Summary: Pikachu wasn’t always the face of Pokémon. Discover how the electric mouse went from a background character to the franchise’s global icon, beating out early contenders like Clefairy and Charizard—thanks to smart design, anime fame, and a little bit of lightning.
Pikachu is now almost synonymous with Pokémon, but that wasn’t always the case. In fact, Pikachu wasn’t even considered a mascot in the franchise’s early days.
When you think of Pokémon, Pikachu is almost always the first character that comes to mind. From early promotional art to dedicated Pikachu festivals in Japan, the electric mouse has become the unmistakable face of the franchise. But what if we told you that Pikachu wasn’t even considered as the mascot in the beginning? In fact, Pikachu started out as just another Pokémon—somewhat hidden in the games, waiting to be discovered by curious players. In this article, we take a deep dive into the early days of Pokémon in Japan and explore why Pikachu was not considered the mascot from the start.
In this article
- Before Pikachu: The Forgotten Faces of Early Pokémon
- Why Pikachu and Not Clefairy?
- How Pikachu Took Over the World
Before Pikachu: The Forgotten Faces of Early Pokémon
How Clefairy and Charizard Took Center Stage Before the Rise of the Franchise’s Icon
When Pokémon Red and Green launched in Japan in February 1996, the series had yet to find its now-iconic mascot. The box art featured Charizard and Venusaur, and with no anime on the horizon, the only upcoming media tie-in was the manga Pokémon Pocket Monsters, which debuted later that year in November.
The original games performed well, but there was no clear mascot at the time. If anything, Charizard filled that role, appearing prominently in early television commercials. Pikachu, who would later become the face of the franchise, was barely present. Even when Pokémon Blue—a refined version of the original titles—was released in October 1996, Pikachu remained in the background.
That changed slightly with the release of Pokémon Pocket Monsters in November 1996. The manga follows Red, a young Trainer aiming to complete the Pokédex and become a Pokémon Master, all while competing against his rival, Green. Unlike the games, some Pokémon in the manga speak human language, giving the series a unique tone.
Among the cast, Clefairy (known as Pippi in Japanese) stands out as a loud, mischievous, but surprisingly resourceful sidekick to Red. While often getting into trouble due to its big mouth, Clefairy also plays a key role in helping Red and Pikachu overcome obstacles—often with clever, if chaotic, ideas.
In the early volumes, Red's team includes only Clefairy and Pikachu, with Pikachu notably remaining silent throughout. Later, Red adds Tyrogue to his team, but Clefairy continues to steal the spotlight in this unconventional take on the Pokémon universe.
Why Pikachu and Not Clefairy?
The surprising path to choosing Pokémon’s most iconic mascot
Was Clefairy really supposed to be the original face of Pokémon? It’s a fun theory that’s made the rounds online, but there’s no solid evidence to back it up. If anything, a stronger candidate might have been Poliwhirl. Believe it or not, series creator Satoshi Tajiri had a soft spot for Poliwhirl—it was his favorite Pokémon at the time and showed up in quite a bit of early promotional art alongside Pikachu. But that’s a story for another time.
So how did Pikachu end up front and center? The real game-changer was the Pokémon anime. When it launched, the show needed a Pokémon that was cute and appealing—something the early lineup was arguably short on. That’s when designer Atsuko Nishida stepped in to create Pikachu’s original look, with Ken Sugimori later refining it into the version we know today. The result? A small, pet-like creature with just the right balance of charm and personality.
Pikachu’s bright yellow color played a big role too. It’s a primary color that pops, especially for young kids, and back in the mid-90s, there weren’t many other big yellow mascots around—Winnie-the-Pooh being the only real competition. That gave Pikachu a clear path to stand out.
And it wasn’t just about looks. According to Professor Susan Napier of Tufts University, Pikachu hits a sweet spot—it’s part of an exciting, adventurous world, but still feels safe and comforting. Plus, unlike other "kawaii" characters like Hello Kitty, Pikachu doesn't skew too masculine or feminine. That broad appeal made it easy for everyone, regardless of age or gender, to connect with the character.
To top it off, Pikachu wasn’t super easy to find in the original games, which only made it feel more special and desirable to early fans. All these elements came together to turn Pikachu into the ultimate mascot—not just for Pokémon, but for an entire generation of fans.
How Pikachu Took Over the World
From supporting character to global icon in just a few short years
The Pokémon anime first aired in Japan on April 1, 1997. It was here that Pikachu officially stepped into the spotlight as the partner of Ash Ketchum, the show’s main character. That role didn’t just give Pikachu more screen time—it firmly cemented the little yellow Pokémon as the franchise’s mascot.
Just over a year later, Pokémon Yellow was released in Japan in September 1998. Unlike the earlier Red and Green versions, Yellow was directly inspired by the anime, mirroring Ash’s journey with Pikachu at his side. It even featured Pikachu following the player around outside of its Poké Ball—something that delighted fans and set the game apart. By this point, the mascot debate was over. Pikachu had won.
When Pokémon made its way to the West later in 1998, it came with a full media blitz—TV shows, games, trading cards, toys, and merchandise galore. And at the heart of it all was Pikachu. With its round cheeks, playful energy, and bright yellow color, it quickly became one of the most recognizable characters in pop culture. For kids in North America and Europe, Pikachu wasn’t just the face of Pokémon—it was Pokémon.
By the end of the '90s, Pikachu was everywhere. It starred in movies, appeared on backpacks and lunchboxes, and even made appearances in parades and on talk shows. In the eyes of Western audiences, Pikachu had always been the mascot.
Conclusion
Looking back, it’s hard to imagine a world where Pikachu wasn’t the face of Pokémon. But as we've seen, the journey to mascot status wasn’t a straight line. Early on, characters like Charizard, Clefairy, and even Poliwhirl all had a shot at the spotlight. It wasn’t until the launch of the anime—and the creative vision behind Pikachu’s design—that everything clicked into place.
With the perfect mix of charm, approachability, and universal appeal, Pikachu captured the hearts of audiences in Japan and, soon after, around the globe. By the time Pokémon exploded in the West in the late ’90s, Pikachu was more than just a character—it had become a cultural icon.
What started as a low-profile Pokémon tucked away in the early games ended up defining an entire generation. And while many other characters have come and gone, Pikachu continues to stand as the electric spark that powers the heart of the Pokémon universe.
