Ash's Pikachu has appeared in every episode since the beginning of the series. Ash received this Pikachu from Professor Oak in the episode Pokémon - I Choose You!.

In the anime, Pikachu other than Ash's have also made appearances. One of which is Ritchie's Pikachu "Sparky", which unlike most Pikachu, has a tuft of long fur on its forehead. Although Sparky, unlike Ash's Pikachu, is indifferent about being inside its Poké Ball, it is almost always shown outside, similar to Ash's Pikachu.

In the episode The Pi-Kahuna, there was a Pikachu named "Puka" owned by a surfer named Victor. This Pikachu appeared to be much older than Ash's, looking slightly weathered. It was an unusual Pikachu, having blue eyes, and being able to sense the waves in the ocean.

One of the more popular events involving another Pikachu was when Ash was transformed into a Pikachu near the end of the episode Hocus Pokémon by a magician named Lily. At the beginning of the next episode Ash was transformed back into a human, but this concept has been the basis of several possibilities and stories among fans. The fanon term for Ash in Pikachu form is Ashachu.

Pikachu has been seriously ill when Team Rocket used a strong magnetic machine on Pikachu while Ash was traveling to Hoenn on ship. When Ash reached Hoenn, Pikachu's eyes had turned red, Pikachu had electrocuted Ash, and ran into the wild, using Thunderbolt continuously. Ash and Prof. Birch went off to search for it. But soon after a treatment, it went back to normal.

In a future movie, similar to Ash's own Pikachu, the shadow figure has a tougher Pikachu. This Pikachu has red marks around its body similar when Pikachu got possessed by Groudon's red orb in Gaining Groudon. It also had a move that it cannot learn, Bite. This Pikachu may appear in the movie, due to the trailer. Pikachu-learned Moves

This are the moves that Ash's Pikachu in the Anime have learned before.

Tackle, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Quick Attack, Iron Tail, Volt Tackle, and Agility

Game Starter Pokémon at the beginning of the game, and later became the Pokémon icon.

Generation I
Main article: Pikachu/Learnset Generation I

Generation II
Main article: Pikachu/Learnset Generation II

Generation III
Main article: Pikachu/Learnset Generation III

Generation IV
Main article: Pikachu/Learnset Generation IV

Super Smash Bros.


Pikachu has also appeared in all three Super Smash Bros. Series games. Pikachu is a very agile and mobile playable character. In Super Smash Bros., Pikachu was considered the strongest playable character. 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 has also once again appeared in Super Smash Bros. Brawl as a playable character, with its exclusive attack Volt Tackle as its Final Smash. If you look at the hat Pikachu and you look at the shiny above and the hat, you would notice it's the shiny pikachu with Red's japanese hat.

Along with Mario, Link, and Kirby, Pikachu is a mascot for the Super Smash Bros. series.

Name
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, a mouse-like animal more closely related to rabbits but it's behavior (or more noticibally it's eating habits) resemble that of hamsters.

Appearance
Though not the first Pokémon created, Pikachu was the first "-type" Pokémon created, conceived after the type was suggested to Sugimori and designed around the concept of electricity and the common symbol for lightning

Trivia

 * In the Pokemon manga Pokemon Adventures, Red's 3rd pokemon in his team is Pikachu nicknamed "Pika".
 * Pikachu is the mascot for Pokemon Yellow.
 * Pikachu is the only starter in the canon RPG games that deviates from the usual fire, water, and grass-type Pokemon.
 * In the anime, Pikachu's owner is Ash Ketchum.
 * Pikachu is the only Pokémon to have appeared in every episode, special, and movie in the series in some shape or form.

Related Articles

 * Ash's Pikachu
 * Sparky
 * Ashachu
 * Surfing Pikachu

Known Trainers With a Pikachu

 * Ash Ketchum
 * Ritchie
 * Victor
 * Red