Pikachu is the most recognizable Pokemon out there, serving as a mascot character for the franchise that even people who have never played the game or watched the anime will recognize. Ash may be the most famous Pikachu trainer in the series, but he's not the only one to feature Pikachu on their team.
We've seen a handful of trainers with their own Pikachus besides Ash's iconic travel partner. However these trainers and their Pikachu are not all created equal. Here's a look at all of these Pikachu trainers, taking into account their individual achievements as trainers and how well they've raised their Pikachu.
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Victor
Victor is not a Pokemon trainer in the traditional sense. Although he and his Pikachu, Puka, are shown to have a close bond, Victor's goal is not to become a Pokémon Master. Victor and Puka do not participate in battles as far as we know. The duo is more concerned with catching waves than earning a gym badge.
Victor and Puka spent years surfing the legendary Humunga Dunga wave. Although it hasn't been shown to do much in terms of combat, Puka has a unique ability that no other Pikachu does. Puka can spot big waves, making it a great partner for surfers like Victor. They may not be the strongest when it comes to traditional battles, but Viktor and Puka still make a great team, and by the end of their episode in the original series, they manage to finish what they set out to do years ago.
Richie
Another character from the original series, Richie, serves as one of Ash's rivals. Not only is he very similar to him, but Richie also has a similar team to Ash. From a Charmeleon named Zippo, to a Butterfree named Happy, Richie and Ash definitely share some similarities as trainers. But the most notable thing they have in common is their Pikachus.
Like Ash, Richie's Pikachu is the strongest in his party. Sparky is distinguished from Ash and other Pikachus by the small tuft of fur on his head. In initial appearances, it appears to be very evenly matched with Ash's Pikachu. We don't see much of Richie throughout the series, so it's hard to say how strong Sparky became, but it's possible that it never surpassed Ash's Pikachu in terms of power.
Goh
Ash has had many travel companions over the years, and Goh might be one of the best. A talented trainer and member of Project Mew, Goh has caught over 100 Pokémon, proving to be one of the most productive and ambitious trainers Ash has traveled with. But this is the only important Pokémon for the list that he briefly shared with his traveling companion. Pikachu.
Goh only possessed her Pikachu for a short time before Team Rocket's plan forced her to use the Thunder Stone and evolve into Raichu. Rashichu may not be as featured as Goh's other Pokemon, but she's always seemed like a decently strong member of her party. Although evolved, she didn't really match the power of Ash's Pikachu, but she served as a reliable Pokemon for Goh.
Professor Fred
Professor Friede plays a very large role in the new Pokemon Journeys series. As the leader of the Rising Vault Tacklers, Friede is an important part of the main cast. But as great as he is, the real show stealer is his Pikachu. Effectively replacing Ash's iconic Pikachu in the new series, Captain Pikachu, like its predecessor, is unlike most of its species.
Aside from some fun quirks like being “allergic” to cuteness, Captain Pikachu has shown himself to be an incredibly capable and powerful Pokemon. It's just as fun-loving and charismatic as its predecessor, but it still hasn't surpassed the original.
ash
His face was ashen Pokemon for a long time. Being the main character of the anime series for more than 20 years, millions Pokemon Fans around the world followed his journey to become a Pokemon Master. Ash is a great MC, but he wouldn't be nearly as fun to watch without Pikachu by his side.
Ash's Pikachu is a big reason why the Pokemon anime is as popular as it is today. When most people think of Pikachu, they probably think of this little guy. The dynamic between Ash and Pikachu has carried the series, and the bond they formed over their journey allowed Ash's Pikachu to push beyond the limits of any other Pikachu in the series. It's safe to say that not only is Ash's Pikachu the strongest Pikachu we've seen in anime, but it's also one of the strongest non-legendary Pokemon in anime.
Pokemon
- Release date
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1997 – 2023
- network
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TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC
- directors
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Shigeru Omachi, Koji Ogawa, Fumihiro Ueno, Hideki Hiroshima, Maki Kodaira, Makoto Oga, Ayumi Moriyama, Keitaro Motonaga, Shigeru Ueda, Fumihiro Yoshimura, Minoru Ohara, Yoshitaka Makino, Kiyoshi Egami, Makotoi, Murki, Makotoi, Murkoi, Nako, Hey Nishida, Tomoe Makino, Masahiko Watanabe, Hiroaki Takagi, Tazumi Mukaiyama, Ryohei Horiuchi, Yoshihiro Oda, Hiromichi Matano
- The authors
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Junki Takegami, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hideki Sonoda, Yukiyoshi Ohashi, Yuka Miyata, Takeshi Shudo, Shouji Yonemura, Shinzo Fujita, Michihiro Tsuchiya, Deko Akao, Reiko Yoshida, Aya Matsui, Junichi Fujisaku
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Rika Matsumoto
Satoshi (voice)
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Ikue Otani
Pikachu (voice)
