Pokémon: 21 Crazy Details About Pikachu’s Body

Over the years, a variety of popular Pokémon have been introduced to the franchise. With so many Pokémon coming in all shapes and sizes, it is almost impossible to say which one is the best. However, when it comes to overall cuteness and marketing, no other Pokémon does it better than Pikachu.

As one of the most popular and well-known Pokémon in the franchise, Pikachu has made his mark in the world as an international celebrity.

Since he was first introduced in Pokémon Red and Green (later Pokémon Red and Blue in North America), Pikachu has made great strides as the face of the Pokémon franchise. His influence and image have spread across movies, television, video games, as well as the trading card game. Pikachu has even made appearances in other franchise, such as Super Smash Bros.

After so many years in the spotlight, it is only natural that Pikachu would evolve and adapt to the times to maintain his fame. Nowadays, there are plenty of interesting secrets hidden within Pikachu’s body. With these secrets comes some of the most interesting factors that make Pikachu such an amazing mascot. In other cases, it is possible that these secrets hidden within his body may be slightly disturbing or eerie to some fans.

From the original inspirations behind his creation to modern day actions and depictions in games and the anime, Pikachu is without a doubt the most interesting little creature in the world.

In the following article, we will look at 21 Interesting Details About Pikachu’s Body.

In the world of Pokémon, Pokémon are known to subsist mainly on diets consisting of Pokémon food, berries, as well as other treats like poffins.

It is also possible for Pokémon can eat regular human food without any negative side effects. When it comes to Pikachu, there is one food that he appears to love more than any thing else.

What exactly is this food? It is none other than ketchup.

Whether because red is his favorite color or because its name closely reassembles his trainer’s, Pikachu’s love of ketchup is anything but normal.

In one instance, after a bottle of Ketchup he is carrying gets broken, Pikachu actually cries. Who knew that Pikachu’s love of ketchup could run so deep?

With the release of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, the franchise introduced the concept of gender differences in Pokémon such as Pikachu.

Male Pikachus tails remain unchanged. On the other hand, female Pikachu were distinguished by the notch at the end of their tails. In the anime, the first female Pikachu was officially introduced in the episode “Dent and Takeshi! Gyarados Imperial Rage”.

In the episodes, “Where No Togepi Has Gone Before” and “Snivy Plays Hard To Catch”, Ash’s Pikachu is officially confirmed as male. After being targeted by female Pokémon that know the move Attract, which infatuates and immobilizes the target, Pikachu becomes unable to fight back.

Funnily enough, in one episode, Ash’s Pikachu attempts to pass off as female by attaching a fake notch to his tail.

Among the many new Pokémon introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon, Mimikyu is definitely one of the strangest. What makes this Pokémon really stand out is the fact that no one knows what it’s true form really looks like.

While it is possible to look under its costume, people are advised not to do so. For those foolish enough to do so, the worst-case scenario can prove fatal. Thankfully, Mimkyu protects itself and others thanks to its Pikachu disguise.

In order to get people’s attention, Mimkyu dresses up as Pikachu in the hopes that people will befriend it.

While the intent is innocent enough, the creepy looking disguise may have the opposite effect.

Still, the fact that Mimkyu chose to imitate Pikachu is kind of sweet… in a way.

Even among Pokémon, Pikachu ranks high as one of the cutest Pokémon ever. From its eyes to its tail, there is little about Pikachu that people don’t consider cute.

However, many Pikachu fans agree that when it comes to thier appearance, Pikachu's cheeks are one of the cutest parts of their design. Although, while these red circles may look adorable, they serve an important purpose in a Pikachu’s biology.

They are actually sacks which help Pikachu to store and recharge electrical energy.

They even recharge energy while they sleep. Upon waking up they are known to discharge any excess energy. While it may appear cute,  those unlucky enough to actually touch one can expect a very shocking surprise.

There is no question that in their natural state, Pikachu are adorable. With so many appealing qualities, is there really any way to make Pikachu any cuter? It turns out the mobile app Pokémon Go has the answer.

In Pokémon Go, it is possible for players to catch and collect special Pikachu. What makes them so special? At certain times throughout the year, it is possible to encounter and catch special event-exclusive Pikachu wearing accessories exclusive to these events.

These include Pikachu wearing Santa hats, witch hats, and most recently sunflower hats with sunglasses. Even if the player evolves these event Pikachu, they will still retain the fashion items that define their uniqueness.

Leave it to Pikachu to find new ways to get even more adorable.

In recent years, Pikachu has achieved the height of cuteness. In recent adaptations of the anime, and in several games, Pikachu’s appearance is the cutest it has been in years.

Since its first appearance, Pikachu also happens to be in the best shape of its life.

When Pikachu was first introduced back in the late '90s, its original appearance was different from what it is today. In the original games and anime, Pikachu’s body was designed with a much stockier and rotund build.

After spending so many years fighting in Pokémon battles and travelling to different regions, Pikachu underwent an intense makeover. For the franchise’s older fans, it is simply astonishing to see how much Pikachu’s build has slimmed out in the last twenty years.

In the anime, Pikachu’s limits have been pushed more than any other Pokémon. Most of the time, Pikachu is Ash’s trump card against strong opponents. His efforts have allowed Ash to win against trainers, gym leaders, members of the Elite Four, and even a few legendary Pokémon.

Ash’s Pikachu possesses a quality that separates it from the rest of its species.

Normally, Pikachu, and its evolution Raichu possess high speed and special attack stats, but are sorely lacking in defense. In the games, all it takes is just one blow from a strong physical attack to knock them out. In some cases, this can even be done with even non-super effective moves.

However, the anime's Pikachu contradicts this, as he has taken blows that would normally be fatal to regular Pikachu.

In the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, the franchise introduces the possibility that humans can be turned into Pokémon. Prior to these games, the concept was originally explored in the anime.

In the episode “Hocus Pokémon”, following an encounter with a girl who practices Pokémon Magic, Ash ends up being transformed into a Pikachu. Despite being transformed into a Pikachu, Ash still retained his ability to communicate just as he would as a human.

As a Pikachu, Ash is able to communicate on a deeper level with Pikachu and other Pokémon as well. Eventually he returns to normal in the following episode “As Clear As Crystal”.

Despite his brief time spent as a Pikachu, it is not known if Ash was able to generate his own electricity like them too.

In the anime, Pikachu’s ability to generate and store electricity has greatly evolved over the years. From simple Thundershocks to powerful Thunderbolts, Pikachu’s electrical powers have reached the point where he can generate enough voltage to harm even ground types.

In the anime, after losing his first battle with Brock, Pikachu undergoes training to improve his ability to generate electricity. During his rematch, Pikachu’s electrical attacks become strong enough to affect Brock’s Geodude and Onix, despite being ground types.

Pikachu later demonstrates this again in “Riddle Me This”. When facing Blaine's Rhydon, Pikachu launches an electrical attack directly onto Rhydon’s horn. Under normal circumstances such an attack would not work, yet in the end, Pikachu still emerges as the victor.

With the release of Pokémon Sun and Moon, the franchise also introduced Alolan forms to several Gen 1 Pokémon. Raichu just so happens to be one of those lucky Pokémon.

When a Pikachu evolves into a Raichu in the Alola region, they will evolve into their Alolan form. Not only does Raichu’s appearance change, but it gains the psychic type as well.

According to both the game and the official website, this change in Raichu is largely attributed to how as Pikachu, their diet consisted mostly of pancakes.

Who knew that a delicious food like pancakes could cause such a powerful change in Pikachu’s evolutionary line?

Additionally, according to its Pokédex entry in Ultra Moon, an Alolan Raichu’s cheeks releases a sweet fragrance.

As far as companions go, Pikachu is as loyal as they come. However, even with his above average intelligence, and loyal nature, Pikachu is still an animal. As a result, he is also driven and influenced by his biological nature.

The episode “A Bitter Pill To Swallow” adds further evidence to this fact. After Team Rocket abducts a purple Shuckle, they end up drinking the juice fermenting within its body.

By doing so, they end up exposing themselves to powerful pheromones. As a result, all Pokémon within the area fall madly in love with them and Pikachu is no exception.

In the presence of powerful pheromones, Pikachu’s judgment becomes impaired.

Even if it was the result of pheromones, fans will never be able to forget how Pikachu became attracted to Jessie.

When one thinks of Pokémon, the first thing that comes to mind is Pikachu. When Pokémon Red and Green were released in Japan, the franchise did not have an official mascot yet.

This changed in 1998, when Pokémon Yellow was released. From there, it was only a matter of time before Pikachu’s popularity reached international fame. Eventually, the decision was made to make him the franchise’s official mascot.

Interestingly, Pikachu was not the original first choice to be the franchise’s mascot. This honor was originally handed down to the Pokémon Clefairy.

However, once the anime series came around, it was decided that Pikachu was a more ideal choice for the role. Not only did his body color make it easier for children to see, but his overall color was much more appealing for a mascot than Clefairy’s.

While Pikachu is known for generating copious amounts of electricity, there is a great risk that comes with this ability.

In the episode “Hoenn Alone”, during an encounter with Team Rocket, Pikachu is captured and gets stuck to an electromagnet. Although Ash manages to get Pikachu back, by the end of the episode he falls seriously ill.

His condition is further explained in the following episode “Get The Show On The Road”.

It turns out that electromagnets can disrupt a Pikachu’s ability to store and regulate electricity.

Coming into contact with one can cause them to build up excess energy, which can also affect their visual and auditory functions. In the worst case scenario, the excess energy can cause them to overload and explode.

Thankfully, this condition can be cured by draining the excess energy from a Pikachu’s body.

In the anime, Ash and his friends have had some amazing adventures. However, while they have had their share of fun moments, they have also had sad ones too.

One of the most heartbreaking moments occurs in Pokémon: The First Movie. After confronting Mewtwo for the first time, Ash and many other trainers are forced to watch as Mewtwo captures their Pokémon and creates clones of them.

The subject of cloning is already a sensitive topic, but what happens next is much worse. After Pikachu and the other Pokémon are cloned, the originals and clones are forced to fight one another, without any real purpose.

Pikachu’s clone trying to force a reaction out of the original, only to break down in tears as he refuses to do so, is the most heartbreaking moment in the franchise.

In the episodes “Gaining Groudon” and “Scuffle of Legends”, Ash and co. are caught in the middle of a war between Teams Aqua and Magma as they fight for control over Groudon and Kyogre.

Both teams are in possession of the Red and Blue Orbs, which can control the them. Suffice to say things quickly spiral out of control. At some point during the confrontation, Pikachu absorbs the Blue Orb into himself.

As a result, he develops a connection to Groudon, allowing him to control and fight alongside him against Kyogre.

Furthermore, this also increases his own power way above its normal level. The fact that Pikachu was able to handle that type of power without any later side effects remains one of his biggest accomplishments to date.

In “Electric Shock Showdown”, Pikachu faces one his biggest hurdles when he battles against the Raichu of Gym Leader Surge. During their initial confrontation, Pikachu is quickly defeated.

In order to beat Surge, Ash attempts to convince Pikachu to evolve into a Raichu. However, the refuses to do so. For Pikachu, defeating Raichu as he is, is a matter of pride not just for himself but for all Pikachu.

Pikachu eventually succeeds in defeating Surge’s Raichou and proves that evolution does not equal might. From then on, Pikachu goes on to demonstrate in future battles that he is just as strong, if not stronger than his evolved form.

Despite having doubts in “Pika and Goliath”, Pikachu surpasses expectations and proves once more that he does not need to evolve to be strong.

Since the second-generation games, players have a chance to encounter a rare shiny Pokémon. Encountering one is no easy feat as the odds of finding one are 1 in 8192.

Under normal circumstances, Pokémon can only come in two different varieties, regular or shiny. However, the episode “In The Pink” proves that Pokémon can appear in other colors as well.

After arriving on an island, Ash and co. soon discover that the Pokémon living there are entirely pink. This transition is attributed to the unique type of berry that grows on the island.

After Pikachu takes a couple of bites of berry, his tail and cheeks turn temporarily pink.

If Pikachu had continued to eat them, his whole body would have turned permanently pink.

Over the years, Nintendo has developed a rivalry with PlayStation. When it comes to the diversity of their games, PlayStation often surpasses Nintendo. Especially when it comes to their games that appeal to mature audiences.

During the early days of their rivalry, Nintendo sought to develop more mature games for the Nintendo 64. One such example is Conker’s Bad Fur Day, which is one the most violent games the company has ever produced. Originally, the game almost featured a cameo of Pikachu. It was supposed to appear behind a desk, with only its tail being visible.

Sounds like a fun little cameo by everyone’s favorite little electric mouse, right? Unfortunately, if Pikachu had remained, it would have been severely beaten by a mob boss.

Thankfully, Nintendo decided to have Pikachu’s cameo removed from the game.

In the anime, a recurring running gag involves Pikachu using his electrical attacks to send Team Rocket “blasting off” in nearly every episode. However, he has also accidentally used them against even his own allies.

At first glance these situations appear comical. Many people would certainly jump at the chance to have a partner like Pikachu by their side. However, owning a Pikachu in real life could actually be detrimental to a person's health.

When Pikachu creates electricity, it also has the potential of generating powerful magnetic fields. Exposure to such fields can be hazardous and cause severe biological damage to humans.

Thus, as cute as they are, owning a Pikachu without taking proper countermeasures can be lethal.

When Pikachu was first introduced alongside the other first-generation Pokémon, the only other member in its lineage at the time was Raichu. This changed with the arrival of the second generation, which brought along Pikachu’s pre-evolution form Pichu.

Even after its evolutionary line was complete, several other Pokémon were later introduced that share similar traits and abilities with Pikachu and his other forms.

With every passing generation, several electrical rodent type Pokémon have joined the franchise.

This includes Plusle and Minun, Pachirisu, Emolga, Dedenne, and finally Togedemaru. One thing that all these Pokémon have in common are long ears, jagged tails, beady eyes, and especially their electrical cheek pouches.

With so many similarities between them, it is possible that they all might have some connection to Pikachu’s family tree.

Although Nintendo may own the rights to Pokémon, Game Freak and its developers are ultimately responsible for their designs. When it comes to Pikachu’s design, all credit is primarily attributed to Atsuko Nishida, an artist who formerly worked with Game Freak.

Thanks to Nishida, fans are able to appreciate the Pikachu that we know and love today. The origins of his design are not what we originally believed.

Despite being classified as a mouse Pokémon, mice were not the original inspiration Nishida used for Pikachu's design.

According to Kotaku, Nishida’s original designs for Pikachu were based on Squirrels rather than mice. Pikachu’s cheeks, which store electricity, were especially inspired by the biology of Squirrels.

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