Last weekend, the annual Pokémon World Festival was hosted in Songdo, South Korea. An army of 15 Pikachus danced to a pop hit medley (Uptown Funk, You Can’t Stop The Beat, and — bizarrely — Hairspray) in a a beautifully choreographed dance routine.
From BuzzFeed:
But there was one moment that captivated — and then quickly destroyed — people around the world. About a minute into the performance, the Pikachu in the very front began deflating. It sent staff members into a panic. FOUR MEN in suits tried to escort the deflating Pikachu offstage as the rest of the Pika troop danced on tirelessly.
Perhaps the saddest part of all of this was that when Pikachu’s head started to deflate, Nikka Blonsky was singing in the background, “And you can try to stop my dancing feet.”
Twitter went NUTZZZZ!
Pikachu being dragged away to Pokemon Jail.
This Pikachu dancer's costume started to deflate and it looked like the dancer was urgently bundled off by government security agents. pic.twitter.com/5dLLc1bopd
— Paul Haine (@paul_haine) May 5, 2017
A GIF of the abduction.
Watch this dancing Pikachu get dragged mercilessly offstage for deflating mid-performancehttps://t.co/wHuyPh4DpS pic.twitter.com/mTOKJYDvu7
— The Verge (@verge) May 5, 2017
The other Pikachus valiantly continued to dance — they KNEW they were one misstep away from certain death.
https://twitter.com/NikiReitmayer/status/860665668173152256
Some folks blamed United Airlines (they totally deserve it).
Or was it Team Rocket?
Team Rocket ruthlessly kidnaps a Pikachu during a live preformance. https://t.co/EEak8sXzBp pic.twitter.com/0L03D7tUv6
— Nintendo Wire (@NinWire) May 6, 2017
Things started going dark really really fast, cuz Twitter.
Pikachu knew too much https://t.co/Kg8RPAKQS1
— wikipedia “seasonal halloween name” brown (@eveewing) May 5, 2017
RETRIEVE THE PACKAGE! PROTECT THE PRESIDENT! PACKAGE ACQUIRED, DISPERSE THE PREMISES! THREAT NEUTRALIZED! https://t.co/UQQisvlsQ7
— におに (@Neonie) May 5, 2017
Distopian nightmare as defective pikachu kinapped by secret agents in broad daylight! pic.twitter.com/lqeU4kKD9i
— GEOTRILL?? (@delmoi) May 5, 2017
No Justice, No Peace!
#FreePikachu we will not be silenced until Pikachu is released pic.twitter.com/tY34IBlImX
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) May 5, 2017
Many of us totally took this personally.
When I'm trying to have a positive outlook and a sad thought starts entering my mind https://t.co/slvJhj03go
— sara reinis (@SaraReinis) May 5, 2017
Exactly how all of us felt the day after Donald Trump became our president.
Current feeling: deflated Pikachu.
— Elizabeth Joh (@elizabeth_joh) May 5, 2017
https://twitter.com/katierogers/status/860556459985309696
But seriously, anyone who watches this just laughs until they cry.
1. The fact that it's the lead Pikachu
2. THE FACT THAT PIKACHUS ARE STEPPING
3. The removal
4. The way they keep going ?????? https://t.co/D3CtMZ3zxo— @PiaGlenn (@PiaGlenn) May 5, 2017
Actual tears of laughter. My favorite part is at the end, the other Pikachus pretending their companion hasn’t been disappeared. https://t.co/6Wvh8URtiC
— thefourthvine (@thefourthvine) May 5, 2017
The behind-the-scenes story is even more hilarious — and chaotic.
OK so the sweater guy got Pikachu, 2nd guy in suit was a bouncer who didn't know sweaterman was event staff, 3rd guy corrects him. Mayhem. pic.twitter.com/VZiByWGIKo
— ?????? Park ? (@GenePark) May 6, 2017
Our courageous “Army of One” tried to make a comeback but was again deflated.
PIKACHU COMING BACK BUT HE DEFLATED AGAIN IM CRYING pic.twitter.com/gCDSFQ2vzu
— bella @??hell (@coderealise) May 5, 2017
This is the end of all our hope.
Above all, I’m just glad this happened in South Korea. The guy in charge of keeping the poor Pikachus dancing would have likely been executed in North Korea.
The action starts at 1:00. Be sure to watch until the end, though (or fast-forward). Pikachu, with the help of the “government agents” tries to make a second entrance, but instantly deflates and is rushed off the stage again.
First reported by The Verge
