Pokémon fans only just notice detail about Pikachu's tail they're convinced has changed

Pokémon fans are stunned after noticing a bizarre detail about Pikachu's tail that most had seemingly plucked from their imagination.

The electric-type Pokémon, and arguably the franchise’s most iconic figure, has been cherished by fans for over 20 years, becoming a staple in promotional materials and featuring in virtually all episodes of the widely successful anime.

Yet, it's only now that fanatics are realising a specific aspect of Pikachu's appearance – particularly its tail – isn't quite as they recall. Many claimed to recall a black mark on both the ears and tail of Pikachu, an assertion that's proving to be mistaken.

A TikTok video contrasting the childhood memories with Pikachu's actual design has electrified the Pokémon community, leaving some fans completely stunned by this unexpected revelation.

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TikToker @the_great_joe_gillespie sparked off this surprising discussion, even suggesting it could be an instance of the Mandela Effect – where a large number of people share an identical false memory.

He said: "When my son was younger we used to play the Pokémon card game a lot but I never really used Pikachu, so I don't remember if he had a stripe on his tail or not. I found a lot of clips of the cartoon with Pikachu in it, but none with a black stripe on his tail. So, I don't really know what the hell is going on."

Joe Gillespie’s discovery perplexed numerous followers who were convinced that Pikachu sported a black stripe on its tail.

He said: "When my son was younger we used to play the Pokémon card game a lot but I never really used Pikachu, so I don't remember if he had a stripe on his tail or not. I found a lot of clips of the cartoon with Pikachu in it, but none with a black stripe on his tail. So, I don't really know what the hell is going on."

Mandela Effect enthusiasts are a bit puzzled with the Pokémon legacy, as one user claimed: "Yeah I would draw Pikachu with a black tail because that how I would remember it." While another asserted with certainty: "There was a black stripe. I was obsessed. I remember."

However, some avid fans believe they've cracked the case, attributing the mix-up to Pikachu's pre-evolutionary form, as one Pokéfan corrected an "obsessed" commenter: "No he didn't. That's Pichu, trust. Had the black. I don't know what you're talking about but the old school Pikachu did not have that black stripe."

Yet, memories seem vivid for some, with one confidently declaring: "He did have a black tip I specifically remember drawing Pikachu when I was lil then I searched him up and he did have a black tail."

Another reminisced about their childhood drawings, saying: "I drew Pikachu with that black stripe on his tail when I was a lot younger. Pretty sure it's at my parents' place in one of the closets. I can't make any sense of this."