Starting in the late 1990s, Pokémon became a part of an entire generation’s upbringing. Many viewers have pleasant memories of watching anime, participating in games, acquiring merchandise, and collecting cards. But for some reason, a sizable portion of fans in this age range also recall Pikachu having a tail with a black tip.
Pikachu‘s tail tip is plainly yellow, as is obvious. Despite this, a lot of youngsters from the 1990s will affirm that they can recall seeing Pikachu’s tail having a black tip. Some people have even created fan art and Photoshop creations of what they imagine the tail to look like. This false memory could be caused by a variety of factors, including additions to the franchise since Generation I that contribute to it. Here’s a closer look at the facts and theories in order to comprehend what caused this misinterpretation of everyone’s favorite Electric Mouse.
What Is Ash’s Pikachu Appearance?
Ash’s Pikachu has the same physical features as every other male Pikachu: long, pointed ears with black tips; red cheek pouches; and beady black eyes. On its back, it has two brown horizontal stripes, and the base of its lightning-bolt-shaped tail is brown. Its other characteristics are designed to resemble those of a mouse. It would have to be the accompanying black-tipped ears if any of these characteristics could possibly deceive observers into thinking there was a black-tipped tail.
Undoubtedly, some characteristics of Pikachu have vanished over time. It used to be considerably chubbier, to start. But in more recent generations, it has shrunk. It used to have a white muzzle as well, though this was more noticeable in merchandise not related to the anime. In some photos, its tail was also more angular and thinner. Fans would not, however, be misled into thinking that Pikachu has a black tail by any of these characteristics.
Has Ash’s Pikachu Ever Had a Black Tail?
The tail of Pikachu was never dark. It may have occasionally been observed with a shade on its tail, but it was never completely black. Except for the small patch of brown at the base, it was always entirely yellow.
This was only really an exception when Pikachu was a Pichu. Technically, Pikachu’s tail should have been black at this point since Pichu’s tails are always all black by nature. Pikachu wasn’t depicted as a Pichu, though, until Pokémon Journeys, which didn’t premiere until late 2019. Even if this perpetuates contemporary myths, it still wouldn’t explain why youngsters in the 1990s believed Pikachu had a black tail.
How About Cosplaying Pikachu?
Pikachu’s unique variation known as Cosplay Pikachu was first seen in the 2014 video games Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. They were female Pikachu with distinctive attire and special moves like Icicle Crash and Flying Press that Pikachu can’t usually learn. They can’t probably be used in other core series games because they were made with the intention of being used in the contests in the games.
A distinctive tail helps Cosplay Pikachu stand out from other Pikachu, aside from the costumes. As with other female Pikachu, it has a heart-shaped notch, but it also has a distinctive black tip. Unfortunately, this Pikachu can’t be held accountable for the misunderstanding among the kids of the 1990s either, as it didn’t make its debut until 2014.
The Reasons Why People Think Pikachu Has a Black Tail
The Mandela effect is frequently cited as the explanation for Pikachu’s purported black tail. This is a phenomenon where many people—thousands, even—recall an unrealized past event in a similar way. Consider it to be a collective false memory. People frequently misinterpret Darth Vader’s line from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, believing that he said, “Luke, I am your father,” when in fact he said, “No, I am your father.” The Mandela effect might have contributed to Pikachu’s black tail.
If that hypothesis is correct, it’s possible that the error was spread widely. One child who believed Pikachu had a black tail may have “confirmed” his suspicion with a friend while harboring the same erroneous belief. Whole groups of people would eventually come to believe that.
Off-brand toys are a further potential contributor to the misunderstanding. Due to carelessness or a lack of quality control, businesses hoping to capitalize on Pokémon’s popularity may sell toys that look like Pokémon but have the wrong color schemes. Examples of such modifications include a purple Aerodactyl or a Pikachu with black tails.
It’s also possible that Pikachu’s sprite from Pokémon Red and Blue contributed to the misunderstanding. Similar to Raichu, Pikachu had a long, black tail in these games that ended in a lightning bolt. Years later, that might have been mistaken for a black-tipped tail by youngsters from the 1990s.
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