Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu / Eevee director on the graphics, major changes, GO mechanics, lots more

“Aoi Yuki-san is voicing the player’s brand-new partner: Eevee!”

In Pokemon: Yellow Version, your partner Pokemon – Pikachu – could walk alongside you! In this newest iteration of Pokemon games, you can choose either Pikachu or Eevee depending on which version you buy. Can you tell us a little bit about why Eevee was chosen to be one of the player’s potential partners? What prompted this change?

Masuda: Well, in Pokemon: Yellow Version, Eevee is the first Pokemon your rival chooses; but truth be told, in the end it was the depth of the fans’ love for Eevee that prompted the choice. A lot of fans send me pictures of Eevee that they themselves have drawn – sometimes they’re even cuter than the official art… (laughs) The fans’ support was particularly evident on November 21, which we’ve declared to be “Eevee Day:” a day celebrating the Pokemon and its evolutions; the celebration really reached a lot of fans! When you see one, you can’t help but be excited and wonder what it’s going to grow up into; it radiates the same kind of cuteness as a baby, I think! In the end, that cute charm that Eevee exudes is what cemented the decision. I definitely didn’t want fans to be disappointed by the choice, so I did a little bit of research beforehand.

Oh? What kind of research?

Masuda: First, I talked with those in the office that really liked Eevee and found out what about it fascinated them! I learned quite a lot actually; for instance, when I asked what contributed to that infant-like cuteness, a lot of people mentioned how fluffy its neck and tail were. At any rate, I desperately tried to make it as cute as I possibly could. It’s thanks to the fans that Eevee is where it is now!

Eevee truly is well-loved! By the way, since Pikachu is voiced by Ikue Otani-san in the most recent games – as it is in the anime – does Eevee have its own voice actor?

Masuda: Aoi Yuki-san is the voice of Eevee; thankfully, Yuki-san really loves Pokemon and brings an amazing energy to the role. She had previously shown up to an event coordinated around Eevee, and we were left with the impression that she really liked it! In truth, we actually decided on Eevee’s voice through an extensive audition; 108 people showed up to try out for the role! At first, we judged simply based on the voice – without knowing the actual names of the voice actors – and so it was that Yuki-san was the only candidate that made it until the end.

As one would expect, she really does love Eevee, doesn’t she?

Masuda: And that love translates into motivation – that’s crucial. Recording couldn’t have been easy; players are going to hear Yuki-san as Eevee no matter where they are in the world! I’m truly thankful for how motivated she was for the role. Pikachu’s name is the same no matter where you go, but Eevee’s is a bit different. For instance, in America it is Eevee of course, yet in Germany it is Evoli. Yuki-san has to record all of those different cries for each language and works tirelessly alongside Mr. Mima Masafumi – the sound director for the Pokemon anime.

Of course, even in the games’ preview it doesn’t simply cry something like “Eevee!”

Masuda: That’s right. Your partner Pokemon are special in a variety of ways, however, not just because of their cries. For instance, just like your Pikachu from Pokemon: Yellow Version, the player’s partner Pokemon will not evolve. Moreover, while there are differences in the tail shape of male and female Pikachu, there are also differences between male and female Eevee as well, as females’ tails have a heart design on the tip.

The differences between males and females must come as great news to the fans!

Masuda: We’ve also added a mode in which you can interact with your partner Pikachu or Eevee, so a lot of voice clips had to be compiled for that as well. Even in Pokemon: Yellow Version, your partner Pikachu would have a variety of responses should the player interact with it; now, should you interact with your partner, the game is chock-full of responses for you to discover!

It really does seem like Pikachu and Eevee will be right there with you all the while.

Masuda: I was really particular about the details of the interacting mechanic – both Pikachu and Eevee had their own motion designer solely dedicated to them. Originally, there was one person in charge of both of them, but they suggested that that arrangement would end up having them “divide their affection” between the two… (laughs) I figured that that might be the case, so I brought in another motion designer and requested that the two give their all to their respective Pokemon! Both Pikachu and Eevee ended up having a lot of gestures and movements characteristic to themselves; I don’t doubt that one could just sit there and watch them and not get bored.