Pokemon Fan Creates Alolan Pikachu Design

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Summary

  • Only 18 Generation 1 Pokemon have Alolan forms, including Raichu, but Pikachu never received one.
  • Alolan forms were inspired by Hawaii’s climate in Generation 7 games.
  • Pokemon fans create custom regional forms for other regions like Galar and Paldea.

As a lifelong Pokemon enthusiast who’s been capturing and training creatures since the days of the Game Boy Color, I can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment every time I realize that Pikachu still doesn’t have an Alolan form. With its vibrant personality and iconic status in the franchise, it seems only fitting for Pikachu to join the ranks of the 18 other Generation 1 Pokemon who’ve embraced the tropical Alola region’s unique aesthetic.

The fan art circling around the internet showcasing custom Alolan Pikachus gives me a glimmer of hope that one day, my favorite Electric-type might finally get the regional variant it deserves. I’ve seen some truly imaginative designs, and I must say, HertzBurst’s brown fur version with its Psychic secondary type is a standout in my book!

In the meantime, I’ll continue to collect every regional form I can find, from Galarian Meowth and Tauros to Paldean versions of my favorite Pokemon. It’s fascinating how the developers at Game Freak take inspiration from real-world locations like Hawaii and Sinnoh to create these unique alternate forms.

I guess the only thing left to say is, Game Freak: if you’re reading this, please give us an Alolan Pikachu in the next game! And hey, maybe even a regional variant of my other favorite, Jigglypuff? Just a friendly suggestion… and a reminder that I’ll be here, patiently waiting with bated breath.

Oh, and as for the joke: I can just imagine Pikachu in an Alola beach outfit, sipping on a piña colada – now that’s a sight I’d pay good money to see!

A devoted Pokemon enthusiast came up with a unique design for an Alolan version of the popular Pokemon character, Pikachu, and posted the initial idea on the internet. Numerous artists have crafted their own regional variations of Pokemon personalities.

In the seventh-generation games, unique Pokemon variants known as Alolan forms debuted in the Alola region. So far, just 18 Pokemon have received these alternate designs, and they’re all from the first generation. One of these is the Electric-type Raichu, which evolves from the famous Pikachu character from the Pokemon franchise. Even though Pikachu itself doesn’t have an Alolan form, a piece of fan art gives us a sneak peek at what this variation might have looked like if it had ever been introduced.

In a recent discussion on the Pokemon subreddit, user HertzBurst unveiled their unique concept for an Alolan Pikachu. Similar to the official Alolan Raichu, this design sports a distinctive new color scheme – trading the typical bright yellow fur of Pikachu for a much deeper brown hue. This fan creation retains the Electric/Psychic attributes of Alolan Raichu and features different secondary colors as well as more rounded characteristics. In fact, many artists have previously shared their own original designs in this community, such as Reddit user SayuriKoopa who created custom regional forms for Larvitar, Tinkatink, and Vanillite, to name a few.

Pokemon Fan Designs Original Alolan Form for Pikachu

Game Freak, creators of the popular Pokemon series, have revealed that the sunny and clear nights of Hawaii played a role in shaping the tropical backdrop seen in the Generation 7 games. During development, the team at Game Freak pondered about potential living conditions for the Alolan forms if they were real-life creatures. The elongated neck of Alolan Exeggutor is an example of this, as it was designed with more sunlight exposure in mind compared to its typical counterpart.

Beyond Alola, other regions where Pokemon reside each have their unique versions too. For instance, the Galar region from Generation 8 features Galarian forms, while the central area of the current ninth generation, Paldea, has Paldean forms. In the game Pokemon Legends: Arceus, which takes place in an earlier version of Sinnoh called Hisui, we find Hisuian forms. At present, there are a total of 57 regional Pokemon variations, with Meowth and Tauros having two and three such variants respectively.

As a long-time Pokémon fan who has been playing since the early days of the Gameboy games, I eagerly await the release of “Pokemon Legends: Z-A” on the Nintendo Switch next year. With its return to the Kalos setting, I’m reminded of my childhood memories and the countless hours spent exploring that region in the sixth generation games. The rumors about new evolutions and regional variants have me excitedly speculating what surprises await me in this upcoming title. If a trailer for “Pokemon Legends: Z-A” drops before the franchise’s 29th anniversary in February 2025, I can hardly contain my enthusiasm. It feels like a dream come true to be part of this journey once again and discover new adventures in the Pokémon universe.

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2024-12-31 11:44