Ash's Pikachu (M20)

018Pidgeot.png It has been suggested that this article be moved to Ash's Pikachu (movie).
Please discuss whether or not to move it on its talk page.

Ash's Pikachu
サトシのピカチュウ Satoshi's Pikachu
Bag Poké Ball SV Sprite.png
Ash Pikachu M21.png
Ash's Pikachu
Debuts in I Choose You!
Caught at Professor Oak's Laboratory
Gender Male[1]
Ability Unknown[2]
Current location With Ash
HOME025.png
This Pokémon has not evolved.
Voice actor Japanese English
As Pikachu Ikue Otani Ikue Otani
Kate Bristol*

Ash's Pikachu (Japanese: サトシのピカチュウ Satoshi's Pikachu) is the first Pokémon that Ash obtained on his journey as a Pokémon Trainer, given to Ash by Professor Oak. He appeared in I Choose You!, The Power of Us, and Secrets of the Jungle, Pokémon movies set in a different continuity from the main series. Despite having largely the same personality as the Pikachu of the main series and starting out his journey with Ash in a similar way, the rest of Pikachu's story developed in quite a different way.

In the movies

History

I Choose You!

On his first day as a Pokémon Trainer, Ash learned from Professor Oak that the Kanto first partner Pokémon, Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle, had already been taken by other Trainers from Pallet Town. Professor Oak revealed there was still one Pokémon left to give away. This turned out to be Pikachu, who acted very stubborn and showed no particular interest in Ash. Despite this, Ash chose Pikachu to be his partner, and together, they set out on their journey.

Pikachu initially gave the inexperienced Trainer a hard time, refusing to listen to his commands. It was not until Ash accidentally angered a flock of wild Spearow and Ash protected Pikachu from them that they started to bond. After this, they encountered Ho-Oh and Ash vowed to encounter Ho-Oh again someday with Pikachu. Pikachu would subsequently become a trusted partner for Ash, helping him catch a Caterpie and win Badges. Ash and Pikachu eventually met two other Trainers, named Verity and Sorrel, and found another friend in an abandoned Charmander.

After losing a battle against a Trainer named Cross, Ash started to question himself and his Pokémon and even wished he had started out with a Bulbasaur or Squirtle instead of Pikachu. Luckily, a mysterious Pokémon called Marshadow helped Ash see the error in his new ways by pulling him into a dream where Pikachu was completely absent. Ash apologized to Pikachu and they continued their journey towards the Raizen Mountains to see Ho-Oh again.

 
Pikachu and Ash

Atop the Raizen Mountains at Mount Tensei, Ash's Rainbow Wing became corrupted when Cross appeared and placed it on Rainbow Rock with his evil heart. Marshadow, in turn, became corrupted by the Rainbow Wing and managed to possess a group of nearby Pokémon. Ash used Pikachu to battle against Marshadow, but the Gloomdweller Pokémon proved to be too powerful and it eventually won, but not without exhausting itself in the process. Ash grabbed the injured Pikachu to keep out of harm from Marshadow's army, only for the two to run into a dead end.

When Ash attempted to get Pikachu to return to his Poké Ball for safety, he refused. Pikachu, appearing to speak, revealed to Ash that he wished to stay by his side forever. Mirroring the start of their journey, Ash tried to protect Pikachu by standing in the way of the attacks. He eventually managed to recall Pikachu into his Poké Ball. Taking the full blast, Ash's body started to disappear, with only his consciousness surviving in a spirit world. Pikachu took hold of Ash's hat and started to cry, with the corrupted Rainbow Wing withering away while launching a massive Thunderbolt around the pinnacle, freeing Marshadow and the other Pokémon he hit from the corrupted wing's control.

Ash could hear Pikachu's cries in the spirit world and ran towards his voice. This caused his body to regenerate in the real world. Noticing this, Pikachu ran towards Ash and reunited with him, fully reviving him. After placing a new Rainbow Wing atop Rainbow Rock with his pure heart, Ho-Oh finally appeared. Ash and Pikachu had a fierce battle with Ho-Oh until the sun set. Sometime after, Ash and Pikachu said their goodbyes to Verity and Sorrel, who continued on their own journeys. Pikachu continued to travel with Ash, aiding him in his dream to become a Pokémon Master.

The Power of Us

Eventually, Pikachu and Ash visited Fula City in order to attend the Wind Festival. Pikachu assisted Ash during the local Pokémon Catch Race, where he helped free a Tyranitar that was caught in some ropes and went on a rampage as a result.

Pikachu was later used by Risa, a beginning Trainer who lacked Pokémon of her own, to battle a wild Eevee, which she was ultimately able to catch.

Pikachu later protected Ash from being hit by Zeraora's Plasma Fists attack and proceeded to battle with the Thunderclap Pokémon, but the battle stopped when Zeraora accidentally launched a Plasma Fists attack at the wild Pokémon and Ash jumped in to save them. He was later used to recharge the sprinkler system, which was later used to extinguish the fire caused by Team Rocket dropping a sample of Effect Spore solution.

  This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Expansion of M23 and JNS05 role

Secrets of the Jungle

Pikachu and Ash next traveled to the Forest of Okoya, where they met Koko.

Distant Blue Sky!

Pikachu reappeared in the fifth special episode of Pokémon Journeys: The Series.

Personality and characteristics

 
Pikachu's imitation skills

Much like the Pikachu of the main series, Pikachu was initially difficult and uninterested in Ash during the start of their journey, but he became extremely loyal to him after he protected him from a flock of Spearow. He also took on Ash's interest and enthusiasm in battling. In addition, the two had a very close bond, to the point where Pikachu issued a massive Thunderbolt in outrage at Ash's death, and then started to cry.

Like the Pikachu from the main series, Pikachu has demonstrated an uncanny ability to imitate other Pokémon, as seen when he imitated a Trainer's Ivysaur.

Moves used

 
Using Iron Tail
Move First Used In
Thunderbolt I Choose You!
Quick Attack I Choose You!
Iron Tail I Choose You!
A shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Voice actors

Language Voice actor
Japanese 大谷育江 Ikue Otani
English Ikue Otani


Speaking scene

Language Voice actor
Japanese 大谷育江 Ikue Otani
English Kate Bristol
Finnish Myy Lohi
German Sabine Bohlmann
Italian Sabrina Bonfitto
Polish Antonina Krylik
Brazilian Portuguese Lhays Macedo
Spanish Latin America Ana Lobo
Spain Elena Palacios


Artwork

 
Official artwork from
The Power of Us

In the games

Pikachu in a cap

 
Artwork of Partner Cap Pikachu
Main article: Pikachu in a cap

Following the six cap-wearing event Pikachu distributed in celebration of both the twentieth Pokémon movie and the 20th anniversary of the Pokémon anime (all of which were based on Ash’s Pikachu from the main anime), a seventh Pikachu in a cap, known as the Partner Cap Pikachu, based on this Pikachu and wearing the hat Ash wears in the twentieth movie, debuted in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. Like his predecessors, this Pikachu is always male and cannot evolve. His moveset is identical to the one he had in the movie in which he appeared, and his level corrusponds to the number of said movie. Also like the others, he has access to the exclusive Z-Crystal, Pikashunium Z, and its Z-Move, 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt.

In Japan, it was distributed via QR Code on a special Pokémon Ga-Olé disc. In the Americas, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, it was distributed via a QR Code that was given to those who attend screenings of the 20th movie. Unlike the other six, this Pikachu is only available in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, and cannot be transferred to Pokémon Sun and Moon.

In Generation VIII, Partner Cap Pikachu was distributed via serial code from September 29 to November 30, 2020. The distribution was part of a promotion celebrating Pokémon Journeys: The Series's timeslot change to Fridays in Japan.

In the manga

 
Ash's Pikachu in I Choose You!

Movie adaptations

I Choose You!

Ash's Pikachu appeared in the manga adaptation of the 20th movie. His role is largely the same as it was in the movie.

Moves used
 
Using Iron Tail
Move First Used In
Thunderbolt I Choose You!
Quick Attack I Choose You!
Iron Tail I Choose You!
A shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Pocket Monsters the Movie: I Choose You! Remix

Pikachu appeared in ICYR1, where he took on an island trial on Poni Island with Ash. During the trial, they encountered a Totem Kommo-o and battled it. In the middle of the battle, Ash had a flashback of the day that he met Pikachu.

During the flashback, Ash ran to Professor Oak's Laboratory as he was late in getting his first Pokémon. Since three of the Pokémon Professor Oak provided weren't available, Ash had to choose Pikachu in which they got off on a rocky start. During their travels, Ash accidentally angered a Spearow when he accidentally threw a rock at it. This caused a flock of Spearow to chase after the two. With Ash's determination, Pikachu was able to save Ash by defeating the Spearow flock. With that done, Ash and Pikachu saw Ho-Oh flying by them.

Back in the present, Ash still had to deal with Kommo-o. After Ash remembered the day that he met Pikachu, he was able to defeat Kommo-o with Pikachu using 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt.

Moves used
Z-Moves used
Picture Z-Move First Used in Base Move
  10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt ICYR1 Unknown
Description: Pikachu strikes a series of synchronized poses with his Trainer to build Z-Power and then releases several beams of electricity at the opponent.

In the TCG

Pikachu appears on the card Zeraora and Friends (SM-P Promo).

Merchandise

Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! Deck Case & Sleeves

To promote the upcoming twentieth movie in cinemas, the Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! Deck Case & Sleeves (Japanese: デッキケース&デッキシールド 劇場版ポケットモンスター キミにきめた! Deck Case & Deck Shield: Pocket Monsters the Movie: I Choose You!) were released on April 15, 2017 exclusively in Pokémon Centers. Each product features Ash and his Pikachu gazing up at Ho-Oh soaring above them as a Rainbow Wing falls to the ground. The deck case comes with two card dividers and each has enough storage space for at least 90 cards. A set of 64 card sleeves are also supplied.

Product images:

Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!
Deck Case
Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!
Sleeves
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins


See also

For more information on this Pokémon's species, see Pikachu.

References

  1. Confirmed via gender difference.
  2. Static in the main series


Movie characters
Human protagonists
AliceAsh Ketchum (M20)AudreyBarazBiancaCallahanCarlitaCoreyDamosDianaDianeEricFergusHarrietJack WalkerJuanita
KarlKathrynKidd SummersKimiaKokoLisaLizabethLorenzoMannesMarenMargoMelodyMerayNeeshaNewton Graceland
Professor LundRafeRaleighRebeccaRisaRowenaSamSheenaSidSir AaronSorrelTonioTorenTory LundTowaVerityYuko
Human antagonists
AlvaAnnieArgus SteelButlerCherieCrossDamonDoctor ZedGalenGooneGrings KodaiIron-Masked MarauderLawrence IIILeviMarcus
MerilynMillis SteelMolly HaleOakleyPokémon huntersPokémon poacherRiotThe PhantomZero
Pokémon
ArceusArticunoCarbinkCelebi (M04)Celebi (M13)CobalionDadaDarkraiDeoxysDialgaDiancieEntei (M03)Entei (M13)GenesectGiratina
Ho-OhHoopaJirachiKeldeoKyuremLatiasLatiosLucarioLugiaMagearnaManaphyMarshadowMew (M01)Mew (M08)Mewtwo (M01)
Mewtwo (M16)MoltresPalkiaPikachu (M20)PikachutwoRaikouRayquazaRegiceRegirockRegisteelReshiramShayminSlowking
Spiky-eared PichuSuicune (M04)Suicune (M13)TerrakionUnownVictiniVirizionVolcanionXerneasYveltalZapdosZekrom
ZeraoraZoroarkZorua
Others
AliciaAllegraAstridBanksBaron AlbertoBlock BotBogieBonjiCarolChrom MolybdenumCTV news crewDabuDavidDionaDonuke
Dr. FujiDundeeFlamelFreddyGabuGhrisGlacineGodeyGurūHeroes of Truth and IdealsHoytInfiJasonJennyJoeJudy
KaiKakoKanataKatoKellieKevinKikoKing of the People of the ValeKyleLaylaLeekuLucianneLuisLuisaMakoMalin
ManukeMarcus's soldiersMauryMayor OliverMeredithMeta GroudonMewtwo's creatorsMiaMilesMimiMirandaMisakiMoose
Mother and daughterMr. WhiteNevaNikolaOld Man DomŌyamaPegPeople of the WaterPhossa MolybdenumPokémon Baccer teams
Queen IleneQueen RinRavineRaymondRickRossSchuylerSharonShepShunSpencer HaleSylvanTakaTammyTanner
TappTatsukiThe Marina GroupTobiasTownesUschiZabu


  This movie article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.