Pokemon Archive

In the early days of Pokémon games, Pikachu used to be downright rotund by design, but the electric mouse gradually became skinner because that design was easier to animate.

The Pokémon franchise has always emphasized how, in addition to being powerful brawlers, pocket monsters are intelligent beings with complex feelings. In the past, the Pokémon anime has framed trainers who don’t understand that as villains incapable of becoming true champions.

It was already bad enough how rabid scalpers ruined the launch of the Van Gogh Museum’s collaboration with The Pokémon Company. But now, the museum’s announced that — in response to the “undesirable situation” — it will no longer be passing out promo cards to visitors in order to keep them safe.

Scalpers might have ruined everyone’s chances at grabbing a piece of merch from the Pokémon Company’s collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum, collectors hoping to get their hands on one of the coveted “Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat” promo cards are in luck.