Pikachu (Base Set 58)
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Pikachu (Japanese: ピカチュウ Pikachu) is a Lightning-type Basic Pokémon card. It is part of the Base Set.
Card text
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Pokédex data (Base Set print)
Pikachu - Mouse Pokémon | ||
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No. | Height | Weight |
025 | 1'4" (0.4 m) | 13 lbs. (6 kg) |
Pokédex entry | ||
When several of these Pokémon gather, their electricity can cause lightning storms. | ||
ほっぺたの両側に小さい電気袋をもつ。ピンチのときに放電する。 |
Pokédex data (Rising Rivals print)
Pikachu - Mouse Pokémon | ||
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No. | Height | Weight |
025 | 1'04" (0.4 m) | 13.2 lbs. (6 kg) |
Pokédex entry | ||
It has small electric sacs on both cheeks. If threatened, it looses electric charges from the sacs. | ||
ほっぺたの りょうがわに ちいさい でんきぶくろを もつ。 ピンチのときに ほうでんする。 |
Release information
This card was originally released in Base Set with artwork by Mitsuhiro Arita. It famously has two versions: a red-cheeked variant and the true yellow-cheeked version. The red-cheeked variant is a highly sought-after experimental print from 1st Edition and early Unlimited print runs. Both versions also have promotional variants with a gold foil "E3" stamp where the set symbol would appear in later sets. The yellow-cheeked version was available as an insert in the September 1999 issue of Nintendo Power, while the red-cheeked variant was distributed to those who visited the Nintendo booth at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) between May 13-15, 1999. Similarly to the non-promotional versions, the red-cheeked variant is considerably more valuable.
The yellow-cheeked version also has another promotional variant with a gold foil "PokéTour 1999" stamp in the top right corner of the illustration. This card was included in 'Tour packs' distributed at locations visited by the PokéTour in Australia in 1999, which were advertised to be limited to 3000 at each venue. The PokéTour comprised of two separate tours: Red, which ran on weekends from September 18 to October 9, 1999; and Blue, which ran on weekends from September 18 to October 7, 1999.
The yellow-cheeked version of this card was reprinted in the Base Set 2 reprint set, which was only released outside of Japan.
In Japan, this card was reprinted with artwork by Mina Akuhara, one of five winning entries of the CoroCoro Pokémon Snap Best Photo Contest held in Spring 1999. This version is extremely rare and the exact number in existence is unknown. It was also later reprinted with the original artwork in the Intro Pack and Intro Pack Neo.
The card was later reprinted in POP Series 2 with new artwork by Yuka Morii. The Japanese version was released as part of a Meiji Chocolate campaign in June 2005. A special reprint with redrawn art by Mitsuhiro Arita was released in the Rising Rivals expansion.
Gallery
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Trivia
- This card is popularly known as Yellow Cheeks Pikachu as a reference to the card's artwork and to differ it from Pikachu card from the Jungle expansion. This name also appeared in some instruction manuals produced by Wizards of the Coast.
- The original Japanese version depicts Pikachu with yellow cheeks. However, Wizards of the Coast, when releasing this card for the first time in English, deliberately recolored Pikachu's cheeks red in an effort to make it more recognizable. Wizards would however later reverse this decision in subsequent reprints of the card and return Pikachu's cheeks to their original yellow color; because of this reversal the original red cheeks is commonly mistaken to be an error. The later reprint in Rising Rivals depicts Pikachu with red cheeks, because it is not giving off electric sparks.
- The Japanese "Snap" print has a camera graphic where an expansion symbol would usually be.
- The text on the bottom right of the "Snap" print reads: Best Photo Contest Winners Prize Card.
- Although not part of a numbered promotional set, the Pikachu distributed at E3 in 1999 is the first English promotional card.
Origin
Thunder Jolt is a move in the Super Smash Bros. series that Pikachu can use. This card's English Pokédex entry comes from Pokémon Red and Blue, though it is slightly reworded. The Japanese entry comes from Pokémon Red and Green. The Rising Rivals Pokédex entry comes from Pokémon FireRed, which is derived from the original Pokémon Red and Green entry.
This article is part of Project TCG, a Bulbapedia project that aims to report on every aspect of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. |