Reddit user ElbowDeepInElmo recently shared the story of how they came into possession of a rare Pikachu statue. After owning it for several years, they learned that the statue was used in the 1999 Hollywood premiere of Pokémon: The First Movie at the Mann’s Chinese Theater.
According to ElbowDeepInElmo, the Pikachu statue in their possession originally belonged to a card printing company a few towns over from where they live. While the firm was eventually bought out by The Pokémon Company, the statue was supposedly saved from the trash by an employee. They then kept the statue for years before selling it off.
When asked about the statue’s origin, the printing company employee said that Nintendo sent several of these statues to stores for promotions. The statue was put into storage afterwards, where it stayed in relatively good condition until the right trainer came along.
While Pikachu’s iconic lightning bolt tail is missing (you can see two holes on its butt where a tail is supposed to attach), the rest of the statue looks to be in good condition. Save for a few minor imperfections, Pikachu retains its traditional chunky shape and color.
It was only after years of owning the statue that ElbowDeepInElmo searched for the statue’s origin. After asking around, a resident Pokémon expert identified the statue as promotional material for the November 1999 screening of Pokémon: The First Movie. You can clearly see the statue in the archive footage above, though ElbowDeepInElmo says there is also a matching Togepi statue that completes the set. Whether this is the same Pikachu statue used in the premiere is up for debate, but it definitely is at least 26 years old.
In case you wanted to know, the statue measures 32 inches (81.28cm) high, 42 inches (106.68cm) wide, and 27 inches (68.58cm) thick. ElbowDeepInElmo is now set on completing their Pikachu statue by 3D printing a replacement for the lost tail. They aren’t putting the statue up for sale or trade, however. Considering the lengths some people would go to for Pokémon merch, that is understandable.
