In the run-up to Pokemon Day – an anniversary created to have fun the primary Pokemon online game, launched on February 27 1996 – a small however vital piece of news was introduced.
There is to be a brand new Pikachu character, named Captain Pikachu. This Pikachu will accomplice with a brand new human, Professor Friede, in an animated collection primarily based on the newest online game: Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.
The pokemon has been a worldwide advertising software for Nintendo merchandise for over 25 years. Fans are used to seeing Pikachu wearing all method of outfits, together with 2019’s Detective Pikachu.
However, the announcement adopted a seismic shift within the animated franchise. Pikachu’s longtime baby accomplice, Ash, lastly achieved his purpose of turning into a Pokemon Champion on the finish of 2022. As a end result, the Pokemon Company confirmed that the character would bow out of the tv collection in early 2023.
In response, followers on the social media platform Reddit requested what would occur to Pikachu. How may he probably proceed with out Ash in future tales?
Read extra: Pokemon’s Ash wins World Championship after 25 years – this is why the franchise remains to be capturing followers
Without the enduring character, Nintendo would lose extra than simply an essential piece of mental property – they might lose the guts of what makes the franchise so endearing, so it is no shock to see Pikachu’s return, albeit in a special guise.
Why is Pikachu so common?
Pikachu was not essentially destined for excellent reputation. He was not a standout “pocket monster” in Nintendo’s first Game Boy Pokemon title, Red and Green, however was one amongst 151 creatures that kids may select to play with.
The Pokemon online game was shortly adopted by the buying and selling card sport in October 1996, the place gamers may decide from a spread of playing cards to battle or commerce with a good friend.
Early audiences have been solely home as the sport was not out there outdoors Japan. However, when Kubo Masakazu, a comic book guide writer and manga fanatic, was employed by Nintendo to take Pokemon past the nationwide market, he instantly noticed the potential to construct a worldwide franchise and viewers round one character: Pikachu.
Masakazu developed the animated tv collection and films, focusing the tales on a trio of younger travellers – Ash, Misty and Brock. Each traveller had a accomplice pokemon that will by no means be tucked away in a pokeball (gadgets during which pokemon are captured and saved), with personalities of their very own.
As writer Anne Allison described in Millennial Monsters (2006), this new empire of leisure (video games, buying and selling playing cards, a TV present and movies) was primarily based on Masakazu’s imaginative and prescient of concord. This was proven in the way in which people and pocket monsters stay facet by facet, treating one another with kindness and love. The bond between Ash and Pikachu is on the coronary heart of Pokemon’s world success.
Kawaii, or cuteness, is a worthwhile Japanese cultural export and the Pikachu character personifies its success. Pikachu’s enchantment lies within the character’s design, backed up by his emotional resonance, which is developed within the animated collection and movies.
Pikachu’s color and body are simply recognisable and may be redrawn in any type. The title is catchy and repeatable, whether or not or not you’re a native Japanese speaker. The character is small and huggable and helps kids develop emotions of attachment, nurturance and intimacy once they play with Pikachu toys.
These visible options are bolstered by Pikachu’s character and powers. He is loyal to Ash, courageous in entrance of numerous challenges and conveys feelings overtly by way of facial expressions, noises and fixed affirmation of who he’s: “Pika, Pika, Pikachu!”
Famously, within the animated collection, Ash’s Pikachu doesn’t want to evolve (the method by way of which a pokemon can change type, develop stronger and achieve new talents). This goes in opposition to the inner logic of the sport the place gamers should take care of and evolve their pokemon to assist them win extra battles.
Therefore, Pikachu’s power comes from his particular person identification because the Pikachu, not a Pikachu. Ash’s Pikachu is exclusive. So whereas numerous others have been encountered within the video games and animated collection, they aren’t the identical as his Pikachu. Or, extra importantly, they aren’t the identical as our Pikachu.
The multiplicity of the character – that he’s each the identical as and totally different from different variations in the identical leisure universe – permits Pokemon to create new tales and situations with out disrupting the general backstory or inherent qualities of the Pikachu character.
This is how Pikachu has managed to be each the picture of a worldwide company model and a distinctly acquainted and particular person accomplice on Ash’s journey. The kids who grew up watching his adventures with Ash at the moment are adults who can nonetheless reconnect with him as a result of their relationship with the character was developed over a number of video games, TV collection and movies.
Now that Ash is retiring, our Pikachu can too. His reminiscence will proceed within the minds of multi-generational followers whereas the kawaii Nintendo nonetheless desires to export will proceed by way of the acquainted design and distinct new character of his successor: Captain Pikachu.
Author: Lincoln Geraghty – Professor of Media Cultures, University of Portsmouth