The beloved Pikachu, an iconic character of the Pokemon franchise, was created by Atsuko Nishida and Ken Sugimori. This charming yellow creature first appeared in the 1996 Japanese video games Pokemon Red and Pokemon Green, which were later released in other countries as Pokemon Red and Pokemon Blue in 1998. Pikachu is a mouse-like Pokemon with electric abilities and has become the franchise’s mascot. Its popularity skyrocketed due to its role as the faithful companion of protagonist Ash Ketchum in the Pokemon anime series. In most vocalized appearances, Pikachu is voiced by Ikue Ōtani, although actor Ryan Reynolds portrayed it in the live-action animated film Pokemon Detective Pikachu.
It’s interesting to note that the original designs of Pikachu, the popular Pokémon character, were not based on a mouse, but on a squirrel. Atsuko Nishida, one of the original designers, shared this fact. Nishida created the original designs of Pikachu, and her creative talents are responsible for the character’s charming appearance. The name “Pikachu” is derived from two Japanese onomatopoeia words, “pikapika” and “chūchū”. “Pikapika” represents a sparkling sound, while “chūchū” resembles the sound a mouse makes. Ken Sugimori, another original designer, also played a role in the creation of Pikachu’s design. It’s amazing to think that this iconic character has such a unique origin story that sets it apart from the traditional image of a mouse. The next time you come across Pikachu, take a moment to appreciate the creative talents of Nishida and Sugimori that brought this beloved character to life.