Ash's Pikachu

[Chrisaur]

So we all know by now that Ash's Pikachu is like the mascot of/for Pokemon.
But what are your feelings towards the evolution of Pikachu ?
Will Pikachu evolve ? Do you want Pikachu evolve ? Don't you also thinks it's time for Pikachu to evolve ? Will Pikachu's personality also change once he evolved into Raichu ?

[TheLeetCasualGamer]

It probably never will. It's kind of like asking "will Ash ever leave the role of the main character in the series" Despite that they both get a lot haters, they both also have a lot of fans. The writers will probably listen to the people who keep them afloat and keep both the characters.

Pikachu is just too popular and the show will probably lose viewers if Pikachu were to change into a Raichu. But that just me.

[Hikari10]

I agree with Leet's post, if they evolve Pikachu the anime could lose viewers cos remember, this is a series targeted towards kids aged between 6 and 12.

I'd rather leave Pikachu as he is cos you know, he's marketable, being the mascot and all.

[Ash493]

Making Pikachu evolve would make him impossible to be hold on Satoshi's shoulder. (I wouldn't mind changing him for Meloetta, though :D)
And as above commenters said, Pikachu is a trademark for Pokémon (as Clefairy would have been) so evolving it would mean either the end of anime or Satoshi as MC.

[Chrisaur]

I also think that will never happen, but it would be fun to see Pikachu evolve.

I really wish they will make a Pokemon movie about an altered future. Like, how the whole gang will be in 10 years time. Ash all grown up, with his Raichu. And Team Rocket with their talking Persian.

Almost like the movie started out where they are all grown up (10 years later) everything has changed. And then later they have to discover that they are in an altered future created by a powerful Pokemon. Almost the same as Pokemon 3 Spell of the Unown where Molly went from a young girl to a grown up girl all because of an illusion.

And then yes, later they go back to normal being Ash and Pikachu again.

[93Aiwass]

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

Considering that they had the opportunity to in the Pokemon Centre at Vermillion City but they didn't, I don't think that it's going to happen. A couple of Ash's other Pokemon have refused to evolve, such as Bulbasaur.

Love is the Law, Love under Will.

[~Electrivire~]

But what are your feelings towards the evolution of Pikachu ?

I think he's too popular now to evolve.

Will Pikachu evolve ?

Obviously not.

Do you want Pikachu evolve ?

I wouldn't care. I'm not a fan of Pikachu.

Don't you also thinks it's time for Pikachu to evolve ?

Nah. It's been too long, I'm fine with him staying a Pikachu.

Will Pikachu's personality also change once he evolved into Raichu ?

No.


I wish Pikachu was never Ash's main. I would prefer the Clefairy as originally planned.

[93Aiwass]

Originally Posted by ~Electrivire~

I wish Pikachu was never Ash's main. I would prefer the Clefairy as originally planned.

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

Clefairy as Ash's main... that would be very interesting, not to mention to add a new spin to all those Bouldershipping/Palletshipping fics I read.

Love is the Law, Love under Will.

[LividZephyr]

I think they should "accidentally" evolve Pikachu for a single episode, in a dream Ash has, to evaluate psychological stigmas related to what evolution actually does; it would be a brilliant way to confirm that Pikachu evolving would awkwardize the situation, still retain the mascot, and convey a moral that speaks along the lines of change not necessarily being good.

I can see them doing that to create a new story, which they desperately need, but nothing further. Satoshi's Pikachu is too much of a mascot to evolve permanently, and he will continue using hax to win.

[Kenshin5]

It wouldn't seem sensible or profitable too evolve Pikachu at this point. Pikachu has had multiple changes to evolve last being in DP and refused. Personally I'd prefer Raichu over Pikachu, but if Raichu got reset as Pikachu did then it would be the same thing but different pokemon.

[Ducklighter]

To be honest, I've learnt to deal with the fact that Pikachu will never evolve and it's understandable why it won't. I like the the fact that it's a personal thing for Pikachu and not a choice made by Ash.

Originally Posted by LividZephyr

I think they should "accidentally" evolve Pikachu for a single episode, in a dream Ash has, to evaluate psychological stigmas related to what evolution actually does; it would be a brilliant way to confirm that Pikachu evolving would awkwardize the situation, still retain the mascot, and convey a moral that speaks along the lines of change not necessarily being good.

I can see them doing that to create a new story, which they desperately need, but nothing further. Satoshi's Pikachu is too much of a mascot to evolve permanently, and he will continue using hax to win.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. I think it would be great for them to continue exploring possibilities with Pikachu and Ash, aswell as strengthening their relationship a bit more for new and old viewers. I think after 14+ years, it's time they really build and layer their friendship which they can definitely do.

All in all, I'm not bothered anymore that Pikachu will never evolve. I've made my peace with it.

[Eternal Shadow]

Pikachu will never evolve, the chances of Pikachu evolving is probably on par with the chances of Nintendo removing Mario as their mascot.

Pikachu has become a 'mascot' for Pokemon so there is no reason to get rid of it.

[93Aiwass]

Originally Posted by LividZephyr

I think they should "accidentally" evolve Pikachu for a single episode, in a dream Ash has, to evaluate psychological stigmas related to what evolution actually does; it would be a brilliant way to confirm that Pikachu evolving would awkwardize the situation, still retain the mascot, and convey a moral that speaks along the lines of change not necessarily being good.

I can see them doing that to create a new story, which they desperately need, but nothing further. Satoshi's Pikachu is too much of a mascot to evolve permanently, and he will continue using hax to win.

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

I must concur, especially since I am concerned that younger generations may not have watched the Vermillion City episodes with the battle with Lt. Surge and the fight with his Raichu.

I realize the reason why he didn't use any of his other Pokemon in that battle, it is just something I would never do and would pack some Fire and Ground Pokemon to beat through the gym.

Love is the Law, Love under Will.

[PlatinumDude]

Agreed with everyone else. I don't see Pikachu evolving anytime soon, considering that it's the mascot for the entire franchise and I feel that Ash traveling with a Raichu would feel...weird. Plus, Pikachu has expressed his desire not to evolve into Raichu multiple times throughout the series.

[LividZephyr]

Originally Posted by 93Aiwass

I must concur, especially since I am concerned that younger generations may not have watched the Vermillion City episodes with the battle with Lt. Surge and the fight with his Raichu.

They remade that episode in D/P and referenced the original, even. Probably to reaffirm it with the younger audience, who hadn't seen the original a decade prior:
http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/DP074

It would still be a good plot twist for Pikachu to evolve, just in a dream. They really need to do something more original than the formulaic filler...

[AWsquared]

I don't think it will happen. As many others have said, Pikachu is a very iconic character to the franchise. He's the mascot and that's what makes him so marketable. If he evolved, then the show would definitely get less viewers cause he's loved by many people watching.

[Winry]

If it ever did happen I would probably cry. For reals.
But like others said it's very unlikely, they would have to remake anything with Pikachu on it as the mascot. Would cost to much money and lose to many fans.
pls dun do dis.

[Lapras*]

Pikachu will never evolve. Not only is it a staple Pokemon for fans, but people who never have or will play Pokemon in their lives will see a Pikachu and immediately think, "Pokemon." It's like when kids see the golden arches they think "McDonald's." They don't want Pikachu to evolve because he's the mascot, he's the Pokemon that everyone knows about. If he evolved into a Raichu it would also be weird, because the whole point of Ash getting a Pikachu instead of one of the other starters is because they wanted Ash to get the mascot, the "special" Pokemon.

Sure, Raichu looks like a Pikachu. But when people see it, they probably won't go directly to "Pokemon" without thinking. Sure, the art style, the general design. But a lot of people aren't familiar with the franchise. They'll probably think, "That kind of looks like a Pikachu, kind of like a Pokemon, so I guess I'm looking at a Pokemon right now" Or maybe Raichu only looks like a Pikachu to us because we know he's the evolution? Maybe an "outsider" won't recognize a Raichu as an evolved form at all!

tl;dr So yeah I don't think that Pikachu will evolve for various reasons.

[Laugh]

I'm quite sure Pikachu will not evolve, but I do want to see the outcome when it does. I'm getting tired of the yellow rat, and I want to see something else.

[EQUALSGAMER]

if pikachu evolved into rauichu...
*takes off glasses*
mother of god. He would be UNSTOPABLE!

[Detwak]

I have discovered when Pikachu will evolve. After a great deal of consideration I discovered that he will evolve when Ash becomes eleven years old. Think about it people ...

[BinaryPeaches]

Pikachu won't evolve. It doesn't want to evolve and Ash respects that. Also, there was a small case in Unova that touched on that when Ash needed to find a Thunder Stone during the scavenger hunt. When the guy tossed the Thunder Stone it was heading right toward Pikachu but Ash caught it before it touched his yellow companion.

Pikachu's reaction when it was flying at him? Wide eyed because it didn't want it to happen.
After Ash caught it? Both of them were relieved.

That's all there is pretty much to it. But I might be one of the very few who don't mind Pikachu staying as a Pikachu. Raichu, who is a little slow and bigger than Pikachu, wouldn't match Ash's battling style which likely developed because Pikachu was his first Pokemon.