Real Animals That Need The Pokémon Treatment

Pokémon celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this year, and each generation of games has introduced a variety of new creatures to catch, train and fight. We’ve had Pokémon based on plants, appliances and one that’s just a big heap of rubbish (looking at you, Garbador). The vast majority, however, have been based on real animals.

With over 720 Pokémon in existence and mega evolutions to boot, you’d expect Game Freak to be running out of inspiration from the natural world. But some animals have managed to be strangely overlooked year after year. To shine a light on this terrible injustice, below are a few animals that really should be given the Pokémon treatment.

Dolphin

As one of the most popular animals on the planet, and with a sleek design lending itself perfectly to the Pokémon universe, this is by far the oddest oversight from Game Freak. Honestly, think about it for a second. They managed to get to ‘barnacles on rocks’ before they got to dolphin. Water/Psychic typing would be perfect for an animal that’s known for it’s high intelligence, but it could just as easily be a pure Water-type.

Luckily it seems very likely that this will be rectified in Pokémon Sun & Moon. The new region Alola is based on Hawaii. What’s one of the most popular tourist activities in Hawaii? You guessed it, swimming with dolphins. Assuming Game Freak haven’t completely lost their minds, this should mean good news for those of us who have been crying out for a Pokémon based on our favourite aquatic mammal.

Koala

Can you not already picture it in your head? A cute little Grass-type koala Pokémon, staring up at you with his big eyes and a eucalyptus branch hanging out of his mouth. Maybe he can use it for attacks like Leaf Blade and Razor Leaf. Maybe he’s part Fairy type, able to use disarming moves like Charm and Baby-Doll Eyes. Maybe he can be your best friend forever and never leave your side. It would make a lot of sense, and surely be a fan favourite with children.

Flying Fox

Ok, I’ll be the first to put my hands up and say that we probably already have enough bat Pokémon. But none have been based on the pteropus genus of bats, better known as flying foxes, and that is a real shame. One of my favourite animals of all time, an interesting way to incorporate their design would be as part of a Flying-type evolution of Eevee.

With their fox-like face and design, this would be the most logical transition for Eevee to take to the skies, and would likely secure itself as a permanent feature in any six strong party - mostly because of their gorgeous face. If you don’t believe me, quickly search ‘flying fox’. They’re so pretty.

Cockroach

Ah the cockroach. A common insect in American film and TV, there has not yet been a Bug-type Pokémon based on this perennial survivor. Supposedly able to live through a nuclear fallout, high defence and HP stats would be a must. While its design by default is quite dull, the artists at Game Freak have worked wonders in the past making interesting Pokémon out of boring animals. With so many other Bug-types (69 to be exact) it’s strange to think that the common cockroach has been shunned thus far.

While I’m sure there aren’t too many trainers out there who have been waiting patiently for the revelation of a cockroach Pokémon, it’s played a big part in popular culture and deserves to be immortalised in Pokémon form - even if it does make your skin crawl.

Peacock

Looking at the bright colours and elaborate design of the peacock, you wouldn’t be surprised if it had been voted ‘Most likely to be a Pokémon’ in its school yearbook. I really like the idea of a special attack focused Flying-type Pokémon, raising its tail plumage to launch attacks like Solar Beam or Shock Wave in a similar manner to Heliolisk opening its neck frill.

Pokémon games tend to add a new Normal/Flying-type line in each new generation, but almost all of them have had dull colour schemes as many birds simply are brown or grey. A peacock Pokémon would add a much needed splash of colour to this type lineup, and Game Freak artists would have a hell of a lot of choice in how to take a peacock’s main traits and incorporate them into a Pokémon design.

So those are just some of the animals that haven’t had Pokémon based on them so far, and there are many more who are just as deserving. With more information about Pokémon Sun & Moon due soon and the games releasing at the end of this year we’ll get to see if Gamefreak finally make up for these oversights, or if we instead get a Pokémon based on something silly like an ice cream cone. Ahem.