The Chibi Project - Pikachu / Circular Saw

The Chibi Project

After filling the panel room for our Chibi Project panel and live experiment at Anime Boston 2003, we knew we had to return to Anime Boston 2004 and we had to do something impressive. We knew taking a circular saw to a vibrating, plush Pikachu that we picked up at the AnimeOnDVD.com Christmas party would fit the bill. We used duct tape on Pikachu's ears and feet to secure him to a piece of wood that was securely strapped to two chairs. The saw was plugged in and Anime Boston attendees in the front of the panel were asked to move back. The circular saw was designed to cut through a thin piece of wood, not three inches of plush Pikachu belly. Considerable downward force had to be applied to the circular saw in order to compress Pikachu enough so that the saw would come in contact with the wood. As the saw advanced through the yellow Pokemon's body, white stuffing shot out into the audience and all over the stage and floor. After one pass, Pikachu's guts had spilled out all over the stage and floor. The wooden board had only been partially cut. As the saw performed a second pass, it resulted in more carnage but still did not slice through the wooden board. It didn't take long for the third pass to cut through what was left of the board. Very little stuffing was left in Pikachu at this point. This is what's left of Pikachu after being sliced in two by a circular saw. Most of the stuffing was sent soaring into the audience (where audience members happily ran forth and collected it for themselves.) The stuffing that remains is primarily the bits that got stuck to the duct tape. Pikachu is still recognizable, but he is in two parts.