Pokemon Fan and Artist Uses Polymer Clay to Make Realistic Versions of Diglett and Dugtrio

A talented Pokemon fan online has used polymer clay to create incredibly realistic versions of both Diglett and Dugtrio. These awesome creations allow Pokemon fans to see two classic Generation 1 designs in a brand-new light, featuring tons of great details.

One of the coolest things about the Pokemon community is how fans use their unique talents to pay tribute to the series. Artists come in many forms, and in the three decades since the franchise first emerged, fans have been very keen to share their artwork, in whatever form it takes. A great example recently was another Pokemon fan who created red envelopes featuring horse-themed designs to pay tribute to the Lunar New Year and Year of the Horse. It’s a testament to the franchise’s longevity that fans are still finding new ways to remain creative with the different Pokemon designs, and remain so excited to display their tributes to others.

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This is What Diglett and Dugtrio Look Like as Realistic Clay Figures

Redditor Mpickardart recently shared their realistic versions of the iconic Generation 1 Pokemon, Diglett and Dugtrio. They have been recreated in polymer clay and given tons of detail that isn’t present in the in-game and anime designs. Unsurprisingly, both Diglett and Dugtrio look just like a mole, and it’s fun to see how they look with their realistic heads sticking out of the rock formations around them. According to Mpickardart, the main change to the design silhouette “comes from giving them more pronounced snouts, which would aid them in navigating subterranean burrows.” It’s quite interesting to see how, when creating realistic versions of these Pokemon, the user has considered real-world utility for the design.

Who’s That Character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Who’s That Character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)

Realistic redesigns of Pokemon will often venture into the uncanny valley. After all, they are designed to be stylized, so translating that to real life is a very difficult task for any artist. Mpickardart has done a good job at avoiding that issue with Diglett and Dugtrio, and both are fully believable as real animals. One user in the thread praised how the artist balanced realism while “still maintaining a cute, exaggerated feel,” while multiple fans asked about the possibility of creating the Alolan form Dugtrio, complete with blonde wigs. The realistic versions of Diglett and Dugtrio are part of a long-term project by the artist to create all original 151 Pokemon using polymer clay, and a look through their profile reveals they’ve already done a few more iconic designs, such as Raichu and Meowth. It’s a very cool idea, one that will always be exciting for fans to see come to fruition.

Because Diglett and Dugtrio are both Generation 1 Pokemon, they are extremely popular choices when it comes to Pokemon fan creations. This is true of many older Pokemon designs. After all, fans have had nearly 30 years to become familiar with these Pokemon, whereas newer designs simply can’t boast the same longevity. The classics will always be iconic, and it’s difficult to imagine them ever falling out of favor with fans for projects like this.

Back in the realm of the games, 2026 is shaping up to be a big year for Pokemon. The franchise is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and The Pokemon Company isn’t about to let such a milestone pass without big plans. It has been over three years now since the release of Gen 9, and rumors of Generation 10 continue to swirl, but nothing is confirmed at this point. However, Pokemon Pokopia is set to release next month, as the franchise puts its own spin on the life-sim genre. On top of this, The Pokemon Company recently revealed that Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen are heading to the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 later this month, so fans have a lot to look forward to in the near future.