From the anime and manga to the video games and TCG, Pokémon plays host a wide variety of unique creatures, and they draw inspiration from everywhere. Some Pokémon are based on people, animals, and inanimate objects, while others are formed from concepts or conditions, like the weather. Even the simplest-looking Pokémon may hide some surprising connections when fans really dig deep and learn more about these fantastical creatures.
Normal-type Pokémon are no different. Many don’t give it much thought, believing they are little more than simple, ordinary animals, but Normal-type Pokémon can hide origins that might catch fans by surprise. Normal-type Pokémon can be just as amazing as some of the flashier Pokémon types, and taking some time to learn about where the inspiration for them came from may change the way fans look at these special creatures forever.
10
Meowth Is a Beckoning Cat
The Scratch Cat Pokémon, a Normal-Type Pokémon
When many think of this feline Pokémon, its signature pose comes to mind. The Scratch Cat Pokémon holds its paws like it’s calling someone over. This is because Meowth is based on a beckoning cat, also referred to as a maneki-neko. These feline figurines are thought to bring luck to whoever owns one, and different colors bring about different kinds of luck, such as financial gain or romance. Japan has different legends of how these cats have come to save their owners, becoming a part of Japanese mythology and culture.
Likewise, Meowth beckons friends and foes closer, using its signature move, Pay Day, for a nice increase in wealth. Thanks to this furry friend, trainers have been known to experience financial luck. However, in the Pokémon anime, Meowth tends to cause more misfortune than fortune for Ash and his friends as a part of Team Rocket.
9
Wigglytuff May Be Inspired by the Legend of the Moon Rabbit
The Balloon Pokémon, a Normal/Fairy Dual-Type Pokémon
Wigglytuff is a squishy, long-eared Pokémon pal, known for being the evolved form of Jigglypuff. However, Wigglytuff may have some surprising origins of its own. This Pokémon may be based on the legend of the moon rabbit, where East Asians see a rabbit pounding some sort of rice cake when they look up at the moon. Others suggest its pounding a life elixir instead.
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Wigglytuff does have a rabbit’s long, pointed ears. It’s also now a Normal/Fairy-type, and several Fairy types do have correlations with the moon. This Pokémon even evolves from Jigglypuff with the Moon Stone. It’s never been confirmed that Wigglytuff is, in fact, tied to the moon rabbit, but there are enough clues to suggest it that’s where its inspiration came from.
8
Drampa Is a Chinese Dragon
The Placid Pokémon, a Normal/Dragon Dual-Type Pokémon
It’s clear from its typing and design that Drampa is indeed a dragon, but the world has plenty of different types of dragons this Pokémon could be based on. As a mix between a dragon and an elderly man, the most likely connection for Drampa to mythologiy is the Zhulong. The Zhulong is a type of Chinese dragon with the face of an old man and the body of a dragon, which matches Drampa’s description to a tee.
Chinese dragons are known to be benevolent and wise creatures, flying through the sky. The puffy fur on Drampa’s body could easily be thought of as clouds while flying. Drampa is also known as being a kind, grandfatherly creature, looking out for youths. In the anime, a Drampa even looked out for Lana and Mallow when they were younger.
7
Dunsparce Is a Tsuchinoko
The Land Snake Pokémon, a Normal-Type Pokémon
Western fans have often wondered what sort of Pokémon Dunsparce is supposed to be. It looks like a fat snake with a bee’s stinger and small, stylized wings. On the other hand, Japanese fans were able to easily tell this is a mythological creature known as a tsuchinoko.
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Tsuchinoko are known to be snake-like yokai with a body fatter than its head, just like Dunsparce. These creatures make a second jump while in midair, hence Dunsparce’s wings. The stinger on the Pokémon’s backend likely comes from another name for the tsuchinoko, the bachi hebi, meaning bee snake. Naturally, Dudunsparce is just a large tsuchinoko.
6
Meloetta Is Inspired by Greek Muses
The Melody Pokémon, a Normal/Psychic or Normal/Fighting Dual-Type Pokémon
Meloetta is a beautiful but underrated Pokémon known for its music. In its Aria Form, Meloetta becomes a fantastic singer, looking almost like a Japanese idol. However, in its Pirouette Form, Meloetta ditches song and its Psychic-Type for athletics and dance. This Pokémon resembles a young woman in either form, making some fans believe this Pokémon may be based on Greek muses.
In Greek mythology, muses were a type of minor goddess known for their ability to inspire others to create literature, arts, and science. Dance and music are two types of art muses could embody. Although Meloetta looks like it could be a Fairy-type Pokémon, it’s a Normal-Type instead. This may reference the fact that there were many gods in Greek mythology, making the deities a bit commonplace.
5
Arboliva Is an Olive-Infused Dryad
The Olive Pokémon, a Grass/Normal Dual-Type Pokémon
Arboliva is a humanoid olive tree Pokémon introduced in the Paldea region. They’re known to be compassionate and generous beings, literally offering the olive branch as a sign of peace. They also help nurture the land to help new crops grow.
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While it’s clear this Pokémon is indeed based on olive trees, Arboliva could also be based on the dryads of Greek mythology. In general, these compassionate beings were spirits of trees, usually effeminate in nature. More specifically, Arboliva may be based on the Hamadryad. These spirits were thought to embody the tree itself it was tied to, just like how Arboliva resembles both an effeminate human and a tree.
The Season Pokémon, a Normal/Grass Dual-Type Pokémon
Sawsbuck is a deer-like Pokémon and the evolved form of Deerling. These Pokémon are known for their ability to change their appearance depending on what season it is. While these Pokémon may be based on the real-world Père David’s deer, which is known for decorating their antlers with foliage during the breeding season, these Pokémon may also have a more mythological origin as well.
This Pokémon and its four forms may also be based on the Four Stags of Yggdrasill from Norse mythology. These four deer sit at the base of the World Tree and nibble on its branches. As there are four deer, mythology suggests they may be related to the four elements, phases of the moon, or – most aptly for Sawsbuck – the four seasons.
3
Ursaluna Is Based on an Ainu God
The Peat Pokémon, a Ground/Normal Dual-Type Pokémon
Ursaluna is the final evolved form of Teddiursa, which evolved from Ursaring. These Pokémon were thought to be extinct, having existed long ago in the Hisui region before it became Sinnoh. However, this Pokémon may be based on more than just a type of brown bear native to Hokkaido.
Its body resembles a mountain, and the fact this Pokémon is a Ground-type, it may also be based on the Ainu deity Kim-un-kamuy. The Ainu were the native people of Hokkaido, the region Hisui and Sinnoh were based on. One Ursaluna was even revered as a god, or Noble Pokémon, by the Pearl Clan, one of the native clans of Hisui. Kim-un-kamuy is the god of bears and mountains, making this the perfect fit for Ursaluna.
2
Regigigas Is Inspired by the Greek Titans
The Colossal Pokémon, a Normal-Type Pokémon
Regigigas is the leader of all Pokémon whose names begin in Regi. It was introduced in the generation after the original trio, but long before Regieleki and Regidrago were introduced. While many are aware these golem Pokémon are inspired by the golems of Hebrew mythology, with Regigigas resembling the Legendary Golem or Prague, Regigigas may have other origins as well.
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Regigigas could also be based on the Titans of Greek mythology. The Titans were powerful beings who preceded the Greek gods, only to be sealed away after helping to shape the world and the gods. Similarly, after Regigigas created the five other golem Pokémon, it was sealed away. This also resembles the Legendary Golem of Prague, who was also sealed away because its immense power terrified the people.
1
Terapagos Is Another Version of the World Turtle
The Tera Pokémon, a Normal-Type Pokémon
Terapagos is a Legendary Pokémon introduced in the DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. This Pokémon has three different forms, starting with a simple turtle with a gemstone shell and becoming a beautiful creature with a Terastal shell, referencing all possible types of Pokémon. It isn’t hard to believe that this Pokémon is based on the World Turtle that shows up in various mythologies across the world. This turtle is known for carrying the world on its back.
This is referenced in several of its Pokédex entries. Scarlet’s Pokédex entry states, “In this form, Terapagos resembles the world as the ancients saw it, and its Terastal energy is abnormally amplified.” Violet’s entry supports this, stating, “An old expedition journal describes the sight of this Pokémon buried in the depths of the earth as resembling a planet floating in space.” Both these entries clearly point to this Pokémon’s origins as a version of the World Turtle.
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