Pokémon brings back iconic ‘Fat Pikachu’ for its 30th anniversary
Best wishes to Pokémon for making it possible to see classic Pikachu in action again.
The Pokémon franchise on February 27, 2026 (Friday) began its 30th birthday celebration by unveiling a special new logo, an animation featuring “Fat Pikachu”, and promising more to share in less than two months.
2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Pokémon. The series began its journey to world domination three decades ago, when Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green were released in Japan for the Game Boy console. (The series then came to the United States two years later with Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue.)
This event has brought back the original Pikachu, a design longtime fans affectionately refer to as “Fat Pikachu” – a much plumper original mascot design that is now rarely seen in official Pokémon media. Here it is in action:
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Pikachu was often drawn with a softer, rounder body and shorter limbs. Over time, the character’s design was simplified to the slimmer silhouette now familiar from modern games, anime, and merchandise.
The anniversary campaign is expected to continue throughout 2026. Along with the animated presentation, Pokémon has been teasing upcoming announcements throughout the year and is also launching collaborations with brands like UNIQLO, introducing clothing that prominently features the classic Pikachu design.
In 2026 will also see the release of the highly anticipated Pokémon life simulation game Pokémon Pokopia, which will be released exclusively for the “Nintendo Switch 2” console on March 5. The game, which features a large cast of Pokémon characters and has gameplay more reminiscent of “Animal Crossing,” is likely to be a success.
More details should be revealed during the brand’s 30th anniversary, which is less than two months away, on February 27th. While the date hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, it’s become an annual date when fans look forward to sitting down to watch a new “Pokémon Presents,” the company’s Nintendo Direct-style presentation. It’s not long to wait.
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