Pikachu has been the face of the Pokemon Franchise ever since the original anime.

But what if the Pokemon Creators finally decided to roll with a different Pokemon; who could take on this role with a seamless transition?

In this article we will rank ten Pokemon who we think could actually replace Pikachu.

10. Raichu

This wouldn't be a realistic if Raichu wasn't even mentioned on this list.

It would be an easy transition, especially since all the Pokemon Creators would have to do is just evolve Pikachu.

Sounds simple enough, right? And it would actually make a lot of sense too.

For a while, Raichu was actually just as popular as Pikachu.

It was statistically better than Pikachu, that is until the Light Orb was introduced in the Third Generation.

With this new item, Raichu just paled in comparison to its Pre-Evolution.

9. Pichu

So if Raichu is a possible option as a replacement for Pikachu, then it's only fair that Pichu should be mentioned.

Pikachu just can't revert back into a Pichu, so it would have to go. But Ash... He actually has the possibility to stay.

If they somehow killed off Pikachu, he could get a new Pichu and start all over.

Or the Creators could off Ash and show what had happened with Pikachu before it evolved into one.

Perhaps it had a previous trainer when it was yet still a Pichu, and evolved for said trainer when it learned to love him/her THAT much.

In the end, that trainer would have to be cut from the script and abandoned Pikachu.

Pikachu would then have been found by Professor Oak and given to Ash, explaining the reasoning as to why Pikachu was in such a bad mood when first given to Ash and why it took Ash risking his life for Pikachu to learn to trust him.

8. Lucario

Just about any Pokemon who had their own movie and storyline made after them has enough popularity and pizzaz to be the face of the Pokemon Franchise, and Lucario is no different.

Lucario is one cool Pokemon, to put things lightly. It has an AMAZING design that goes perfectly with its ability to read auras.

It also has some pretty darn good statistics AND a Mega Evolution, which would help any trainer who has one ENORMOUSLY.

Lucario could easily become the face by be attained by a new character introduced to the series that would eventually become the main character.

We don't think it's too realistic for Ash to obtain a Riolu or Lucario and it replacing Pikachu, but that could always happen.

Lucario would ease the pain of losing both Ash and Pikachu a bit, which it what would need to happen if such thing actually does place in the company.

7. Jigglypuff

Jigglypuff had some serious fame in the original Pokemon Anime Series.

It was nice to see Jigglypuff enter the episode and eventually make everyone falling asleep with its song, even though we know it never meant to.

It was always a good way to end an episode that needed a little help finishing, especially since Jigglypuff would draw faces on everyone who didn't listen to its song without falling asleep.

It would be nice to bring back this Jigglypuff, giving a nice nostalgic flare back to the series.

It would take a lot to actually accomplish this though, as Jigglypuff has been absent from the series - at least as a character - for over a decade now.

They could always just throw it back in the mix without explaining anything, even though that would be pretty unrealistic.

Or at least that's what older fan would initially think... Try to remember that Ash hasn't aged AT ALL over the approaching twenty years of Pokemon, so why can't the same be true for Jigglypuff?

If the rule applies to Ash, then it should to everyone else.

6. Rayquaza

It would be INCREDIBLY cool for Rayquaza or any other legend to become the face of the franchise.

Rayquaza, like most Legendary Pokemon, are among the most popular Pokemon in existence.

They have AWESOME statistics, and they usually are given some pretty STELLAR design to accompany these type of stats.

But unlike some of these other Legendary Pokemon, Rayquaza also has a Mega Evolution, further boosting its AWESOMENESS.

But in order to become the face of the Pokemon Franchise, you have to play some sort of consistent role in the Anime Series.

Just look at Pikachu; it has become the face of the company because it has had the opportunity to be the lead Pokemon in the Anime Series for over FIFTEEN YEARS.

So it's safe to assume any of the Pokemon of this list would have to become the new lead Pokemon of whatever the main character is in the Anime Series...

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5. Eevee

When it comes to this selection, well, we're sure many fans reading this would want to see Eevee ranked higher than this.

Eevee has to be one of the most popular Pokemon in existence, mainly in part to its many different Eeveelutions. It's also extremely cute, and we all know that helps it causes.

And it would make a lot of sense for Eevee to become the lead Pokemon for a new trainer introduced to the series.

It has that certain it factor with the possibility of all of its evolutions. 

It's not like they can just up and get rid of Ash's Pikachu and replace it with an Eevee, unless of course they do decide to ultimately have Ash's Pikachu pass away.

Now we don't think that will EVER HAPPEN; it's just really the only way for Ash to have Eevee instead of Pikachu.

So a new character would be the route to go, and probably the best option in regards to changing up things focused around Eevee.

And Eevee is a great option for it, as it can evolve into a number of different Pokemon AND has extreme cuteness.

4. Mew

Unlike Rayquaza, Mew has a more legitimate chance of stealing away Pikachu's Title.

Mew, like Pikachu, has just about everything going for it. It's incredibly cute, and has a lot of power behind that innocent face.

Mew can also learn every move in existence, something that even Pikachu can't claim. But like Rayquaza, there would be a struggle in terms of making a storyline that revolves around Mew.

You have to remember that Mew is a Legendary Pokemon, and is extremely rare.

 

Mew would obviously have the power to help this trainer accomplish great things, perhaps even more than that of Ash.

Mew has always been a popular Pokemon, so it would help provide a smoother transition away from Ash and Pikachu.

3. Meowth

Now a few fans at home are probably scratching their heads at this one... OR... They understand and agree with this completely.

Meowth has been one of the cornerstones to the Pokemon Franchise, being one of the three consistent faces of the infamous Team Rocket Trio.

It probably has more common sense than both Jessie and James combined - being the one who really comes up with and builds their destructive devices - and yet it gets stuck losing every time.

It wouldn't be shocking if Meowth one day decided to leaving Team Rocket and start a new, and that would be the premise to making it the face of Pokemon.

Now it would take a lot to take this short of risk, but the Pokemon Company has been changing a lot of aspects to Pokemon recently.

Having a storyline behind Meowth though would be the biggest change yet, but you just never know.

2. Torchic

In order to be the face of the Pokemon Franchise, you must be a Fan Favorite. And Torchic has the popularity to do this.

Torchic is probably the second most popular Starter Pokemon in existence, right behind Charmander.

Squirtle and Treecko also have an argument for this spot, but Torchic usually wins out in the end.

And who could blame it? Torchic is a fantastic Starter Pokemon, and it evolves into one of the best Physical Sweepers in the world of Pokemon.

For Torchic to somehow take Pikachu's role - like most Pokemon on this list - both Ash and Pikachu would have to be replaced.

It just wouldn't make any sense for Torchic to share the role with Pikachu or for it to somehow become Ash's lead Pokemon.

1. Charizard

Only one Pokemon in the history of the Franchise has been as popular as Pikachu perhaps even more than that and that Pokemon is Charizard.

Since the original generation of Pokemon, Charizard has been a fan favorite.

It was clearly the most popular Starter Pokemon of the Kanto region, and perhaps even the most of that entire generation.

Mewtwo, Dragonite, Pikachu, and Blastoise come close, but none of them can really touch the status and fame of Charizard.

And if Charizard wasn't the most popular then, it definitely is now. The idea of Mega Evolutions were first released in Pokemon X and Y, and Charizard received not one but TWO of them.

Only Mewtwo was the only other Pokemon to receive this honor, so that says A TON about Charizard and it.

Obviously the Pokemon Creators wanted two of the most popular Pokemon in existence to receive the pleasure of two Mega Evolutions.

This only proves that Charizard has what it takes to be the face of the franchise instead of Charizard.

(source:supercheats)