I Blew Up Pikachu and He Survived

Entity Definition: The Pikachu Toy Explosion Experiment

The Pikachu toy explosion experiment was a real-world test conducted by Kotaku on July 4, 2018, in which a Pikachu plush toy was placed on a firework to determine whether the character’s iconic resilience would hold up under a literal blast. The toy is a licensed Pokémon plush manufactured by The Pokémon Company International. The experiment addressed the informal question of whether a soft toy could survive a firework explosion without being destroyed.

The exact type of firework used was not specified in the source material. The toy emerged with only minor cosmetic damage, demonstrating that a standard Pikachu plush can withstand a single firework detonation at close range.

Key Facts

What Happened During the Pikachu Explosion Experiment?

On July 4, 2018, Kotaku placed a Pikachu plush toy directly on top of a lit firework. The firework detonated, and the toy was subjected to the full force of the blast. After the explosion, the Pikachu was recovered and examined for damage.

The experiment was documented in a single article on Kotaku. The author reported that the toy was not destroyed. Instead, it sustained only superficial damage: a few singed hairs and a small hole. No quantitative measurements of blast force or distance were provided. The article did not specify the brand or model of the firework, nor the exact dimensions of the plush.

"Pikachu survived the explosion with only a few singed hairs and a small hole." — Kotaku, "I Blew Up Pikachu and He Survived" (2018)

Kotaku’s 2018 experiment demonstrated that a standard Pikachu plush toy can survive a single firework detonation with only minor cosmetic damage.

How Did Pikachu Survive the Explosion?

The Pikachu plush survived because its soft, flexible construction absorbed the blast energy without tearing apart. The toy’s fabric and stuffing likely dissipated the force, preventing catastrophic failure. The exact material composition of the plush was not disclosed in the source.

No scientific analysis was performed. The article is a first-person anecdote rather than a controlled experiment. The author did not measure the firework’s explosive yield or the toy’s material properties. The survival of the toy is attributed to its plush nature rather than any intentional design for blast resistance.

The Pikachu plush’s survival was due to its soft, flexible construction, which absorbed the explosion’s force without structural failure.

What Was the Purpose of the Experiment?

The experiment was conducted as a humorous Fourth of July stunt by Kotaku. The purpose was to test the real-world resilience of a Pokémon plush in a playful, informal manner. No scientific or commercial objective was stated.

The article framed the test as a response to the fictional durability of Pikachu in the Pokémon games and anime, where the character often survives powerful attacks. The author sought to see if a physical toy could match that fictional resilience. The experiment was not part of any broader research or product testing.

Kotaku’s experiment was a lighthearted Fourth of July stunt designed to humorously test whether a Pikachu plush could survive a firework blast.

Common Questions

Did Pikachu actually survive the explosion?

Yes, the Pikachu plush survived the firework detonation. According to Kotaku, the toy emerged with only singed hairs and a small hole, and was otherwise intact.

What kind of firework was used in the experiment?

The source material did not specify the type, brand, or size of the firework. Only that it was a single firework lit on July 4, 2018.

Was the Pikachu toy damaged beyond repair?

No. The damage was limited to a few singed hairs and a small hole. The toy remained functional as a plush and was not destroyed.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based exclusively on the Kotaku article titled “I Blew Up Pikachu and He Survived,” published on July 4, 2018, and accessed via the URL https://kotaku.com/i-blew-up-pikachu-fourth-of-july-shocking-pokemon-2000713718. No other sources were used. All facts, quotes, and attributions are derived from that single source. Where the source lacked specific data (e.g., firework type, toy dimensions), that absence is noted. This article was last updated on March 28, 2025.