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===Design=== <!-- Note: Pokémon heights are originally given in metric and converted to feet and inches for English-speaking audiences. --> Standing {{convert|0.4|m|ftin}} tall, Pikachu is a [[bipedal]] [[rodent]] with long ears and feet but short arms. It has yellow fur, long pointed ears that end in black tips, red cheek sacs, and a tail shaped after a [[lightning]] bolt.<ref name="zukan">{{cite web|url=https://zukan.pokemon.co.jp/detail/0025|title=ピカチュウ|ポケモンずかん|trans-title=Pikachu {{!}} Pokédex|website=Pokemon.co.jp|publisher=[[The Pokémon Company]]|language=ja|access-date=2025-04-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403083712/http://guides.ign.com/guides/9846/page_122.html |archivedate=2012-04-03 |url=http://guides.ign.com/guides/9846/page_122.html |title=Pokémon Details #025 Pikachu |website=[[IGN]] |accessdate=2024-09-12}}</ref> It has a black pattern on its back, as Nishida felt since this part of the character would face the player during gameplay, it "would be better to put something there rather than having it be perfectly smooth." While preliminary designs took inspiration from mice or rabbits,<ref name="gamefreak-AT"/> as the Pokémon [[Rattata]] already existed at this point in development she instead modeled the species after [[squirrel]]s. Nishida stated in an interview that she was obsessed with squirrels at the time due to their "comical" movement, and had the idea to have Pikachu store electricity in their cheeks similar to how squirrels store food. Pokémon creator [[Satoshi Tajiri]] however chose to change the species to be a type of mouse when he was designing the setting.<ref name="nishida"/> Nishida was helped during the creation process by fellow developer Koji Nishino, who grew fond of Pikachu as a result and consistently encouraged the design to be made cuter, something she was happy to oblige.<ref name="gamefreak-AT">{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980613171213/http://www.gamefreak.co.jp/pokemon/INTER/ATSUKO/INTER_AT.HTM |archivedate=1998-06-13 |title=Atsuko Nishida Interview |website=[[Game Freak]] |language=ja |accessdate=2024-09-12 |url=http://www.gamefreak.co.jp/pokemon/INTER/ATSUKO/INTER_AT.HTM }}</ref> Due to his fondness for Pikachu, he made it more difficult to find in the original games, joking he wanted to "keep it for himself".<ref name="koji">{{cite web |website=[[Game Freak]] |language=Japanese |title=Interview Mr. Nishino About...''Pocket Monsters''?! |url=http://www.gamefreak.co.jp/POKEMON/INTER/KABIN/INTER_KB.HTM |date=1997 |accessdate=2023-08-05 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19991003085623/http://www.gamefreak.co.jp/POKEMON/INTER/KABIN/INTER_KB.HTM |archivedate=October 3, 1999 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Despite initial concerns that players would not be interested in seeking out Pikachu, Sugimori showed the design to the game's development team, where the character was instantly popular.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dockery |first=Daniel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bqFdEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Pikachu%22+iconic+-wikipedia&pg=PT28 |title=Monster Kids: How Pokémon Taught a Generation to Catch Them All |date=2022-10-04 |publisher=Running Press |isbn=978-0-7624-7951-1 |language=en |access-date=August 27, 2024 |archive-date=September 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912071043/https://books.google.com/books?id=bqFdEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Pikachu%22+iconic+-wikipedia&pg=PT28 |url-status=live }}</ref> Pikachu's design with the release of ''Red'' and ''Blue'' was initially pudgier in build, but in media and games that followed was changed over time to have a slimmer waist, straighter spine, and more defined face and neck. According to Sugimori, these changes originated from the [[Pokémon (TV series)|anime adaptation of the franchise]] where it made Pikachu easier to animate, and were adopted to the games for consistency.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doolan |first=Liam |date=2019-12-27 |title=Random: Why Pikachu Is No Longer As Chubby As It Once Was |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/12/random_why_pikachu_is_no_longer_as_chubby_as_it_once_was |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB |archive-date=July 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240720132043/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/12/random_why_pikachu_is_no_longer_as_chubby_as_it_once_was |url-status=live }}</ref> The older design, nicknamed "Fat Pikachu" by fans of the series, was revisited in [[Pokémon Sword and Shield|''Pokémon Sword'' and ''Shield'']], where Pikachu received a special in-battle "Gigantamax" form resembling its original design.<ref name="FatPikachu2">{{cite news |last=Sanchez |first=Miranda |date=January 13, 2019 |title=Fat Pikachu Is Back for Pokemon Sword and Shield Trailer and We're All Ec-Static |url=https://sea.ign.com/switch/154421/feature/fat-pikachu-is-back-for-pokemon-sword-and-shield-trailer-and-were-all-ec-static |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121210849/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/10/16/fat-pikachu-is-back-for-pokemon-sword-and-shield-trailer-and-were-all-ec-static |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |access-date=December 24, 2021 |work=[[IGN]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Glennon |first=Jen |date=2019-10-16 |title='Pokémon Sword and Shield' adds Gigantamax Fat Pikachu, Butterfree and more |url=https://www.inverse.com/article/60171-pokemon-sword-shield-gigantamax-fat-pikachu-butterfree-eevee-gen1-kanto |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=Inverse |language=en |archive-date=July 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240720131826/https://www.inverse.com/article/60171-pokemon-sword-shield-gigantamax-fat-pikachu-butterfree-eevee-gen1-kanto |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Watts |first=Steve |title=Fat Pikachu Is Back With Pokemon Sword And Shield Gigantamaxing |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fat-pikachu-is-back-with-pokemon-sword-and-shield-/1100-6470598/ |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US |archive-date=July 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240720131845/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fat-pikachu-is-back-with-pokemon-sword-and-shield-/1100-6470598/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This Gigantamax form was designed by James Turner,<ref name="giganta">{{cite twitter |number=1559091292889497602 |user=JamesTurner_42 |title=Picked up this Moncolle Gigantamax Pikachu I designed Gigantamax Pikachu and I'm happy I'll now be able to put the big fellow on my shelf. |first=James |last=Turner |date=2022-08-15 |access-date=2024-09-16 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007222341/http://twitter.com/JamesTurner_42/status/1559091292889497602 |archivedate=2022-10-07|url=https://twitter.com/JamesTurner_42/status/1559091292889497602}}</ref> who served as art director for ''Sword'' and ''Shield''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gerblick |first=Jordan |date=2022-06-09 |title=Pokemon Sword and Shield art director leaves to form new indie studio |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/pokemon-sword-and-shield-art-director-leaves-to-form-new-indie-studio/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=GamesRadar+ |language=en |archive-date=September 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240917015651/https://www.gamesradar.com/pokemon-sword-and-shield-art-director-leaves-to-form-new-indie-studio/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
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