A Pokemon fan has shared an impressive recreation of the Pokemon X and Y starters in the style of the original Pokemon games’ artwork. The creation includes both pixel versions of the Pokemon as they might have appeared in Pokemon Red and Blue, as well as the concept art in watercolor style.
Pokemon has changed a lot over the course of the franchise, and that includes the art style. Several artists have worked on Pokemon since its start, leading to changes in how the artwork and actual Pokemon look. While plenty of newer Pokemon are loved, many fans are nostalgic for the older style of artwork.
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Pokemon Fan Shares Gen 1 Stylized Versions of Fennekin, Froakie, and Chespin
On Reddit, user octoberoclock shared their rendition of the starters from Pokemon X and Y as they might appear if they had been a part of Pokemon Red and Blue. Though Fennekin, Froakie, and Chespin are immediately recognizable, they’ve also undergone some significant changes to the way they’re illustrated. All three Pokemon appear more realistic, with more natural proportions. Chespin has a bulkier body and large black eyes, and the spikes on its head are more pronounced and look less like it’s wearing a hood. It also bears a resemblance to Sandslash. Fennekin’s ears have considerably shrunken, its body is in better proportion to its head, and its coloring has shifted to more muted browns and reds, and it has a steely expression. Last is Froakie, which now more closely resembles an actual frog, with a wider face and body, dark eyes, and no bubbles on its nose.
Pokemon fans have been enthusiastic about both the watercolor designs and the pixel representations of the Pokemon, resulting in the post earning over 10,000 upvotes. Several have mentioned how much they miss the art style of the original Pokemon artist, Ken Sugimori, while others have expressed that they would have liked the starters of Pokemon X and Y better if they had looked more like these representations. The in-game pixel art versions were also popular, but more than one Pokemon fan stated that they look “too good” for Gen 1, and look more like the pixel renditions seen in Gen 2, Pokemon Gold and Silver. Pokemon Red and Blue (especially the original Japanese versions of the games) often have strong differences between the pixel renditions and the concept art of the Pokemon, with some fans calling the original Game Boy designs “derpy,” among other things.
The outspoken Pokemon fans in the comments aren’t alone in their thoughts about missing the original art style, nor the more grounded concepts for the Pokemon themselves. Numerous artists have tried their hand at recreating Pokemon from later generations in the early Gen styles, including the OP, octoberoclock. The same artist previously shared Ken Sugimori-styled versions of Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly, as well as artwork of the mysterious Mimikyu. Pokemon fans were similarly enthusiastic about those designs.
Of course, not everyone wants to go back to the way that the Pokemon games used to be. Some refer to those who are overly enthusiastic about the Pokemon series’ roots as “Genwunners.” Still, even those who aren’t necessarily sold on the Gen 1 art style often share criticism of the series’ tendency in recent releases to turn starter Pokemon into bipedal creatures as they evolve. With mere months left until the original games Pokemon Red and Green turn 30 years old, there’s no real to satisfy every fan who has ever enjoyed a Pokemon game. Given the franchise’s ongoing popularity, though, it seems that most are pretty happy with its artistic direction.
