Summary
- Pokemon Yellow started a tradition that was never broken with Pikachu as the face of the franchise and its mascot.
- Pikachu is the face of Pokemon due to its popularity, and a lot of games and other media feature it.
- Pikachu remains a staple in every mainline game and spin-off so far.
2024 marks the 28th anniversary of the Pokemon franchise, as it all began in 1996 with the Japanese versions of Pokemon Red and Pokemon Green, later turned Pokemon Red and Blue for international release. Pokemon Yellow followed shortly after, in 1999, and it was a huge departure from the original titles thanks to a non-selectable starter that couldn't even evolve - Pikachu. All mainline games in the series before and after Pokemon Yellow made players choose their desired starter between three critters. Even though Pokemon Yellow's unique starter approach didn't stick around, a long-standing tradition did - one that affects all Pokemon media.
Pokemon games have changed a lot over the years, with each generation experimenting with new mechanics, with some of them becoming huge staples for the series. Pokemon Yellow didn't reinvent the wheel, but its international release alongside the start of the Pokemon anime in 1999 outside of Japan brewed the perfect storm for the franchise to have its face and mascot in one. This is the iconic Electric-type mon Pikachu, who was the star of Pokemon anime together with Ash. It was also the only starter in Pokemon Yellow, emulating some of the story elements from the anime. Pikachu then became the face of the franchise in a way that's rooted in the series' DNA, as the franchise as a whole proves.
Japanese VA for Ash Ketchum Denies Claim of Bad Relationship with Pikachu’s VA
After the GAME FREAK leak, sources claimed that the relationship between the two voice actresses were the reason that Ash's story was completed.
Pokemon Yellow Started a Huge Tradition Was Never Broken
Pikachu As The Undisputed Face of Pokemon Explained
Ever since Pokemon Yellow, Pikachu has become one of the most beloved critters worldwide, let alone within the franchise itself. Pikachu merchandise is one of the best-selling with every release, regardless of the Pokemon's level of presence in the medium - from plushes of Pikachu being made for each real-life festivity to apparel and even gaming gadgets bearing its likeness. The fact that Pikachu is the mascot of the series is not something the anime or the games can truly ignore, and it shows in multiple ways.
After Pikachu and Ash's departure from the Pokemon anime, Pikachu is still very much present in the current era of the show as Captain Pikachu, showing how The Pokemon Company can't truly move away from it. Not only that, but mainline games have never left Pikachu behind even after the Pokedex cut, with it appearing in all titles up until Gen 9. Pikachu also spawned its own line of critters, as Gen 2-through-9 all included the so-called "Pika-clones," Pokemon inspired by Pikachu in some shape or form that are typically Electric. These Pokemon include:
- Pichu, Gen 2
- Plusle and Minun, Gen 3
- Pachirisu, Gen 4
- Emolga, Gen 5
- Dedenne, Gen 6
- Togedemaru, Gen 7
- Morpeko, Gen 8
- Pawmi, Pawmo, and Pawmot, Gen 9
Some could argue that Gen 7's Mimikyu is also a Pika-clone due to its appearance, but it wears a Pikachu costume and is not Electric-type, like the rest of the Pikachu-related critters. Still, Mimikyu is further proof that Pikachu is the undisputed face of the franchise, as it masks itself as a Pikachu in order to be accepted and loved by other Pokemon and humans, according to the Pokedex.
Even in the movies, Pikachu is always present in some way. Detective Pikachu is a full-fledged series with the critter as its protagonist, for example, and it even spawned a series of games.
How Pokemon Yellow's Pikachu Set a 25-Year Trend
Pokemon Yellow changed the franchise forever 25 years ago by allowing players to travel across Kanto with Pikachu as their main partner. Much like the Pokemon show, Pokemon Yellow's Pikachu followed players around outside of its Poke Ball, and with it getting its own dedicated Gen 1 sprite, it started the tradition of featuring this Electric mouse-like Pokemon in every mainline game and a plethora of spin-offs. It remains to be seen whether the Pikachu line will be cut from Pokemon Gen 10, but based on the teaser for Pokemon Legends: Z-A, the next installment of the series looks set to include it yet again.
- Released
- October 18, 1999
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Game Freak
- Publisher(s)
- Game Freak
- Franchise
- Pokemon
WHERE TO PLAY
You've finally been granted your Pokemon trainer's license, and now you're on your way to becoming the world's greatest Pokemon trainer! The shockingly-cute Pikachu fags along behind you as you search the enormous world for monsters to train and evolve. Face off against Blastoise's torrential water gun. Stand strong when facing Pidgeot's stormy Gust. Develop the ultimate Pokemon strategy to defeat the eight GYM leaders and become the greatest Pokemon Master of all time!
• Battle a friend in the new Colosseum 2 for the Pika Cup, Petit Cup and Poke Cup titles (requires 2 Yellow versions and a Game Link cable - each sold separately).
• Print out your Pokedex data with a Game Boy Printer and a Game Link cable (sold separately).
• Trade Pokemon with your friends using a Game Link cable. You'll need to trade with both the Red and Blue versions to catch all 150 Pokémon and complete your Pokedex!
• Requires basic reading skills to fully enjoy the entertaining story.
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Strategy, JRPG
