List of unused Pokémon and character designs: Difference between revisions

Nothing is known about Gorillaimo. Its hat could be a reference to the character Ninten from the Ape Inc. game, Mother. It also resembles the Nintendo character Donkey Kong. Gorillaimo could also be based on King Kong. Later generations have introduced many ape-based Pokémon.

It has short arms, a long tail, two horns on the back of its head, and draconic wings. It bears some resemblance to an early version of Scyther,^[2] as well as Charizard.

Main article: Gengar (Pokémon)

Main article: Nidorino (Pokémon)

An early version of Gengar and a creature with traits of Nidorino, Gyarados, and Feraligatr.

Main article: Ivysaur (Pokémon)

This early design shows Ivysaur, identified by its index number, with a blossomed flower on its back.

Main article: Blastoise (Pokémon)

Main article: Staryu (Pokémon)

In this early depiction of a battle, Blastoise is shown without its signature water cannons. Originally, this picture was captioned "Karabajio VS. Mimii", which are not the names of any known Pokémon. Karabajio may be a reference to the Italian painter Caravaggio, which in turn may reference how the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are named after Italian artists. It also may include "carapace".

Main article: Weedle (Pokémon)

An early version of Weedle. This was one of several Pokémon sprites shown on GAME FREAK's official Japanese website circa 1997.

Main article: Kakuna (Pokémon)

The "arms" on Kakuna seen in its Red and Blue sprite are commonly mistaken to be a sprite error, as they are rarely shown in any other media. They have, so far, only been shown on its Red and Blue sprite and one of the Pocket Monsters Carddass Trading Cards. In most depictions since, Kakuna's arms are always tucked up against its belly, apparently unable to move.

Main article: Spearow (Pokémon)

This early version of Spearow, identified by its index number, was revealed on a sprite sheet for Pokémon Red and Green. Its design is different, with traits similar to both Farfetch'd and its final version.

Main article: Pikachu (Pokémon)

In an interview with Japanese newspaper Yomiuri on May 2, 2018, Pikachu's original illustrator, Atsuko Nishida, revealed the Pokémon's initial prototype resembled a daifuku (a round dessert) with ears.^[4][5][8] Its design basis changed to a squirrel to make it cuter overall, although the black tips on its ears are remnants of the initial concept.

Main article: Clefairy (Pokémon)

An early design for Clefairy, identified by its index number, that was shown on a sprite sheet for Pokemon Red and Green. Its round body is similar to its final design, although there are many differences, such as its horns and extremely enlarged eyes.

Main article: Poliwag (Pokémon)

An early version of Poliwag. This was one of several Pokémon sprites shown on GAME FREAK's official Japanese website circa 1997.

Main article: Seel (Pokémon)

A very early design for Seel, revealed in the 2018 educational manga "Satoshi Tajiri: The Man Who Created Pokémon". It was again part of the Popularity Poll entry sheets shown in the manga on a board. Although it does not resemble its final design, its name in Japanese, Pauwau (パウワウ'), is identical.

Main article: Lapras (Pokémon)

This early version of Lapras is recognizably similar, but visually quite different. Lapras's curly ears are not present, and the underbelly coloration ends under the lower jaw instead of including it. There are also no visible appendages or tail, but that may be due to the water. However, it bears a striking resemblance to its Generation I back sprite. Also in the sketch is an early design of Red.

Main article: Dragonair (Pokémon)

An early version of Dragonair. This was one of several Pokémon sprites shown on GAME FREAK's official Japanese website circa 1997.

Main article: Chikorita (Pokémon)

The Spaceworld 1997 demo showed that Chikorita's pre-release name was Happa (Japanese: ハッパ). Happa was previously mistakenly thought to be a prototype of Chikorita.

Main article: Bayleef (Pokémon)

Main article: Ampharos (Pokémon)

An early sprite of Ampharos from when the Gold and Silver were in development for the original Game Boy, as shown by its two-tone color palette. Ampharos is shown with a shorter neck and it only has two rings around its neck instead of three.

Main article: Bellossom (Pokémon)

Both the artwork of Bellossom used until Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen and its Gold and Silver sprite show that it was originally to be a similar color to its other evolutionary relatives. This might have been changed to avoid another racial controversy, as the original Bellossom design appears similar to traditional Polynesian dress.

Main article: Marill (Pokémon)

Main article: Hoppip (Pokémon)

Main article: Girafarig (Pokémon)

Main article: Tyranitar (Pokémon)

This potential early version of Tyranitar is nearly identical to the design seen in the finalized Gold and Silver versions. It was at the time an original design shown alongside two other original designs (as seen above) on the cover of Volume 14 of MicroDesign Publishing's Bimonthly Game Review magazine.^[7]

It has very few differences compared to the final version. Of these differences, the early Tyranitar design is more heavy-set, has a tan, rather than indigo belly, arms more reminiscent of Nidoking, and dozens of short spikes upon its back rather than a few long ones.

Main article: Treecko (Pokémon)

Concept art of Treecko shows numerous designs for the creature before the final one was decided. Many of these early sketches more closely resemble real geckos than the final product, which would later gain a more elongated head shape and a rounder nose.

Main article: Torchic (Pokémon)

This early version of Torchic shows its lower body covered by an eggshell, with the fluff going all around its neck and wing-shaped ears. The other early design is nearly identical to the current Torchic, aside from the large floppy ears, and a flame-shaped marking on the back of its head, rather than the final design's flame-shaped feathers on top of its head.

Main article: Blaziken (Pokémon)

Main article: Latias (Pokémon)

Sometimes referred to as Latiken or Latiaziken by fans, this early image from Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire depicts a creature with traits of both Latias and Blaziken. In appearance, it more closely resembles Blaziken, but some features are more similar to Latias, such as its size. Some features resemble neither Pokémon, such as the hands.

Main article: Groudon (Pokémon)

In its early design, its eyes were shaped differently, the positioning of the spikes on its body was slightly different, its overall shapes are much less sharp, its head details became much more elongated in the final version, and the Super-Ancient Pokemon's signature body patterns are not present.

Main article: Combee (Pokémon)

The original design for Combee featured three larvae, instead of honey bees, wedged inside a honeycomb. Ken Sugimori noted that while the concept sounded "gross", it is nonetheless a distinctive and attention-grabbing idea, so the team decided to keep the design and tweak it slightly. In particular, Combee's three faces were simplified, based on simple faces found in old comic books, to make its overall appearance friendlier.^[9]

Main article: Shellos (Pokémon)

Main article: Gastrodon (Pokémon)

Prototype back sprites of Shellos and Gastrodon found in the release versions of Diamond and Pearl show another form for each. These forms are possibly leftovers from when Shellos and Gastrodon were planned to be in Generation III. Shellos's sprite is pink, like its West Sea form, and seems to combine the West Sea form's head with the East Sea form's body. Gastrodon's sprite is brown and looks like its West Sea form, but with more rock-like protrusions on its body.

Main article: Excadrill (Pokémon)

In Excadrill's first appearance in a promotional video, its body was violet and its markings were mirrored and a different shade of red. However, it was changed to its current appearance in the next video it appeared in.

Main article: Throh (Pokémon)

Main article: Sawk (Pokémon)

According to interviews with Ken Sugimori in Nintendo Dream, during development, Sawk and Throh both had horns to look more like oni. However, these were replaced with eyebrows so as not to clash with Tornadus and Thundurus, who were originally designed to be red and blue, like Throh and Sawk.^[10]

Main article: Sawsbuck (Pokémon)

An early version of Sawsbuck. Concept art of it, dated January 19, 2009, was exhibited during a festival at Meiji University from October 31 to November 1, 2010.^[11] As noted in the concept art, Nekkoyagi (Japanese: ねっこやぎ) is a Grass/Ground-type, and has a pelt made out of roots. Its name is likely a combination of 根っ子 nekko (root) and やぎ yagi (goat). In an interview, it was said that Sawsbuck was created before the idea of seasons.^[12]

Additionally, it is possible that some aspects of Nekkoyagi's design, such as its apparent goat inspiration and root pelt, were reworked as Gogoat.

Main article: Stunfisk (Pokémon)

Stunfisk's design was originally based on a goosefish, but eventually became more like a flounder. It was also a Water/Electric-type, but was changed to Ground/Electric to balance out the type spread of Pokémon.^[12]

Main article: Hydreigon (Pokémon)

Hydreigon's evolutionary line was originally designed with a tank motif, with the tread-like markings on Zweilous and Hydreigon being remnants of this design. The initial designs were scrapped after the designers felt that it didn't work. Later, a powerful, three stage Dragon-type evolution was needed and the design was brought back and revised.^[10]

Hydreigon's design was based on the eight-headed Yamata no Orochi, although it is designed with fewer heads to appear less off-putting.^[10]

Main article: Tornadus (Pokémon)

Main article: Thundurus (Pokémon)

Initially, Tornadus and Thundurus were designed as red and blue demons. However, the designers felt that the colors made them too similar to Sawk and Throh, so the horns of Sawk and Throh were replaced with eyebrows.^[10]

Revamped and enlarged versions of Mendel Palace's sumo sprites also appear in Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald as unused overworld sprites.

This art of an unnamed female character (with Squirtle) was featured on the cover artwork for the official strategy guide for Red and Green, as published by Shogakukan. Sugimori had stated that he wanted to portray a trio of Trainers facing against each other, hence created the female character for the cover.^[13] When Red and Green were being developed for a remake, Sugimori took the unnamed female character into consideration as he was designing the female player character, who later became known as Leaf.^[14]

A character named Green later appeared in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, whose design appears to have taken inspiration from both the unnamed female character and the female player character of FireRed and LeafGreen.

The unnamed female character also appeared several times in manga-styled instructions illustrated by Emiko Yoshino included in Pokémon papercraft sets (bottom).

In the Pokémon Adventures manga, a similar artwork appeared at the end of Volume 3 (right). The design of the character Green seems to have drawn inspiration from this unknown female character. After the release of FireRed and LeafGreen, Green donned the same outfit as the female player character in the fifth chapter of the manga.

There is an unused Trainer seen riding Latiken in early concept art. It is difficult to tell whether she was intended to be a playable character, rival, or supporting character. This character has a strong resemblance to an unnamed character shown riding Latios in official artwork.