By Isabella Gibilante / Aggie Insider Multimedia Reporter
Pokémon cards are going especially viral right now, being ripped from shelves, causing prices to skyrocket. However, many people still know and love Pokémon for all different reasons. But how many people really know about the inspirations behind each Pokémon?
All Pokémon are categorized in a different Generation, which refers to a generalized grouping of core video games, species, and regions that are released during a different era of the franchise’s development and evolution.
Pokémon can be inspired by many different real-life topics like animals, plants, myths, objects, food, etc. Here are a few animal inspirations of different Pokémon.
Lurantis from Generation 7 is inspired by an Orchid Mantis. Orchid Mantises mimic an orchid flower as a form of biomimicry (one animal copying the patterns of another living thing) in order to survive. However, Pokémon did a reverse concept of an orchid mantis mimicking an orchid flower meaning that Lurantis, a grass type Pokémon, is a flower that is mimicking an insect.
Caterpie, a Generation 1 Pokémon is likely inspired by a Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar. Both of them have very large heads and similar placement of their eyes which give them an almost snake-like look to ward off predators.
Joltik, a Pokémon from Generation 5, is based on elements from jumping spiders and ticks. Joltik’s eyes and body shape look exactly like a jumping spider’s. The design aspect that closely resembles a tick is its mouth part, which could also look like a jumping spider’s chelicerae which are the first pair of mouthpart appendages found in arthropods like spiders, mites, scorpions, horseshoe crabs, and ticks.
The famous Eevee is from Generation 1, and is a Pokémon many people get confused about. Something that can be even more confusing is its eight evolutions that all look very different from one another. It is suspected that Eevee is a cross between a dog, cat, fox, and rabbit.
Yamper, from Generation 8, is based off of one of the internet’s most beloved dog breeds, a Corgi. Yamper looks just like the Corgi dog breed with its short little body and cute face. This Pokémon has electric elements added to it to help its electric typing come through its design better.
Spidops is from Generation 9 and is based on an Ogre-faced Net-casting Spider. Both the Pokémon and the spider have the same distinct ogre face and the ability to create nets with webs, them both having massive forward-facing posterior median eyes, making them perfectly resemble each other.
Cyndaquil, a Generation 2 Pokémon is based on an Echidna with design references from other small rodents like shrews and porcupines. Cyndaquils have the same slimmed out nose, face, and body proportions as these animals. They also have fire elements that are added to their design.
Cubchoo is from Generation 5 is based on a Polar Bear cub. Cubchoo looks just like an adorable baby Polar Bear that is a little sick from the cold. Its design has a few icy components which pair nicely with the wintry theme of the Pokémon.
Stunfisk, a Generation 5 Pokémon, is likely based off of flatfish like Flounders or Stargazer Fish. With both species of fish having the same weird, silly faces as Stunfisk and similar body proportions, they are a perfect match.
Centiskorch is from Generation 8 and is heavily inspired by centipedes. Centiskorch perfectly resembles a centipede with its many legs and flat, insect-like body. Except Centiskorch has fiery elements added to its design.
There are so many different Pokémon and they all are inspired by so many different things. Even some of the most forgotten Pokémon are based on something in real life. Pokémon can teach us so many things about nature, food, and our lives without us even realizing it!
What Pokémon should we talk about next?