Pikachu has made an unexpected appearance at Apple Park, meeting Apple CEO John Ternus, former CEO Tim Cook and The Pokémon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara, in one of Apple’s more unusual campus visits.
Tim Cook shared a short video of the visit on August 27, just days before John Ternus officially became Apple’s CEO.
The visit appeared to combine Apple’s leadership transition with a discussion about possible future initiatives with the beloved yellow anime icon. Cook specifically said the day’s agenda was to introduce the Pokémon team to Ternus, talk about gaming, and — somewhat less seriously — try to keep Pikachu away from Apple Park’s pond.
According to Cook, only two of those three objectives were accomplished.
The video gives a playful look at Pikachu exploring Apple’s Cupertino campus. The Pokémon mascot can be seen walking around Apple Park, dancing underneath the rainbow arch and venturing into the site’s orchard, where Pikachu even picks an apple.
The appearance is particularly notable because Ternus has now taken over as Apple’s CEO, succeeding Cook after more than a decade at the helm.
A meeting about gaming
While Apple and The Pokémon Company have not announced a new partnership or product as a result of the meeting, Cook confirmed that gaming was part of the conversation.
That is particularly relevant given Pokémon’s growing presence across Apple’s platforms. Pokémon GO, Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket and Pokémon Champions are among the Pokémon titles available on Apple’s ecosystem.
The Pokémon team was also in the San Francisco Bay Area for the Pokémon World Championships, which began on August 28, making the Apple Park visit a convenient stop during the group’s time in California.
For now, however, there is no indication that the meeting represents a new Apple-Pokémon collaboration.
Not Cook’s First Encounter with Pikachu
This isn’t the first time Tim Cook has met Pikachu.
Cook previously encountered the Pokémon mascot during a trip to Japan in September 2025, around the reopening of Apple’s Ginza store in Tokyo.
The latest encounter therefore feels like a continuation of an unexpectedly friendly relationship — although this time Pikachu got a full tour of Apple’s headquarters.
Color me jealous!