Pichu

Normal Pichu =

Spiky-eared Pichu =

Pichu (Japanese: ピチュー Pichuu) is an -type Mouse and Baby Pokémon introduced in Generation II.

Appearance
Pichu are very small, plump, yellow rodent-like Pokémon. It bears a similar appearance to its evolved form Pikachu, but varies in a number of ways. Pichu have diamond shaped ears on the top of their head, with the edges being black and the interior yellow. Underneath their head is a black pattern, that somewhat resembles a collar. Their tails are completely black, and resemble a small lightning bolt, similar to its evolved forms which are larger. Pichu also have round, pink sacs on their cheeks, used for storing electricity.

Special abilities
Pichu have the special ability Static. This allows for a 30% chance that an opponent will become paralyzed if it lands a physical attack on Pichu. Pichu, like its other forms, is capable of storing electricity in the pink sacs on its cheeks. Being a baby Pokémon however, Pichu can not store as much electricity as its evolved forms. It will shock itself if any electricity leaks out of its cheeks.

Evolution
Pichu evolves into Pikachu by leveling it up with max happiness. Pikachu then evolves into Raichu when exposed to a Thunderstone.

In the anime
The majority of appearances of Pichu in any anime form, have been from the Pichu Brothers. The pair have been featured in episodes of Pokémon Chronicles, animated shorts like Pikachu & Pichu, and Camp Pikachu, and in the game Pokémon Channel. It is rumored that these Pichu's nicknames are Ritchie and Sparky, although this is highly unlikely, since these are wild Pichu and Ritchie and Sparky are actual characters in the anime, Ritchie being Sparky's Trainer.

Pichu's first appearance in the series was in the episode The Apple Corp., where a group of Pichu were stealing apples from an orchard.

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters Out Of The Gate! a Pichu's brother is kidnapped and Pichu try's to find her brother, but get caught.

In Hungry for the Good of Life, there are some Pichu.

In Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, a Mew was seen briefly transforming into a Pichu

A Notched Ear Pichu is supposed to appear in Arceus and the Jewel of Life. She gets the jail keys so Ash and co. can escape. She also frees the other Pokémon. In English, it is called Spiky Eared Pichu.

In the manga
In the Pokémon adventures manga, Gold has an egg that hatched into a Pichu. Currently making Gold, the owner of the Pichu.

Game info
Pichu first appeared in the Generation II games. They were in Gen II through the Mystery Egg obtainable, but also by breeding a Pikachu, until the release of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, where they can be caught in Trophy Garden. They can be bred with Volt Tackle if the mother Pikachu holds a Light Ball.

Super Smash Bros.
Pichu appeared in the game Super Smash Bros. Melee as an unlockable character. It is unlocked by beating event 37 or playing 200 matches in VS. mode. In this game, Pichu has a low attack and light weight, as well as loses healh with each attack it makes, making it a rather difficult character to play as.

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Pichu again appears in this game, though its status has been dropped from playable character to a trophy. One of Pikachu's alternate costumes was one of Pichu's less people thinking that the Pichu evolved into Pikachu.

Trivia

 * Pichu is the only Generation II Pokémon and the first non Generation I Pokémon to be playable in the Super Smash Bros. series.
 * Pichu is the first baby Pokémon in Pokédex order. Cleffa and Igglybuff come directly after.
 * Pichu is one of the easiest Pokémon to catch in Pokémon Ranger along with Seedot and Magikarp with only 1 loop.
 * Pichu is the player's partner Pokémon in Pokemon Ranger: Guardian Signs.
 * Pichu is shown in the Anime to damage itself when it uses electric shocks. In a movie short it is shown to KO the Pichu Brothers. However, an electric shock on a Pichu would not do much damage to it, even if it hurts itself. This was Also seen in Super Smash Bros. Melee.
 * In the movie Arceus and The Jewel of Life, the Pichu that appeared had a notched ear.
 * Pichu is the only electric-type Pokémon to learn Present via by breeding.
 * Pichu can learn Volt Tackle when its level 1 by having a female Pikachu breeding with a male Pikachu, or a Ditto and the male/female Pikachu has to be holding a Light Ball in order to do this.
 * As a baby, it is the fastest Pokemon.
 * Some people call the Pichu Brothers Ritchie (link goes to trainer) and Sparky (link goes to Ritchie's Pokemon) due to the look on Pichu Big and Pichu Little.
 * Pichu has three forms, Spiky-eared Pichu, Ukelele Pichu and Pikachu-colered Pichu.