Pikachu Black Tail: Is It the Mandela Effect?
The controversy regarding Pikachu’s alleged black tail may not top the list of serious concerns. Still, ardent fans deserve to know the truth and have their doubts cleared. Is Pikachu’s tail truly black or just a Mandela effect?
No part of Pikachu’s evolution in the Pokemon series showed it had a black tail. The only exception is Pikachu’s baby “Pichu”, the first evolution. The main face of the series, Pikachu itself, never had any part of his tail painted black.
Pikachu only had a yellowish tail with brownish fur at the tips but no hint of black. To learn about the evolutions of Pikachu and what originated the myth behind his black tail, keep reading this article.
Pikachu’s Black Tail and the Mandela Effect
Let me explain it to those who don’t know about the Mandela Effect. The situation occurs when many people recall the same wrong story as factual in different places. In reality, this memory either never occurred or happened in another way from what people believe.
This phenomenon originated from the fact that several people wrongly remember Nelson Mandela to have died in prison in the 80s. Meanwhile, Nelson Mandela passed on many years later, precisely in 2013.
Like the Mandela story, the Pikachu’s black tail rumors must be a headcanon that quickly spread across the fandom. This false impression may be a result of the black on Pikachu’s ear. Another reason could be that Pikachu’s younger form (Pichu) had its entire tail black.
It’s also possible that an artist made a painting of Pikachu with a black tail; it got on the internet and quickly went viral. Then a large crowd of people adopted the false memory of Pikachu with a black tail. After all, artists are free to run wild with their imagination.
In the next section, we’ll explore some of the reasons why people think of Pikachu with a black tail. You’ll also learn about Pichu, the baby Pikachu with a black tail, and how it may have influenced people’s perceptions.
Why Do People Think Pikachu Has a Black Tail?
The Mandela effect is real, and people thinking Pikachu has a black tail proves that. However, this leaves a lingering question on the minds of most. Why do people always remember Pikachu with a black tail in the first place?
Here are some of the reasons why people think Pikachu has a black tail.
1. His Black Ears
You’ll almost always see Pikachu from the front and not the back if you’re playing or watching Pokemon. Consequently, fans have a better image of Pikachu’s ears. Since it has ears with a black coloring at the end, people also apply the color logic to its tail.
Since his tail rarely appears in the series, this false mental image is rarely proven wrong. However, when this false image propagates through the fandom, it becomes hard to erase it from their memories.
2. The Existence of Cosplay Pikachu
One exception to this “no black tail” rule is cosplay Pikachu. It’s a sixth-generation video game character from the Pokemon Omega Ruby and Sapphire games. Instead of the yellow heart-shaped Pikachu tail, Cosplay Pikachu has a black heart shape on her tail’s tip.
If you’ve only played the Pokemon games, you may be familiar with a black-tailed Pikachu. However, it’s important to note that the real Pikachu never had a black tail at any point in the series.
3. The Existence of Pichu
Also, Pichu, the baby Pikachu has a completely black tail. It looks nothing like the Pikachu you already know, as it’s not even a bright yellow color. Also, Pichu is never referred to as Pikachu in the series.
For these reasons, it’s unlikely that Pichu is the reason why most people associate Pikachu with a black tail.
4. Third-Party Merchandise
While most people have never watched Pokemon, they do buy Pokemon merchandise. However, not all Pokemon merch on the market is signed by Nintendo, and makers avoid copyright lawsuits in odd ways.
One of the most common ways to avoid getting sued is changing Pokemon significantly. Since most people already have the mental image of a black-tailed Pikachu, merch-makers darken the tip of his tail.
You’re supporting piracy if you’re buying merchandise, including Pokemon with a black tail. While they may seem cheaper than original Pokemon merch, supporting pirates is rarely a good idea.
5. Inaccurate Fanarts
Fanarts are common in the anime world. Since Pikachu is fairly easy to draw, it’s no surprise that most people draw Pikachu fan arts. However, some artists have the wrong mental image of Pikachu before drawing, and they draw the wrong Pikachu.
When these artworks go viral, they spread to non-anime fans, giving them the wrong impression of Pikachu.
What Does Pikachu Look Like?
Pikachu has been around for so long, making it almost impossible to forget what he looks like. Many fans would be able to sketch him on paper without any pictures or aids. If you love games or have watched any pokemon anime, you could know what Pikachu looks like.
Pikachu looks more like a rodent, and he’s mostly yellow with his tail shaped like a lightning bolt. I don’t recall ever seeing his tail black in his evolution series.
He’s about 15 inches tall, and most people believe he belongs to the mouse family. His entire body is covered in yellow hairy skin with two straight brownish streaks running across his back. Pikachu has long, sharp ears with black ends and a cute set of hazel-brown eyes.
Big red patches, believed to have electrical currents, are stored on both sides of his cheeks. On his body, there are two forearms and two hind legs. Both hands have a set of five fingers each, and each of his feet has three toes. There’s also a tiny cluster of brown fur at the tip of his tail.
The female’s tail has a curved chip at the tip, which looks like the base of a heart-shaped piece. Neither of them has a black tail tip mentioned anywhere in their description. So it’s surprising that some people still describe it as having a black tail.