Pikachu debuted in the Pokémon Red and Green games released in Japan in 1996 and quickly became the franchise mascot after the animated series began in 1997. In the anime, Pikachu communicates only by repeating variations of its own name, with the pitch and speed changing to show emotion. That simple, expressive cry spread far beyond Pokémon fans through cartoons, games, memes and short video edits. Its instant recognisability keeps it popular on soundboards, where a single second is enough for listeners to identify the character and mood.