Pichu is the small, baby Pokémon that evolves into Pikachu, first introduced in Pokémon Gold and Silver. Its cry comes from the Pokémon video games, where each species has a short, recognisable call, and Pichu's high, squeaky version quickly stood out because it sounds younger and more fragile than Pikachu's. Fans later ripped and shared these game cries on soundboards and in fan edits, and Pichu's version stuck around as a shorthand for cuteness, surprise, and harmless panic in short-form video.