Pikachu seems exhausted while stirring a Pokéblock into his coffee in a quiet corner of a cafe in Park Slope, Brooklyn. It’s little surprise to me—the ubiquitous electric mouse has been on an unrelenting press tour as the de facto face of the mega-series following the 30th anniversary of Pokémon Red/Blue on February 27, 1996. He’ll be making his Met Gala debut, he Thunderbolted Jimmy Fallon to raucous applause the other night, and I hear he’s even in talks to host the Emmys.
“Pikapi… Pika?” Ever the gentleman, Pikachu remembers the last time we met. It was at a book signing at the Strand for his memoir Pika: The Pikachu Story. I had to be escorted out by a bouncer after asking too many questions about his relationship with Butterfree in the wake of her explosive series of Instagram stories about his alleged anger management issues on the set of the Pokémon TV series, but he tactfully doesn’t mention that part. I ask if he’d write a novel someday. “Pikachu! Pikapi,” my subject quips. He’s right, of course. Truth is stranger than fiction these days, isn’t it?
Pikachu has been one of our greatest gaming mascots since the Pokémon Yellow days. “Pika!” He scoffs, when I remind him how many decades ago that Game Boy cover shoot was. Sure, he plays the ever-loyal companion to Ash Ketchum in the TV series, but we know who gets his hands dirty and has the real star power. Does Pikachu resent sharing the spotlight with an eternally ten-year-old trainer? He deflects with a prolonged “Chuuu,” his days of badmouthing costars or letting premiere times slip to reporters are clearly long behind him.
He has an obvious soft spot for his cinematic oeuvre, even if the show keeps him busy. I’m not afraid to say it, Pikachu was absolutely snubbed for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his super effective tearjerking performance in 1998’s Pokemon: The First Movie. “Pika, Pikachu!” He notes. Of course, he was new to the awards politics as a debut film star, and you can’t fault him for being ahead of the times. How does he say so much with just one word? He thinks on that one for a while, sighing and looking out over the crisp, sunny block, then breathes “…Pikapi.”
How does he feel about watching his own projects? “Pikachu,” he muses while shaking his head. You certainly do need a thick skin in this personality-driven industry, and you have to be your own biggest fan! He mulls his answer over for another beat as we walk off our pastries en route to his favorite bookstore, then gives a wistful, “Pika,” clearly speaking to himself more than me.
It’s hard to avoid fans when spending time with a celebrity as notorious as Pikachu. He graciously poses for selfies and even signs the booster packs of a few inconsolably weeping elder Millenials who couldn’t process meeting their idol in person. Does his fame and wealth prevent him from relating to the common Machoke? “Chu,” he dryly remarks, as he removes his sunglasses for another round of photos. Even if he’s not confined to a Pokéball, he’s constantly working and still pushing the boundaries of what’s possible onscreen all these years later, whether he’s on your TV or Switch OLED.
His manager, Mr. Mime, impatiently taps his Apple Watch—we’ve gone over time, Pikachu should be heading to hair and makeup for The View, but we’re still lazily browsing books. “Pikapi,” he says calmly, Joy and Whoopi can wait a little longer. Pikachu signs a few copies of his memoir, and walks out with All About Love by bell hooks. He’s already read it, but wants a copy to lend to friends. He’s trying to get Squirtle to read more, and I’m just happy to learn they still talk.
I worry I’ll get a Thundershock for this, but still I ask if he sees retirement on the horizon. “Pika!” Pikachu charges up his cheeks in jest. Going away to shit around doesn’t suit him, unless he’s sitting in the director’s chair. Does that mean a film is in the works? He gives a sly “Chu,” and says nothing more as Mr. Mime herds him into his transport—the Kadabra chauffeur hits the gas and speeds off towards Manhattan. While he’s an enigma in so many ways, Pikachu’s also an artist, an icon, and ultimately, a little yellow mouse that says his own name.
Image Credits:
Game Screenshots from Detective Pikachu Returns & Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu. Credit – Game Freak/The Pokémon Company
Screenshot from Pokémon Winds & Waves Announcement Trailer. Credit – Game Freak/The Pokémon Company
Movie Screenshot from Pokémon: The First Movie. Credit – Toho
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