Pokemon Fans Are Just Finding Out That Ash Once Named His Pikachu (2024)

Some Pokemon fans are just finding out that Ash once named his Pikachu.

If there's one thing that's remained constant throughout pretty much all of Pokemon's history, it's the relationship between Ash and Pikachu. The two have remained inseparable since the first episode of the Pokemon anime, with very little changing about their relationship dynamic over the years. Well, except for that one time they made Pikachu speak English, but we don't talk about that.

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One of those constants is the fact that Ash has always simply called Pikachu, well, Pikachu, opting not to give him any kind of nickname. As it turns out, however, there was one time when Ash actually did give his Pikachu a name, although it has only ever been said once and has seemingly been buried in the hopes that no one finds it and remembers Ash's awful pun game.

As pointed out by ResetEra user Taco_Human, the third chapter of the Pokemon manga The Electric Tale of Pikachu, which loosely follows the same events as the anime, shows Ash discussing the various names that he's given his Pokemon. During the conversation, Ash says that he's called his Pikachu "Jean Luc Pikachu", a clear reference to Jean Luc Picard. Pikachu, oh sorry Jean Luc Pikachu, is even shown with a Star Trek badge on his chest as his name is revealed.

Thankfully, if the idea of Ash's Pikachu having an actual name flips everything you know about the universe on its head, it's clearly been ditched by The Pokemon Company and was likely just meant as a joke. A terrible terrible joke that even I'd think twice about making.

In fact, The Pokemon Company would probably like you to forget The Electric Tale of Pikachu even happened in the first place, as it's one of the most controversial pieces of Pokemon media out there, in large part thanks to the massive over-sexualisation of child characters like Misty and Jessie, along with several big changes to the overarching Pokemon canon.

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