Pichu
Encyclopedia
is a Pokémon species in Nintendo
and Game Freak
's Pokémon
franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori
, Pichu first appeared in the video games Pokémon Gold and Silver
and subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise. There have been multiple voice actors for Pichu. The two Pichu Brothers characters were voiced by Yumi Tōma
and Satomi Kōrogi (who voiced Pichu in Super Smash Bros. Melee
), while a spiky-eared Pichu from the film Arceus and the Jewel of Life was voiced by Shōko Nakagawa
.
Known as the "Tiny Mouse" species of the Pokémon
series, Pichu is the pre-evolved version of Pikachu
. Pichu made its debut appearance in Pokémon Gold and Silver
and has since made appearances in the series. Ever since its introduction to the series, Pichu was seen as a sidekick like character towards Pikachu, being often seen in the spinnoff games alongside it in games like Pokémon Pinball. The Pokémon has been featured in Super Smash Bros. Melee
where it was a playable character.
Pichu, known as the "Tiny Mouse" species of Pokémon, are the pre-evolved version of Pikachu
. Pichu is a small ground-dwelling rodent. Its fur is very short, and it has bright yellow coloration. The tips of its large ears are black, and it has additional black markings on its neck and short tail. They are not skilled at storing electricity, so when amused or startled, they often discharge
jolts of electricity strong enough to affect adult humans. This lack of control becomes more stable as they grow older. The electricity that they do manage to keep stored is limited by their small electrical pouches in their cheeks. When the air is dry or on stormy days, they charge much more easily, leaving the sound of crackling static electricity emanating from them. They play with each other by touching tails to set off sparks, which also acts as a test of courage. They run the risk of shorting each other out, and scaring themselves into a crying fit with the flash of sparks that emanates from them.
he is yellow and he pess
, and is one of many pre-evolutions introduced into the series. It was one of the earliest Pokémon revealed for Gold and Silver, including Cleffa and Igglybuff. Pichu has since appeared in every subsequent main Pokémon title. Pichu also appears in other Pokémon titles, including Pokémon Channel
, Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire
, Pokémon Trozei!
, the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
titles, the Pokémon Ranger
titles, and PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure. At one point, a Nintendo GameCube
game called Pichu Bros: Party Panic was in development but never released, featuring Pichu as the main character. Instead, the game was integrated into Pokémon Channel as an important part of the story-line. In Pokémon Stadium 2
Pichu stars in the mini-game "Pichu's Powerplant". Pichu makes a prominent appearance in Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs
where it is nicknamed "Ukelele Pichu" as the sidekick to the player's character. Pichu is also an unlockable character in Super Smash Bros. Melee
. It has a "cloned" moveset to Pikachu
's, but unlike Pikachu, Electric attacks that Pichu uses will cause it to take damage. In Pokémon Pinball: Ruby and Sapphire, Pichu will assist Pikachu on Ball-Saver duty for 50 coins or as a prize in the slot machine.
. The Pichu Brothers are a pair of Pichu who have appeared in several anime shorts, including Pikachu & Pichu, Camp Pikachu, several episodes of Pokémon Chronicles
, and the Pokémon Channel
special Pichu Bros. in Party Panic. One has a scruff of fur while the other does not. "Spiky-Eared Pichu", appeared in Arceus and the Jewel of Life. She helped Pikachu and Piplup find the keys for the jail cell that held Ash
, Dawn, Brock
, and Damos. "Ukulele Pichu" appeared in the Pokémon Ranger: Tracks of Light anime special. In the Pokémon Adventures
manga, Gold owns a Pichu that came from an egg produced by Red and Yellow's Pikachu. It hatches when Gold believes that Professor Oak had given him an ability which causes it to hatch. It used a thunder attack and managed to crack the GS ball which helped Celebi
. In the Emerald arc, it teamed up with its parents, to use Volt Tackle on the Kyogre created by Guile Hideout's wish.
was released by Nintendo
. A Pikachu colored Pichu was available for download using Wi-fi that, when taken to the Ilex Forest in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
, unlocks a Spiky-eared Pichu. GameSpot
editor Frank Provo called Pichu "cute". UGO Networks criticized Pichu as having lost its popularity before the release of Super Smash Bros. Melee
, with its only redeeming quality being its resemblance to Pikachu
. Destructoid
's Jonathan Holmes wrote that he was "pumped to get these two cute little bastards" in reference to two promotional Pichus. A staff member for IGN
wrote that Pichu was "sure to rival Marill and Pikachu as the new favorite". IGN's Pokémon Chick wrote that while some people say it's "cuter than Pikachu", she found it "more worthless than Pikachu". She also described it as "stomach-turningly adorable or overmarketed". IGN's Kristine Steiner wrote that the Ukelele Pichu found in Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs
was "damned cute". Official Nintendo Magazines Thomas East wrote that the "best thing about this [Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs] is that you'll be assisted by Ukelele Pichu". Gamer Tell's Jenni Lada wrote that the Ukelele Pichu was "incredibly adorable".
IGN's Lucas M. Thomas speculated that Pichu could return as a veteran fighter in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
. He also wrote that Pichu was the least popular fighter in Super Smash Bros. Melee for many players due to being a clone and for damaging itself. He added that because Pichu was a representative of Gold and Silver in Melee, it would make no sense to include it in Brawl. However, he noted that some fans proposed a "Pichu Bros" which he would only approve of only if it had "significant changes". IGN AU's Narayan Pattison wrote that Pichu was not likely to be missed in Brawl. IGN AU's Patrick Kolan called Pichu in Melee a rehash.
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
and Game Freak
Game Freak
is a Japanese video game developer that currently creates games exclusively for Nintendo. It has developed the Pokémon series of role-playing games and several other games.-History:...
's Pokémon
Pokémon
is a media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video...
franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori
Ken Sugimori
is a Japanese video game designer, illustrator, manga artist, and director. He is most famous as the character designer and art director for the Pokémon franchise. Sugimori is also credited with the art direction for other titles, including Pulseman. Sugimori drew all of the original 151 Pokémon...
, Pichu first appeared in the video games Pokémon Gold and Silver
Pokémon Gold and Silver
are the second installments of the Pokémon series of role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Color. The games have dual-mode capabilities allowing them to also be played on earlier Game Boy models. They were first released in Japan in 1999 and to...
and subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise. There have been multiple voice actors for Pichu. The two Pichu Brothers characters were voiced by Yumi Tōma
Yumi Toma
is a Japanese singer and voice actresss from Chiba. She has been part of the singing group Goddess Family Club. Tōma also works for Aoni Production. Because of her mature voice, she often plays strong, beautiful women....
and Satomi Kōrogi (who voiced Pichu in Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee, known in Japan as , often abbreviated as SSBM or simply as Melee, is a crossover fighting game released for the Nintendo GameCube shortly after its launch in . It is the successor to the Nintendo 64 game Super Smash Bros., and the predecessor to the Wii game Super Smash...
), while a spiky-eared Pichu from the film Arceus and the Jewel of Life was voiced by Shōko Nakagawa
Shoko Nakagawa
is a Japanese idol, tarento, actress, voice actress, illustrator, and singer. She is best known as the presenter of Pokémon Sunday. She is the daughter of Katsuhiko Nakagawa, a celebrity in Japan in the 1980s....
.
Known as the "Tiny Mouse" species of the Pokémon
Pokémon
is a media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video...
series, Pichu is the pre-evolved version of Pikachu
Pikachu
is one of the species of Pokémon creatures from the Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. As do all Pokémon, Pikachu fight other Pokémon in battles central to the anime, manga, and games of the series...
. Pichu made its debut appearance in Pokémon Gold and Silver
Pokémon Gold and Silver
are the second installments of the Pokémon series of role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Color. The games have dual-mode capabilities allowing them to also be played on earlier Game Boy models. They were first released in Japan in 1999 and to...
and has since made appearances in the series. Ever since its introduction to the series, Pichu was seen as a sidekick like character towards Pikachu, being often seen in the spinnoff games alongside it in games like Pokémon Pinball. The Pokémon has been featured in Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee, known in Japan as , often abbreviated as SSBM or simply as Melee, is a crossover fighting game released for the Nintendo GameCube shortly after its launch in . It is the successor to the Nintendo 64 game Super Smash Bros., and the predecessor to the Wii game Super Smash...
where it was a playable character.
Concept and characteristics
In an interview, Junichi Masuda noted that he and Ken Sugimori wanted to create a Pokémon to be the "next" Pikachu, but were initially having a difficult time creating a design that they felt would be as appealing. After long discussion, they decided to create a Pokémon that evolved into Pikachu, and Sugimori developed Pichu as a result. In the same interview, Masuda noted that Pichu was a pokémon "close to his heart" due to the "well thought out" design process. In another interview, Masuda stated that Pichu is his favorite Pokémon.Pichu, known as the "Tiny Mouse" species of Pokémon, are the pre-evolved version of Pikachu
Pikachu
is one of the species of Pokémon creatures from the Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. As do all Pokémon, Pikachu fight other Pokémon in battles central to the anime, manga, and games of the series...
. Pichu is a small ground-dwelling rodent. Its fur is very short, and it has bright yellow coloration. The tips of its large ears are black, and it has additional black markings on its neck and short tail. They are not skilled at storing electricity, so when amused or startled, they often discharge
Electrostatic discharge
Electrostatic discharge is a serious issue in solid state electronics, such as integrated circuits. Integrated circuits are made from semiconductor materials such as silicon and insulating materials such as silicon dioxide...
jolts of electricity strong enough to affect adult humans. This lack of control becomes more stable as they grow older. The electricity that they do manage to keep stored is limited by their small electrical pouches in their cheeks. When the air is dry or on stormy days, they charge much more easily, leaving the sound of crackling static electricity emanating from them. They play with each other by touching tails to set off sparks, which also acts as a test of courage. They run the risk of shorting each other out, and scaring themselves into a crying fit with the flash of sparks that emanates from them.
he is yellow and he pess
In the video games
Pichu first appeared in Pokémon Gold and SilverPokémon Gold and Silver
are the second installments of the Pokémon series of role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Color. The games have dual-mode capabilities allowing them to also be played on earlier Game Boy models. They were first released in Japan in 1999 and to...
, and is one of many pre-evolutions introduced into the series. It was one of the earliest Pokémon revealed for Gold and Silver, including Cleffa and Igglybuff. Pichu has since appeared in every subsequent main Pokémon title. Pichu also appears in other Pokémon titles, including Pokémon Channel
Pokémon Channel
Pokémon Channel, released in Japan as is a virtual pet video game for the GameCube, developed by Ambrella. Its focus is the adventures the player has with Pikachu, most of them involving a new television network...
, Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire is a pinball game developed by Jupiter and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance handheld game console. It was first revealed at E3 in 2003, and was released in the same year – on August 1, August 25, and November 14 in Japan, North America, and PAL regions...
, Pokémon Trozei!
Pokémon Trozei!
, released as Pokémon Link! in Europe, is a Pokémon-themed puzzle video game for the Nintendo DS. It was released in Japan on October 20, 2005, in North America on March 6, 2006, in Australia on March 30, 2006, and in Europe on May 5, 2006.-Gameplay:...
, the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
- Manga :*Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team, manga adaption of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team*Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blazing Exploration Team, manga adaption of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness, and Explorers of Sky.-...
titles, the Pokémon Ranger
Pokémon Ranger
is an action/role-playing video game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS video game console. The game was released at various dates, varying between continents. The game was first released in Japan on March 22, 2006 and was later released in North America and...
titles, and PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure. At one point, a Nintendo GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
game called Pichu Bros: Party Panic was in development but never released, featuring Pichu as the main character. Instead, the game was integrated into Pokémon Channel as an important part of the story-line. In Pokémon Stadium 2
Pokémon Stadium 2
Pokémon Stadium 2, known as in Japan, is a video game for the Nintendo 64. It features all 251 Pokémon from the first and second generations. It was released in North America as simply Pokémon Stadium 2, as it was the second Stadium game to be released there. In Japan, Pokémon Stadium Kin Gin was...
Pichu stars in the mini-game "Pichu's Powerplant". Pichu makes a prominent appearance in Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs
is an action role-playing game video game for the Nintendo DS. It is the sequel of Pokémon Ranger and Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia and third installment of its series. It was released in Japan on March 6, 2010, North America on October 4, 2010, and Europe on November 5, 2010. Gameplay revolves...
where it is nicknamed "Ukelele Pichu" as the sidekick to the player's character. Pichu is also an unlockable character in Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee, known in Japan as , often abbreviated as SSBM or simply as Melee, is a crossover fighting game released for the Nintendo GameCube shortly after its launch in . It is the successor to the Nintendo 64 game Super Smash Bros., and the predecessor to the Wii game Super Smash...
. It has a "cloned" moveset to Pikachu
Pikachu
is one of the species of Pokémon creatures from the Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. As do all Pokémon, Pikachu fight other Pokémon in battles central to the anime, manga, and games of the series...
's, but unlike Pikachu, Electric attacks that Pichu uses will cause it to take damage. In Pokémon Pinball: Ruby and Sapphire, Pichu will assist Pikachu on Ball-Saver duty for 50 coins or as a prize in the slot machine.
In other media
Pichu's debut appearance in the anime was in The Apple Corp, where many were stealing apples from an apple orchardOrchard
An orchard is an intentional planting of trees or shrubs that is maintained for food production. Orchards comprise fruit or nut-producing trees which are grown for commercial production. Orchards are also sometimes a feature of large gardens, where they serve an aesthetic as well as a productive...
. The Pichu Brothers are a pair of Pichu who have appeared in several anime shorts, including Pikachu & Pichu, Camp Pikachu, several episodes of Pokémon Chronicles
Pokémon Chronicles
Pokémon Chronicles, known in Japan as , is a spin-off series of the Pokémon anime, revolving around characters other than Ash Ketchum.It first aired in Britain on Toonami, where the initial run has now finished. The only places where episodes are currently airing for the first time are the...
, and the Pokémon Channel
Pokémon Channel
Pokémon Channel, released in Japan as is a virtual pet video game for the GameCube, developed by Ambrella. Its focus is the adventures the player has with Pikachu, most of them involving a new television network...
special Pichu Bros. in Party Panic. One has a scruff of fur while the other does not. "Spiky-Eared Pichu", appeared in Arceus and the Jewel of Life. She helped Pikachu and Piplup find the keys for the jail cell that held Ash
Ash Ketchum
Ash Ketchum, known as for all appearances in Japan, is a fictional character in the Pokémon franchise owned by Nintendo. He was created by, and named after, Satoshi Tajiri as the protagonist of the anime and manga series, as well as on various merchandise related to the franchise...
, Dawn, Brock
Brock (Pokémon)
Brock, known as in Japanese versions, is a video game character in the Pokémon franchise. In the Pokémon video games, he is the Gym Leader of Pewter City and mainly uses Rock -type Pokémon; in the anime series, he left his position as a Gym Leader to travel alongside Ash Ketchum and become a...
, and Damos. "Ukulele Pichu" appeared in the Pokémon Ranger: Tracks of Light anime special. In the Pokémon Adventures
Pokémon Adventures
Pokémon Adventures, released in Japan as , is a Pokémon-related manga based on the video games. Satoshi Tajiri once stated that the Pocket Monsters Special series is closest to what he imagined the Pokémon world to be:...
manga, Gold owns a Pichu that came from an egg produced by Red and Yellow's Pikachu. It hatches when Gold believes that Professor Oak had given him an ability which causes it to hatch. It used a thunder attack and managed to crack the GS ball which helped Celebi
Celebi (Pokémon)
is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, they first appeared in the video games Pokémon Gold and Silver and subsequent sequels. They have later appeared in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise...
. In the Emerald arc, it teamed up with its parents, to use Volt Tackle on the Kyogre created by Guile Hideout's wish.
Reception
A Pikachu and Pichu-themed Game Boy ColorGame Boy Color
The is Nintendo's successor to the 8-bit Game Boy handheld game console, and was released on October 21, 1998 in Japan, November 19, 1998 in North America, November 23, 1998 in Europe and November 27, 1998 in the United Kingdom. It features a color screen and is slightly thicker and taller than...
was released by Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
. A Pikachu colored Pichu was available for download using Wi-fi that, when taken to the Ilex Forest in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
are enhanced remakes of the 1999 video games Pokémon Gold and Silver. The games are part of the Pokémon series of role-playing video games, and were developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS...
, unlocks a Spiky-eared Pichu. GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
editor Frank Provo called Pichu "cute". UGO Networks criticized Pichu as having lost its popularity before the release of Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee, known in Japan as , often abbreviated as SSBM or simply as Melee, is a crossover fighting game released for the Nintendo GameCube shortly after its launch in . It is the successor to the Nintendo 64 game Super Smash Bros., and the predecessor to the Wii game Super Smash...
, with its only redeeming quality being its resemblance to Pikachu
Pikachu
is one of the species of Pokémon creatures from the Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. As do all Pokémon, Pikachu fight other Pokémon in battles central to the anime, manga, and games of the series...
. Destructoid
Destructoid
Destructoid is an independent video game-focused blog based in San Francisco, California that was founded in March 2006. It has since grown into one of the most widely read video game sites on the Internet, reaching more than 3 million unique visitors per month...
's Jonathan Holmes wrote that he was "pumped to get these two cute little bastards" in reference to two promotional Pichus. A staff member for IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
wrote that Pichu was "sure to rival Marill and Pikachu as the new favorite". IGN's Pokémon Chick wrote that while some people say it's "cuter than Pikachu", she found it "more worthless than Pikachu". She also described it as "stomach-turningly adorable or overmarketed". IGN's Kristine Steiner wrote that the Ukelele Pichu found in Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs
is an action role-playing game video game for the Nintendo DS. It is the sequel of Pokémon Ranger and Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia and third installment of its series. It was released in Japan on March 6, 2010, North America on October 4, 2010, and Europe on November 5, 2010. Gameplay revolves...
was "damned cute". Official Nintendo Magazines Thomas East wrote that the "best thing about this [Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs] is that you'll be assisted by Ukelele Pichu". Gamer Tell's Jenni Lada wrote that the Ukelele Pichu was "incredibly adorable".
IGN's Lucas M. Thomas speculated that Pichu could return as a veteran fighter in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Smash Bros. Brawl, known in Japan as , often abbreviated as SSBB or simply as Brawl, is the third installment in the Super Smash Bros. series of crossover fighting games, developed by an ad hoc development team consisting of Sora, Game Arts and staff from other developers, and published by...
. He also wrote that Pichu was the least popular fighter in Super Smash Bros. Melee for many players due to being a clone and for damaging itself. He added that because Pichu was a representative of Gold and Silver in Melee, it would make no sense to include it in Brawl. However, he noted that some fans proposed a "Pichu Bros" which he would only approve of only if it had "significant changes". IGN AU's Narayan Pattison wrote that Pichu was not likely to be missed in Brawl. IGN AU's Patrick Kolan called Pichu in Melee a rehash.