Electric rodents
- Pikachu clone redirects here. For the Pikachu that is a clone, see Pikachutwo.
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The subject of this article has no official name. The name currently in use is a fan designator; see below for more information. |
Electric rodents is a fan term referring to a group of Electric-type Pokémon based on rodents.
This group is also referred to by fans as the Pikachu family, Pikachu clones, or Pikaclones, though these terms are sometimes used to include other Pokémon such as Marill or Mimikyu, which are not Electric types, but otherwise resemble Pikachu in design. An equivalent term used within the Japanese fandom is 電気袋組 Electric Pouch Group, referencing the electric pouches on these Pokémon's cheeks.
The terms "electric mice" and "electric mouse Pokémon" are used informally to describe this group in a post on the official Pokémon Singapore Facebook page, promoting the "HOPPE DAISHŪGO" collection of Pokémon Center merchandise. HOPPE DAISHŪGO can be translated as Cheek Great Gathering, referencing the common trait these Pokémon have.
Character designer Ken Sugimori acknowledged the concept of the recurring "electric rodents" theme in an interview published in Volume 201 of the Nintendo Dream magazine.[1]
List of electric rodents
There are 14 Pokémon considered to be electric rodents, with every generation introducing at least one.
Design-wise, all of these Pokémon have big round heads, button-like eyes, and electric pouches on their cheeks. All are in the Fairy or Field Egg Groups, and all have English names very close to being pure transliterations of their Japanese names. Prior to Generation VIII, these were the only Pokémon capable of learning Nuzzle; Morpeko is the only member that cannot learn Nuzzle.
Pachirisu is the only member of this group revealed to actually be biologically related to Pikachu's evolutionary line.[2] Pawmi is the only one (aside from Pikachu itself) to have an evolutionary line, having three stages, mirroring Pikachu — although Pikachu's evolutionary line includes a baby Pokémon, while Pawmi's evolutionary line lacks one.
The Pawmi family, being introduced in Generation IX, have yet to be directly grouped with the electric rodents officially, though they share the same design theme and other overall similarities.
Similar Pokémon
Marill and Mimikyu are often viewed as "Pikachu clones" by fans, although neither of them are Electric types.
Marill has similar design traits to Pikachu, being a cute, round Pokémon with black button-like eyes. Prior to the release of Pokémon Gold and Silver, Marill was often referred to as "Pikablu" by fans, and it was erroneously referred to as such on the Topps trading cards for the first movie. However, Marill has never officially been acknowledged as related to the electric rodents.
Mimikyu's design is directly inspired by Pikachu, and it is sometimes featured in official artwork showcasing these Pokémon. The Japanese web page for the "HOPPE DAISHŪGO" merchandise states "よく見ると、でんきタイプではないポケモンが1匹、こっそり仲間入りしているね" which can be translated to mean "If you look closely, you'll see that one Pokemon that is not an Electric type has secretly joined the group". This may reference Mimikyu's behavior of pretending to be a Pikachu.
In the games
Pachirisu's Pokédex entry in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver states: "It's one of the kinds of Pokémon with electric cheek pouches," which likely refers to this group.
In Pokémon X and Y, the "Stickers" battle menu background features all the members of the group that existed at the time.
In animation
In Pokémon the Series, Ash and his friends own a number of these Pokémon: Ash owns a Pikachu, Dawn owns a Pachirisu, Iris owns an Emolga, Bonnie cares for her brother Clemont's Dedenne, and Goh owns a female Raichu that evolved from a Pikachu. Additionally, James of Team Rocket owns a Morpeko, and while it is not considered part of this group, Jessie owns a Mimikyu. Ash's friend Tracey also owns a Marill, though Marill has never been officially connected to this group.
In Pokémon Horizons: The Series, Friede owns a Pikachu named Captain Pikachu, who mans the flying ship Brave Olivine with him. A wild Pawmi also resides on the vessel.
Pichu, Plusle, Minun, Pawmo, and Pawmot are the only members of this group that aren't owned or cared for by any of the main characters of either animated TV series, though it is confirmed in Enter Pikachu! that Ash's Pikachu used to be a Pichu.
References
- ↑ Nintendo Dream Vol. 201, January 2011 (Translation by Dr. Lava)
- ↑ Pokédex entry: A species related to the Pikachu line. [...] (Pokémon Legends: Arceus)
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