The Pokemon franchise has seen a lot of different takes on the monsters and their roles in its fictional world. It’s allowed players to become a Pokemon in the Mystery Dungeon series and looked at how Team Plasma in Pokemon Black and White questioned the ethical nature of capturing the monsters. Whatever angle of the nature of Pokemon is being explored, many of the same Pokemon can be found from game to game, with Pokemon Sword and Shield being the notable exceptions as main games without all current monsters.
With as many Pokemon as there are now (over 800), it’s interesting to look at how many different inspirations have been used for the creatures over the years. The pool for ideas for Pokemon look, moveset, and lore has been extensive since Generation 1, and several hundred Pokemon later, the designers are still creating new and unique designs.
Many Pokemon are based on real-world animals, like birds, one such animal being referred to as “man’s best friend,” similar to how Pokemon are described in-game as being companions to humans. Dogs have hunted, fought, and competed alongside humans for a long time, in addition to just being good playmates and friends. Here are some of the most interesting dog-inspired Pokemon, as well as some of the lore behind their design choices and Pokedex entries.
This Unovan evolutionary line is a set of Normal-type Pokemon clearly inspired by modern dogs, particularly the Yorkshire Terrier. Herdier also shares some visual features from Scottish Terriers and Malteses when one looks at its long mustache-like fur. Lillipup’s Japanese name is even Yorterrie, which sounds a lot like “Yorkie Terrier.” Lillipup shows up on the first three routes in Unova, meaning that players can catch one almost immediately in Black and White, making them the first catch for many players in the game.
Like some other dog-inspired Pokemon, this line is referred to as highly loyal, but only to trainers who win its respect. Stoutland is also credited for rescuing people lost in the snow, and is reportedly able to withstand extreme snowy temperatures with its thick coat. Pokemon Sword and Shield made this Pokemon available with its Isle of Armor DLC, and Stoutland’s tendency to be a snow rescue dog makes it thematically appropriate for the chilly Crown Tundra DLC.
Pokemon X and Y brought new innovations to the series like raid battles and Mega Evolution, as well as a whole host of new Pokemon, Furfrou among them. Furfrou’s most obvious source of inspiration is a poodle, and though it’s disputed whether poodles originated in France, their grooming and nature fit in well with Kalos’ French aesthetic. The second part of its name comes from the English phrase “frou-frou,” meaning overly elaborate, which in turn comes from a French word referring to the rustling of fabric.
Furfrou’s Japanese name, Trimmien, is similar to “chien,” the French word for dog. “Trim” is also a clear influence in the Japanese name, which fits with how it can get one of nine different forms when its fur is styled. Some of those styles clearly reference France again, like La Reine (French for the “The Queen”), Debutante (a French word for a high-class woman entering society), and Dandy (a man very interested in personal grooming and refinement, partially inspired by French fashion). Furfrou is clearly one of the most French-inspired elements of Pokemon X and Y.
These Pokemon are based more on mythical hounds than real-life dogs, like the Greek Underworld guardian Cerberus, hellhounds, and the spectral black dog from British mythology. Their Dark and Fire types are very fitting given these inspirations, as it is associated with doom and the flames of the Underworld.
Some of the Pokedex entries for Houndoom claim that if someone is burnt by the fire the Pokemon breathes, they will never fully heal from the pain. In a world where Pokemon Centers are easy to find and Potions are findable on the ground in the wild, neverending pain is more lore flavor text than an actual mechanic players need to worry about. After all, Burn Heals are purchasable at plenty of Pokemon Centers or Pokemon Marts.
Both Pokemon originate from Hoenn and share two clear inspirations: wolves and hyenas. Modern dogs came from wolves, and most real-world dog owners own a pet that looks more like Lillipup or Furfrou than Mightyena. However, there are some modern dogs that Mightyena resembles, like a German Shepherd. The beginning part of Poochyena’s name sounds like “pooch,” a nickname for dogs in some parts of the world.
Like real-world wolves, Mightyena lives in packs, and like a dog, it is fiercely loyal to trainers that it respects as worthy owners. These Pokedex entries may be in reference to the in-game mechanic where if a player hasn’t defeated enough Pokemon Gyms in that region, thus proving their skill, higher-level Pokemon may disobey their commands in battle. Of course, in-game, provided a player has enough badges, any Mightyena they catch will obey them, regardless of how talented that player is related to other players in the meta or multiplayer aspects.
There are many inspirations for these two Pokemon from the original 151, but the list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning these playful and highly loyal Fire-types. Their physical appearance is a mix between lions, tigers, and dogs, but out of those three animals, only one is known for being a loyal companion to humankind. Some of Arcanine‘s Pokedex entries call it a mythical Pokemon from China, perhaps referencing a legendary Chinese creature called “xiezhi” that has a strong sense of morality.
Seeing as dogs are a popular pet and hunting partner in real life, it makes sense that multiple Pokemon would be inspired by these animals. Yamper and Boltund are easy enough Pokemon to find in Pokemon Sword and Shield, and players can catch Rockruff and Lycanroc in Alola. There are a plethora of inspirations for Pokemon designs, but one can argue that dogs are the biggest source of ideas, even for Pokemon that look nothing like them. In the Pokemon world, people sleep, eat, play, hunt, and fight alongside Pokemon of all types, shapes, and sizes, making Pokemon “man’s best friend.”
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