Pokemon is one of the most successful entertainment series of all time, and it's proven to have appeal to multiple generations. The main reason for Pokemon's success comes down to the design of the many creatures.
The Pokemon series continues to put out imaginative new characters with every generation, and some Pokemon have become downright iconic in the world of pop culture. Of course, chief among everything is the series' mascot, Pikachu, who's just as identifiable as Mario or Ronald McDonald at this point.
Pikachu is the quintessential Pokemon design, and it shows the heights of the series' creativity. The adorable electric Pokemon serves as an example of why Pokemon is so popular, and it's what every new design should strive to emulate.
Why Pikachu Is the Perfect Pokemon
Initially Pikachu wasn't meant to the mascot of the series, but it's rise to fame was thanks in no small part to the Pokemon anime. The show needed a specific Pokemon to focus on, and Pikachu was chosen because it was cute, somewhat popular, and could appeal to both boys and girls. The rest is history, but Pikachu's design works because it manages to be both simple and engaging at the same time.
In the grand scheme of things, Pikachu is one of the less complicated designs out there. It's just an electric mouse with red cheeks, but that also makes it relatable. Pikachu resembles real-life animals which makes it easy for players to relate with it. At the same time, Game Freak specifically designed Pikachu to be cute, almost aggressively cute. As a Red-Blue-Green theme of the original games. Pikachu is perfect proof that Pokemon designs don't need to be complex to work, and often it's the simplest ones that have the biggest lasting impact.
