Pachirisu

Pachirisu is a species of fictional creatures called Pokémon created for the Pokémon media franchise. Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, the Japanese franchise began in 1996 with the video games Pokémon Red and Green for the Game Boy, which were later released in North America as Pokémon Red and Blue in 1998.{{cite magazine |last=Hilliard |first=Kyle |date=December 25, 2016 |title=Pokémon Red & Blue – A Look Back At The 20-Year Journey To Catch 'Em All |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/12/25/pok-233-mon-red-amp-blue-a-look-back-at-the-20-year-journey-to-catch-em-all.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001192920/https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/12/25/pok-233-mon-red-amp-blue-a-look-back-at-the-20-year-journey-to-catch-em-all.aspx |archive-date=October 1, 2023 |access-date=January 22, 2024 |magazine=Game Informer}} In these games and their sequels, the player assumes the role of a Trainer whose goal is to capture and use the creatures' special abilities to combat other Pokémon.{{cite book |last=Allison |first=Anne |title=Millennial Monsters: Japanese Toys and the Global Imagination |date=May 2006 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=9780520938991 |pages=192–197}} Each Pokémon have one or two elemental types, which define its advantages and disadvantages when battling other Pokémon.{{cite book |title=Pokémon Deluxe Essential Handbook |date=July 28, 2015 |publisher=Scholastic Inc. |isbn=9780545795661 |page=5}} A major goal in each game is to complete the Pokédex, a comprehensive Pokémon encyclopedia, by capturing, evolving, and trading with other Trainers to obtain individuals from all Pokémon species.

Pachirisu is an Electric-type Pokémon, featuring blue-and-white fur, a fluffy tail, and yellow cheeks.{{cite web |last=Taguiami |first=Rhenn |date=April 23, 2023 |title=Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: How to Get Pachirisu |url=https://gamerant.com/pokemon-scarlet-violet-get-catch-pachirisu/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223063243/https://gamerant.com/pokemon-scarlet-violet-get-catch-pachirisu/ |archive-date=December 23, 2023 |accessdate=April 11, 2024 |work=Game Rant}} Pachirisu resembles a squirrel.{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Catherine |date=2024-08-19 |title=10 years after making Pokemon history with a squirrel, the former world champion returned to Worlds 2024 with his iconic mascot in tow |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/games/pokemon/10-years-after-making-pokemon-history-with-a-squirrel-the-former-world-champion-returned-to-worlds-2024-with-his-iconic-mascot-in-tow/ |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=GamesRadar+ |language=en}} It is considered the "Pikachu clone" (a traditionally Electric-typed Pokémon that resembles the design of series mascot Pikachu){{Cite web |last=Iwamasa |first=Karli |date=2020-04-07 |title=Pokemon: Every Pikachu Clone, Ranked |url=https://www.thegamer.com/pokemon-pikachu-clones-ranked/ |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=TheGamer |language=en}} of the fourth generation of Pokémon. Pachirisu's name comes from the Japanese words "pachipachi" and "risu", the first being the sound of an electric crackle and the second being the Japanese word for squirrel.{{cite web |last=Leggett |first=Kitty |date=November 26, 2022 |title=The 10 Most Obscure Origins For Pokémon Names |url=https://www.cbr.com/strange-unique-origin-pokemon-names/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214084023/https://www.cbr.com/strange-unique-origin-pokemon-names/ |archive-date=February 14, 2024 |accessdate=March 23, 2024 |work=Comic Book Resources}} Pachirisu has been voiced in the Pokémon anime series by Chinami Nishimura.{{Cite web |title=劇場版ポケットモンスター ダイヤモンド&パール ディアルガVSパルキアVSダークライ｜アニメキャスト・映画・最新情報一覧 {{!}} アニメイトタイムズ |url=https://www.animatetimes.com/tag/details.php?id=16134 |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=劇場版ポケットモンスター ダイヤモンド&パール ディアルガVSパルキアVSダークライ｜アニメキャスト・映画・最新情報一覧 {{!}} アニメイトタイムズ |language=ja}}

Pachirisu first appeared in the 2006 video games Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, where it could be captured in the wild by players.{{Cite web |last=Wyche |first=Jerrad |date=2020-05-07 |title=Pokémon: Ranking The 10 Most Adorable Pokémon From Diamond & Pearl |url=https://www.thegamer.com/pokemon-generation-four-cutest-pokemon/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818113708/https://www.thegamer.com/pokemon-generation-four-cutest-pokemon/ |archive-date=August 18, 2022 |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=TheGamer |language=en}} It also appeared the games' remakes, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Quinton |date=2021-12-04 |title=The Best Electric-Type Pokemon In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl |url=https://www.thegamer.com/pokemon-brilliant-diamond-shining-pearl-best-electric-type/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208120242/https://www.thegamer.com/pokemon-brilliant-diamond-shining-pearl-best-electric-type/ |archive-date=December 8, 2021 |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=TheGamer |language=en}} It has since appeared in other mainline entries in the Pokémon series, including Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. It also appears in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.{{Cite web |last=Seong |first=Renri |date=2022-03-07 |title=Pokemon Legends: Arceus — Request 35: Battling with Pachirisu |url=https://gamerant.com/pokemon-legends-arceus-request-35-battling-with-pachirisu/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125100314/https://gamerant.com/pokemon-legends-arceus-request-35-battling-with-pachirisu/ |archive-date=November 25, 2022 |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=Game Rant |language=en}} In addition to traditional Pokémon games, it also appears in other Pokémon games, such as Pokémon Go{{Cite web |last=Goldfarb |first=Andrew |date=2018-10-16 |title=First Pokemon from Diamond and Pearl Are Now Available in Pokemon Go |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/10/16/pokemon-from-diamond-and-pearl-now-available-in-pokemon-go-generation-4-sinnoh |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907141957/https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/10/16/pokemon-from-diamond-and-pearl-now-available-in-pokemon-go-generation-4-sinnoh |archive-date=September 7, 2022 |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=IGN |language=en}} (where it is only found in Canada, Alaska and Russia) and the Pokémon Trading Card Game.{{Cite web |last=Dwyer |first=Theo |date=2023-07-29 |title=The Cards Of Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet Part 47: Pachirisu |url=https://bleedingcool.com/games/the-cards-of-pokemon-tcg-scarlet-violet-part-47-pachirisu/ |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=Bleeding Cool |language=en}} It appeared in the Pokémon anime under the ownership of major character Dawn.{{Cite web |last=Lacerna |first=Michael |date=2022-01-17 |title=Pokémon Short Spotlights Piplup and Dawn's Party |url=https://www.cbr.com/pokemon-piplup-dawn-music-video/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717180240/https://www.cbr.com/pokemon-piplup-dawn-music-video/ |archive-date=July 17, 2022 |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=CBR |language=en}}

File:Pachirisu Se-Jun Park.png stream, where Pachirisu is using Follow Me. Pachirisu's unique role and contrast with standard Pokémon used in competitive play was met with praise.]]

Identified as one of the cutest Pokémon in the series and a popular mascot,{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/cutest-pokemon/ |title=Top 20 cutest Pokemon of all time |work=GamesRadar+ |last=James |first=Ford |date=January 28, 2020 |accessdate=March 23, 2024 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001114025/https://www.gamesradar.com/cutest-pokemon/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2021/12/10/135730.html |title=伝説の「パチリスさん」、再び！『ポケモン ダイパリメイク』で激ムズな四天王＆シロナをアイテム無しで打ち破る |work=Inside Games |author=Sushi |date=December 10, 2021 |accessdate=March 23, 2024 |archive-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607130747/https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2021/12/10/135730.html |url-status=live }} Pachirisu came into prominence due to its an unexpected usage at the Pokémon World Championships in 2014, due in part to it traditionally being seen as a weak battling Pokémon in competitive Pokémon communities. Pachirisu was essential to the victory of the tournament's winner, Park Se-jun, who built Pachirisu around being able to take a lot of attacks from its opponents, as well as to be able to redirect powerful attacks towards it. When asked in an interview why he chose Pachirisu, Park stated that he knew people were expecting another Pokémon to fill Pachirisu's role, and wanted to use a Pokémon for the role that people would not expect. He later elaborated that he chose Pachirisu to serve as a support to his Gyarados, as Pachirisu's unique traits partnered well with Gyarados.{{cite web |author=Sushi |date=September 3, 2014 |title=「パチリス」が大活躍した事で話題の「ポケモンWCS2014」その詳細をお届け |url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2014/09/03/80155.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609113931/https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2014/09/03/80155.html |archive-date=June 9, 2023 |accessdate=March 23, 2024 |work=Inside Games}}{{cite web |last=Nakamura |first=Toshi |date=April 23, 2015 |title=How to Become Pokémon World Champion |url=https://kotaku.com/how-to-become-pokemon-world-champion-1699664245 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924144635/https://kotaku.com/how-to-become-pokemon-world-champion-1699664245 |archive-date=September 24, 2023 |accessdate=March 23, 2024 |work=Kotaku}} Pachirisu's moveset also helped it deal with Pokémon that would normally stop it from performing well. Park expressed his enjoyment of Pachirisu, and the surprise he experienced over how excited people were for Pachirisu in the tournament. The success of Pachirisu in the competition lead to the audience chanting its name and cheering when Park sent it out. Patricia Hernandez of Kotaku appreciated Pachirisu's use, feeling like it made the competition more entertaining while still showing a strategic value.{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/nobody-expected-this-pokemon-to-win-the-championship-la-1623126290 |title=Nobody Expected This Pokémon To Win The Championship Last Weekend |work=Kotaku |last=Hernandez |first=Patricia |date=August 18, 2014 |accessdate=March 23, 2024 |archive-date=March 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240324130938/https://kotaku.com/nobody-expected-this-pokemon-to-win-the-championship-la-1623126290 |url-status=live }} Park has since become known as Pachirisu-san among the fanbase due to his usage of Pachirisu in the tournament.{{cite web |last=Otsuka |first=Sawadee |date=July 2, 2022 |title=『ポケモン』"パチリスさん"が史上初の三冠へ！？韓国のパク・セジュン選手が偉業を達成中 |url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2022/07/02/139011.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025012452/https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2022/07/02/139011.html |archive-date=October 25, 2022 |accessdate=March 23, 2024 |work=Inside Games}}

MeriStation staff discussed the legacy of Pachirisu's performance, describing how Park's Pachrisu symbolized his idealism for people to use their favorite creatures to win battles. They also described how Pachirisu has become less effective competitively in later entries in the series, due to a combination of changes to game mechanics and certain Pokémon being able to do what Pachirisu does more effectively.{{cite web |date=August 24, 2018 |title=Pokémon competitivo: el legado de Pachirisu en VGC |url=https://as.com/meristation/2018/08/24/reportajes/1535078626_003205.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109103746/https://as.com/meristation/2018/08/24/reportajes/1535078626_003205.html |archive-date=November 9, 2023 |accessdate=March 23, 2024 |work=MeriStation}} Pokémon designer Junichi Masuda described how surprising Pachirisu's success was for everyone, calling it "awesome."{{cite web |last=Bailey |first=Kat |date=March 9, 2018 |title=The Rise of Nintendo's Curiously Divisive Competitive Communities |url=https://www.vg247.com/the-rise-of-nintendos-curiously-divisive-competitive-communities |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231217003138/https://www.vg247.com/the-rise-of-nintendos-curiously-divisive-competitive-communities |archive-date=December 17, 2023 |accessdate=March 23, 2024 |work=VG247}} In the 2015 Italian Pokemon Video Game Championships, a Pachirisu based on Park's Pachirisu was distributed to attendees.{{cite web |url=https://it.ign.com/pokemon-x-e-y/97474/news/i-campionati-nazionali-di-videogiochi-e-del-gioco-di-carte-collezionabili-pokemon-presto-in-arrivo-i |title=I Campionati Nazionali di Videogiochi e del Gioco di Carte Collezionabili Pokémon presto in arrivo in Italia |work=IGN |last=Atonelli |first=Di Lorenzo |date=May 29, 2015 |accessdate=March 23, 2024}} A similar event was held in Korea. In 2022, The Pokémon Company did a promotional video in that year's Pokémon World Championships, featuring Pachirisu fighting Garchomp, Tyranitar, and Salamence, which was well-received by both audience members and Nintendo World Report writer Willem Hilhorst.{{cite web |last=Hilhorst |first=Willem |date=August 29, 2022 |title=How My Love for Pokémon Was Revitalized During the Pokémon World Championships in London. |url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/61365/how-my-love-for-pokemon-was-revitalized-during-the-pokemon-world-championships-in-london |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831010929/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/61365/how-my-love-for-pokemon-was-revitalized-during-the-pokemon-world-championships-in-london |archive-date=August 31, 2023 |accessdate=March 23, 2024 |work=Nintendo World Report}} A video by The Pokémon Company in 2024 hailed Park's usage of Pachirisu as being "arguably the most iconic moment in competitive history."{{Cite web |last=Diaz |first=Ana |date=2024-08-20 |title=This Pokémon made a historic return at the 2024 World Championships |url=https://www.polygon.com/pokemon/441691/pokemon-worlds-historic-pachirisu |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}} Park later used a Pachirisu in the 2024 Pokémon World Championships, which took place ten years after Park's original win with Pachirisu. Spectators became excited, audibly cheering when Pachirisu was sent out. though he did not end up moving onto the second day of the competition.{{Cite web |last=Hoffer |first=Christian |title=Pokemon's Most Iconic Competitor Makes Surprise Appearance After 10 Years |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/pokemon-vgc-world-championship-pachirisu-sejun-park/ |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=Comicbook.com |language=en |publication-date=August 17, 2024}}

Pachirisu's popularity has been influenced by its use in the 2014 competition, resulting in a strong following by fans of the series, with large amounts of fanworks, such as fan art, subsequently following. Kotaku writer Kenneth Shepard regarded it as an iconic Pikachu clone, and the only one of them to have a significant impact, due to its role in official Pokémon competitions.{{cite web |last=Shepard |first=Kenneth |date=July 10, 2023 |title=Ranking Pikachu Clones From Worst To Best |url=https://kotaku.com/pokemon-pikachu-raichu-pichu-clones-mimikyu-pachirisu-1850622444/slides/7 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240324130807/https://kotaku.com/pokemon-pikachu-raichu-pichu-clones-mimikyu-pachirisu-1850622444/slides/7 |archive-date=March 24, 2024 |accessdate=March 23, 2024 |website=Kotaku}} Polygon writers Kevin Slackie and Moises Taveras ranked Pachirisu among the top 150 best Pokemon for similar reasons, feeling that Pachirisu showed that any Pokémon could be good in the right hands.{{cite web |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/pokemon/the-top-100-pokemon-of-all-time |title=The 150 Best Pokémon |work=Polygon |last1=Slackie |first1=Kevin |last2=Taveras |first2=Moises |date=January 11, 2024 |accessdate=March 23, 2024 |archive-date=July 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230731073520/https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/pokemon/the-top-100-pokemon-of-all-time |url-status=live }} IGN writer Dale Bashir expressed disappointment that Pachirisu did not appear in Pokémon Sword and Shield, particularly due to its success in the 2014 tournament, comparing it positively to two other squirrel Pokémon in the games, Skwovet and Greedent.{{cite web |url=https://sea.ign.com/pokemon-sword/165760/news/10-pokemon-who-sadly-didnt-make-the-cut-in-sword-and-shields-dlcs |title=10 Pokémon Who Sadly Didn't Make The Cut in Sword and Shield's DLCs |work=IGN |last=Bashir |first=Dale |date=November 5, 2020 |accessdate=March 23, 2024 |archive-date=February 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227152237/https://sea.ign.com/pokemon-sword/165760/news/10-pokemon-who-sadly-didnt-make-the-cut-in-sword-and-shields-dlcs |url-status=live }} The success of Pachirisu in the 2014 tournament inspired player Giovanni Costa to try and use Eevee, another Pokémon seen as weak in competitive formats, just like what Park did for Pachirisu, with Costa thinking it was "cool" that Park turned Pachirisu into a good Pokémon.{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/one-mans-quest-to-redeem-eevee-in-competitive-pokemon-1791778437 |title=One Man's Quest To Redeem Eevee In Competitive Pokémon |work=Kotaku |last=Krell |first=Jason |date=January 30, 2017 |accessdate=March 23, 2024 |archive-date=January 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240103061133/https://kotaku.com/one-mans-quest-to-redeem-eevee-in-competitive-pokemon-1791778437 |url-status=live }} The creator of the blog Hamsmogon commented on how the use of Pokémon like Pachirisu and Rotom helped demonstrate the diversity of competitive Pokémon, while competitive player Carfer praised it for being a symbol of "creativity and innovation" in competitive video gaming. VG247 writer Kat Bailey was also inspired by Park's performance with Pachirisu to change up how she approached competitive Pokémon, particularly in Double Battles, the format used in the Championships{{cite web |last=Bailey |first=Kat |date=August 24, 2016 |title=Cover Story: A Day at the 2016 Pokémon World Championships Made Me Wonder if I Could Be a Master Again Too |url=https://www.vg247.com/cover-story-a-day-at-the-2016-pokemon-world-championships-made-me-wonder-if-i-could-be-a-master-again-too |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240324131040/https://www.vg247.com/cover-story-a-day-at-the-2016-pokemon-world-championships-made-me-wonder-if-i-could-be-a-master-again-too |archive-date=March 24, 2024 |accessdate=March 23, 2024 |work=VG247}} Park later performed a challenge run of Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl where he only used Pachirisu, each one designed with a specific niche. Inside Games writer Sushi felt that it was poetic that Pachirisu faced off against Garchomp at the end of this challenge, mirroring the 2014 competition.

{{reflist|2}}

• [https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokedex/pachirisu Pachirisu on Pokemon.com]
• {{Bulbapedia}}

{{Pokémon Generation 4|state=expanded}}

{{Pokémon directory}}

Category:Fictional squirrels

Category:Pokémon introduced in generation IV

Category:Video game characters introduced in 2006

Category:Video game characters with electric or magnetic abilities