Size discrepancies in the animated series

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Aside from giant Pokémon, many Pokémon in the Pokémon animated series suffer from large size discrepancies between the information given in the Pokémon games' Pokédex and their actual animated presentation. These Pokémon are apparently "normal-sized" as far as the animated series universe is concerned. Many of Ash's Pokémon are often subject to size discrepancies, often appearing smaller than other Pokémon of the same species.

This may be a style or aesthetic decision, a depiction of juvenile Pokémon, a case of the writers not checking the information in detail, or for story purposes.

Some of the most notable size discrepancies will be noted below. This list is distinct from giant Pokémon.

List of Pokémon with size discrepancies

Pokémon Animated series Note
Bulbasaur
Bulbasaur
2'04" (0.7 m)
Ash and Bulbasaur.png
Ash's Bulbasaur
In the animated series, it appears closer to 1'04" (0.4 m). This could be because the Pokédex's measurement of Bulbasaur includes its back bulb.
Venusaur
Venusaur
6'07" (2.0 m)
AG073 Venusaur and our heroes.png
Venusaur in Grass Hysteria!
Venusaur's height varies appreciably in Grass Hysteria!, reaching 9'00" on one occasion.
Charizard
Charizard
5'07" (1.7 m)
Ash and Charizard.png
Ash's Charizard
Calem Charizard Professor Sycamore PG.png
Calem's Charizard
Ash's Charizard is taller, at about 7'00" (2.13 m) tall. Oddly enough, it is shown in Charizard's Burning Ambitions that Ash's Charizard is rather small when compared with the Charizard living in Charicific Valley.

In Pokémon Generations however, Calem's Charizard is shorter than Professor Sycamore. This aligns more closely with its official height in the games.

Squirtle
Squirtle
1'08" (0.5 m)
May Silver Contest.png
May's Squirtle
May's Squirtle was shown to be unusually small, at about 1'00" (0.3 m). This may be due to Squirtle canonically being young in age.
Wartortle
Wartortle
3'03" (1.0 m)
EP106-Wartortle and Squirtle heights.png
Wartortle in The Pokémon Water War
Wartortle are generally shown to be less than their Pokédex height and slightly taller than Squirtle.
Blastoise
Blastoise
5'03" (1.6 m)
EP085.png
Cissy's Blastoise
In the animated series, they appear closer to 6'03" (1.9 m) tall. The one in Judgement Day! was nearly 7'02" tall.
Pidgeotto
Pidgeotto
3'07" (1.1 m)
Ash and Pidgeotto.png
Ash's Pidgeotto
In the series it appears to be only 2'04" (0.7 m).
Pidgeot
Pidgeot
4'11" (1.5 m)
Most Pidgeot were half as tall as their usual height in A Staravia is Born!.
Clefairy
Clefairy
2'00" (0.6 m)
EP158 Error.png
Whitney's Clefairy
In the animated series, Clefairy are shown to be roughly the same height as Pikachu, about 1'04" (0.4 m).
Wigglytuff
Wigglytuff
3'03" (1 m)
Harley Wigglytuff and Cacturne.png
Harley's Wigglytuff
Nurse Joy and Wigglytuff.png
Nurse Joy's Wigglytuff
Since their debut all of Nurse Joy's Wigglytuff are rather large, at about 4'03" (1.3 m), similarly to Chansey.
Golbat
Golbat
5'03" (1.6 m)
EP167 Misty Brock teams.png
Brock's Golbat
Brock's Golbat is about 3'06" tall. Its wingspan varies throughout the series, peaking at 8'00" in A Hot Water Battle.
Vileplume
Vileplume
3'11" (1.2 m)
Vileplume are shorter than their normal height in Grass Hysteria! and Hi Ho Silver Wind!.
Meowth
Meowth
1'04" (0.4 m)
Jessilina and Meowth.png
Meowth (anime)
In the animated series, they are seen to be roughly 2'07" (0.8 m).
Golduck
Golduck
5'07" (1.7 m)
Golduck size discrepancy anime.png
Golduck in The Fire-ing Squad!
In Like It or Lup It! when it was standing near Ludicolo, it was shown to be about 3'03" (1.0 m).
Machamp
Machamp
5'03" (1.6 m)
Expert stonecutter Machamp.png
Expert stonecutter's Machamp
In the animated series, Machamp are more commonly shown to be roughly 6'03" (1.9 m).
Weepinbell
Weepinbell
3'03" (1.0 m)
Forbidden Forest Sunflora Weepinbell Gloom.png
Weepinbell in Grass Hysteria!
In Grass Hysteria!, an aggressive Weepinbell is as short as Gloom and shorter than Sunflora. Later, many Weepinbell escaping from Team Rocket are as short as 1'03" (0.4 m).
Golem
Golem
4'07" (1.4 m)
They are often shown to be shorter, at about 3'04" (1.0 m).
Ponyta
Ponyta
3'03" (1.0 m)
Lara Laramie Ponyta.png
Lara Laramie's Ponyta
In The Flame Pokémon-athon! Ponyta was shown to be as tall as Lara which is more like size of Rapidash.
Rapidash
Rapidash
5'07" (1.7 m)
Lara Laramie Rapidash.png
Lara Laramie's Rapidash
Small Rapidash.png
Rapidash from Strategy Begins at Home!
In The Flame Pokémon-athon! Rapidash was shown to be much taller, almost twice its regular size.
Magnemite
Magnemite
1'00" (0.3 m)
Magnemite's size varies somewhat over time. Brock's temporary Magnemite in Camping It Up! is longer than usual Magnemite in the animated series.
Gastly
Gastly
4'03" (1.3 m)
PK15.png
Gastly from PK15
Gastly is often portrayed really small. This may be due to counting gas around its round body.
Haunter
Haunter
5'03" (1.6 m)
Sabrina and Haunter.png
Haunter (anime)
Haunter in the animated series is always portrayed half its size, smaller than Gengar.
Gengar
Gengar
4'11" (1.5 m)
Ash and Gengar.png
Ash's Gengar
Ash party JN.png
Ash's Gengar
Sometimes Gengar appears to be larger. Even Ash's Gengar's size is inconsistent.
Exeggutor
Exeggutor
6'07" (2 m)
They are usually seen as larger, at about 10'10" (3.3 m)
Rhyhorn
Rhyhorn
3'03" (1 m)
Ian XY007.png
Rhyhorn from Giving Chase at the Rhyhorn Race!
In the animated series, Rhyhorn are shown to be roughly 4'07" (1.4 m).
Rhydon
Rhydon
6'03 (1.9 m)
They are often shown to be a bit smaller, at about 5'05" (1.65m).
Tangela
Tangela
3'03" (1 m)
Tangela are often shorter, such as in Pokémon Scent-sation! and From Cradle to Save.
Goldeen
Goldeen
2'00" (0.6 m)
They are often shown to be larger, at like 3'10" (1.2 m)
Electabuzz
Electabuzz
3'07 (1.1 m)
They are often shown to be taller, at about 4'08" (1.40 m)
Snorlax
Snorlax
6'11" (2.1 m)
EP094.png
Ash's Snorlax
Snorlax in the animated series are shown to be much bigger, at about 9'06" (2.9 m).
Articuno
Articuno
5'07" (1.7 m)
Noland and Articuno.png
Noland's Articuno
In The Symbol Life, it appears to be closer to 6'07" (2.0 m).
Bayleef
Bayleef
3'11" (1.2 m)
In the animated series, they are shown to be roughly 4'3" (1.3 m)
Sentret
Sentret
2'7" (0.8 m)
Poké Puff Contest Sentret.png
Sentret from A Battle by Any Other Name!
Its size varies, sometimes measured when it's standing on its feet or on its tail.
Noctowl
Noctowl
5'03" (1.6 m)
Ash Noctowl size.png
Noctowl in Fowl Play!
Ornithol Noctowl.png
Ornithol's Noctowl

Noctowl is often half its supposed size. It appeared for the first time along with Ash's shiny Noctowl which is said to by slightly smaller. Later in the series it's portrayed much bigger, size of a human.

Ledian
Ledian
4'07" (1.4 m)
Benji father Ledian.png
Benji's Ledian
One Ledian was closer to 3'06" and the other was even shorter in Mountain Time.
Quagsire
Quagsire
4'07" (1.4 m)
Fire and Rescue Grand Prix Quagsire 1.png
Quagsire from The Fire-ing Squad!
The animated series depicts them much smaller, roughly 3'03" (1 m). The Quagsire shown in Sticking With Who You Know! was as tall as Brock.
Forretress
Forretress
3'11" (1.2 m)
Professor Oak Lecture AG029.png
Forretress from Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture
It is sometimes shown in the animated series to be 1'08" (0.5 m), including Brock's Forretress.
Dunsparce
Dunsparce
4'11" (1.5 m)
EP191.png
Dunsparce in The Dunsparce Deception
In Following a Maiden's Voyage!, they appear to be shorter than a Pidgey, which is 1'00" (0.3 m). However, this may also be due to the measurement being from head to tail instead, making the mistake slightly less drastic.
Ursaring
Ursaring
5'11" (1.8 m)
Caterpie emitting stench.png
Ursaring from Butterfree and Me!
In the animated series, Ursaring are often shown to be about 6'11" (2.1 m).
Skarmory
Skarmory
5'07" (1.7 m)
Professor Oak Lecture DP111.png
Skarmory in Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture
Skarmory is sometimes much larger.
Smeargle
Smeargle
3'11" (1.2 m)
Ilima Smeargle.png
Ilima's Smeargle
In The Art of Pokémon, it is shown to be 2'04" (0.7 m)
Blissey
Blissey
4'11" (1.5 m)
Poké Problem extra scene SM134.png
Nurse Joy's Blissey
Blissey was shown to be shorter, at roughly 4'3" (1.3 m).
Tyranitar
Tyranitar
6'07" (2.0 m)
AG006 Tyranitar height.png
Tyranitar in A Poached Ego!
Tyranitar are clearly more than 7'00 in most of their animated series appearances.
Grovyle
Grovyle
2'11" (0.9 m)
Battle Frontier - Ash's Lineup 1.png
Ash's Grovyle
Grovyle appear to be much larger, being almost as tall as Ash.
Combusken
Combusken
2'11" (0.9 m)
May Silver Contest.png
May's Combusken
Combusken appear to be much larger, being almost as tall as May. This can be explained by its measurement excluding the feathers on top of its head.
Lotad
Lotad
1'08" (0.5 m)
Brock's Lotad appears much smaller even when measured by length in Gone Corphishin. This, however, may have been done for comical purposes of its dish.
Whismur
Whismur
2'00" (0.6 m)
Matt Whismur.png
Matt's Whismur
Professor Oak Lecture DP167.png
Whismur in Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture
In A Poké-BLOCK Party!, a Whismur was around the size of 1'00" (0.3 m), and was notably not much larger than Max's head. A second Whismur appeared in Pinch Healing! and, while standing, came up to Max's neck.
Hariyama
Hariyama
7'07" (2.3 m)
Hariyama Surfing.png
Brawly's Hariyama
Brawly's Hariyama is extremely small for its species. In Brave The Wave!, it appears to only be around 4'11" (1.5 m).
Nosepass
Nosepass
3'03" (1.0 m)
AG016.png
Roxanne's Nosepass
In the episode Nosepass debuted in, Nosepass is far bigger than it is supposed to be, at about 5'06" (1.68 m) compared to the normal Nosepass.
Roselia
Roselia
1'00" (0.3 m)
Drew Roselia size.png
Drew's Roselia
Mr Shaw Roselia Sleep Powder.png
Mr. Shaw's Roselia
One of the more renowned changes in size is in Roselia, which are extremely small. However, the Roselia in the animated series come up to a 10-year old's waist. An estimate would put the animated series incarnation of them at about 3'00" (0.91 m) tall. This caused much confusion when Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon Adventures both featured the Pokémon at its actual smaller size.
Wailmer
Wailmer
6'07" (2.0 m)
Sophocles Kiawe Wailmer.png
Poké Ride Wailmer
Juan's Wailmer was about the same size as his Seadra in The Great Eight Fate!. The one in Leading a Stray! was shown to be more than twice the size of Ash.
Numel
Numel
2'04" (0.7 m)
AG053.png
Numel from Game Winning Assist
In Game Winning Assist, Numel is far larger, approximately as tall as Ash and May.
Torkoal
Torkoal
1'08" (0.5 m)
Ash and Torkoal.png
Ash's Torkoal
Ash's Torkoal was shown to be much larger, at roughly 2'07" (0.8 m).
Grumpig
Grumpig
2'11" (0.9 m)
Professor Oak Holo Caster XY092.png
Grumpig form Professor Oak's Pokémon Holo Caster
In An Oasis of Hope!, it is shown to be almost twice Wobbuffet's height of 4'03" (1.3 m), and around Jessie and James's height.
Corphish
Corphish
2'00" (0.6 m)
When eating Pokéblocks in Berry Berry Interesting, Ash's Corphish was as tall as Max.
Cradily
Cradily
4'11" (1.5 m)
Armaldo
Armaldo
4'11" (1.5 m)
Byron Armaldo Cradily.png
Byron's Cradily and Armaldo
Both appeared to be closer to 7'5" in Byron's Gym in Dealing With Defensive Types!.
Snorunt
Snorunt
2'04" (0.7 m)
Snorunt captured by TR.png
Ash's Snorunt
Ash's Snorunt appears much smaller when locked inside a box by Team Rocket. The same discrepancy occurs in Mean with Envy.
Glalie
Glalie
4'11" (1.5 m)
Ash and Glalie.png
Ash's Glalie
Ash's Glalie is extremely small compared to others of its species, appearing to be closer to 2'00" (0.6 m).
Clamperl
Clamperl
'1'04" (0.4 m)
In the animated series, Clamperl are often shown to be a little bit smaller, like 0'10" (0.25 m).
Salamence
Salamence
4'11" (1.5 m)
J Salamence debut.png
J's Salamence
J's Salamence was much taller, at about 9', as shown in Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! (Part 1).
Metagross
Metagross
5'03" (1.6 m)
Tyson Metagross.png
Tyson's Metagross
Tyson's seems shorter than this in Choose It or Lose It!, at 2'11" (0.9 m). Another Metagross appeared in Noodles! Roamin' Off! and shown to be taller even than James, about 6'03" (1.9 m).
Groudon
Groudon
11'06" (3.5 m)
Groudon Drought.png
Groudon in Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire
Just Groudon's face was five times as tall as Ash's Pikachu in The Scuffle of Legends. That makes its total height exceed 20'.
Staravia
Staravia
2'00" (0.6 m)
Ash Dawn Triple Battle.png
Ash's Staravia
Ash's Staravia was shown to be much taller, roughly 2'11" (0.9 m).
Staraptor
Staraptor
3'11" (1.2 m)
Ash Squallville PokéRinger.png
Ash's Staraptor
Ash's Staraptor is shown to be much taller than Ash, at about 5'03" (1.6 m).
Buizel
Buizel
2'04" (0.7 m)
Ash and Buizel.png
Ash's Buizel
Ash's Buizel is shown to be a lot taller than that, about 3'03" (1 m).
Honchkrow
Honchkrow
2'11" (0.9 m)
Professor Oak Lecture DP178.png
Honchkrow fom Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture
Paul's Honchkrow was shown to be much larger, at roughly 3'11" (1.2 m). Honchkrow from Professor Oak's Lecture is even bigger.
Happiny
Happiny
2'00" (0.6 m)
Brock and Happiny.png
Brock's Happiny
Brock's Happiny was much smaller, at about 1'00" (0.3 m). This may be due to her hair being counted and making her taller.
Munchlax
Munchlax
2'00" (0.6 m)
Max Munchlax.png
May's Munchlax
May's Munchlax was shown to be much taller, almost as tall as Max.
Drapion
Drapion
4'03" (1.3 m)
J and Ash.png
J's Drapion
In the animated series, they are about twice that height, at about 8'06" (2.6 m).
Electivire
Electivire
5'11" (1.8 m)
Revengers.png
Mr Electric's Electivire
In the animated series, they are closer to 6'11" (2.1 m).
Togekiss
Togekiss
4'11" (1.5 m)
Dawn and Togekiss.png
Dawn's Togekiss
Dawn's Togekiss, in her episode debut, was shown to be slightly taller than Dawn. In all episodes since, she has been shown to approach close to her hip.
Gliscor
Gliscor
6'07" (2.0 m)
Ash Pokémon injured.png
Ash's Gliscor
Ash and Gliscor.png
Ash's Gliscor
Ash's Gliscor in A Breed Stampede! is shown to be half that height, around 3'03" (1.0 m). This could be because the Pokédex measures Gliscor with its tail included.
Dialga
Dialga
17'09" (5.4 m)
Palkia
Palkia
13'09" (4.2 m)
DP152-Dialga and Palkia.png
Dialga and Palkia in The Battle Finale of Legend!
Dialga and Palkia were more than 25' in The Battle Finale of Legend! and The Rise of Darkrai.
Regigigas
Regigigas
12'02" (3.7 m)
Regigigas Hammer Arm.png
Regigigas from Pillars of Friendship!
The awakened Regigigas in Pillars of Friendship was more than 20' tall when it revived the immobilized Titans.
Emboar
Emboar
5'03" (1.6 m)
Bianca and Emboar.png
Bianca's Emboar
Bianca's Emboar is shown to stand several heads above her, making it appear closer to 7'02" (2.18 m).
Galvantula
Galvantula
2'07" (0.8 m)
Galvantula appeared closer to 4'0" in Emolga the Irresistible!.
Beartic
Beartic
8'06" (2.6 m)
BW078.png
Brycen's Beartic
In the animated series, Beartic are smaller, at about 6'07" (2 m). This is difficult to tell in the picture due to Brycen standing on his toes and Beartic's hunched, bow-legged stance
Braixen
Braixen
3'03" (1 m)
Serena and Braixen.png
Serena's Braixen
Serena's Braixen is shown to be much larger, almost as tall as Serena.
Froakie
Froakie
1'00" (0.3 m)
Ash and Froakie.png
Ash's Froakie
Ash's Froakie was roughly 1'08" (0.5 m).
Fletchling
Fletchling
1'00" (0.3 m)
Grace anime.png
Grace's Fletchling
Grace's Fletchling is shown to be far smaller, at about 0'04" (0.1 m).
Tyrunt
Tyrunt
2'07" (0.8 m)
Professor Oak Holo Caster XY056.png
Tyrunt from Professor Oak's Pokémon Holo Caster
In the animated series, Tyrunt are depicted as being far larger than Pikachu, a species that according to the game is 1'04" (0.4 m). Tyrunt are shown in the animated series to be roughly 4'03" (1.3 m).
Brionne
Brionne
2'00" (0.6 m)
None.png In the animated series, a Brionne was shown to be significantly larger, like 3'07" (1.1 m).
Pawmi
Pawmi
1'00" (0.3 m).
None.png In the animated series, Pawmi is considerably larger, at about 1'04" (0.4 m).
Wattrel
Wattrel
1'04" (0.4 m)
Wattrel size difference.png
Roy's Wattrel
In the animated series, Roy's Wattrel was shown to be significantly smaller than the ones around it's flock.

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