Current Events > Real animals in the Pokemon World

(+) Yeah! (+)

Here's a literal dog passing by the gang

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/0/0/3/AAeU_AAADM1b.jpg

Here's Ash dressed as a cow

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/7/8/AAfOu0AAEwqG.jpg

Here's Gastly pretending to be a fucking mongoose to scare away Ekans

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/7/9/AAfOu0AAEwqH.jpg

Here's Weepinbell with a bird chilling on it

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/2/2/4/AAax2DAADwSg.jpg

Here's Pidgey eating a worm

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/8/1/AAfOu0AAEwqJ.jpg

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/2/5/0/AATkN3AADwDS.jpg

Here's butterflies flying around Eevee

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/8/2/AAfOu0AAEwqK.jpg

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/8/3/AANKsdAAEwqL.jpg

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/8/4/AAfOu0AAEwqM.jpg

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/8/5/AAfOu0AAEwqN.jpg

Imagine if Ash had to fight a kid with a pitbull and a silverback gorilla

Here's concept art for the anime that shows a cat next to Ash

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/8/7/AAfOu0AAEwqP.jpg

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/9/1/AAfOu0AAEwqT.jpg

A crab next to Exeggutor

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/9/5/AAfOu0AAEwqX.jpg

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/9/7/AAfOu0AAEwqZ.jpg

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/9/9/AAfOu0AAEwqb.jpg

We got stuff in the early pokedex that mention real animals like Riachu is able to knock out an Indian Elephant

yes real animals exist, that one guy who keeps posting that quote from ages ago needs to learn how to read.

What's the difference between getting attacked by a poison Pokemon vs getting stung by something like a scorpion or a rattlesnake?

firedoom666 posted...

We got stuff in the early pokedex that mention real animals like Riachu is able to knock out an Indian Elephant

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/0/0/AAfOu0AAEwqc.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/0/1/AAfOu0AAEwqd.jpg

Now it's retconned to Copperajah, which is admittedly a nice touch >_>

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/0/2/AAfOu0AAEwqe.jpg

firedoom666 posted...

We got stuff in the early pokedex that mention real animals like Riachu is able to knock out an Indian Elephant

That one got retconned when we finally got an Indian Elephant Pokemon...

"It can discharge bursts of electricity exceeding 100,000 voltsa single strike with that amount of power would incapacitate one of the Copperajah of my homeland"

Edit: Damn, TC beat me to it...

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/0/3/AAfOu0AAEwqf.jpg

Butterflies by Slowpoke

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/0/6/AAfOu0AAEwqi.jpg

A_Good_Boy posted...

What's the difference between getting attacked by a poison Pokemon vs getting stung by something like a scorpion or a rattlesnake?

You super die if you're stung by a Beedrill, that's for sure >_>

I was expecting to see Sugimori cards. Looks like the other artists were greater offenders.

They never existed. Reading various early sources make this pretty apparent with The Pokemon Company even going as far as saying that Pokemon replace real animals.
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/3/1/AARO5TAAEwq7.jpg

Early on the control over the franchise wasn't as strong as it is today. The late Takeshi Shudo, original headwriter of the anime, mentions that any apperance of any real life animal was a mistake from the animation team. Instead Shudo introduces Pokemon as a group of animals made up of various creatures including plant-like, mineral-like, and object-like creatures. In his blog he states that the anime staff decided to conceptualize the relationship between humans and pokemon as that of people and real animals which made up the framework of Shudo's nature vs humanity concept he has for the series. We even see glimpses of this in Satoshi Tajiri's biography where he not only thinks of Pokemon as pets in the vain of cats and dogs but he also thinks of them in animal terms. The series draws on Tajiri's exploration of nature and interaction with animals which is projected unto the pokemon thus, just as the guide says, take on that role and real animals have no reason to exist.

Piplup_Sniper posted...

They never existed. Reading various early sources make this pretty apparent with The Pokemon Company even going as far as saying that Pokemon replace real animals.
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/3/1/AARO5TAAEwq7.jpg

Early on the control over the franchise wasn't as strong as it is today. The late Takeshi Shudo, original headwriter of the anime, mentions that any apperance of any real life animal was a mistake from the animation team. Instead Shudo introduces Pokemon as a group of animals made up of various creatures including plant-like, mineral-like, and object-like creatures. In his blog he states that the anime staff decided to conceptualize the relationship between humans and pokemon as that of people and real animals which made up the framework of Shudo's nature vs humanity concept he has for the series. We even see glimpses of this in Satoshi Tajiri's biography where he not only thinks of Pokemon as pets in the vain of cats and dogs but he also thinks of them in animal terms. The series draws on Tajiri's exploration of nature and interaction with animals which is projected unto the pokemon thus, just as the guide says, take on that role and real animals have no reason to exist.

and here we go. things are still referred to as "cat" or "dog" pokemon, and the fact that they're called "pokemon" and not "animals" is a dead give away, but sure.

Pocket monsters

DKBananaSlamma posted...

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/8/4/AAfOu0AAEwqM.jpg

that's just a really ugly Remoraid

DKBananaSlamma posted...

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/0/3/AAfOu0AAEwqf.jpg

Is that bucket a Pokmon?

most of this is old they dont do this anymore i mean they have over 1000 of em now

I don't know what to believe anymore.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/7/9/3/AAdlC_AAESHp.jpg

cjsdowg posted...

Is that bucket a Pokmon?

its a mimikyu

DKBananaSlamma posted...

Here's a literal dog passing by the gang

That's not a dog, it's Barklet. It's normal type.

DKBananaSlamma posted...

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/0/0/AAfOu0AAEwqc.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/0/1/AAfOu0AAEwqd.jpg

Now it's retconned to Copperajah, which is admittedly a nice touch >_>

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/0/2/AAfOu0AAEwqe.jpg

Indian elephant us better

There a rumor that the next legend mew games that take place in south America into something else.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Those guides are product guides for 3rd parties. Basically the Pokemon company introducing the franchise and setting down guidelines to follow in order for their product to get approved. I think it's quiet telling that they have a specific section about that plus the language used.

Kimbos_Egg posted...

and here we go. things are still referred to as "cat" or "dog" pokemon, and the fact that they're called "pokemon" and not "animals" is a dead give away, but sure.

Cats and dogs exist as a concept in the pokemonuniverse but instead of real dogs it's pokemon like boltund and such. The existence of those labels doesn't mean that real dogs and cats exist in universe but rather that in-universe those labels exist to describe certain pokemon.

And while they don't use the term "animal" it's pretty clear that pokemon occupy that function given their status in-universe and even to how people treat them which is why Shudo spoke of pokemon as animals and how they decided to conceptualize them. The guide even says as much because they straight up say that Pokemon replace real animals. I find the usage of the term "real animal" interesting here. To put in perspective it's like encounting alien life and they have animal life much different than earth's but they occupy the same function as life here.

Yes, they have Homo sapiens.

Piplup_Sniper posted...

Those guides are product guides for 3rd parties. Basically the Pokemon company introducing the franchise and setting down guidelines to follow in order for their product to get approved. I think it's quiet telling that they have a specific section about that plus the language used.

Cats and dogs exist as a concept in the pokemonuniverse but instead of real dogs it's pokemon like boltund and such. The existence of those labels doesn't mean that real dogs and cats exist in universe but rather that in-universe those labels exist to describe certain pokemon.

And while they don't use the term "animal" it's pretty clear that pokemon occupy that function given their status in-universe and even to how people treat them which is why Shudo spoke of pokemon as animals and how they decided to conceptualize them. The guide even says as much because they straight up say that Pokemon replace real animals. I find the usage of the term "real animal" interesting here. To put in perspective it's like encounting alien life and they have animal life much different than earth's but they occupy the same function as life here.

Yeah, I think its meant to be one of those acceptable breaks from reality were expected to accept. Theyre also probably not speaking English in Star Wars - which raises the question of where they got the word laser - and characters with, for example, Scottish accents obviously dont come from Scotland.

Turbam posted...

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/8/3/AANKsdAAEwqL.jpg

The world where entire ocean filled with only tentacool and magikarps felt depressing af.

If animals don't exist then are all the meat based foods in the games actually pokemon? Cuz if so that's pretty fucked.

Like I'm pretty sure I can make ham sandwiches in the last pokemon game

Smashingpmkns posted...

If animals don't exist then are all the meat based foods in the games actually pokemon? Cuz if so that's pretty fucked.

Like I'm pretty sure I can make ham sandwiches in the last pokemon game

Yes. Some Dex entries mention eating Pokmon. The classic example is Slowpoke Tail. Taking the tail doesn't kill Slowpoke but you're still eating Slowpoke meat.

DKBananaSlamma posted...

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/0/0/AAfOu0AAEwqc.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/0/1/AAfOu0AAEwqd.jpg

Now it's retconned to Copperajah, which is admittedly a nice touch >_>

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/0/2/AAfOu0AAEwqe.jpg

They planned on adding an elephant pokemon in gen 1, but ran out of cartridge space or time. The dex entry is just a byproduct of the late change.

ChocoboMogALT posted...

They planned on adding an elephant pokemon in gen 1, but ran out of cartridge space or time. The dex entry is just a byproduct of the late change.

Where did you hear that?

Piplup_Sniper posted...

They never existed. Reading various early sources make this pretty apparent with The Pokemon Company even going as far as saying that Pokemon replace real animals.

"Real" animals are just pokemon that aren't numbered yet.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

The guide isn't very old, it's from 2013 and many other unleaked product guides have been made for each generations. It was written up by TPC, you know the guys that control every facet of the franchise, and serves as a guide to educate, meaning this are statements directly from them, and set down rules as how they want 3rd parties to handle their franchise. The film makers of detective pikachu worked directly with them, and they mention they were very strict on how pokemon should be portrayed.

I also draw from earlier sources from the 90s and Takeshi Shudo's blog to show it's something that's been planned since the infancy of this series. If you want a recent source there's also Tajiri's biography released in 2018 but was only fully translated this year which gives additional context to my points from the mouth of the man behind this franchise. I don't think I'm wrong to provide context on why pokemon works the way it does especially since last gen they released new pokemon snap which treats pokemon as magical wild life and the whole game as a safari tour. Even this gen they decided to make pokemon act like domesticated pets with their actions, it's all a very deliberate image which is openly admitted by the same people who run this series.