
Detective Pikachu Movie Trailer Shows Us More Than We Wanted to Know About Pokemon Skin Textures
Mr. Mime is smooth.
By now, you probably think you're over your initial shock about the Detective Pikachu movie. "I know the score," you say. "It's a movie about a talking Pikachu, who's voiced by Ryan Reynolds, solving a mystery in a world of humans and Pokémon living side-by-side. Old news."
You know nothing, Jon Snorunt. Detective Pikachu's debut trailer, released earlier today, gives us an unexpected close look at something new, all right: The fur and skin textures of various Pokémon. Pikachu is delightfully fuzzy. Charizard is bumpy and scaly. And Mr Mime is smooth, except for a dusting of duckling down on his head.
Detective Pikachu is seemingly going for a more "realistic" look with its Pokémon, and fans are delightfully horrified. Models of the Pokémon are on display at Legendry's offices, so here's your one chance to get a good look at the tastebuds on Greninja's tongue. I mean, a really good look. Get up in there. Breathe it in. Just breathe.
Enjoying seeing live-action Pokémon in the #DetectivePikachu trailer? Check out these highly detailed models I saw at the Legendary offices. Furry Pikachu, feathered Psyduck, scaly Charizard, slimy Greninja! pic.twitter.com/wGBpbXmvR9
— Joshua Yehl (@JoshuaYehl) November 12, 2018
Are you in your happy place? Good. Now picture yourself running your hand over the baby-fine hairs on Mr Mime's head.
Whoever gave Mr. Mime freckles and tiny little hairs on the top of his head is going to prison pic.twitter.com/7w2WYQjE7e
— Jacob Oller (@JacobOller) November 12, 2018
The premiere Detective Pikachu trailer has caused the Internet to erupt. Nobody's sure how to deal with these confused feelings about real-world Pokémon. There was bound to be some uncanny valley going on in a movie about Pokémon in the real world, but this is on another level. We want to hug Pikachu, but we also want to push him away while screaming for the services of a veteran exorcist.
It doesn't help that stills of Pikachu make him look like a banged-up doll. In fact, the first screenshot I saw of the titular Detective Pikachu reminded me of the Cabbage Patch doll whose face I ruined with crayons before throwing her in a tree. When she fell out of the tree months later following a snowstorm, she looked, well, like this:

Detective Pikachu hits theatres on May 10, 2019. You won't have to wait that long for good clean Pokémon fun, though. Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee come out this week, and we already have tons of guides for you to look through. We also have impressions of the game the Detective Pikachu movie is based on.
Read this next
Jumanji: The Next Level Trailer Stuffs a Baffled Danny DeVito into The Rock's Chiseled Body
DeVito couldn't be Pikachu, so he's The Rock instead.
Detective Pikachu is Coming to Nintendo Switch
It's unclear if this is a sequel or complete edition.
Detective Pikachu is on Track to be the Highest Grossing Video Game Movie Ever, But It Might Not Be Enough
Detective Pikachu is on track to become the highest grossing video game film, but it's not necessarily the juggernaut we expected.
Kids Get a Thundershock When Detective Pikachu Showing Accidentally Replaced With Horror Movie
When Ghost Types get a little too real.
Axe of the Blood God Reviews Detective Pikachu and Reacts of Final Fantasy 7 Remake's Return
AXE OF THE BLOOD GOD | Our valiant podcast crew reviews the new movie and reacts to the surprise trailer.
Which Pokemon Would Be Your Partner in Detective Pikachu's Ryme City?
COMMUNITY QUESTION | "[Insert Pokemon name here]! I choose you!"
Detective Pikachu Turned Bill Nighy Into a Major Fan, And He Even Has a Favorite Pokemon Now
Nighy reveals his favorite Pokemon.
More News
Kairi Joins the Battle in Kingdom Hearts 3's Re Mind DLC, Out Next Month
A leaked trailer shows off new playable characters, additional exploration of Scala ad Caelum, and more.
1
The Elder Scrolls: Legends is "On Hold" at Bethesda
Bethesda's collectible card game is getting put in storage for the foreseeable future.
With Reconstruction Complete, Starbreeze is Pinning Its Future on Payday
After a tough year for the publisher, Payday seems like its best bet.
In Japan, a Dispute Filled With Accusations of Sexual Harassment and Bad Business Practices Boils Over
Allegations against Dangen Entertainment and its CEO are coming to light after a falling out between the company and some of its dev partners.
1
Newsletter
Subscribe to our weekly newsletters
Get the best of USG in your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters.