When Pokémon first began, it was nothing more than a pair of video games for the original Game Boy. Today, the franchise now spans video games, trading card games, animated television shows and movies, comic books, toys, and more.
With over 20 years of history, there’s quite a lot to take in, including facts and trivia that even the most die-hard fans might not have heard before. That being said, here are 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Pokémon:
Hitmonchan And Hitmonlee’s Names Have Different Significance In The US And Japan
In the United States, many people believe that Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee’s names were intended to be a play on iconic martial arts film legends Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee. However, in the Japanese version of the game, the characters are named Ebiwalar and Sawamular. What’s significant about this is that those names are eerily similar to Japanese boxing champion Hiroyuki Ebihara and Japanese kickboxer Tadashi Sawamura.
Drowzee Is Based On The Tapir
As a child, many of us looked at Drowzee and immediately associated the psychic-type Pokémon with a yellow elephant with a short trunk. However, Drowzee’s unique look is actually based on the tapir – a large, herbivorous mammal, similar in shape to a pig, with a short, prehensile snout. According to Japanese folklore, tapirs eat dreams and nightmares, making Drowzee’s design all the more fitting given his power set.
Poliwag’s Swirls Are Inspired By Tadpole Intestines
The fun shape, bright eyes, and cute little swirl on its belly make Poliwag one of the most adorable Pokémon there is. However, were you aware that the swirl is meant to mimic the visible intestines of tadpoles? Many species of tadpoles have translucent skin, allowing their neatly coiled intestines to show through their bellies. Just as many Pokémon were inspired by real-world animals, so too was Poliwag, and the creators made sure they didn’t cut any corners when it came to his design.
Mareep May Have Been Inspired By A Phillip K. Dick Novel
A sheep is certainly a puzzling choice to base the design of an electric-type Pokémon on. Is it because wool is capable of building up a static charge? Well, many people believe this decision was actually made as a metatextual reference to the classic science fiction novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Phillip K. Dick.
Ditto Might Be A Failed Attempt At Cloning Mew
When you think of Mew, you typically associate it with its clone, Mewtwo. However, it’s possible that before Mewtwo, there was another, far less successful attempt to clone the iconic Pokémon. Aside from their coloring, Mew and Ditto don’t share many similar physical attributes. On the other hand, they do share similar moves, stats, and can even be found in the same cave as Mewtwo.
Apparently, People Eat Farfetch’des
Do people eat Pokémon? It’s a question we’ve all asked ourselves at one point or another. However, in the case of Farfetch’d, it seems as though people may, in fact, occasionally indulge in dining on Pokémon. According to one of Farfetch’d’s Pokédex entries, it’s implied that humans nearly hunted the Pokémon into extinction. One could argue that there were plenty of pillows and down comforters that needed feathers, but the more likely scenario is that a heck of a lot of people suddenly had a craving for Peking Duck.
Slowbro Can De-Evolve
Slowbro is unique in the sense that its evolution is actually the combination two separate Pokémon – Slowpoke and Shellder. However, that’s not the only thing that makes Slowbro special. Unlike other Pokémon, Slowbro can actually de-evolve by having the Shellder removed from its tail. Should this occur, Slowbro would simply revert back to Slowpoke.
The World Of Pokémon Might Have Been At War
There are plenty of questions and theories about the fictional world of Pokémon. Some of them are absurd, but others might just have some merit. For example, there’s a theory that just prior to the start of the original video games, the world of Pokémon was embroiled in a massive war. This theory is supported by the fact that your character doesn’t have a father, he’s essentially the man of the house, and young people appear to be in a position of power. Furthermore, the few adult males you do encounter all seem to be involved in either the mafia or the military. Still don’t believe it? Then consider this dialogue from the Vermilion City Gym leader Lt. Surge - “Hey, kid! What do you think you’re doing here? You won’t live long in combat! That’s for sure! I tell you kid, electric Pokémon saved me during the war! They zapped my enemies into paralysis! The same as I’ll do to you!”
Some Pokémon May Have Inferiority Complexes
It’s not uncommon to have a fear of being abandoned by your loved ones. It’s something we all deal with as humans, and Pokémon are no exception, either. Consider Pokémon like Machop, who can only evolve by being traded. It’s believed that this type of evolution actually stems from abandonment issues and that only by bettering themselves can they earn the love of their new trainer and avoid being traded again.
The Original Mascot Of Pokémon Was Intended To Be Clefairy
Even if you only know about Pokémon tangentially, you likely know that Pikachu is the undisputed face of the franchise. However, it was actually Clefairy that was originally intended to be the mascot of the brand, as well as the main Pokémon character in the anime. Clefairy was one of the first Pokémon ever designed, and long stood as the main character in the Pokémon manga. In fact, in the original pilot for the series, Ash even received a Clefairy instead of a Pikachu. Clefairy was soon swapped out for Pikachu, though, under the belief that Pikachu would better appeal to female viewers, and that yellow was a more recognizable color to spot from a distance.
What about you? Are there any fun facts about Pokémon we might have missed? Let us know in the comments section!