Pikachu
Pikachu (Japanese:ピカチュウ or Pikachuu) is an electric mouse Pokémon.
Pikachu is arguably the most popular Pokémon. It is obtainable in all 8 of the Pokémon RPGs and is the species of one of the cartoon's main characters.
It is yellow with a lightning bolt-shaped tail. It has brown stripes on its back, black-tipped ears, and red cheeks, where its "electric sacs" are. It lacks a typical 'natural' evolution but can be evolved via Thunderstone into Raichu. Ash's Pikachu, who is rather independent minded in general, believes that it is strong enough without evolving and refuses to be evolved. The titular Pikachu is implied to be male, but is rarely addressed with a gendered pronoun.
It is numbered as #25 of the original 151 Pokémon, in the National Pokédex. Also, in the metallics and gems, Pikachu has an evolutionary predecessor, Pichu. Pichu will evolve into Pikachu through happiness. Pikachu is numbered as #156 in the Hoenn Pokédex.
Pikachu is also a playable character in Super Smash Bros. and its sequel Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Ash's Pikachu
In the cartoon, Pikachu was Ash Ketchum's first Pokémon. Though Pikachu didn't like Ash at first, Ash demonstrated his willingness to sacrifice himself for Pikachu, and they became fast friends. They gave Pikachu an operation to increase the strength of the electric sacs in his cheeks. Pikachu can also get a cold when it can not release electricity from its cheeks. A known cause is exposing Pikachu to a very strong magnet. Team Rocket did this twice to Pikachu in the cartoon. During the first time Team Rocket and "the twerps" (what they call Ash and his friends) were near a sludge plant full of Grimer. Pikachu was then cured when Pikachu used up all its extra electricity with attacks against the Grimer and Muk. Pikachu also got a cold in the debut of Pokemon Advance and bit Ash's hand. Pikachu then realized that Ash was a friend and licked Ash's wound. Pikachu was partly cured with Professor Birch's machine but Pikachu also fried it. Pikachu then gave the electricity to Team Rocket's robot and sent them "Blasting Off Again".
Pikachu communicates only by saying syllables that are in its own name. This is common in all Pokémon. Its most common sentence is "Pika-pika". When it wants to talk to Ash it says "Pika-pi," which sounds similar to "Satoshi," Ash's name in the Japanese cartoon. And it refers to Togepi as "Pipipi", probably because in Japanese, "pi" means little.
The sentence "Pika-pika" is funny by itself, but it has additional funny associations for Japanese speakers. A Japanese expression "pika-pika hikaru" means stroke of lightning; it is also used to denote a smaller bald spot on the very top of the head still surrounded by hair.
Pikachu also appeared in Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee as a playable character. It is a very agile and mobile character. Its Skull Bash move was introduced in Super Smash Bros. Melee. Also in Super Smash Bros. Melee Pikachu's Quick Attack ability was upgraded so that they actually do damage.
Name Origin
As mentioned above, "Pikachu" is derived from "pika," meaning "spark" or "sparkle" of lightning, and "chuu," the word for the squeak made by a mouse.
Coincidently, North America is home to a brown mouse-like lagomorph known as a pika (pronounced with a long "I" however).
- Red/Blue: When several of these Pokémon gather, their electricity could build and cause lightning storms.
- Yellow: It keeps its tail raised to monitor its surroundings. If you yank its tail, it will try to bite you.
- Gold/Pokémon Stadium 2: This intelligent Pokémon roasts hard berries with electricity to make them tender enough to eat.
- Silver: It raises its tail to check its surroundings. The tail is sometimes struck by lightning in this pose.
- Crystal: When it is angered, it immediately discharges the energy stored in the pouches in its cheeks.
- Pokémon Stadium: Lives in forests away from people. It stores electricity in its cheeks for zapping an enemy if it is attacked.
- Ruby: Whenever a Pikachu comes across something new, it blasts it with a jolt of electricity. If you come across a blackened berry, it's evidence that this Pokémon mistook the intensity of its charge.
- Sapphire: This Pokémon has electricity-storing pouches on its cheeks. These appear to become electrically charged during the night while Pikachu sleeps. It occasionally discharges electricity when it is dozy after waking up.
Others
In the anime, many other Pikachu have also appeared. Most notably, perhaps, is Richie's Pikachu (which is nicknamed Sparky) who has mussed hair on its forehead. There was also an episode called "Good Bye Pikachu" in which a large group of wild Pikachu appeared.
There's also an episode in which Ash gets magically transformed into a Pikachu for the last few minutes. Pikachu tickles Ash, and the episode ends. In the following episode, Ash (who still is a Pikachu) turns back into a person before the episode's actual plot starts.
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