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Can anyone explain WHY Pikachu is the go-to mascot?
- Thread starter eggyolk
- Start date
Yea how would that have worked when we started in Kanto and all of those are Johto Pokemon?
Thomas Elliot
I AM HUSH
I agree with the androgyny perspective here. If you are decorating a baby's room and you don't know the sex yet, you choose yellow because that is seen as intermediary color choice for both genders. Not to mention a lot of creators of Japanese animation grew up being influenced by Walt Disney, their main character being a mouse as well.
I also look at it from a marketing perspective as well, your mascot should never change in its appearance. So when you give the main character of your show, a creature that evolves when it hits a certain level, your image has to change as well. By giving Ash a Pikachu, it allows him to maintain his innocence as a young child, it creates situational dilemmas where he must overcome obstacles in a certain fashion. Think about it, if his main pokemon was a Charizard, and he brought Charizard into every battle with him, Ash would be seen as a powerful mature individual who could just throw Charizard out and demolish trainers. Where as how many times do we see Pikachu struggle against a trainer or gym leader, increase his strength through some situation and come back for a re-match. Finally, Pikachu only evolves when you use a Thunder stone, way back when Ash fought Lt. Surge we saw how his Raichu had changed through being evolved, not just appearance wise but personality wise as well. How do you ensure that your mascot stays the same throughout? Choose one that does not change when it reaches a certain level, and choose one that evolves by the trainer's choice rather than any other way.
I also look at it from a marketing perspective as well, your mascot should never change in its appearance. So when you give the main character of your show, a creature that evolves when it hits a certain level, your image has to change as well. By giving Ash a Pikachu, it allows him to maintain his innocence as a young child, it creates situational dilemmas where he must overcome obstacles in a certain fashion. Think about it, if his main pokemon was a Charizard, and he brought Charizard into every battle with him, Ash would be seen as a powerful mature individual who could just throw Charizard out and demolish trainers. Where as how many times do we see Pikachu struggle against a trainer or gym leader, increase his strength through some situation and come back for a re-match. Finally, Pikachu only evolves when you use a Thunder stone, way back when Ash fought Lt. Surge we saw how his Raichu had changed through being evolved, not just appearance wise but personality wise as well. How do you ensure that your mascot stays the same throughout? Choose one that does not change when it reaches a certain level, and choose one that evolves by the trainer's choice rather than any other way.
Furret-Luver
yummy berries
i totally agree with this! plus yellow is a bright color that draws attention.
halloweenghost
Well-Known Member
better then Clefairy...
D
Deleted member 318910
Guest
Because when the writers decided that pikachu would be more fitting than Clefairy. I agree with them.
My little cousins watched me play Pokemon and they kept going on about Pikachu, but when I asked them if they anything about Pokemon they said they know Pikachu is really strong on the TV show. That's all they know.
Plus they advertise Pikachu like crazy.
Mythicalzoe
Badass
because its yellow and awesome to look at
Mythicalzoe
Badass
because its yellow and awesome to look at
Ulicies
Mild Monk
I suppose because the Pikachu depicted in the Anime has every small element of what makes the concept of Pokemon appealing. Pikachu was a pet, but also a friend; he could hang on Ash's shoulder and always be there, which was one of the factors that helped Pikachu's popularity, in my opinion; Pikachu needed to be saved in some episodes, but also was strong. He's exuberant, energetic, spunky, and perky. Kind of the perfect depiction of a fun-loving pet you could imagine yourself having. The elements in Pikachu's character portray what makes Pokemon so fun: catching and befriending these extraordinary companions to share adventures with.
It's not all about stats, especially if we're talking back in the day where people played Pokemon more out of fun than they did competitively.
As far as "cuteness", that's all based on opinion. Pikachu was simply chosen because of its flashy appearance and ability to easily appeal to children, both male and female.
If they were to go with a Pokemon like Clefairy, it wouldn't work out. The color in itself would only appeal to females. Even if it were a different color, it would still be a fairy. Tell me what gender demographic fairies appeal to.
Lastly, Normal types are just bland. I'd much prefer an Electric type.
Trainer Michael
Pokemon Champion
Probably because of the anime.
I personally think that Charizard should've been the franchise mascot, but that's just me.
I personally think that Charizard should've been the franchise mascot, but that's just me.
Blood Red Absol
AquaMilotic's Waifu
No, should be Bulbasaur because it is #001 <3
I imagine everyone has there preferences. Personally I would love to see Absol representing pokemon but I don't think anyone sees that happening.
Zachmac
Well-Known Member
Oh, I guess I was misinformed.
Actually, it's the opposite now. It's so famous because it's the mascot. And now that it's so iconic like you said, it's also to late to turn around.
I completely agree with this. Out of all the stone-evolving Pokemon of gen one, the contest would have been between Clefairy, Jigglypuff, and Pikachu as the most appealing and marketable. Unlike Pikachu, those two were pink and mainly would appeal to females, unlike the androgynous Pikachu yellow. They did have somewhat relevant uses in the anime eventually. Jigglypuff did become a reoccurring gag character after a while, while Clefairy became the posterchild for the "Pokemon are aliens" theory before Deoxys came along.
Liz Azzimagica
Angelic Trainer
I loved Pikachu from the very start, he made just as big of a impression on me as eevee did. and if you think about...Pikachu is a mouse. What is the symbol of disney? Mickey MOUSE. who is the cute and lovible one of tom and jerry? Jerry the MOUSE! more then just the color, people LOVE cute, lovible mice characters. Bugs Bunny is the only appection to this rule.
Ulicies
Mild Monk
Don't forget Eevee. Eevee would have been my second choice as Pokemon Mascot. He also evolves through stones, though perhaps Electric types are theoretically and abstractly seen as more powerful than Normal types.
WildHennaCharizard
Well-Known Member
Pikachu is the mascot because in the beganing of the anime Nintendo had a poll for the most Popualr Poke at the time,(to be given to Ash of course so he would not chosse one of the Kanto starters; so who ever chosse Bulbasuar,Charmander or squitle would not feel left out.) Clifairy was leading in the polls but at the last mintute Pikachu pulled ahead and won! Pikachu became the mascot and the rest is history.