Pokémon enthusiasts are only now spotting a bizarre twist in the tail tale of much-adored character Pikachu.
A mainstay of the franchise across games and the animated series for over 20 years, the beloved character has seemingly been remembered wrong by fans of the show. The lightning bolt-shaped tail of Pikachu, famous for its early promotion work and near-constant presence on-screen, has thrown fans for a loop with a recently noticed detail.
Many followers were convinced of a black marking on both the ears and tail of Pikachu, but a viral TikTok has blown this myth wide open, illustrating the disparities between childhood memories and Pikachu’s true design, sparking a stir among devotees.
User @the_great_joe_gillespie was behind the revelation that is causing a sensation online – suggesting it’s a textbook example of the Mandela Effect in full swing.
Gillespie explained: “When my son was younger we used to play the Pokémon card game a lot but I never really used Pikachu, so I don’t remember if he had a stripe on his tail or not. I found a lot of clips of the cartoon with Pikachu in it, but none with a black stripe on his tail. So, I don’t really know what the hell is going on.”
A crowd of followers echoed his sentiment, equally bewildered by the memory mix-up of the beloved character’s appearance. One baffled enthusiast shared: “Yeah I would draw Pikachu with a black tail because that how I would remember it.” Another perplexed fan commented: “There was a black stripe. I was obsessed. I remember.”
It appears that staunch supporters have debunked the misconception of Pikachu’s supposed black-tailed variant, pointing to the Pokémon’s pre-evolution form. In response to the claim of obsession, a user clarified: “No he didn’t. That’s Pichu, trust. Had the black. I don’t know what you’re talking about but the old school Pikachu did not have that black stripe.”
Yet, some remain convinced of their childhood memories, as one proclaimed: “He did have a black tip I specifically remember drawing Pikachu when I was lil then I searched him up and he did have a black tail.”
Echoing this sentiment, another said: “I drew Pikachu with that black stripe on his tail when I was a lot younger. Pretty sure it’s at my parents’ place in one of the closets. I can’t make any sense of this.”