Even if you don't know Pokémon, you know Pikachu--the Pokémon franchise's face since the nineties, just edging out Clefairy for the right. Pikachu is one of the most popular cartoon characters, period, with merchandise and a longstanding role in the anime and even a balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Pikachu appears on all manner of products, has a statue in New Orleans and its face on airplanes. It's even on the currency for the island nation of Niue. There are some fun factoids about Pikachu that casual fans might not be aware of. Of course, Pikachu gets a lot of attention as the franchise's official face, but some details escape the limelight. Here are some examples.
Where Does Pikachu Store Electricity?
It makes sense that Pikachu stores electricity, being an electric type--a steady 1,000 amperes, according to early promotional materials--and the fact that it stores electricity in its cheeks is a common point brought up in its Pokédex entries. However, Pikachu can also generate its own electricity -- it actually recharges while it sleeps. Pikachu can also get overcharged, like Ash's does on occasion in the anime, and need to discharge electricity to keep themselves healthy. They also use their electricity to roast berries, which apparently gives the berries a unique lightning-y taste.
Cooking with lightning isn't the only thing Pikachu can do with their electricity. In addition to cooking, battling, and causing thunderstorms when gathered in large groups, Pikachu also uses its electricity to communicate with each other and other electric Pokémon. Possibly the most impressive example of this is Ash's Pikachu in Pokémon the Movie 2000 when he communicates with Zapdos. It's definitely a useful ability, albeit one that's limited to electric Pokémon only (perhaps Pikachu was trying to chat with Ash all this time).
Are There Different Kinds of Pikachu?
Pikachu is also a Pokémon that is quite rich in alternate forms, getting just about everything except a mega evolution (although its evolution, Raichu, gets an Alolan form). For example, Pikachu is one of several Pokémon who exhibit gender dimorphism--female Pokémon have tails that end in a heart shape. There's also the cosplay and cap Pikachu -- thus far the only Pokémon that get this treatment.
Pikachu also has a unique Gigantamax form in Galar, one of only a few select Pokémon that receive one. It's not clear what makes certain Pokémon gain these unique forms, but Pikachu hit the jackpot when it comes to various alternative forms.
What Are Pikachu's Unique Moves?
Pikachu also hit the jackpot in the moves department--Volt Tackle, for example, is a move unique to the Pikachu line, and Catastropika, a Z-Move specific to Pikachu alone. But for an electric mouse Pokémon, Pikachu’s got a unique moveset. People might be familiar with the unique set of moves Pikachu can learn in the Let's Go games, but did you know Pikachu can Fly and Surf too? Yes, in games like Pokémon Battle Revolution, or with special event Pikachu, these moves become available for Pikachu to use.
Are Pikachu Rare?
Surprising, but according to an early chapter of Pokémon Adventures, Pikachu isn’t a common Pokémon. According to Red's Pokédex in that chapter, Pikachu "are few in number and exceptionally rare." The good news is, like Lapras making a comeback, Pikachu is evidently doing just fine--they can be used in every single game in the series and are native to almost every region. This is possibly an example of split canon or early-installment weirdness -- after all, the Pokémon franchise can't have its mascot going extinct on them.
Was Pikachu the First Electric Type Created?
This shouldn't come as a surprise since Pikachu is the first Electric-type in the Pokédex, but Pikachu was the first Electric Pokémon designed for the game and went through a few iterations before settling on the version we all know and love. Initially based on daifuku, a Japanese dessert, early brainstorming had Pikachu based on lightning, mice, and squirrels. The main focus in designing everyone's favorite electric mouse was making it appeal to children from any country, so designs were kept cute. Pikachu's yellow coloration was picked to be easily identifiable to children. This was a major contributing factor to it being picked as the mascot as well, since at the time there weren't very many yellow mascots.
The design choices paid off, and Pikachu is one of the most recognizable characters in the world and one of the most beloved as well. Pikachu is the frontrunning Pokémon, even over "cool" Pokémon like Mewtwo or Charizard. While he may be small, cute, and fluffy, Pikachu’s design is a winning and unique one that even those who barely understand the franchise can recognize and identify--which means the design works.
