While Pokemon games have changed the design and animation of many critters over 30 years of releases, Pikachu is arguably the most recognizable Pokemon ever, even more than Charizard, and it has gone through many phases. First was the so-called “thick Pikachu” or “round Pikachu” from early games, eventually becoming icons in Pokemon TCG and as sprites in the video games. Now, there are so many different versions of Pikachu across Pokemon games and anime that they are still very familiar, but they also have their own personalities.
The various faces and identities of Pikachu are still a testament to the series’ success and popularity. The new Pokemon TCG 30th Celebration set features rare pulls dedicated to many critters, but Pikachu gets a lot of cool variants that are guaranteed to be included in each pack. Similar in its approach, the official Pokemon 30th anniversary art books coming in December 2026 will be a way to celebrate all Pokemon in the series, and it’s no surprise that Pikachu will have a core part to play in the first one, detailing the early generations of games.
Pikachu’s New Design Shows Off Unique Costume and Pose
Pikachu is not one of the strongest original 151 Pokemon by any means, and even Raichu’s better stats don’t land the evolution line there. Yet, it’s become popular as an unevolved critter in the games with the Light Ball held item, and Pikachu’s many costumes make it extremely popular in Pokemon GO. Now, Pikachu has yet another costume thanks to The Pokemon Company’s collaboration with ESA (European Space Agency), this time featuring a space suit. The release is available now via Pokemon Center in physical form, and Pokemon GO launches a new event on October 4 to celebrate World Space Week 2026, featuring the special Astronaut Pikachu, available in raids or Timed Research.
The new blue-suit and astronaut-suit Pikachu designs are also available on merchandise, including deck boxes and playmats for Pokemon TCG, stickers, apparel, and even a figurine and a puzzle. The new release also features new official Pokemon designs for Lunatone, Comog, and Minior, further emphasizing the space theme of World Space Week 2026.
Perhaps due to its mascot status, Pikachu is often considered one of the best Electric-type Pokemon in the series, and sometimes, it can even be true from a gameplay perspective. For example, Pokemon Legends: Z-A had a season where Light Ball Pikachu was dominating the meta by one-shotting most of the game’s best Pokemon with Plus Moves, and it even found success in VGC occasionally.
The franchise’s 30th anniversary has been a great occasion for The Pokemon Company to release brand-new material, such as the all-new Pokemon TCG Eeveelution designs. The new Pikachu plushies, exclusive figurine, and puzzle are already popular among fans, but some are disappointed that the ESA’s collaboration is mostly exclusive to the United States.
