Anime Pokemon Profile #1: Ash's Pikachu
Anime Pokemon Profiles
OK, here's a new feature from me for the anime forum. Every so often I'll make a profile of one of the main characters' Pokemon from the anime. It will include various things, depending on the Pokemon, but some things that are pretty much common to every profile. I figured I may as well start at the beginning, so here's the first Pokemon acquired by a main character in the anime:
Profile #1: Ash's Pikachu
Acquired in episode: Pokemon! I Choose You!
Stays out of its Pokeball because: As Ash's Pokedex explained in the first episode, "some Pokemon just don't like being confined."
Attacks it has used: Thundershock, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Quick Attack, Tackle, Agility, Leer, Double-Edge, Iron Tail
(For Tackle and Leer, it seems that most Pokemon in the anime can learn those types of basic attacks, except for example those without eyes like Staryu would hardly be able to use Leer. Double-Edge was used once, and only once, in the Indigo League Tournament, when Pikachu used it on its own against a Butterfree. Pikachu had jumped onto the field to volunteer to fight, despite being tired already.)
Gender: Most likely, male. The first time Ash reached Cerulean Gym, when he was staring down at Misty's sisters' synchronized swimming act, confused as to why this apparently wasn't a Pokemon Gym, Pikachu seemed quite enthralled by the girls.
Team Rocket is always after it because: As Meowth stated in one of the first episodes, "its powers exceed its evolutionary level." Ash's Pikachu is much stronger than the average Pikachu, probably at least in part aided by the power boost that Flint from Pewter City gave it when Ash reached there.
Controversies: Many people complain about how Pikachu's attacks can beat anything in the anime, even Ground-types. Well, in the most famous of those cases, the battle at Pewter City when Ash first met Brock, Pikachu's Electric attacks did the most damage to Brock's Onix only when the sprinklers had been turned on accidentally and Onix was already wet, allowing the electricity to be conducted through its body. Pikachu was able to fry Geodude because, despite being a Ground-type, Geodude was not in contact with the ground at the time so it couldn't diffuse the electricity. The same applied to Pikachu's Thunderbolt doing normal damage to Treecko before Ash caught it, as well as Roxanne's Geodude. Give the writers props, however, for making Pikachu learn Iron Tail before that battle, so it would seem more realistic that an Electric type beat a Rock-Ground type and a Rock type, especially since Roxanne said she had never lost to an Electric type.
Memorable moments:
Showdown at Dark City - The famous ketchup bottle scene. Who could forget Pikachu's fixation with that ketchup and its reaction when Scyther Cut the bottle?
Bound for Trouble - As a result of yet another failed Team Rocket scheme, Pikachu and Meowth ended up basically handcuffed together, and on their own. They were forced to work together to figure out how to get back to the humans. At one point they got chased by a wild Rhydon, and had to work together to defeat it.
Mantine Overboard! - When Ash and others made a couple of dives underwater and Pikachu wanted to go with him so badly, it nearly jumped over the side of the boat after him, only to be caught by Brock. Pikachu ended up going with Ash on another dive a bit later, this time equipped with its own cute little diving outfit.
Evolution: Many people complain that Ash should evolve Pikachu, but what they don't realize is that he actually tried. Someone gave Ash a Thunderstone, and he gave Pikachu the chance to evolve after he lost to Lt. Surge, but Pikachu declined, and Ash respected its wishes. They then went on to beat Surge and his Raichu after figuring out that Surge had evolved it too quickly and it never learned the speed attacks it could only learn as Pikachu. Pikachu will likely never evolve, as it is the mascot of the anime, and has the "cute factor" to appeal to kids. Over the course of the anime, it has become obvious to many minor characters that Ash is very skilled at bringing out every ounce of a Pokemon's true power, even when it has not yet evolved, and that is due to the strong relationship and mutual respect that develops between them. Part of that respect includes abiding by a Pokemon's wishes on whether or not to evolve, and the resulting relationship is something envied by countless people Ash and friends have met on their journeys.
Ending Notes: Despite choosing not to evolve, Pikachu has clearly grown in strength and skill since the early episodes, as has its relationship with Ash. The "cute factor" might be something that would turn off some older fans of the Pokemon games from watching the anime, but if you can get past that, you'll find the best possible example in the anime of a trainer having a close friendship with his Pokemon.
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Thanks for reading!
