Nintendo is set to bring Pokemon Go to a higher level with a Pikachu-on-the-go car.
The Japanese gaming giant filed for three trademarks for the name and design of a Pikachu-themed car. The trademarks have been filed on August 13 and published on September 1 in Japan.
The trademarks fall under the Vehicle and Education categories and have been reported by Japanese Nintendo and Destructoid. They are for the name "Pi!car!" which is written both in English and Japanese as well as two visual designs based on the electrifying character of Pikachu. While the design uses Pokemon's lead character, none of the trademarks are related to the video game Pokemon Go.
Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and has since become one of the most popular brands in children's entertainment across the globe. Its yellow lead character, Pikachu, is an Electric-type Pokémon which was introduced in Generation I. With high friendship, it evolves from Pichu and later into Raichu when revealed to a Thunder Stone. It also has a Gigantamax form. It has been a crowd's favorite, particularly among kids, as well as the mascot for the game and the company as a whole.
According to its website, Pokemon Company is responsible for brand management, licensing, production, and marketing of the Pokémon franchise including the animated TV series, Pokémon Trading Card Game, the official Pokémon website, home entertainment, and other merchandizes.
Quite interestingly though, it seems that Nintendo is putting Pokemon literally on the go as it aims to build a vehicle based on the character's shape, color, and charm. Meanwhile, the car's name is, of course, taken from Pikachu.
Read also: Goodbye Pokemon Go: Niantic Ends Support for Older Phones
Pikachu's Bright Yellow Pi!car!
Japanese Nintendo noted that the Pi!car!is a joint project between Nintendo-owned company The Pokemon Company and car manufacturer Toyota Motor Corporation.
The venture aims to produce a compact, petrol-free vehicle with a Pikachu theme. It is not clear if petrol-free means the vehicle would run solar or electric power. But it would be more fitting to have the Pikachu-themed electric vehicle as it suits the character's power.
All three trademarks use 42 product services related to the "Vehicle" and "Education and entertainment" categories, but none is linked to a video game. The trademarks were filed on August 13 but were only published in Japan on September 1.
Pi!car! has a futuristic ergonomic and compact design of a car. It is seen as environmental-friendly as it ditches out petrol. If this takes the electric vehicle route, then perhaps Toyota will use its technology from one of its EV concepts like its ultra-compact car Toyota i-ROAD, a two-seater car shown on the 83rd Geneva International Motor Show. It can also tweak the Toyota Concept i-RIDE, a compact car revealed during the 45th Tokyo Motor Show 2017.
Whether this project would come into life or remain as a concept car is yet to be seen. And if it indeed made to the market, it would surely be a hit among fans of the anime, the game, and just the mere cuteness of Pikachu.
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Written by CJ Robles
