<p>I wouldn't say it's Pikachu losing weight but a reasonable design alteration. The head can move realistically instead of just being glued to the body, the feet are better defined, and the arms are more expressive. Even the ears have some flexibility. If anything, the tail looks bigger.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-08T06:49:21.570Z
2014-03-08T06:49:21.570Z
Velda
<p>It's most likely a matter of different character designers over the different generations of the franchise. The original design was created by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pikachu#Concept_and_design" rel="noreferrer">Game Freak's (original game's designers) character development team and finalized by artist Ken Sugimori</a>. The <a href="http://bulbanews.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_sprites,_art_evolve_over_the_years" rel="noreferrer">games themselves had changes in Pikachu's designs</a>, which were in turn mirrored by the anime:</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Ewpra.png" alt="enter image description here"> "Green and Red", 1996</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ZvZIJ.png" alt="enter image description here"> "Blue", 1996</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/IRCPR.png" alt="enter image description here"> "Yellow", 1998</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/lzH8U.png" alt="enter image description here"> "Gold", 1999</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/kmNwQ.png" alt="enter image description here"> "Ruby and Sapphire", 2002</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/W5MYq.png" alt="enter image description here"> "Diamond and Pearl", 2006</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Juuwz.png" alt="enter image description here"> "Platinum", 2008</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/zHl1U.png" alt="enter image description here"> "HeartGold and SoulSilver", 2009</p>

<p>Ken Sugimori is also one of the character designers for the first <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=270" rel="noreferrer">TV series from 1997</a>. In 2002, <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=1873" rel="noreferrer">Pokemon Advance</a> had Sayuri Ichiishi as the character designer. And in 2006, <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6836" rel="noreferrer">Pocket Monsters</a> and 2010's <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=11685" rel="noreferrer">Black and White</a> has Toshiya Yamada in charge of character designs.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/SYots.png" alt="enter image description here"> from the "Advance" generation</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-23T01:52:44.377Z
2013-04-23T01:52:44.377Z
Jon Lin
<p>I noticed that Pikachu evolved a little over time.<br>
I wonder why he changed his form so much, so <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/YGF8P.png" rel="noreferrer">I'm a bit worried about Pikachu</a>.
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/xB6XY.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-22T23:33:35.087Z
And I just burst out laughing lol XD
xjshiya
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-23T01:10:19.270Z
Does Pikachu eat food?
kuwaly
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-23T12:27:37.700Z
@kuwaly: At least in the anime, Rocko is often seen cooking meals, also for Pikachu.
looper
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-06T09:26:04.760Z
As time passes, animation level and quality becomes better and better!
votelessbubble
<pokemon>
Is Pikachu on a diet?
# Is Pikachu on a diet?
Posted by: username_0 on 2013-04-22
I noticed that Pikachu evolved a little over time.  
I wonder why he changed his form so much, so [I'm a bit worried about Pikachu](https://i.sstatic.net/YGF8P.png).
![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/xB6XY.jpg)
**Tags:** pokemon
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: And I just burst out laughing lol XD  
> **username_2**: Does Pikachu eat food?  
> **username_3**: @kuwaly: At least in the anime, Rocko is often seen cooking meals, also for Pikachu.  
> **username_4**: As time passes, animation level and quality becomes better and better!  
---
## 2 answers
### Answer by username_6 on 2013-04-23. Score: 43 | Accepted answer
It's most likely a matter of different character designers over the different generations of the franchise. The original design was created by [Game Freak's (original game's designers) character development team and finalized by artist Ken Sugimori](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pikachu#Concept_and_design). The [games themselves had changes in Pikachu's designs](http://bulbanews.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_sprites,_art_evolve_over_the_years), which were in turn mirrored by the anime:

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/Ewpra.png) "Green and Red", 1996

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/ZvZIJ.png) "Blue", 1996

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/IRCPR.png) "Yellow", 1998

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/lzH8U.png) "Gold", 1999

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/kmNwQ.png) "Ruby and Sapphire", 2002

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/W5MYq.png) "Diamond and Pearl", 2006

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/Juuwz.png) "Platinum", 2008

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/zHl1U.png) "HeartGold and SoulSilver", 2009

Ken Sugimori is also one of the character designers for the first [TV series from 1997](http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=270). In 2002, [Pokemon Advance](http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=1873) had Sayuri Ichiishi as the character designer. And in 2006, [Pocket Monsters](http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6836) and 2010's [Black and White](http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=11685) has Toshiya Yamada in charge of character designs.

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/SYots.png) from the "Advance" generation
---
### Answer by username_5 on 2014-03-08. Score: 1
I wouldn't say it's Pikachu losing weight but a reasonable design alteration. The head can move realistically instead of just being glued to the body, the feet are better defined, and the arms are more expressive. Even the ears have some flexibility. If anything, the tail looks bigger.
---
