As a subject matter expert in the field of pop culture and character design, I can provide an informed perspective on the origins of Pikachu, a character from the Pokémon franchise.

Pikachu is not based on a specific real-world animal, but rather it is a fictional creature designed to be a part of the Pokémon universe. The character was created by Ken Sugimori, an artist and game designer for the Pokémon series. When designing Pikachu, Sugimori drew inspiration from various sources. The most notable is the inspiration from a squirrel, which is evident in Pikachu's tail and its general appearance. Additionally, Pikachu's name is a combination of the words "pika," which is an onomatopoeic word for the sound a mouse makes in Japanese, and "chu," which is a sound that represents something being small or cute.

Despite these influences, Pikachu is a unique creation and does not directly correspond to any one real animal. It is important to note that the Pokémon universe is filled with a diverse array of creatures, many of which are inspired by a mix of real-world animals, plants, and even inanimate objects.

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The animated yellow rodent-like character, Pikachu, from the Pok��mon video game and TV franchise, is not a total work of fiction. In fact, many believe the creature is based off of a small mousey animal found in China known as a pika.read more >>