Pikachu

Pikachu made its first appearance in 1996 in the video games Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue. This little yellow creature is inspired by the pika, a type of mouse that lives in the mountains of China. When Game Freak, the studio responsible for developing the Pokémon games, proposed its idea of pocket monster hunting to Nintendo, the Japanese giant wasn’t initially enthusiastic and accepted it without much belief. Pikachu was eventually introduced to the public, and the success it achieved was beyond anyone’s expectations. The credit for Pikachu’s design goes to Atsuko Nishida and Ken Sugimori. Another Pokémon, Clefairy, was initially considered to be the brand’s mascot, but Pikachu’s yellow color contrasted better with Nintendo’s green from Zelda and red from Mario. Then the famous Pokémon appeared on every possible platform and in various merchandise: toys, clothing, backpacks, cars, and more.

Sometimes nicknamed the “Japanese Mickey Mouse,” Pikachu is a brand image that everyone knows and recognizes. It’s no surprise that collectors are fond of cards featuring Pikachu. As further proof of its recognition, a Pikachu card dressed as Van Gogh was on display for visitors at the Amsterdam museum, confirming its place in popular culture with a capital “C.”