Summary
ThePokemonfranchise has been consistently successful ever since the first game in 1996. However, there is a chance that the franchise wouldn’t be nearly as successful without its mascot, Pikachu. This yellow rodent wasn’t initially designed to be a mascot, but the franchise needed a face when thePokemonanime first started. It was just lucky that Pikachu’s cute yet striking design fit everything the company required from a mascot.
However, there have been plenty of other Pokemon over the years who could take Pikachu’s place as the face ofPokemon. Also,with Ash retiring as the central character of the anime, now may be the perfect time to start thinking about which Pokemon could possibly replace Pikachu as the franchise mascot.
6Pawmi
Generation 9
With Ash Ketchum stepping down as the protagonist of the anime before viewers can explore Generation 9’s Paldea region, it would make sense that the show would want to highlight this region’s Pikachu clone. A Pikachu clone is atype of new Pokemonthat is introduced in every generation of the main series ofPokemongames in an effort to capitalize on the mascot’s image and popularity. These clones are almost always cute electric types, but they rarely get a chance to shine.
The Pikachu clone in the newest games is Pawmi. This Pokemon certainly fits the bill as a cute electric rodent, so it would make sense for this clone to be the mascot for the next era of the franchise.
5Lucario
Generation 4
Lucario is a powerful Pokemonthat was introduced in Gen 4. Since then, this fighting and steel type has been in the anime and has been featured as the focus of one of thePokemonmovies. Lucario is still used consistently by gym leaders and champion trainers in the newer games. As such, Lucario has become a very recognizable and popular Pokemon in the franchise.
While Lucario may be popular, it doesn’t really fit the rest of the elements needed for a mascot. It isn’t that cute, and it is too powerful for a new trainer to use consistently on the show.
4Marill
Generation 2
When the initial beta designs of the second generation ofPokemongames were initially revealed, many fans were taken with Marill. This cute blue rodent didn’t have a name at the time, which inevitably led the fans to nickname the Pokemon, Pikablue.
Marill is still a popular Pokemon and is considered by some to bethe first Pikachu clone.However, Marill is nowhere near as popular as it once was, so making it the new mascot now would be a little strange. If the company wanted to pass the baton of mascot back in 1999, then it should have gone to Marill. It is a bit late for that now, though.
3Clefairy
Generation 1
Clefairy is one of the original 151 Pokemon that most fans remember as being the one that came from the moon. However, thePokemoncompany did once have bigger plans for the fairy. Before the anime hit TV screens, thePokemoncompanyreleased a series of Manga that followed the journey of Red from the games. Although, his main Pokemon at that time was a Clefairy.
If things had gone a little differently, there is a good chance that Clefairy would become the franchise mascot. However, the popularity of thePokemonanime dwarfed that of the Manga, so Pikachu was chosen instead.
2Eevee
On paper, Eevee is a demonstration of everything that a Pokemon should do. It is undeniably cute, has a unique design, and can evolve into several different forms depending on the type a player wants to use. Eevee has even beengiven the same status as a starter Pokemon, as it was used as such inPokemon: Yellow,andPokemon: Let’s Go Eevee.
Using Eevee as the face of thePokemonfranchise makes almost perfect sense. The only thing letting it down is that it can look a bit bland on the surface. Eevee is a light brown, which doesn’t catch people’s eye as much as the yellow of Pikachu. Plus, its many evolved forms could be confusing to new players.
1Mimikyu
Generation 7
The initial reveal of Mimikyu in the lead-up to the release of the generation 7 games was proof that thePokemondesign team still had some great ideas in them. Mimikyu is a ghost type who is lonely and just wants to be loved. As such, it wears a poorly made Pikachu disguise to get trainers' attention.
Mimikyu’s backstory is sad enough to garner some love from new fans, and its design makes it just as striking as Pikachu. What’s more, there is a great meta joke to be had if the franchise made Mimikyu the mascot to replace Pikachu.
