Since 1996, Pokémon has been one of the most popular properties of all time. It currently holds the record for the highest-grossing revenue of any media franchise in the world. At the core of that popularity is a simple, yellow mascot known as Pikachu. Pikachu may not seem like much at first glance, but this one Pokémon has shaped pop culture forever.
Yet as time goes on, fans can't help but see the cracks in Pikachu's legacy. Pikachu may have kickstarted an amazing anime, but they're in desperate need of some updates. After over two decades, Pikachu's cuteness has begun to wear off and fans everywhere are ready for a change.
10 Pikachu's Stats Are A Mess
Pikachu may be the mascot of the series and Ash's preferred Pokémon, but it is far from the strength of an actual starter Pokémon when looking at that first generation. When it comes to Generation 1, Pikachu is severely lacking in base stats.
While its total stats are just barely higher than the other starters, it's of note that almost all of that surplus is put into speed. If you equalized Pikachu's speed to the other starters, the electric mouse would find itself extremely lacking in terms of defensive and offensive capabilities.
9 They Refuse To Evolve
One of the most frustrating parts about watching the original Pokémon anime as a kid was Pikachu's refusal to evolve. Due to the formula of an average Pokémon episode, Pikachu was often significantly weaker than the opponents Ash went up against. At least at first.
During times when the two of them struggled to edge out a victory, fans couldn't help but be frustrated over Pikachu's complete refusal to become a Raichu. If Pikachu evolved, Ash would likely have been a significantly stronger trainer than he was.
8 Pikachu Spoke In A Movie & It Was Bizarre
In Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!, fans went ballistic over the reveal that Pikachu spoke the human language for the first time. In a sorrowful moment, Ash looks towards his partner and asks why they won't get in a Pokémon ball. To which Pikachu responds out loud and in English (or whatever language fans may be watching in).
The clip of an audience reaction went viral on Twitter, with an entire crowd erupting in disbelief and shock. This was not a case of fans being pleasantly surprised. It is a bizarre moment that many would prefer to be forgotten in the long history of the Pokémon franchise.
7 They're The Most Overused Pokémon
While some fans adore the Pokémon mascot, others can't help but feel Pikachu has overstayed its welcome. Since Pokémon's very first reveal, Pikachu has been in the spotlight as a representation of the entire franchise. Not everyone can name the first generation starters, but people across the globe can identify Pikachu.
It's not that Pikachu is necessarily a bad mascot, but even diehard fans can appreciate variety in a franchise over two decades old. Maybe it's time for Nintendo to pick a new mascot to represent their games.
6 Shocking Ash Isn't Funny Anymore
Anime gags can be a real hit or miss. Sometimes they are the backbone of a series, bringing fans a consistent joyful experience no matter what the episode. But sometimes they can get a little played out and would be better off retired. Pikachu electrifying Ash is one of those anime gags that could maybe hit the backburner for a while.
It was funny for the first couple of years, but by now fans just want Ash to catch a break. The poor boy has been electrocuted more times than can be counted.
5 Pikachu Is Underwhelming In Most Games
One of the most disappointing aspects of playing the Pokémon games as a kid was finally catching a Pikachu only to realize that there isn't actually that much special to the Pokémon. Pikachu offers very little in a real playthrough of the game, despite how rare of an encounter it actually is.
Pikachu doesn't have a particularly great offense or defense and is far from the best electric type available. Being a kid and having to shelf your Pikachu to form a stronger team was the ultimate frustration.
4 They Had Intense Anime Plot Armor
Pikachu has some of the greatest plot armor in all of anime. Plot armor is a trope that occurs in all of fiction, but anime in particular, where a character overcomes a difficult obstacle that should've beaten them all for the sake of progressing the story. It's a common criticism within shonen battle anime but happens frequently within Pokémon as well.
The most iconic example would be Pikachu battling Onyx and somehow making electric moves work on the Pokémon, despite Onyx being a ground type and thus immune to electricity.
3 Pikachu Refuses To Get In A Poké ball
The most annoying part of Pokémon's first episode is Pikachu's refusal to get into the Poké Ball. The Poké Ball is an iconic aspect of the Pokémon franchise and has become a desirable item for fans of all ages. Poké Balls are cool.
This is why fans couldn't help but be frustrated at Pikachu's absolute insistence that they'd not get in a ball no matter what. Over 20 years later and this is still the case. Pikachu demands special treatment, refusing the Poké Ball and monopolizing a spot on Ash's shoulder.
2 They're Way Too Stubborn
Pikachu's worst character trait is by far its stubbornness. The electric mouse constantly butts heads with its trainer over what to do in a battle. While independent thinking can be a good thing, clear instructions and the ability to follow commands are vital to a Pokémon/Trainer relationship.
From the anime's first episode, Pikachu displayed a clear stubborn tendency that would become its main flaw for the future of the series. The most obvious example of this would be Pikachu's refusal to stay inside its Poké Ball.
1 Getting Pikachu To Evolve Was Too Complicated As A Kid
Ash may not have evolved his Pikachu, but kids playing their own Pokémon game definitely wanted to. Pikachu is not a viable option for a strong, balanced Pokémon team. It's absolutely crucial that a person playing Pokémon evolve their Pikachu into a Raichu if they want to use it throughout the entire game.
The problem is that many kids did not realize Pikachu required a special thunder stone in order to evolve. In a time before the internet, this information was hard to come across and led to many frustrating playthroughs.