Why doesn't Pikachu look like he used to?

[@ThomasGameDocs]

I'm back!!!!! Needed a short break but now I have returned to the website know by many as "You Tube". Feel free to check out my Twitter. I hear it's pretty great: Twitter.com/ThomasGameDocs Ok love you bye

[@brodown64]

welcome back

[@Linx9214]

3rd

[@Cliffordlonghead]

Ok

[@ricardopurnell3923]

Hi

[@JokeURL]

Welcome back!

[@KazukiP]

My older sister has a plushie of Pikachu from the 90s and he’s so chubby. He sits in my room now and everyone always comments on how round he is lolll

[@chocainewithouth4497]

Aw heck naw ^^^

[@OmNom1206]

I also have one of those, idk what year it’s from though it was my sister’s

[@EmbodimentOfEpicity]

I have a keychain of that pikachu , I don’t know if it was my mother because I found it randomly in my house, but lots of people who see it in my school also point it out

[@SgnileefKaewHtiwNosrepCitsitua]

I love you

[@dimnd]

Same I have a fat pikachu plushie I got it from a charity shop

[@rodholseth6354]

I find old Pikachu much cuter. On the name itself, here in Iceland there was a bit of a controversy around the name Pikachu. Píka in Icelandic is a common term for the female downstairs cave, and atsjú is the sound you make when you sneeze. Parents weren't all too happy about that. :p

[@saynotop2w]

I am wheezing

[@L0rdOfThePies]

😂 naw they called him cooch sneeze

[@M3GG1RL]

The "fat" Pikachu looks like hamster

[@pyroflare7774]

@@M3GG1RL an X hamster? ;)

[@byzantiphile7630]

Pikachu, the Queef pokemon.

[@ender7278]

He lost weight from spending all that time in the anime outside his pokeball.

[@ivythay4259]

Yes, every single Pikachu in existence.

[@rikustorm13]

Yup

[@YellowTheNerd]

Because ash made him use quick attack and agility too much.

[@ShiroCh_ID]

that a good lore to cover up that design changes

[@rayquazafan1258]

Xd

[@petersaysthings]

I kind of like how earlier versions were more varied, it makes it seem more realistic in a way to have Pokemon of different shapes or sizes while keeping the same basic design.

[@Sh3ail]

"Why doesn't Pikachu look like he used to?" Pressure of fame

[@robloxaccountant7086]

Lmao

[@anexplosion9763]

@sh3ail he had to lose some weight to get a role in the latest movie

[@rso823]

Don't tell me Pikachu is bolemic

[@Bom.3d]

Underrated

[@reneissem]

This is so appropriate for this time 👌

[@Under-Kaoz]

I miss the old style shading on OG pokemon. I appreciate more saturated color, but the shading style was so unique.

[@jonnyphotoz]

I agree

[@paweka9149]

In late 90's or early 2000 there was Pokedex application for Windows which used those old images. It was stats and skillset compendium for first Pokemon game. It was nice to see the differences between graphics from show / commercial.

[@hazzard_destroyer]

Pikachu realized how popular he was and he wanted to loose weight to impress people

[@tyranttracergaming]

@Thx ❤ guys it a bot don’t click the link

[@gustavrepa7109]

Lol

[@outsider9149]

XD

[@adrian-chambers]

@Thx ❤ Yeah you are. Or you're just annoying and extremely pushy o-o

[@nintenerd4070]

And then when he saw the backlash over sword and shield he started eating more from depression and got fat again

[@darronb248]

Chonkachu will always be my number 1 pikachu design. Its quite sad they dont use all the designs in the anime/games to add a bit of variety to them.

[@sepnot]

The real reason is that Pikachu's doctors told him that if he wanted to still be around for his success in 20 years he had to lose the weight.

[@blueberrryy]

Lol

[@Mokamon99]

Back in the 90s, Pikachu had crippling depression and a huge McDonald's addiction, sometimes going there 4 times a day. After being diagnosed as pre diabetic and given only 6 months to live Pikachu turned his life around and lost 200 pounds. He now remains in good health.

[@Flareboxx]

Even Pikachu's earlier appearances in the anime had him look quite a bit larger than he does now.

[@jacobfoxfires964]

This is always some interesting things about designs that people tend to simplify them too much. I know a lot of Pokemon fans make their crackpot theories about stuff like the designs and how nowadays Pokemon designs are suppose to be marketable and need to be cute. But this explanation sounds reasonable and made a lot of sense. Pokemon is a multi media brand and many of their decisions can effect countless of other projects. So having the design of one of the Pokemon change in order for the anime yo use it better if it’s the main focus sounds pretty reasonable to me. It’s that first draft syndrome and sometimes you need to change the design bit by bit to fit your standards or be easier on the artist.

[@SuperWiiBros08]

he got fit went on a very healthy diet

[@jokitheboki]

He is on a strict keto diet

[@FurretAnimationsIsEpic]

lol, I will edit this comment to whatever u want

[@zyro1020]

VMax pikachu explains something else

[@deathlessman01]

in the anime he almost died by eating an apple, i sincerely think that this dude didnt go on a diet

[@cond.oriano9146]

@its fine wow shut up 🙃

[@M4NIC_M3TALHE4D]

Chubby Pikachu is like an adorable mouse that you could hug

[@IBeDanz]

The character that had a catchphrase that is literally a sneeze

[@metasteelgaming4373]

@Thx ❤ If you aren't a bot, respond with your favorite Spongebob quote.

[@BlueSusAmigosYT]

@@metasteelgaming4373 bad news, it is a bot

[@metasteelgaming4373]

@@BlueSusAmigosYT Crap

[@Tristan777y]

Peak achoo

[@Peter_1986]

Almost like how Darth Vader's catchphrase is literally breathing.

[@michelleguillemette5733]

"Why doesn't Pikachu look the same?" Because the original design was a toasted mochi which they changed to a jerboa. They streamlined the design to resemble more of a rodent appearance.

[@copperfish8816]

I love how Gigantamax Pikachu is chonkier, like how Giantamax Eevee is floofier.

[@MissusAnon]

Gigantamax Pikachu made me so happy as an old fan of the series. I think the sprite for Gen 2 has to be my favorite of all the designs though.

[@mikedbz8530]

G-Max Pikachu (Deep voice): Pi! (Echo) Most people: I think he wants to pee! G-Max Pikachu: Ka! Me: I don’t think he needs to use the bathroom! (Run) G-Max Pikachu: Chuuuuu! (Does G-Max Volt Crash) Fries everyone except me and the trainers.

[@BagOfMagicFood]

Big Pikachungus

[@jaydenrossgarcia6435]

@@MissusAnon yea

[@jaydenrossgarcia6435]

@@mikedbz8530 memes

[@AngelRodriguez-ml9nh]

OMYGOSH. You used the music from The Great Ace Attorney at 1:44!!! 👏🏼 I’m subscribing, you earned my respect (and the content js amazing too). 😁

[@PhantomDusclops92]

You actually forgot that other design. The merchandise Pikachu, which haves a slightly smaller body and an oval-shaped head.

[@wohao_gaster7434]

has*

[@valeriaorraca1844]

You know, I was waiting for this to get mentioned too.

[@gsreads]

What the youtuber said was 2004 digital base, is the oval shaped Pikachu not close to that. And, if I'm not wrong, the oval head Pikachu appears only in artwork(cards maybe?) and not really canon. Anime one or 3D ones in games and the likes are nothing like the digital base pic KZbinr has shown in this video.

[@djkleb7645]

@@gsreads no, that design has been used in official images a lot

[@brockdanoob9746]

Pikachu when he gigantamaxed: "Holy sh*t, im normal again"

[@V.U.4six]

I know people love chonky pikachu but considering it’s supposed to be an agile Pokémon it makes more sense for it to be slim lol And at least we got throwback to og pikachu in gigantamax form lol

[@PinkieOats]

Absolutely obsessed with the Great Ace Attorney music you've chosen to sprinkle throughout the vid!!

[@bruh-moment_6989]

Not seeing the courtroom while the music was playing had me tripping

[@stillbuyvhs]

He originally was based on a dumpling with ears, a tail, & facial features. When Game Freak found out he was going to be the main Pokémon on the TV show, they redesigned him to make him easier to animate; the "modern" design even appeared on a game guide for Red & Green, back in the 90's.

[@aurafox1]

Can you imagine being one of the devs on the Pokemon Red and Green team? One day, your odd video game project grows into such a massive phenomenon to the point where an animation studio even wants to write an entire anime and a completely separate artist wants to write an entire manga series based on it?

[@chrisbeach423]

The Cards are definitely whats most popular. Id say not many people even know about the manga.

[@g76agi]

@@chrisbeach423 The games and the anime are the most popular, two years ago no one knew about the card game except the people that played it, it got a popularity surge recently cuz of the pokemon card thing that was going on around the internet but thats already dead

[@fungi265]

@@g76agi what are you talking about the cards were just as popular as the games and anime when pokemon was first starting off and there popularity today doesn't even come close to then. There was even two whole games made for the Gameboy based on the card game although one never released outside of Japan if I'm correct.

[@KaitouKaiju]

@@g76agi You must be young because the Pokémon card game was extremely popular during the turn of the millennium. So much that they made an official video game of the card game for the GBC.

[@g76agi]

@@KaitouKaiju im not saying it was never popular, but now its not as popular as the video games or the anime, sure maybe a lot of people know it, but not many people still collect them, atleast to how many did before

[@NevesThaMenace]

Pretty sure the answer is just because the one on the left is Red's Pikachu and the one on the right is Ashe's Pikachu. Pokemon aren't clones. I'm sure one can be a bit more of a chunky monkey then the other.

[@paulolsen2197]

whether he's skinny or chubby, he's always adorable!

[@TwilightLuna16]

Completely agreed! We love the yellow dude no matter his weight 💛

[@Pikachu-sc1yc]

@@TwilightLuna16 helo

[@paulolsen2197]

@@Pikachu-sc1yc why hello there

[@Pikachu-sc1yc]

@@paulolsen2197 hi

[@SilviStarWolf1]

Pikachu will always be my favorite pokémon

[@slavaukraine716]

Why doesn't Pikachu look the same?: Because he lost 15 pounds using Nutrisystem!

[@professatristan3223]

I was wondering what happened to Thomas. Glad to know you're not dead!

[@yoshimoment3045]

7:08 IS THAT A PIKACHU TAKING A SH*T????

[@James89227]

I think it was smash 64 that really made him lose weight, I happened to be playing it earlier and noticed how different he was in Ultimate, now that you mention it!

[@barrybend7189]

We need Chonkychu as a pseudo shiny in the games.

[@risingsunretro]

The changes make sense, but that old design is just so cute.

[@mysticalgaming7386]

true

[@lunanote-cassettemeower]

The Pikachu weight loss meme fits the evolution of cellphones very well.

[@muffin8460]

You should do "Why doesn't sonic look like he used too?"

[@TheRobot13]

@Thx ❤ stop

[@rapappathepepper3996]

Because funi mohawk greg martin designs, since Sega of America wanted to appeal more to their audience

[@Insill]

"Why does Sonic have blue arms?"

[@chocainewithouth4497]

Sega thought his design was too small and old since it was from the 1900’s, so they chose sonic to be a modern design or something like that

[@jorge_m-h4g]

That would be hilarious lol

[@cyberdragonzekrom6790]

Because Pikachu's been laying off the Oreos.

[@Mitzi_DelverVRC]

"Pikachu" was said so much, it doesn't sound like a thing anymore

[@Aukejorrit]

It's called jamais vu. Where Deja Vu makes you feel like something new is recognisable, Jamais Vu makes something you know seem unrecognisable.

[@stinerivera2543]

5:35 the reason, fat Pikachu is hard to animate.

[@crankylink13]

The legend finally returned!

[@maccamachine]

@Thx ❤ you have no life

[@Davanthall]

0:01 …did you…not see the Pokémon Presents last month? Wyrdeer and Basculegion bring the total up to an even 900.

[@dcbandit]

His voice ingame changed as well. It went from an electric "chu!" sound, to the anime "pikachu!" he has now. I honestly miss the original, and I wish Gamefreak would add the option to change it back to it if you so want.

[@bri1085]

Actually don't mind Pikachu having the anime voice instead of the digital sound, just would've liked it to be used more through the games

[@anhilo9716]

An electrical-sounding noise got used for him in PLA, which has some incredibly interesting implications.

[@dcbandit]

@@anhilo9716 I loved the inclusion of that! I wonder how many kids were confused when they heard Pikachu make electric sounds instead of "pika!".

[@zahhakgaming]

I think it should be "Chu!" ...I mean, he's a rat, and rats sound like that...

[@mariowalker9048]

@@bri1085 Wish granted. it's back to it's original sound in Scarlet and Violent.

[@JohnDoe-do3fm]

I like old school pikachu, still have my little pikachu plastic toy that says "pika pika!"

[@Blood-PawWerewolf]

Chonk-achu the best design of Pikachu.

[@TrvisXXIII]

Actually learned for the first time ever why Ken Sugimori created those water color designs for the Pokémon. Assumed all these years it was a hand in hand process with the pixel art, no one said anything about it being necessary for when color was being introduced, along with the super game boy he mentioned

[@afro025]

5:08 this is literally false. clefairy was originally going to be the mascot of pokemon, however pikachu was chosen because it was more recognizable

[@altalia07]

I have five pikachu cards and three are chubby pikachu. When i was little i absolutely HATED those cards because he was fat and i thought he was ugly but actually hes so adorable xD

[@ethatope9099]

Simple He went on a diet after eating nothing but ketchup for 20 years

[@DarkNaomi]

Fat Pikachu will always have a special place in my heart

[@dripfoe9569]

Your outro piano music was so nostalgic! awesome piano skills my friend

[@asterphyll]

Fat Pikachu is still there, in Viridian Forest. You just have to have the right kind of eyes to see the thiccness

[@JoshuaDZ]

4:20 people should rename it to thiccachu

[@curtisgordon7379]

Guy: why does pikachu look different? Me: they hired new artists since old ones retired

[@goldmemberpb]

Chonkachu Is what I like to call the older version of Pikachu, especially when it's in its G-max form.

[@StrangerOnHere]

He went on a strict diet

[@TheMarshmallowMushroom]

I feel like Dedenne replaced the short-and-stoutness the original Pikachu design possessed...

[@roberthansen5399]

it’s like reverse flanderization where his features have gotten less drastic

[@prakharsinha4822]

Finally getting into the masterpiece that is that great ace attorney OST I see 👀

[@pooolish334]

He was just in a bulking phase in the 90s and then he cut down to 12% body fat to show off his muscle gains

[@Pandasu28]

"Why doesn't Pikachu look like he used to?" Because he started doing drugs

[@deathlessman01]

RED used a POTION! PIKACHU fainted!

[@Sassassin0117]

Justice for fat pikachu 😭

[@AwkwardBunny0522]

I really don’t like that really simplified circular stylized look they do on various modern promotional stuff.

[@Mr110074]

Right? The oval head just looks so weird.

[@esotericVideos]

Ah yes, back when pikachu was a chonky boi.

[@LunarWingCloud]

Another great video! As a fan of Pokémon I like how in depth this is. Despite following the series for 22 years I still learned something today!

[@LunarWingCloud]

@NS 317 because developers don't typically do that, to protect their IP

[@megadeth_9611]

0:48 ironically he made the bug types the worst😂

[@livingdeadfitness1528]

Yeah, but the ones that are good are very good - I think.

[@levilouislaelsvideos]

well they aren't terrible as they have advantage over dark,pyshic,and grass but are weak to fire,flying and rock but even a little caterpe an easily survive rock throw from an onix

[@DJB0X3R]

Most people call him: “Thicc Pikachu”. Thankfully he went to Weight Watchers. Bonus points for the movie reference.

[@miimiiandco]

Chonkachu

[@elethcovers]

Thiccachu

[@friend_trilobot]

Maybe the real "fat pikachu" was the gigantimax form we found along the way

[@mewverse3765]

That's because since then Ash started losing every match he took part in and didn't have enough money to feed Pikachu, so he lost weight.

[@masterreece1098]

Alternate title: the story of how pikachu changed from a fat plump to a skinny mouse

[@blackcooler]

Dynamax is actually the official term for supersizing mechanic, Gigantamax is actually the term for some special pokemon which when dynamaxed would have different designs and max moves like the mega mechanic from gen 6-7, to get gmax pikachu you need both pokemon let’s go pikachu and sword/shield on the same switch then in the wild area train station talk to a guy at the top left corner and he’ll give you a gmax pikachu Note:if you have let’s go eevee instead of let’s go pikachu you’ll get a gmax eevee instead

[@midikidwastaken]

*The designer posing with the girl using the Pika Plush pictures makes me laugh to death*

[@Aurochhunter]

One word: “Evolution.” Seriously though, most cartoon characters change over the years, as the animators drawing skills improve, and they draw the characters slightly differently, Garfield for example, or the Simpsons perhaps.

[@MrSkullMerchant]

The drawers didnt improve with ashes recent designs lmao the og was alot better

[@DoctorPhileasFragg]

Garfield developing weird human feet is a GREAT example. This reply is also a great example of sarcasm.

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

Or Spongebob considering that his design are more square. His early season design has a charm to it.

[@thornels]

watch the video

[@miimiiandco]

The gen 1 sprites were pretty sus

[@Obi-Wan_Kenobi]

Pikachu's been hitting the gym. The Pokemon Gyms that is.

[@xyborg3252]

3:40 Mario straight up using t power to fly

[@grrrraffe]

That graphic of pikachu described as being from 2004 was actually used a couple years prior. It could be found on the pokemon website just before the Ruby/Sapphire release. When you'd select an "electric" theme for the site, it'd have that pikachu on the main page.

[@adam_roman]

I was hoping for a mention of marketing/merchandise Pikachu, who has a very oval head. Look at anything Pikachu from the pokemon center stores and you'll see it

[@tracynottage356]

I am not really a pokemon fan, but I do find pikachu just adorable, along with eevee aswell.

[@bloemkoolendestreetgang450]

I was kinda expecting you to go over the weird shaped pikachu that is kinda the modern mascot for the pokemon channel and weird stuff like that, he also looks like that in the “pokemon generations” shorts

[@NikLarson87]

I didn't know Pikachu foot races were something I needed in my life, but now I know.

[@johnjekyllson28]

I see you’ve finished the Great Ace Attorney Chronicles!

[@miathealien3911]

0:02 This Pikachu-race is so adorable! 😍😍🥰

[@MysteriouslyMilitant]

Rest In Peace Ken Sugimori.

[@leafcaller3301]

I know this is an old video, but I felt unnaturally high levels of serotonin listening to Thomas speaking with The Great Ace Attorney in the background

[@Game_Boy5000]

0:16 I was laughing so hard

[@microbot675]

I love the subtle choice of music at the end. Very sneaky.

[@stevensteviepryde5888]

I honestly prefer the Sugemori art for not just Pikachu, but for a number of the pokemon. Another notable example is if you look close at the original art for Charmander, it has a little spike on its neck.

[@MrMarinus18]

5:17 I also think they wanted one with a bold primary color. The 3 starters have that with Charmander being red, Squartle being blue and Balbasaur being green. Pikachu was bright yellow which really stands out hard.

[@ADragonNerd]

I miss how chonky pikachu used to be lol.

[@fnafgachafan1644]

that's like asking why the t rex doesn't look like how he used to

[@kaitlyn__L]

Interesting that he’s not exactly skinnier then, just taller and with longer arms and legs. If I imagine the head moved down and the arms shorter even the newer ones would also seem chubby. What a difference a neck and longer limbs makes to bodily proportions!

[@wildlioness8345]

Title: Why does Pikachu does not look like what he used to looks? Me: Art improvements I guess? Xd

[@FlavioThepianist]

Ash made him do too many volt tackles and quick attack lol

[@ghost_fueled_scarecrow]

The "Make it cuter!" thing reminded me of that Kylo Ren meme

[@supremechaosbeing2696]

So pikachu means sparklysqueak?

[@mattdeegan7300]

I just found your channel and I’m obsessed. Such great content, at a great pace, with great delivery and editing. 😊

[@YOEL_44]

From Chonkychu to Pikachu

[@perla5465]

I think his old, rounder chubby version is a lot cuter since he is like a little ball

[@ryk7778]

My gosh, the thumbnail gives me flashbacks when I was in primary school. I asked my friend to draw pikachu and he drew him so fat that it makes me laugh so hard

[@ImAHeroOnHiroin]

Tomas: let me explain Ad: ima end this man’s whole career

[@kurichan142]

7:00 Minor correction, the name is actually pronounced as "Takasa Oji SAN", not "CHAN", as pronounced in the video. Not a huge difference, but I figured I'd point it out (especially since ち, the base of ちゃ, and さ looks so similar).

[@raynmanshorts9275]

"She doesn't like to show her face in interviews." As adorable as the Pokemon she designed.