Pokemon executive director Kunihiko Yuyama explains why Ash started his journey with Pikachu instead of one of the usual Kanto players.

Pokemon executive director Kunihiko Yuyama has finally offered a behind-the-scenes explanation as to why anime protagonist Ash Ketchum began his journey with Pikachu instead of any of the Kanto region’s three traditional starter Pokemon.

Yuyama recently took part in an interview with Animedia Magazine the interview was then translated by Serebii forum moderator Dephender. ” I think of Pikachu as a combination of cuteness, strength, and the ability to bring some laughter,” Yuyama said. “By all accounts, I decided that the Pokemon who would become [Ash’s] partner would not be one of the three options at the start of the video game. I was concerned that this might make some viewers unhappy. That’s why he ended up with a Pikachu and I’m very happy with it.”

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Following the initial release in Japan 1996 in 1996, the Pokemon Red video games and blue were made available in North America in 1998. The game begins with players being able to choose from one of three Pokemon that are starters that are the Fire-type Charmander or the Water-Type Squirtle. The Pokemon anime was first released in Japan in 1997, before moving to the West in 1998. The main character of the anime Ash is shown sleeping while getting his starter from Professor Oak. When he gets there, Charmander and Squirtle are gone. Oak is kind to Ash and presents him with an electric-type Pikachu. (Unfortunately, Ash would later add Charmander as well as Squirtle to his squad in different circumstances.

Pikachu and Ash changed the game literally

It’s interesting to consider that Pokemonanime’s popularity as well as Pikachu’s popularity, especially Ash’s, influenced the original game series. In 1998, Pokemon Yellow was released in Japan and the game was released in Japan, before arriving in North America in 1999. Yellow takes place in the same location and follows the same storyline as RED and Blue. Instead of being able to select between Charmander, Squirtle, or Bulbasaur, the players receive Pikachu as their starting Pokemon. Pokemon yellow. The Pikachu in the game is akin to Ash’s Pikachu. He prefers to travel beyond its Poke Ball and refuses the transformation into Raichu.

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Pikachu, as well as Ash, have become so popular that they have appeared in a variety of iterations of Pokemon anime. Pikachu and Ash decided to say goodbye after they were named Pokemon World Champion in Pokemon Ultimate Journeys. This means that Ash has finally achieved his long-held dream of becoming a Pokemon master. Ultimate Journeys is currently wrapping up its run. It will then follow with a brand new Pokemon anime centering on two new characters: Liko and Roy. The show is expected to premiere this year and is inspired by the latest Pokemon video games, Scarlet, and Violet.