25 years ago, Pokemon Yellow started a tradition that the series has yet to evolve past

Key recommendations

• Pokemon Yellow started a tradition that has never been broken with Pikachu as the face of the franchise and its mascot.
• Pikachu is the face of Pokemon due to its popularity and a lot of games and other media features it.
• Pikachu remains a staple in every main game and spin-off so far.

2024 marks the 28th anniversary of Pokémon franchise, as it all began in 1996 with the Japanese versions of Pokemon Red and Green Pokemonlater transformed Pokemon Red and Blue for international release. Pokemon Yellow followed soon after in 1999 and was a huge departure from the original titles thanks to an unselectable starter who couldn't even evolve – Pikachu. All the main games in the series before and after Pokemon Yellow had players choose their desired starter from among three creatures. Even if Pokemon YellowHis unique approach to the starter has not remained, but a long-standing tradition – one that affects everyone Pokémon mass media.

Pokémon the games have changed a lot over the years, with each generation experimenting with new mechanics, some of which have become huge staples for the series. Pokemon Yellow it didn't reinvent the wheel, but its international launch with the beginning Pokémon the 1999 anime out of Japan created the perfect storm for the franchise to have its face and mascot rolled into one. This is the iconic Electric-type mon Pikachu that was the star Pokémon anime along with Ash. He was also the only debutant Pokemon Yellowemulating some of the story elements from the anime. Pikachu then became the face of the franchise in a way that is ingrained in the DNA of the series, as evidenced by the franchise as a whole.

Pokemon Yellow started a huge tradition that has never been broken

Pikachu, as the undisputed face of Pokemon explained

Since then Pokemon YellowPikachu has become one of the most beloved creatures in the world, let alone within the franchise itself. Pikachu merchandise is one of the best sellers with every release, regardless of the level of presence of the Pokemon in the environment – from Pikachu plushies made for every real-life celebration to clothing and even gaming gadgets that bear its likeness. The fact that Pikachu is the mascot of the show isn't something that the anime or games can really ignore, and it shows in more ways than one.

After Pikachu and Ash left from Pokémon anime, Pikachu is still very much present in the current era of the show as Captain Pikachu, showing how The Pokemon Company can't really get away from it. Not only that, but the main games never left Pikachu behind even after the Pokedex cut, appearing in every title up until Gen 9. Pikachu also spawned its own line of creatures, as Gen 2- 9 included all so-called “Pika-clones”, Pokemon inspired by Pikachu in some shape or form that are usually electric. These Pokemon include:

• Pichu, Gen 2
• Plusle and Wonder, Gen 3
• Pachirisu, Gen 4
• Emolga, Gen 5
• Dedenne, Gen 6
• Togedemaru, Gen 7
• Morpeko, Gen 8
• Pawmi, Pawmo and Pawmot, Gen 9

Some might argue that Gen 7's Mimikyu is also a Pika clone due to its appearance, but it wears a Pikachu suit and is not Electric-type like the rest of the Pikachu-related creatures. Still, Mimikyu is further proof that Pikachu is the undisputed face of the franchise, as it masquerades as a Pikachu to be accepted and loved by other Pokemon and humans, according to Pokedex.

How Pokemon Yellow's Pikachu set a 25-year trend

Pokemon Yellow changed the franchise forever 25 years ago by allowing players to travel across Kanto with Pikachu as their primary companion. Just like Pokémon show, Pokemon YellowHis Pikachu chased players out of the Poke Ball, and with its own dedicated Gen 1 sprite, began the tradition of featuring this electric mouse-like Pokemon in every main game and a multitude of spin-offs. Whether the Pikachu line will be discontinued remains to be seen Pokémon Gen 10, but based on the teaser for Pokemon Legends: ZAthe next installment in the series looks to include it again.