All articles tagged with #pikachu
A Kotaku writer recounts a Fourth of July gathering where a Pikachu-branded firework named Peek-a-boom erupts in a dramatic finale, spinning and showering sparks from multiple points. The firework delivers a surprising show, Pikachu survives the burst, and even a later SUV bump doesn’t stop the mythical moment from becoming a humorous look at fireworks culture.
The Pokémon Company International announced details for the Pokémon Trading Card Game: 30th Celebration expansion, launching Sept. 16, 2026, featuring a new Futuristic rare rarity with YOSHIROTTEN artwork, one Pikachu rare per booster, and 30 returning classic cards. Featured products include the Elite Trainer Box, Poster Collection, Tech Sticker Collection, Pokémon ex Box, and Knock Out Collection, with additional products to follow. Players can also access early play in Pokémon TCG Live starting Sept. 15, 2026 at 10 a.m. PDT with in-game bonuses; more info at Pokemon.com/TCG.
Pokémon GO is hosting Professor Willow’s Birthday Research on July 21, 2026, from 10:00 to 20:00 local time, introducing a costumed Professor Willow’s assistant Pikachu across free Timed Research, Field Research tasks, snapshot surprises, and raids with a possible shiny encounter. A free Timed Research will reward encounters with Pikachu, Lucky Eggs, Star Pieces, and more, but all tasks must be claimed by July 27, 2026, 8:00 PM local time.
Shimamura Park opened pre-orders for a 1/1-scale reprint of Pikachu's original, chunkier 1997 plush to celebrate Pokémon's 30th anniversary. The plush is about 40 cm tall and 28 cm wide, priced around $43, with worldwide shipping and shipments slated for late June to mid-July 2026.
Japan's 30th Celebration set for the Pokémon TCG will put a Pikachu card in every booster, with each six-card pack being foil; 30 Pikachu variants exist, and the set is expected to be revealed within about a week, with a September 16 Japanese release and a simultaneous global rollout around that window. The line is also tied to a new rarity and will include a 30th Celebration Premium Deck Set featuring Espeon & Umbreon, though details remain subject to change.
To mark its 30th anniversary, Pokémon unveiled nostalgia-heavy merchandise—box-art charms, Kanto-starter camping gear, a Fat Pikachu plush, and a pixel-perfect Pikachu plush modeled on the original Game Boy sprite—shown at a Japan event ahead of a livestream; US availability remains uncertain and import costs could be high, with more reveals planned for Pokémon Day.
Japan's first permanent outdoor Pokémon theme park, PokéPark Kanto, is set to open in Yomiuriland, Tokyo, on February 5, 2026, featuring attractions like a Pokémon Forest, Sedge Town, and shows including Pika Pika Paradise with Pikachu, with ticket lotteries starting in December.
CMLL's collaboration with Pokémon for the Pokémon Legends: Z-A event on September 25 has been highly successful, with tickets nearly sold out, highlighting Pikachu's popularity. The event will feature lucha-inspired Pokémon characters and will be streamed on CMLL's YouTube channel, promising an entertaining crossover for fans of both wrestling and Pokémon.
A new Pokémon TCG card, the Pikachu ex Special Illustration Rare, is currently selling for $500, driven by its debut in the ex-era and its appealing artwork. Despite its high price, experts advise against purchasing cards immediately after release due to typical price spikes followed by declines. The card's popularity is part of a self-perpetuating cycle of demand and rarity, with other cards in the set also seeing high prices. The upcoming Prismatic Evolutions set, featuring Eeveelutions, is expected to further fuel the Pokémon TCG market frenzy.
Players have been using Dragon's Dogma 2's character creator to recreate familiar faces such as Kratos and Pikachu, as well as experimenting with unusual physique options. The character creator was released by Capcom last week, allowing players to create their Arisen and pawn before the game's release on March 22nd. Some players have managed to create highly accurate versions of characters from other games, while others have opted for more humorous and unconventional creations.
The Pokemon Company plans to mass reprint the rare Pikachu card that caused chaos at the Van Gogh museum in The Netherlands last year, after scalpers swarmed the museum to resell the card for profit. The special promo card, "Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat," will be given to customers for free after purchasing any item at select stores in The Netherlands, in an effort to deflate its after-market value.
A Palworld player has created a Pokemon mod featuring iconic characters like Ash, Pikachu, and others, despite the game's lack of official mod support. The mod allows players to assume the role of Ash Ketchum and engage in battles with characters like Venusaur and Team Rocket. The mod has sparked interest and will be showcased in a video on January 23, 2024, with hopes of a release link.
Walmart is offering a Black Friday deal on the Crown Zenith Special Collection featuring Pikachu VMAX, with a 50% discount online. The collection includes various promo cards, booster packs, and extras, making it a great gift for Pokemon players and collectors. The Crown Zenith set is known for its higher pull rates and features rare cards like Giratina and Mewtwo. Best Buy also has Black Friday deals on Pokemon TCG products.
Giant 20-inch Pikachu and Piplup Squishmallows, part of the Pokemon x Squishmallow crossover, are now available for purchase on Amazon. These plushies are an expansion of the existing line, which includes Pikachu, Gengar, Snorlax, Togepi, and Piplup in their standard 14-inch versions. The larger Squishmallows are priced at $49.99 and are currently in stock, making them a great addition to any Pokemon fan's collection or a holiday gift option.
A collector and archivist named Grace Klich owns one of the 20 Volkswagen Beetle cars that were transformed into Pikachu-themed vehicles to promote Pokémon in the late 1990s. These cars were used at events and given away in contests, and Klich has spent years and thousands of dollars restoring her car, known as Pikabug #7. She has also connected with other collectors who own the remaining cars and uses her online platform to preserve and document Pokémon's forgotten history, including old promotional events and merchandise. Klich hopes to encourage others to come forward with their own pieces of Pokémon history for preservation.