I would not choose you, Pikachu!

[VinceVega]

I was more pointing out their aesthetic qualities, but there are quite a few better electric Pokemon, and if you are going with items and pure electric types, then Elektross blows it out of the water. Elektross is a fantastic mixed attacker, has no weaknesses whatsoever, has a great HP stat, and with a scarf is very fast.

I didn't say he was the best (just good)and okay i'll accept the Aesthetics issue (but thats subjective)

Oh and electross has a below average move set and at there level of HP is so low that a strong move will kill in one, same goes for nearly all electric pokemon, they really are Glass cannons

Sorry if i'm sounding annoying just i'm a REAL pokemon nerd!!!

 

[k7avenger]

Well, at the time there were only 151 pokemon, and they had to pick only one for a mascot so...I'd like to think they threw a dart at a poster with all 151 mons on it and it just happened to land on pikachu.

 

[godfist88]

How 'bout Mincino, the little guy's really grown on me.

 

[JoJo]

I get that, but why? Why did they chose him?

There's a number of reasons why Pikachu makes a good mascot:

1) He has cute appeal, but isn't a gender-biased colour such as pink which might drive off some young male fans

2) He is small, meaning a human character can easily carry him around outside a pokeball

3) He is electric-type, meaning that despite his small size he can be made powerful by uping the electric power if the plot needs it

4) He can walk on two legs if he wants, meaning he can hold objects

5) His face is expressive enough to easily convey human emotions

There are surprisingly few other 1st generation pokemon, if any, which can fulfil all of these catergories.

 

[00slash00]

why does everyone in this thread seem to hate clefairy?

 

[Girl With One Eye]

I think Eevee and Ninetails were much cuter. Pikachu was cute, but I never really used one in my party.

 

[CrazyGirl17]

I like Pikachu... but agree that is a bit overused...

 

[370999]

I don't know, but the decision was stupid.
Pikachu/Raichu are shitty Pokemon, and there are so many better ones.

Wrong on so many levels, for a start electric pokemone have only one weakness ground type, and although not THE stongest electric pokemon Pikachu does have far above average attack and special when holding the light ball, as well as when coupled with thunder or volt tackle, It can take out nearly any non-resistant (of which there are only 3) and one immune.

Additionally most pokemon also have lower speed then Pikachu IF you are playing Pokemon competitvely, the common types are water, flying and ground (a kind of triad), followed by psycic and dragon

I was more pointing out their aesthetic qualities, but there are quite a few better electric Pokemon, and if you are going with items and pure electric types, then Elektross blows it out of the water. Elektross is a fantastic mixed attacker, has no weaknesses whatsoever, has a great HP stat, and with a scarf is very fast.

Could you get them before meeting Misty though? In gen one he was the first electric pokemon you could find.

As for why he was chosen in the anime, I imagine to make Ash stand out from the games by having a different starter and also because he was cute, along with electricity being a fairly standard shonen power.

 

[Innegativeion]

I mean, there's so many others. Look at Charmander,

"Chaaaahhhhhhhm UH nduuueeer! Retuuuuuuuueeeeern!"

*ahem*

Anyway, I think he was chosen mainly due to being the main character of the anime.

He was chosen as main character for the anime probably

A) to be unique from the 3 starters in the game (and canonically in the anime)

B) Because while he *can* evolve and get stronger, he can't without human input, which was a major plot point early on in the show... before they totally forgot about emotional investment and just made the thing a big toy commercial.

C)He's a small enough size to be easily carried around and looks fanciful enough to perfectly fit the "pocket monster" title.

 

[SSoSFAGTiaCaGwaP]

Because he's the one that Ash chose in the anime.

 

[Wintermoot]

for some reason Pikachu is cute although I think Pachirisu is cuter.

 

[Ice Car]

How 'bout Mincino, the little guy's really grown on me.

This. I got sick of Pikachu. Mincinno is pretty cute. Also using the Mincinno skin for the C-Gear fight now.

 

[Lizardon]

Well I think that wanted to choose a Pokemon that would fit this criteria (or some version of)
-Small
-Cute
-Unique
-Not masculine or feminine (I'd say this is why they changed from Clefairy, what young boy would want a Clefairy?)
-Not fire, water or grass type (As to distinguish itself from the starters)

Maybe Eevee could have been the mascot, I think it would work quite well.

 

[Hansinkdu]

Marowak, the ultimate in badass!

Dont agree? Then talk to Blastoise.

Spoiler

Wise words my friend.

 

[StorytellingIsAMust]

If it was me, I'd probably pick my favorite Pokemon: Psyduck. That lets you know that the whole business is just one big headache. Or maybe Sandslash because...well, Sandslash. Do I even need to say anything else?

 

[RagnarokHybrid]

I like the Pikachu surf gimmick however Pikachu is definitely not the best mascot to use. A good mascot'd have to be something that appeals to both the cool crowd and the cute crowd... something like Missingno.!