Alakazam's Archives: The "Red Cheeks" Pikachu—The Misprint That Was Completely Intentional

Alakazam's Archives: The "Red Cheeks" Pikachu Myth

Welcome back to Alakazam's Archives, your go-to destination for the most fascinating facts, misprints, and forgotten history of the Pokémon Trading Card Game! Today, we are focusing on the mascot of the franchise itself.

If you've spent any time in the vintage Pokémon community, you've probably heard whispered legends of an early "misprint" involving everyone's favorite electric mouse. We are talking about the famous Base Set "Red Cheeks" Pikachu.

For years, this card was widely considered the very first English misprint, but the true story behind it reveals it wasn't a factory mistake at all—it was a conscious localization choice.

The legendary "Red Cheeks" Pikachu variation. Source: eBay

Why Did Pikachu Get a Makeover?

To understand why this variation exists, we have to look at the original artwork by legendary Pokémon illustrator Mitsuhiro Arita.

When Arita illustrated the Base Set Pikachu for its original Japanese release, he deliberately colored Pikachu's cheeks yellow. This was an artistic choice because the artwork depicts Pikachu mid-attack, with lightning bolts surging through its cheek pouches, causing them to intensely glow.

The Western Edit

When Wizards of the Coast (WotC) brought the TCG to the West in 1999, their art department noticed the yellow cheeks and assumed it was a massive mistake. Here is how the "error" unfolded:

• The Unauthorized Edit: Believing that Pikachu's cheeks were always supposed to be red, WotC colorists altered Arita's original artwork, changing the glowing yellow cheeks to a standard red.
• The Early Print Runs: This edited "Red Cheeks" version was sent to the printers and ended up featuring on all 1st Edition Base Set Pikachu cards, as well as a portion of the early Shadowless print run.