A fifth‑grade pupil named Eiji Toomatsu and his inspirational companion, a dog called Pochirou, discover one day a strange volume titled the "Pikachin Research Manual." Inside it reveals seven components that constitute the Pikachin Kit. When Eiji activates a switch on the tome, a "Future Amazon" parcel materializes at his doorstep carrying the kit. He follows the schematics in the package to build it, yet it appears that a single percent of the parts is still absent. Although the kit seems complete, Eiji suspects that something is missing and decides to investigate further.
Within the series, "Pikachin" denotes that sudden spark of insight one experiences when conceiving a fresh idea, akin to a lightbulb illuminating above the mind. The overarching theme of the franchise is that invention comprises 99 % model building and only 1 % inspiration.
