The Controversial Design Proposals for Pikachu at Nintendo of America

A peculiar piece of video game history has recently been confirmed, detailing an unusual design suggestion for the iconic Pokémon, Pikachu. This anecdote, over two decades old, reveals that during early discussions, Nintendo of America staff proposed a significantly altered appearance for the character, a departure from its original cute and cuddly form. This curious incident sheds light on the creative tensions and cultural interpretations that can arise in the development and localization of beloved media franchises.

The story, which Game*Spark recently investigated and Automaton translated, centers on an interview with The Pokémon Company CEO, Tsunekazu Ishihara, dating back to 2000. Ishihara recounted that when he first presented Pokémon to the American team, they found the characters 'too cute.' Consequently, Nintendo of America's staff offered their own design interpretations, which Ishihara described as resembling characters from the 'Cats musical.'

Specifically, Ishihara mentioned that Pikachu was envisioned with features resembling 'a kind of a tabby cat with huge breasts,' or 'mune.' The ambiguity of the Japanese word 'mune,' which can refer to either pectoral muscles or breasts, sparked debate. However, when an interviewer further pressed, asking if it was 'like those girls who do Pikachu cosplays at anime conventions?', Ishihara unequivocally confirmed, 'Yes, exactly, they presented that kind of design to us for real.'

Ishihara clarified that while he found these proposed designs 'interesting' as an example of cultural differences, he had no intention of introducing such a controversial aesthetic into the international market. This firm stance prevented a radical transformation of Pikachu's appearance. Adding another layer to this narrative, Automaton highlighted a 2008 financial briefing where the late Nintendo president, Satoru Iwata, also referenced alternative Pikachu designs, including a 'muscular Pikachu,' suggesting a range of unexpected concepts were considered during the franchise's nascent stages.

These historical revelations about Pikachu's potential alternate forms offer a fascinating glimpse into the early stages of Pokémon's global expansion. They underscore the creative freedom, cultural sensitivities, and differing artistic visions that shaped one of the world's most successful entertainment franchises. It's a testament to the original creative team's judgment that Pikachu retained its universally recognized and beloved form, despite internal proposals for drastically different, and arguably bizarre, iterations.