Pikachu (Pokémon): Difference between revisions

Pikachu was designed by [[Atsuko Nishida]], a core designer at [[Game Freak]].<ref>[http://www.natsume.com/news/news_pdffiles/pid_129_HSBigNames0806.pdf Natsume: THE TALENT BEHIND HOMETOWN STORY]</ref><ref name=Pokemon.com /> Pikachu originally had a short, stout design during the initial release of {{g|Red and Green}}, but its design was altered for ''[[Pokémon the Series]]'' and subsequent entries of the games, becoming slightly taller and skinnier. According to [[Ken Sugimori]], Pikachu's design was altered to make animating its actions easier.<ref name=Pokemon.com /> Pikachu is depicted with a white belly similar to its evolved form {{p|Raichu}} in the [[Pocket Monsters Carddass Trading Cards]] {{file|Bandai Pikachu card.jpg|as seen here}}.

Gigantamax Pikachu was designed by [[James Turner]].<ref>[https://twitter.com/JamesTurner_42/status/1559091292889497602 Tweet by James Turner (@JamesTurner_42).] Posted on August 15, 2022.</ref>  

Pikachu also originally had a second-stage evolution named "Gorochu" (Japanese: '''ゴロチュウ''' ''Gorochū''), which would have had two horns and fangs.<ref>[https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/fukayomi/20180501-OYT8T50139/3/ Page 3 of Yomiuri interview] with [[Ken Sugimori]], [[Kōji Nishino]], and [[Atsuko Nishida]] (Japanese)</ref><ref name=SiliconEra>''[https://www.siliconera.com/pikachu-originally-second-evolution-called-gorochu-large-fangs-two-horns/ Pikachu Originally Had A Second Evolution Called ‘Gorochu’ With Large Fangs And Two Horns]'' — SiliconEra</ref> Sugimori stated that while there was nothing wrong with its appearance, it was nonetheless omitted from [[Pokémon Red and Green Versions]], as the staff found that the game balance was better without it, and the limited game space meant that some Pokémon originally designed to evolve twice were changed to evolve only once.<ref name=Pokemon.com>[https://web.archive.org/web/20211108083831/https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/creator-profile-the-creators-of-pikachu/ Creator Profile: The Creators of Pikachu - Pokemon.com] (archived)</ref>