What Color Is Pikachu?

The electric yellow of the world's most famous Pokémon

Hue

45°

Saturation

100%

Brightness

100%

Pikachu's Color: An Overview

Pikachu is the global mascot of the Pokémon franchise and one of the most recognizable cartoon characters ever created. Its distinctive yellow color has appeared on merchandise, films, TV shows, and games for over 25 years. Pikachu's yellow is slightly warmer and more orange-leaning than SpongeBob's — sitting closer to 45° on the hue wheel, which gives it a richer, slightly more golden feel.

Pikachu's Full Color Palette

Body Yellow

Body & face

#FFCB05

H:45° S:100% B:100%

Ear Tips Brown

Ear tips

#7A3D0A

H:28° S:90% B:70%

Cheek Red

Cheek pouches

#E01A1A

H:0° S:90% B:88%

Stripe Brown

Back stripes

#5C3210

H:30° S:85% B:55%

The Color Theory Behind Pikachu's Look

Pikachu's yellow is at H:45°, S:100%, B:100% — a warm golden yellow that sits between pure yellow (60°) and orange (30°). The official Pokémon color references place it close to #FFCB05. This hue is slightly more orange than SpongeBob's yellow, giving Pikachu a warmer, more 'electric' feel that suits its lightning-based powers.

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Color Fun Fact

Pikachu's color has subtly changed over the decades. In the original 1990s anime, Pikachu appeared in a slightly darker, more saturated golden yellow. Modern promotional art uses a brighter, higher-brightness yellow for better visibility across digital screens.

Can You Match Pikachu's Color From Memory?

Knowing the HSB values is one thing — reproducing them by memory is a different skill entirely. Test your color intuition in Cartoon Color Quiz.

MATCH DIFFICULTY:Medium