The Popularty of Pokemon Pikachu
Why Has the Yellow Lightning Mouse Become Famous?
The little yellow lightning shooting mouse has become something of a cultural icon since the release of the first Pokemon game. The cartoon is the culprit.
When the Japanese designer first released the Pokemon game, it is doubtful he knew the cultural phenomenon he would create. One character in particular, Pikachu, sticks out in the hearts and minds of fans and is generally detested by adults. The reason for this has nothing to do with the actual games, which have enough strategy to appeal to adults and cuteness to appeal to children, but rather with the popular long-running Pokemon animated television series currently shown on Cartoon Network.
Examining why Pikachu has become such a popular cultural phenomenon might be helpful to gamers who enjoy the games but who wonder why the cartoon series has gone on for 10 years instead of being canceled.
How Pikachu Became Popular
Pikachu may have been one of the many pokememon mentioned in the games, if it were not for the cartoon based off the Pokeman. Ash Ketchum's Pikachu has been Ash's constant companion through 10 years of his adventures. Ash gained the Pikachu through a set of special of special circumstances in which Ash Ketchum showed his willingness to sacrifice himself for Pikachu, according to the Pokemon Encyclopedia.
The little mouse-like Pikachu being displayed prominently in the cartoon is the reason we know see Pikachu's face everywhere we go. Other Pokemon carried by the stars of the cartoon have not gained similar popularity. Even the only talking Pokemon and member of Team Rocket, Meowth, has been virtually ignored by the video game programmers.
Pikachu is Everywhere
The games may be entertaining and challenging, and the cartoons may be fun for children while having little value for adults, but that has not stopped Pikachu from appearing as a balloon in the Macy's Thanskgiving Day Day parade. Even one Boeing 747 has been decorated with Pikachu's picture.
The Pokemon cartoon series, like The Simpsons, will continue to be produced as long as it is profitable for the makers. It also serves as a half-hour long commercial for whatever the most current release of the Pokemon game happens to be. People who want to start out with a pikachu in their inventory should find the Pokemon Yellow cartridge for the Gameboy Color. The omnipresence of the small rodent-like creature will likely continue as long as the cartoon remains popular. Perhaps Team Rocket will finally succeed in their goal of capturing Pikachu and thus remove him from the small screen.
