The world of trading card games is booming, with Pokémon leading the charge. 'Raincoat Pikachu', a 10 Gem Mint copy of the 2015 Pokémon Japanese XY Promo Art Academy Fujishima Pikachu, recently auctioned for a whopping $8.4 million, making it the second most valuable card in history. While the card’s hand-drawn charm is endearing, its value lies in the artist, Y. Fujishima, who won the 'Dress-Up Pikachu' category and received 100 custom cards as a prize.

Despite its wholesome origins, Raincoat Pikachu joins the ranks of other high-value Pokémon cards, including Logan Paul’s Illustrator Pikachu, which fetched a record-breaking $16.5 million this year. The craze highlights the intersection of pop culture and investment, much like NFTs and cryptocurrencies. However, it’s a relief to see the return to physical media, though perhaps we should be questioning the sanity of those who spend millions on a Pikachu with an umbrella.

As Natalie Fear from Creative Bloq notes, the popularity of these high-value cards suggests a new era of investment in pop culture. But with this, comes the question: are we just overpaying for cute raincoats? The world of Pokémon trading cards is a strange one, but it’s a testament to the enduring appeal of our childhood favourites.

For more Pokémon news, check out the new Pokémon X Polaroid cameras or take a look at how Pokémon is fighting back against AI slop. Sign up to Creative Bloq's daily newsletter for the latest in art, design, and technology.