Pokémon Designs Inspired By Real-World History | Screen Rant
The vast series of Pokémon games now features many diverse creatures accumulated over eight generations, some of which harbor designs potentially inspired by real-world history. The form of certain Pokémon seems to have a strong resemblance to specific archaeological artifacts, while other Pokémon designs appear to reflect more abstract ancient historical findings. Although some Pokémon may appear to have obvious thematic links to real-world history, more nuanced references are hidden throughout various Pokémon designs.
Alongside Pokémon designs that gain inspiration from real-world history, there are various designs rooted in the real world that are not tackled in this article. For instance, within the Pokémon universe, various Pokémon designs draw upon mythological ideologies from actual cultures. Ninetales is a classic example that references the fox spirit, which is a common motif in East Asian mythologies. Particularly, the Alolan form and Shiny Ninetales in Pokémon Sword & Shield turn the Pokémon white in color, more closely resembling the white nine-tailed fox that features in ancient Chinese myths concerning the legendary king, Yu the Great.
Naturally, considering Game Freak's founding location, there are a lot of references to Japan's rich cultural history throughout Pokémon designs. However, the forms and aesthetics of various Pokémon draw upon historical and archaeological references from diverse cultural backgrounds in the real world as well. Throughout the eight generations of Pokémon, real-world historical references are utilized in Pokémon designs that originate from across the Asian and European continents, and as far as South America and the Polynesian islands.
The Pokémon Stonjourner was introduced to Generation 8 as part of Pokémon Sword & Shield's Galar Region, which is based on the United Kingdom. Stonjourner's design reflects one of the most important aspects of the UK's history as it greatly resembles the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge. This 'Big Rock' Pokémon resembles the ancient monument due to its tall, rectangular body made up of two vertical sarsen stones and a horizontal lintel stone, and the grey-ish coloration matches Stonehenge's own aesthetics with brown, muddy bases and a pock-marked appearance.
Stonehenge stands on Wiltshire's Salisbury Plains in southern England and archaeologists think it was constructed as far back as between 3000 to 2000 BC. The now ruinous monument consists of rings of standing stones, and the 'henge' actually refers to an earthwork bank and ditch that surrounds the stones. Interestingly, the stones of Stonehenge perfectly align with the sun once a year on the summer solstice.
Stonjourner's design seems linked to the stone monuments in Turffield, the Pokemon Sword & Shield's town whose name links to the Grass-type Gym leader, as well as the agricultural focus seen across the UK's rural towns. Pokémon continued the enigmatic themes of this real-world historical monument as the official Pokémon website states that there is an annual gathering of Stonjourners on a certain day during which they form an evenly spaced ring. There is no known reason for this, though it is possibly linked to the sun's position or the earth's energy; mimicking the very real mystery that still surrounds Stonehenge.
The Generation 4 Pokémon, Probopass, bears resemblance to the real-world Rapa Nui moai, commonly referred to as the Easter Island heads. However, there are fewer thematic links between this historical reference and Pokémon than with Stonjourner. Despite the visual resemblance between this Rock-type Pokémon and the moai, this 'Compass' Pokémon has a magnetic theme, making it dual-type with Steel. While Probopass can be caught in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, it evolves from Nosepass when leveled in a magnetic field, or exposed to a Thunder Stone in Legends: Arceus.
The moai are monolithic human statues are carved out of volcanic ash and hundreds are scattered across Easter Island, Polynesia, dating to about 1250 - 1500 BC. Probopass resembles these moai due to their shared overly large heads, elongated noses, and distinctive minimalistic design that is seen across prehistoric Polynesian art. Despite this visual comparison, Probopass' thematic differences continue with the large bushy mustache that is actually an accumulation of iron sand attracted by the Pokémon's magnetic nose.
Cofagrigus' real-world historical inspiration is pretty obvious. Known as the 'Coffin' Pokémon, Cofagrigus' blue and golden form closely resembles an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus. This Ghost-type Pokémon has some of the most terrifying lore of the games as its pre-evolution Pokémon, Yamask, has a horrifying backstory involving once being a human, now cursed to carry around a mask of its former face.
In terms of real-world historical references, Cofagrigus' form reflects the traditions shown in the New Kingdom sarcophagi, including that of King Tutankhamun who died around 1324 BC. In ancient Egypt, sarcophagi are anthropoid stone coffins and are frequently used for burying the deceased of the society's highest echelons. The inclusion of the Yamask's mask on this Pokémon's forehead continues the possible gruesome theme of this Pokémon having once been a human.
Sigilyph's design greatly resembles the zoomorphic representations seen in the Nazca Lines, southern Peru. This archaeological site spans over 50m² in the plains of the Nazca desert and consists of huge lines and images engraved into the ground between 500 BC to 500 AD. The fact that these relatively abstract geoglyphs are referenced in this way makes a good argument for why Pokémon's monster designs are more compelling than other games.
Specifically, it seems that the design of this Avianoid Pokémon was inspired by the avian figures within the Nazca Lines, with the Pokémon's outlines almost perfectly matching that of the Nazca hummingbird. This dual-type Psychic/Flying Pokémon links further to its real-world inspiration as it is typically found within desert conditions in the Pokémon games. Sigilyph's name alone closely links to this piece of real-world history, with a possible suffix of '-lyph' relating to 'glpyh', which in archaeology refers to a carved or inscribed symbol.
The design of Baltoy seems to have been heavily inspired by the real-world dogū statues that date to the latter part of the Jōmon period of prehistoric Japan, spanning 14,000 to 400 BC. These clay figurines were often detailed with vermilion red paint as mirrored in Baltoy's design, yet Pokémon GO's Shiny Baltoy utilizes green, red's opposite on the color wheel. Specifically, Baltoy's design is reminiscent of the shakōkidogū figurines, meaning goggle-eyed doll.
The Pokémon shares this artifact's small height, enlarged closed eyes, and swirling designs on the body. However, it appears that this Clay Doll Pokémon represents only the top half of a dogū figurine, and instead possesses a spinning top-like point beneath its abdomen. This may reflect the often fractured nature of the dogū artifacts that, while plenty in number, are often recovered fragmented from archaeological settings.
Darmanitan's design seems to emulate that of daruma, traditional Japanese dolls that date back as early as the 17th century. While darumas are typically round and red in color depicting a bearded man, they can vary dramatically in design according to region and manufacturer. This is perhaps reflected in the variation seen in Darmanitan's Galarian form seen in Pokémon Sword & Shield, within which the Pokémon is white and blue instead of reddish-brown.
Traditionally, darumas are symbols of good luck and perseverance within Japan, seeming to relate to the Zen tradition of Buddhism. This real-world aspect is reflected in Darmanitan's form-changing abilities, from the Blazing Pokémon to the Zen Charm Pokémon; depending on its Ability and current HP, Darmanitan will transform into its Zen form during battle. The blank white eyes of Darmanitan's Zen form are hugely significant to real-world history as traditionally darumas are sold with blank white eyes, and the owner paints in black eyes when a particular goal has been achieved.
Bronzong's design is almost identical to Japanese dōtaku bells, and this origin helps explain the interesting Japanese name of this Gen 4 Pokémon. Dōtaku were smelted from bronze and often richly decorated with nature motifs and were in use for around 400 years between 200 BC and 200 AD, their disappearance coinciding with the end of the Japanese Yayoi era. These bells are thought to have been rung as part of a ritual to pray for plentiful harvests, or perhaps to warn of invaders within the Yayoi settlements.
Bronzong's facial features may also seem to resemble the Aztec rain god, Tlāloc, who is often depicted predominantly cyan in color, much like the Bronzong and dōtaku's blue coloration due to the oxidization of bronze. Bronzong appears to have perhaps the most historically influenced Pokémon design as its French name is literally 'Archéodong', utilizing the root stem 'archaeo-' meaning ancient. The Pokémon Diamond Pokédex for Bronzong also details how it was "dug up at a construction site after a 2,000-year sleep", perhaps referring to the common discovery of artifacts during archaeological excavations that take place on the sites of upcoming construction projects.
Arcanine, and its pre-evolution, Growlithe, received a makeover with the recent Pokémon Legends: Arceus, appearing in a Hisuian form. This regional form changes the Pokémon to be dual-type Rock/Fire and adapts its coloration to be orange and brown. In Hisui, Growlithe's fur surrounding its face and tail, as well as Arcanine's ankle fur and tail, greatly resemble spiraling plumes of smoke.
Particularly in this form, this Pokémon clearly resembles komainu; a type of Japanese lion-dog statue that tends to flank temple entrances in pairs. These komainu themselves resemble Chinese guardian lion statues that date back to the Tang dynasty in China (618 - 907 AD). The Hisuian Arcanine's Shiny form has a colorway more reminiscent of its Kantonian counterpart, possessing a yellow body and lighter brown fur that is more reminiscent of the spiraling, smoke-like plumes seen on the ancient statues.
Inspiration for Pokémon design has come from a range of sources over the eight generations and it is certainly interesting to explore the inspirations stemming from the real world's rich cultural histories. While the examples explored here express inspiration from tangible historical artifacts or sites, there are plentiful other Pokémon designs with historical inspirations. This includes Pokémon based on various mythological beasts or, for instance, Falinks, a Pokémon whose form and name strongly resemble a phalanx. This tactical formation in ancient military science consists of soldiers in a straight line and was developed by the Greeks in the 8th century BC. Hence, Pokémon designs can be influenced by a range of both tangible and more theoretical ideas from real-world history and culture.
Source: The Pokémon Company