Pokémon executive director Kunihiko Yuyama has finally offered a behind-the-scenes explanation as to why anime protagonist Ash Ketchum began his journey with Pikachu, rather than one of the Kanto region's three usual starter Pokémon.
Yuyama recently sat down for an interview with Animedia Magazine, which was subsequently translated by Serebii forums moderator Dephender. "I think of Pikachu as a combination of cuteness, strength and the ability to bring a few laughs," Yuyama said. "By the way, I decided from the very get-go that the Pokémon that would become [Ash's] partner would not be one of the three you choose between at the start of the video game, since I figured that might make some of the viewers sad. That's why he ended up with a Pikachu, a decision I'm really glad I made."
The video games Pokémon Red and Blue were released in North America in 1998 after the franchise initially kicked off in Japan in 1996. At the start of each game, players are able to choose one of three starter Pokémon: the fire-type Charmander, the water-type Squirtle or the grass-type Bulbasaur. Meanwhile, the Pokémon anime debuted in Japan in 1997 before making its way to the West in 1998. In the anime, main character Ash sleeps in on the day he is supposed to get his starter from Professor Oak. So, when he arrives, Charmander, Squirtle and Bulbasaur are already gone. Oak takes pity on Ash, giving him the electric-type Pikachu instead. (That said, Ash would later add Charmander, Squirtle and Bulbasaur to his team under different circumstances.)
Ash and Pikachu Changed the Game - Literally
Interestingly enough, the popularity of the Pokémon anime and Ash's Pikachu in particular actually influenced the original game series. In 1998, Pokémon Yellow released in Japan, with the game making its way to North America in 1999. Yellow takes place in the same setting and follows the same story as Red and Blue. However, rather than getting to choose Charmander, Squirtle or Bulbasaur, players are automatically given Pikachu as their starter in Pokémon Yellow. Like Ash's Pikachu, the one in the game also prefers to travel outside its Poké Ball and refuses to evolve into Raichu.
Ash and Pikachu have proven to be so immensely popular that the two have starred in numerous iterations of the Pokémon anime over the past 26 years. However, with Ash having become Pokémon World Champion in Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series -- effectively achieving his longtime goal of becoming a Pokémon master -- he and Pikachu are finally preparing to bid farewell. Ultimate Journeys is currently in the process of finishing out its run. The show will be followed by a brand-new Pokémon anime centering on two new protagonists, Liko and Roy. The reboot is expected to premiere this year, and is based on the most recent Pokémon video games, Scarlet and Violet.
Source: Animedia, via Serebii