WARNING: This article contains MAJOR Detective Pikachu Returns spoilers. Proceed at your own risk.
Summary
Animation can easily make or break how an audience enjoys a particular media experience. This is why when it came to theDetective PikachuandSonic the Hedgehogfilms, it was always a point of discussion as to how the mascot character should be presented. The uncanny valley is a point of contention for a lot of viewers, and while the line varies from person to person, once someone feels uncomfortable with how something is animated, it’s rather hard to change their mind. TheDetective Pikachugames, likeDetective Pikachu Returns, are a great example of this.
Since the first 3DSDetective Pikachutitle, the way that the titular character has been animated has always been a contentious topic. To tie-in with the truth about Detective Pikachu, in that the Pokemon in question ishosting Harry Goodman’s consciousness, the Electric-Type has always leaned towards human ways of expressing himself, from drinking coffee to even having a face that’s more human than Pikachu. This has always been deemed unsettling by many fans, but nowDetective Pikachu Returnshas incidentally made it clear that it didn’t need to happen at all.
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Detective Pikachu Returns' Playable Flashback Section
ThroughoutDetective Pikachu Returns, the iconic Pokemon faints as he deals with constant flashbacks of his life as Pikachu and Harry. This is due to the two’s shared body, but the constant memories coming back end up coming to a head during the case in Bamboo Borough, where Detective Pikachu faints, and players get an entire section of the case to play as Harry back when he first methis Pikachu partner. The section is adorable and quite comedic, as it shows the two learning to work together in great detail from understanding each other quickly, but also showing that even Harry and his Pikachu can disagree at times.
However, because Pikachu and Harry are two separate people in this section, the yellow rodent is allowed to exist as a Pikachu, and is animated as such on top of the standard Detective Pikachu model. Seeing “Detective Pikachu” move like thePokemonfans know and love is a real treat to witness. With the cute movements Pikachu is known for, it certainly shows what could have been if they didn’t emphasize thehuman nature of Harry as Pikachuso heavily.
Why Animating Detective Pikachu Like a Human Wasn’t Necessary in the End
While it makes sense to treat Detective Pikachu as anything but a normal Pikachu, the way in which the animation is handled has taken it a bit too far, even with the plot twist in mind. Making Detective Pikachu drink coffee, talk, and gesture like a human is already good enough, and the Bamboo Borough section makes it clear that things would have been better off ifDetective Pikachu kept his expected facial expressionsas well.
After all, the way that Detective Pikachu was animated, especially in terms of the creature’s face, was always considered off-putting by many fans from the start. While theDetective Pikachumovie improved upon it by focusing on the character’s Pikachu features above Harry’s own,Detective Pikachu Returnsonly mildly improves on the original 3DS title’s unsettling expressions by giving the detective the proper Pikachu mouth-shape and leaving it at that.
Ultimately, there’s still a lot for Creatures, Inc. to learn when it comes to making Detective Pikachu a character that can appeal to broader audiences. It may seem likeDetective Pikachu Returnswon’t make enough money to justify another sequel, but thePokemonspin-off might sell well over the holidaysyet to come. Considering how the Switch game is getting a rather mixed reception, hopefully a third title will learn from the mistakes that have been there since the beginning.
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