Franchise: Pokémon
Pokémon Channel
Pokémon Snap
Pokémon Puzzle Challenge
Pokémon Shield
Pocket Monsters Stadium
Pokémon Puzzle League
Pokémon Omega Ruby
Pokémon Emerald Version
Pokémon Blue Version
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness
Pokémon Sword
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Super Smash Bros.
Pokémon Pokédex Organizer
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team
My Pokémon Ranch
Pokémon Moon
Pokémon Y
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Pokémon HeartGold Version
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity
Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition
Pokémon Rumble Blast
Pokémon Platinum Version
Pokémon Art Academy
Pokémon Home
Pokémon Black Version
Pokémon Sapphire Version
Pokémon LeafGreen Version
Pokémon Rumble U
Pokémon Violet
Pokémon Black Version 2
Pokkén Tournament
Pokémon Stadium 2
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!
Pokémon Stadium
Pokémon Picross
Pokémon FireRed Version
Pokémon Alpha Sapphire
Pokémon White Version 2
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Pokémon Green Version
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond
Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!
Pokémon Scarlet
Pokémon White Version
Pokémon Go
Pokémon Battle Revolution
▲
1
▼
It's rumored that the Pokemon Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf represent the Triforce from The Legend of Zelda, as they are the Knowledge (Wisdom), Emotion (Courage) and Will-Power (Power) Pokemon. They were also created by the God Pokemon Arceus, and the Triforce was created by the Goddesses Din, Nayru and Farore.
▲
1
▼
In the Japanese versions of Pokemon, the attack "Night Slash" is called "Blade Testing". This is a reference to an old practice that some immoral samurai held to test their new swords. They would wait alongside a road at night for a random passer-by, then attack them with the intention to kill. Night Slash also has a higher than average critical hit rate, which could be another nod to the story, as the passer by would be defenseless.
▲
1
▼
There is a gene in the human body that was originally named "Pokemon", but was renamed to "ZBTB7". The name change was sparked by The Pokemon Company threatening legal action against the center that discovered ZBTB7, as it is a cancer-causing gene.
▲
2
▼
Contrary to popular belief, the name "Pikachu" is not derived from the pika (a rodent-like lagomorph found in Japan that gains a yellow tinge in the winter), but rather a Japanese onomatopoeia for an electric spark. It should be noted that pikas are known as "nakiusagi" in Japan.
▲
2
▼
Between 2016 and 2017, male specimens of a new species of Nocticola cockroach were discovered at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve in Singapore. The species' discovery was first published in 2023, and it was also announced that it had been named after the Ultra Beast Pheromosa, a Pokémon designed to resemble a "freshly-moulted" American cockroach, from the Generation VII games Pokémon Sun & Moon. The authors of the findings were fans of the series and noticed similarities between the two, including "having a long antenna, wings that mimic a hood and long slender legs." Unlike the hardy American cockroach, cockroaches in the Nocticola genus are very delicate and are known to be found in Africa, south-east Asia, and Australia. This species, Nocticola pheromosa, is the first scientifically-documented instance of a Nocticola cockroach in Singapore.
▲
3
▼
According to Tsunekazu Ishihara, the president of The Pokémon Company, Nintendo of America didn’t like the original Japanese designs for Pokémon as they thought they looked “too cute”, so they made their own redesigns.
In particular, Pikachu was apparently redesigned to resemble a tiger with big breasts. When Ishihara asked how it was meant to be Pikachu, the American designers responded that because it has Pikachu’s tail, then that makes it Pikachu.
In particular, Pikachu was apparently redesigned to resemble a tiger with big breasts. When Ishihara asked how it was meant to be Pikachu, the American designers responded that because it has Pikachu’s tail, then that makes it Pikachu.
subdirectory_arrow_right Pokémon Snap (Game)
▲
4
▼
Early in the Pokémon franchise's life, the Poliwhirl line recieved a major push in marketing, comparable to that of series mascot Pikachu.
Mascot costumes were made of Poliwhirl for promotional events, the Pokémon Adventures manga featured Poliwhirl as one of Red's Pokémon, Poliwag was placed closely to Pikachu on the box art of Pokémon Snap, food and toy lines would near-consistently feature a member of the Poliwhirl line alongside Pikachu even when the pool of Pokémon was as limited as 3 or 4 (with exceptions primarily being ones that also lacked Pikachu), and, most famously, Poliwhirl appeared on the center of the cover of TIME Magazine's issue adressing the popularity of Pokémon.
This could be related to Poliwag being Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri's favourite of the original 151 Kanto species.
Mascot costumes were made of Poliwhirl for promotional events, the Pokémon Adventures manga featured Poliwhirl as one of Red's Pokémon, Poliwag was placed closely to Pikachu on the box art of Pokémon Snap, food and toy lines would near-consistently feature a member of the Poliwhirl line alongside Pikachu even when the pool of Pokémon was as limited as 3 or 4 (with exceptions primarily being ones that also lacked Pikachu), and, most famously, Poliwhirl appeared on the center of the cover of TIME Magazine's issue adressing the popularity of Pokémon.
This could be related to Poliwag being Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri's favourite of the original 151 Kanto species.
Comedic video about bizarre Pokémon merchandise showing off many instances of Poliwhirl and Poliwrath merchandise - the nature of Poliwhirl's "mascot" status is discussed at the 13:06 mark:
https://youtu.be/Gri7-XW3no8
ResetEra thread about Poliwhirl that opens with multiple images of Poliwhirl memorabilia:
https://www.resetera.com/threads/pokemons-bygone-mascot.763622/
Video from a Kellogg's fan channel featuring box scans and commercials for Pokémon cereal with Poliwhirl:
https://youtu.be/4kEnxp0ihPI
Pop Tarts commercial featuring Poliwrath toys:
https://youtu.be/oKw6l1Skglc
Kraft Mac & Cheese advert featuring Poliwhirl:
https://youtu.be/Sj5lfgEz_bU
Video featuring a photo of a Poliwhirl mascot:
https://youtu.be/KR5oKvYi_PQ
KFC and Heinz commercials for promotions featuring neither, Poliwhirl nor Pikachu:
https://youtu.be/9HCDPTQGmrI
https://youtu.be/nNc1xl8uoMA
Tajiri talks Poliwag:
https://youtu.be/gplIo-J9Ttc?si=vXRHECazu6kGu4IQ&t=433
https://youtu.be/Gri7-XW3no8
ResetEra thread about Poliwhirl that opens with multiple images of Poliwhirl memorabilia:
https://www.resetera.com/threads/pokemons-bygone-mascot.763622/
Video from a Kellogg's fan channel featuring box scans and commercials for Pokémon cereal with Poliwhirl:
https://youtu.be/4kEnxp0ihPI
Pop Tarts commercial featuring Poliwrath toys:
https://youtu.be/oKw6l1Skglc
Kraft Mac & Cheese advert featuring Poliwhirl:
https://youtu.be/Sj5lfgEz_bU
Video featuring a photo of a Poliwhirl mascot:
https://youtu.be/KR5oKvYi_PQ
KFC and Heinz commercials for promotions featuring neither, Poliwhirl nor Pikachu:
https://youtu.be/9HCDPTQGmrI
https://youtu.be/nNc1xl8uoMA
Tajiri talks Poliwag:
https://youtu.be/gplIo-J9Ttc?si=vXRHECazu6kGu4IQ&t=433
subdirectory_arrow_right Super Smash Bros. Melee (Game), Pokémon Channel (Game), Super Smash Bros. (Franchise), Nintendo GameCube (Platform)
▲
6
▼
The trophy representing Meowth in Super Smash Bros. Melee is a reference to his appearance in a tech demo shown off at Spaceworld 2000 called "Meowth's Party", which itself was based on a recurring ending musical number from the Pokémon anime. In his trophy he is holding the same red guitar that he performs with in the tech demo. The flavor text for his trophy even directly mentions this tech demo:
A version of Meowth's Party eventually made its way into the GameCube release of Pokémon Channel.
"This...is Meowth's dream. Meowth strides all over the globe, scattering invitations to other Pokémon, insisting they come to "Meowth's Party." At this wonderful party, guests are packed in like sardines as Meowth climbs up the stage with its faithful guitar. It strikes a chord, pauses, and then rocks their world!"
A version of Meowth's Party eventually made its way into the GameCube release of Pokémon Channel.
Spaceworld 2000 Meowth's Party tech demo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62O2vFfS_Ok?t=1387
Pokémon Channel Meowth's Party:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DcqH7Cl9MY
Meowth Trophy image:
https://www.ssbwiki.com/File:Meowth_Trophy_Melee.png
Original Pokémon anime short:
https://vimeo.com/267748188
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62O2vFfS_Ok?t=1387
Pokémon Channel Meowth's Party:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DcqH7Cl9MY
Meowth Trophy image:
https://www.ssbwiki.com/File:Meowth_Trophy_Melee.png
Original Pokémon anime short:
https://vimeo.com/267748188