In light of Nintendo’s recent release of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, I did some research into how the original Pokémon were designed. The genius of his designs can be boiled down into the amount of thought, foresight, and consideration he put into each of the 151 creatures.
Many Pokémon started out cute, but as they evolved, they began to glow fiercer and (for lack of a better word) cooler; take the Charmander line, where Charmander is an adorable, smiling, salamander that eventually morphs into a menacing, fire-breathing dragon. Moreover, though his designs are often rooted in Japanese culture and legend, they still manage to appeal to children of all cultures across the world. That’s the magic and timelessness of Sugimori’s designs.
To understand his work, visit this CNN article. To see some of his original artwork, visit this collection.
2 Comments
Rosemarie Hernandez · November 23, 2021 at 10:06 pm
I’ve noticed this pattern of evolution from cute to fierce in an anime called Digimon as well [https://digimonlife.tumblr.com/post/630014816129613824]. I remember when I was younger, I would always try to memorize all of the Pokemon and Digimon creatures and their evolutions but to no avail. *Sigh*
Kushagra Aryal · November 24, 2021 at 4:51 am
This is really nostalgic for me. As I’m sure you have, I grew up playing these games as well. I really liked how when the characters evolved, they were able to gain new traits, flairs, and moves. It kind of reflects how as we grow up we gain new skills and experiences, which can be thought of as attributes. Maybe life is a game of Pokémon?
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