A supposedly leaked summary for an upcoming episode of the Pokémon anime has sparked a dose of panic amongst the community, with some worrying that Ash's Pikachu, star of the show since its very first episode, may be about to evolve.
The summary, which is for the 35th episode of Pokémon Journeys, has been shared online by Twitter account, @AnipokeFandom. It reads, "There's a Pikachu Outbreak-chu!! [Ash's] Pikachu finally evolves into a Raichu?" before suggesting that the series' most famous mascot "finally evolves into a Raichu" thanks to a Thunderstone, an object that is needed for this specific evolution to take place.
As fans will know, Ash's Pikachu has repeatedly shown a lack of interest in evolving throughout the show's 23 seasons, with Ash being more than happy for the little yellow cutie to stay exactly how he is. In fact, it's one of the key moments of the opening season, setting up a relationship between the two characters full of love and understanding.
It would be weird, then, for the anime to go against this and have Pikachu go through this irreversible transformation. It would be weirder still when you consider that Pikachu has become the mascot of the entire series - things wouldn't be the same if Ash starting wandering around with a Raichu, would they?
The panic we mention seems to have stemmed from a number of articles doing the rounds over the last day or two, twisting the information found in the tweet above to create headlines such as 'Pokémon Journeys Is About To Ruin Your Childhood By Evolving Ash's Pikachu Into Raichu', as if the tweet is factual evidence. In reality, we find the evolution of Pikachu to be highly unlikely, especially considering the summary uses question marks to keep readers in suspense.
Our guess is that the summary is simply teasing fans, and that one of the other Pikachu from the "outbreak" mentioned in the episode will evolve instead. Still, stranger things have happened.
The episode in question airs in Japan on 30th August, so we'll find out once and for all very soon indeed.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 47
Even if Pikachu has been evolved into Raichu, it still same animal with same affection to Ash.
Being Raichu might be have some disadvantages but that's the trainer job to figure it out.
People worry about the dumbest things.
I wouldn’t mind if he did evolve. If not there’s always Everstones so maybe Pikachu is just ready to grow and evolve just like Ash has in his journeys.
God forbid something interesting happen in the pokemon anime
90% it's a fake out. Like that one where Misty's Psyduck supposedly evolved but it turned out to be a wild one that took... an interest in Misty.
@Swoltacular And Conan/Shinichi should also be an adult after all this years even without finding an andidote for APTX 4869
Well, I mean, they let him win a league and managed to make that look lame.
I'm sure they can have pikachu evolve and make that feel lackluster too.
I'm so bored with Pikachu, I would love to have it evolve. But it's almost certainly a fake out.
Pikachu should have evolved LONG ago.
Not that I even watch the show to begin with anyways.
Oh wow this is the hugest news. 🤦🏻♂️ Pokemon fans worry about the stupidest things.
I think its fake but if it did I wouldn't be mad.
This will never happen considering Pikachu is the mascot for the series. Maybe remove the clickbait link so as not to give that website the attention it so clearly craves?
It's an animated show aimed at children. Are these "fans" a bunch of 30 year olds that just don't know how to move on?
@Guybrush20X6 Yeah, it's definitely a fake-out. One thing to remember is that we've seen Ash's Pikachu Gigantamax in a previous episode and, as far as main game mechanics are concerned, Pikachu/Eevee/Kantonian Meowth that have the ability to Gigantamax cannot evolve.
@0L1V14 Nah, he’s apparently canonically 24-25. So he’d be in his 60s, but probably still alive in a cranky Kong-type role, lol.
@ZebZed If they're half way smart, that'll be a plot point.
I doubt this as much as I doubt the supposed 'Direct' on Friday XD
Raichu are great and underrated. I doubt it'll happen, but it'll be lovely to see Ash's Pikachu finally evolve.
It's probably just a deliberately sensational episode title to gain headlines only for it to be actually another Pikachu confused for Ash's Pikachu.
The second Japanese intro has a spoiler for this at 59 seconds in for those that are curious.
I figured if Pikachu was ever going to evolve in the anime that it would have been into Alolan Raichu. The anime is about maintaining the status quo, not subverting it. The first season was the only time that they ever took any kind of risks. The show has played it extraordinarily safe since.
While there are some passionate anime fans, the reality is that it exists solely as a marketing tool for the brand at large. Any artistic value is unintentional and frankly irrelevant.
EDIT: Fixed (I incorrectly said "Galarian Raichu".)
Raichu is not shoulder safe.
@Silly_G
I haven't watched the anime in a loooong time, but going the route of Alolan (I don't think there is a Galarian Raichu?) would make sense. Personally, classic Raichu looks way cooler
It's probably a Pokemon mixup. This has happened in the anime before. (Remember when Misty thought her Psyduck evolved?) Logically, the anime wouldn't change the series mascot like that. That question mark at the end of that sentence in the summary is highly suspect.
Unpopular opinion maybe, but I've wanted Ash's Pikachu to evolve for years.
Please do, stop holding the poor creature back. Has to be lvl 99 at this point and still gets destroyed. Also have Ash get trampled by a herd of Tauros or something so he can be replaced.
If they ever do want to evolve him for "real", it would be cool to have a "what if" mini series based on the original season, where Pikachu accepted the thunder stone Ash got back then.
not gonna happen. it's the other pikachu at that pikachu place that will evolve
@Classic603 : Sorry, I meant Alolan Raichu. I didn't like the appearance of Raichu in the original series, but they did make Raichu a lot cuter over the years. I particularly liked its TCG artwork in the Fossil expansion set back in the day.
My money is on a new version of that episode about (not) evolving Pikachu in season 1.
F A K E
not happening
@HeroponRiki
Plenty of interesting moments have happened though.
@Chamver
You’re basically telling people to stop enjoying something they love because of their age.
Heaven forbid someone told you the same about what you enjoyed..
The Sahara desert will turn into a day spa before Ash’s Pikachu evolves
@Swoltacular He just needs to evolve. I assume that’s how humans work in that universe 😂
NL should add Spoiler tags to the anime "news". I still can't get over at how they spoiled Ash winning the Alolan League
omg the female pikachu in the episode will evolve everyone will laugh and ash will suck with 1 championship still in 23 years bye
@heiko oh come watch the japanese show waiting for dub is silly
@NintendoPok I prefer the English Pokémon names.
I don't take much issue with spoilers, it's just that they should be careful, especially with one as big as Ash winning a League for the first time ever.
Sorry i'm conservative in some things. People love Pikachu the way he is. He should be stronger though reaching lvl 100 ages ago and being a special case with unlimited potential as Meowth pointed out.
I personally want to see Pikachu evolve into Raichu, it’s fine to have some change
@Lilash20 Just because games are made and marketed for kids doesn’t mean older people can’t play and enjoy them either.
Heck, the Pokemon games are still aimed at kids, when it’s mostly the older fans who buy and play them the most.
Not gonna happen. Pikachu’s too iconic and marketable to have it evolve into it’s less popular evolution.
@StardusterEX old man Cranky Mario sounds awesome.
I haven't watched the anime in 15 years, but I hope that it's true. Raichu was always so cute and super underrated.
Ash's Pikachu is a GMax Pikachu so it can't evolve even if it is given a ThunderStone
@heiko but EVERYWHERE reported it. just watch japanese! PS US is behind in the anime and youre gonna find out 8-12 months later thats cool?
I would be funny if Ash evolved his pikachu into raichu, and then another one of those pikachus became his new companion (leaving raichu behind with the group of pikachus), so nothing would really change aside from the internet hate.
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