Pokémon sprites, art evolve over the years: Difference between revisions
m (added an image) |
No edit summary |
||
| (21 intermediate revisions by 8 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Article| | {{Article| | ||
type=editorial | | type=editorial | | ||
picture=Sugimori1996. | picture=Sugimori1996.png | | ||
weekday=Tuesday | | weekday=Tuesday | | ||
day=23 | | day=23 | | ||
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
blurb=Just as Pokémon themselves evolve, so do their depictions in the Pokémon games and anime. The newest additions to the Pokémon library, Diamond and Pearl, are generally regarded by fans as having the most advanced graphics yet to be seen in a Pokémon handheld RPG. Examples from the games and anime are explored in this image-heavy editorial. }} | blurb=Just as Pokémon themselves evolve, so do their depictions in the Pokémon games and anime. The newest additions to the Pokémon library, Diamond and Pearl, are generally regarded by fans as having the most advanced graphics yet to be seen in a Pokémon handheld RPG. Examples from the games and anime are explored in this image-heavy editorial. }} | ||
{{CategorizeIn|Editorials|1|07}} | {{CategorizeIn|Editorials|1|07}} | ||
{{noud}} | |||
{{EditorialBy|Argy}} | {{EditorialBy|Argy}} | ||
Just as Pokémon themselves evolve, so do their depictions in the Pokémon games and anime. The newest additions to the Pokémon library, [[bp:Pokémon Diamond and Pearl|Diamond and Pearl]], are generally regarded by fans as having the most advanced graphics yet to be seen in a Pokémon handheld RPG. | Just as Pokémon themselves evolve, so do their depictions in the Pokémon games and anime. The newest additions to the Pokémon library, [[bp:Pokémon Diamond and Pearl|Diamond and Pearl]], are generally regarded by fans as having the most advanced graphics yet to be seen in a Pokémon handheld RPG. | ||
Let us take for first example the most well-known of the Pokémon, {{p|Pikachu}}. The original [[bp:Ken Sugimori|Ken Sugimori]] artwork from Generation I is drastically different from the artist's rendering from Generation III. | ==Pikachu== | ||
Let us take for first example the most well-known of the Pokémon, {{p|Pikachu}}. The original [[bp:Ken Sugimori|Ken Sugimori]] artwork from [[bp:Generation I|Generation I]] is drastically different from the artist's rendering from [[bp:Generation III|Generation III]]. | |||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
Image: | Image:025Pikachu RG.png|Generation I | ||
Image: | Image:025Pikachu RB.png|Generation I redesign | ||
Image:025Pikachu.png|Generation III | Image:025Pikachu.png|Generation III | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| Line 31: | Line 32: | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
Image: | Image:Ash Pikachu EP001.png|Pikachu from EP001 (1997) | ||
Image: | Image:Pikasuprise.png|Pikachu from Advanced Generation, the current design (2006) | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
Perhaps most striking are the sprites from the Pokémon handheld RPGs. The Pikachu of Pokémon Red, Green and Blue even had a different-colored | Perhaps most striking are the sprites from the Pokémon handheld RPGs. The Pikachu of [[bp:Pokémon Red and Green|Pokémon Red, Green]] and [[bp:Pokémon Red and Blue|Blue]] even had a different-colored abdomen from its later counterparts. | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
Image:Spr 1g 025.png|Green and Red (Japanese) | Image:Spr 1g 025.png|Green and Red (Japanese) (Feb. 1996) | ||
Image:Spr 1b 025.png|Blue (and Red in English) | Image:Spr 1b 025.png|Blue (and Red in English) (Oct. 1996) | ||
Image:Spr 1y 025. | Image:Spr 1y 025.png|Yellow (Sept. 1998) | ||
Image: | Image:Spr 2g 025.png|Gold (Nov. 1999) | ||
Image:Spr | Image:Spr 3r 025.png|Ruby and Sapphire (Nov. 2002) | ||
Image:025.png|Diamond and Pearl | Image:Spr 4d 025 m.png|Diamond and Pearl (Sept. 2006) | ||
Image:Spr 4p 025 m.png|Platinum (Sept. 2008) | |||
Image:Spr 4h 025 m.png|HeartGold and SoulSilver (Sept. 2009) | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| Line 49: | Line 52: | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
File:Sugimori1996.png|An early watercolor | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
Other Pokémon received major makeovers in the transition from Game Boy to Game Boy Color to Game Boy Advance and finally to Nintendo DS. | Other Pokémon received major makeovers in the transition from [[bp:Game Boy|Game Boy]] to [[bp:Game Boy Color|Game Boy Color]] to [[bp:Game Boy Advance|Game Boy Advance]] and finally to [[bp:Nintendo DS|Nintendo DS]]. | ||
==Mew== | |||
{{p|Mew}}, while seemingly a quite simple-looking Pokémon, has drastically changed from its introduction as the enigmatic 151st monster. | {{p|Mew}}, while seemingly a quite simple-looking Pokémon, has drastically changed from its introduction as the enigmatic 151st monster. | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
Image:Spr 1g 151.png|Green and Red (Japanese) | Image:Spr 1g 151.png|Green and Red (Japanese) (Feb. 1996) | ||
Image:Spr 1b 151.png|Blue (and Red in English) | Image:Spr 1b 151.png|Blue (and Red in English) (Oct. 1996) | ||
Image:Spr 1y 151. | Image:Spr 1y 151.png|Yellow (Sept. 1998) | ||
Image: | Image:Spr 2g 151.png|Gold (Nov. 1999) | ||
Image:Spr | Image:Spr 3r 151.png|Ruby and Sapphire (Nov. 2002) | ||
Image:151.png|Diamond and Pearl | Image:Spr 3f 151.png|FireRed and LeafGreen (Jan. 2004) | ||
Image:Spr 4d 151.png|Diamond and Pearl (Sept. 2006) | |||
Image:Spr 4h 151.png|HeartGold and SoulSilver (Sept. 2009) | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| Line 68: | Line 74: | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
Image: | Image:151Mew RG.png|Generation I | ||
Image: | Image:151Mew RG 2.png|Generation I redesign | ||
Image:151Mew.png|Generation III | Image:151Mew.png|Generation III | ||
File:151-Mew.png|anime | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
==Charizard== | |||
{{p|Charizard}} has always looked more-or-less the same in both anime and games, however, the difference between the Green version sprite and that from Diamond and Pearl is striking. | {{p|Charizard}} has always looked more-or-less the same in both anime and games, however, the difference between the Green version sprite and that from Diamond and Pearl is striking. | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
Image:Spr 1g 006.png|Green | Image:Spr 1g 006.png|Green and Red (Japanese) (Feb. 1996) | ||
Image:006.png|Diamond and Pearl | Image:Spr 4d 006.png|Diamond and Pearl (Sept. 2006) | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
In the case of {{p|Arbok}}, even its Generation III sprites vary. In [[bp:Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire|Ruby, Sapphire]] and [[bp:Pokémon Emerald|Emerald]], its chest design features an open, red mouth. However, in [[bp:Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen|FireRed and LeafGreen]], the mouth is completely black. By comparison, the Arbok of Generation IV has the black mouth of pre-Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald games (although it should be noted that the original- and rare -Sugimori art of Arbok featured the open mouth). | ==Arbok== | ||
In the case of {{p|Arbok}}, even its Generation III sprites vary. In [[bp:Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire|Ruby, Sapphire]] and [[bp:Pokémon Emerald|Emerald]], its chest design features an open, red mouth and eyes with black pupils. However, in [[bp:Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen|FireRed and LeafGreen]], the mouth is completely black, and no pupils are present in the eyes. By comparison, the Arbok of [[bp:Generation IV|Generation IV]] has the black mouth of pre-Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald games (although it should be noted that the original- and rare -Sugimori art of Arbok featured the open mouth). | |||
Also of note is that in Generation I, Arbok's back sprite had black stripes that were never present in any other incarnation. | Also of note is that in Generation I, Arbok's back sprite had black stripes that were never present in any other incarnation. | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
Image: | Image:Spr_3r_024.png|Ruby and Sapphire (Nov. 2002) | ||
Image:Spr | Image:Spr 3f 024.png|FireRed and LeafGreen (Jan. 2004) | ||
Image: | Image:Spr 4d 024.png|Diamond and Pearl (Sept. 2006) | ||
Image:024.png| | Image:Spr 4h 024.png|HeartGold and SoulSilver (Sept. 2009) | ||
Image:Spr b g1 024.png|Generation I back | Image:Spr b g1 024.png|Generation I back (Feb. 1996) | ||
Image:Spr b | Image:Spr b 4d 024.png|Generation IV back (Sept. 2006) | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
==Moltres== | |||
Legendary bird {{p|Moltres}} is another example of drastic change in sprite design. | Legendary bird {{p|Moltres}} is another example of drastic change in sprite design. | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
Image:Spr 1g 146.png|Green and Red (Japan) | Image:Spr 1g 146.png|Green and Red (Japan) (Feb. 1996) | ||
Image:Spr 1b 146.png|Blue (and Red and English) | Image:Spr 1b 146.png|Blue (and Red and English) (Oct. 1996) | ||
Image:Spr 1y 146. | Image:Spr 1y 146.png|Yellow (Sept. 1998) | ||
Image: | Image:Spr 2g 146.png|Gold (Nov. 1999) | ||
Image:Spr | Image:Spr 3r 146.png|Ruby and Sapphire (Nov. 2002) | ||
Image:146.png|Diamond and Pearl | Image:Spr 3f 146.png|FireRed and LeafGreen (Jan. 2004) | ||
Image:Spr 4d 146.png|Diamond and Pearl (Sept. 2006) | |||
Image:Spr 4h 146.png|HeartGold and SoulSilver (Sept. 2009) | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
Latest revision as of 02:35, 14 March 2014
|
|
| This is an editorial by Argy. |
About the author
 Argy is the former editor in chief of Bulbanews, a style editor at Bulbapedia, and an administrator at Bulbagarden forums. |
|
There is no need to modernize this outdated page. Please do not request an update. |
| This is an editorial by Argy. |
About the author
Argy is the former editor in chief of Bulbanews, a style editor at Bulbapedia, and an administrator at Bulbagarden forums. |
Just as Pokémon themselves evolve, so do their depictions in the Pokémon games and anime. The newest additions to the Pokémon library, Diamond and Pearl, are generally regarded by fans as having the most advanced graphics yet to be seen in a Pokémon handheld RPG.
Pikachu
Let us take for first example the most well-known of the Pokémon, Pikachu. The original Ken Sugimori artwork from Generation I is drastically different from the artist's rendering from Generation III.
Generation I
Generation I redesign
Generation III
The Generation I Pikachu, in both versions, is fat with short arms and feet. In Generation III, Pikachu has been slimmed down and is not as round. The anime renditions mirror this. In addition, the Pikachu of the current anime design is a paler yellow.
Pikachu from EP001 (1997)
Pikachu from Advanced Generation, the current design (2006)
Perhaps most striking are the sprites from the Pokémon handheld RPGs. The Pikachu of Pokémon Red, Green and Blue even had a different-colored abdomen from its later counterparts.
Green and Red (Japanese) (Feb. 1996)
Blue (and Red in English) (Oct. 1996)
Yellow (Sept. 1998)
Gold (Nov. 1999)
Ruby and Sapphire (Nov. 2002)
Diamond and Pearl (Sept. 2006)
Platinum (Sept. 2008)
HeartGold and SoulSilver (Sept. 2009)
Even Sugimori's art from as far back as 1996 had Pikachu with a different-colored belly.
An early watercolor
Other Pokémon received major makeovers in the transition from Game Boy to Game Boy Color to Game Boy Advance and finally to Nintendo DS.
Mew
Mew, while seemingly a quite simple-looking Pokémon, has drastically changed from its introduction as the enigmatic 151st monster.
Green and Red (Japanese) (Feb. 1996)
Blue (and Red in English) (Oct. 1996)
Yellow (Sept. 1998)
Gold (Nov. 1999)
Ruby and Sapphire (Nov. 2002)
FireRed and LeafGreen (Jan. 2004)
Diamond and Pearl (Sept. 2006)
HeartGold and SoulSilver (Sept. 2009)
Even today there is a difference between Mew as portrayed in the games and in the anime. Games Mew is clearly pink, while anime Mew is nearly white. Moreover, the original Sugimori art of Mew featured a dark pink tail and feet, something not present on later designs.
Generation I
Generation I redesign
Generation III
anime
Charizard
Charizard has always looked more-or-less the same in both anime and games, however, the difference between the Green version sprite and that from Diamond and Pearl is striking.
Green and Red (Japanese) (Feb. 1996)
Diamond and Pearl (Sept. 2006)
Arbok
In the case of Arbok, even its Generation III sprites vary. In Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald, its chest design features an open, red mouth and eyes with black pupils. However, in FireRed and LeafGreen, the mouth is completely black, and no pupils are present in the eyes. By comparison, the Arbok of Generation IV has the black mouth of pre-Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald games (although it should be noted that the original- and rare -Sugimori art of Arbok featured the open mouth).
Also of note is that in Generation I, Arbok's back sprite had black stripes that were never present in any other incarnation.
Ruby and Sapphire (Nov. 2002)
FireRed and LeafGreen (Jan. 2004)
Diamond and Pearl (Sept. 2006)
HeartGold and SoulSilver (Sept. 2009)
Generation I back (Feb. 1996)
Generation IV back (Sept. 2006)
Moltres
Legendary bird Moltres is another example of drastic change in sprite design.
Green and Red (Japan) (Feb. 1996)
Blue (and Red and English) (Oct. 1996)
Yellow (Sept. 1998)
Gold (Nov. 1999)
Ruby and Sapphire (Nov. 2002)
FireRed and LeafGreen (Jan. 2004)
Diamond and Pearl (Sept. 2006)
HeartGold and SoulSilver (Sept. 2009)
Many other Pokémon have evolved such over the course of the past decade, but these serve as some of the most prominent examples.
One must wonder how much more Pokémon designs will change in the inevitable Generation V. The transition from Generation III to Generation IV was, for the most part, not very striking, as Game Freak chose to stay with familiar pixel graphics as opposed to moving to more of a three-dimensional design as seen in most Nintendo DS games. There is only so far pixel graphics can be improved.
A discussion of the evolution of Pokémon sprites can be found in this Bulbagarden forums thread, and I encourage those interested to continue the conversation there.
