Animals in the Pokémon world

A real-world dog featured in a picture book

Real-world animals have been mentioned a number of times to exist in the world of Pokémon. Most often, they are mentioned in relation to a Pokémon category. For example, Pikachu is known as the "Mouse Pokémon" and was directly referred to in the anime as an "electric mouse", hinting that real-world mice exist in the Pokémon world. Other than this, all other mentions of animals are rare.

Pokémon categories

Some Pokémon category names are animals, such as the Poodle Pokémon (Furfrou's category), which implies that there are not only dogs, but different breeds of dogs. The Pokédex routinely mentions the category of each Pokémon in various media. For example, in the anime episode Here Comes the Squirtle Squad, Ash's Pokédex tells him the category of Squirtle, a Tiny Turtle Pokémon, and in the Pokémon Adventures manga round Boogying with Buneary, Diamond's Pokédex displays the category of Buneary, a Rabbit Pokémon. Additionally, Pokémon categories can be found on TCG cards.

In the core series games

Old Amber artwork

• In the Generation I games, the Bird Keeper class has a sprite that depicts them holding a generic bird on their arm.
• In Generation I artwork of Old Amber, there is a mosquito or similar insect visible within the item.
• In the Generation I games and their remakes:
  • A Sailor mentions that jellyfish sometimes drift aboard the S.S. Anne.
  • A chef aboard the S.S. Anne mentions several meat dishes: "Eels au Barbecue", "Salmon du Salad", and "Prime Beefsteak".
  • A Team Rocket Grunt in the Rocket Hideout insults the player by calling them a little rat.
  • A Tamer in the Fuchsia Gym mentions having joined the Gym due to "ninjas' long history with animals".
• In Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, Bird Keeper Katherine on Sinnoh Route 211 says "I go everywhere with my NOCTOWL. We’re gonna show you owl best! Ha!" This is a pun between "owl" and "our".
• In Pokémon Black and White, a Trainer in the Battle Subway says he is so obsessed with Pokémon that his wife is as mad as a hornet.
• In the Generation V games, Burgh's Insect Badge is named Beetle Badge (ビートルバッジ) in Japanese.
• In Pokémon X and Y:
  • Fresh-caught fish is served at the restaurants in Lumiose City.
  • Real world butterflies appear in the background at some places during Pokémon battles.
• In Pokémon Legends: Arceus:
  • The Insect Plate is described as being imbued with the essence of bugs.
  • The English name of Horseshoe Plains implies the existence of horseshoes, and by extension, real horses. However, the Japanese name for Horseshoe Plains, 蹄鉄ヶ原 Horseshoe Meadow, includes the Japanese word for horseshoe, 蹄鉄, which contains the Japanese words for hoof and iron, not horse.
  • The names of Deertrack Heights and Deertrack Path imply the existence of real deer.
• In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet:
  • The restaurant food item, Paella de Paldea, has what appears to be mussels in the dish.
  • Katy, when defeated, exclaims that all of her Pokémon dropped like flies.
  • Ortega refers to the current state of the Naranja Academy^S/Uva Academy^V as "all rainbows and butterflies".
  • In Pokémon Scarlet, according to an article from a September issue of Occulture magazine, leading theories hold that Great Tusk is "a living relic of the dinosaur era".

Moves

• The name and description of the move Raging Bull mentions bulls.
• The name of the move Crabhammer mentions crabs.

Items

• The Shoal Shell resembles no known Pokémon, but does resemble the shells of clams.

Battle animations

Bees in the animation of Attack Order in Generation VI

Some in-battle animations depict real-world animals.

• In several games, yellow birds can be seen circling around a confused Pokémon. Yellow birds also appear in Dizzy Punch's battle animations.
• Bees appear in the battle animations for Vespiquen's signature moves Attack Order, Defend Order, and Heal Order.

Pokédex entries

Several Pokédex entries imply the existence of real-world animals.

• Indian elephants are mentioned in entries for Raichu and Gastly. However, in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Raichu's entry instead mentions Copperajah.
• Bellsprout preys on insects.
• Victreebel uses the sweet aroma of its honey to lure prey such as bugs, as well as large animals.
• Horsea preys on bugs. It also uses coral as an anchor to avoid being washed away, as well as for shade to build its nest in.
• Lickitung can extend its tongue like a chameleon.
• Coral branches grow from Corsola's head, and are a food source for Mareanie.
• Shellos and Gastrodon eat microscopic plankton.
• Aerodactyl lived in the "age of dinosaurs", also referred to as the "dinosaur era", and was resurrected from a dinosaur’s genes.
• Flutter Mane has similar features to a ghostly pterosaur that was covered in a paranormal magazine, but the two have little else in common.
• Brute Bonnet is said to be a cross between a dinosaur and a mushroom.

In the side series games

• In Pokémon Colosseum, when Nascour asks Venus about the progress of her takeover of The Under, she comments that "a couple mice appear to be running loose".

In the spin-off games

• In Pokémon Snap, coral reefs can be seen.
• In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness, Weezing and Zubat call the player's partner a chicken.
• In Pokémon Ranger, one of the foes says that goat milk cheese is his favorite.
• In Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs, barnacles can be seen in underwater areas.
• In Detective Pikachu, a boat is described as having 400 horsepower.
• In Pokémon Masters EX, during a morning log-in conversation, Adaman says that "[...]the early bird catches the worm!"

In the anime

A real-world cat in anime concept art

Real-life animals have been seen and mentioned in the anime. They were more common in the original series as there weren't as many species of Pokémon introduced at the time. A picture book based on the anime once featured a dog walking past Ash and his friends, and a piece of concept art of the residents of Pallet Town featured a cat. Birds can also occasionally be heard in the background. Foods that contain meat products, such as hamburgers and chicken, are often seen. In addition, the guidebook Pocket Monsters: The Animation confirmed that there were indeed animals in the world, and also revealed that Pokémon weren't related to animals at all.

Despite Pokémon themselves being unrelated to animals, it appears that behavioral and predator-prey dynamics still apply to Pokémon based on the animals they resemble. Meowth still considers himself a cat and displays cat-like behaviour frequently while in the episode The Ghost of Maiden's Peak, Jessie's Ekans was afraid of a real-life mongoose, a predator of snakes and cobras. Pokémon occasionally display traits of other animals, Ash’s Charizard being seen scratching its neck with its leg like a dog would.

In Pokémon: Adventures in the Orange Islands, the four Gym Badges are made up of seashells with a gem on the center of the shell. This implies that molluscs exist within the Pokémon world.

Ash holds up the Coral-Eye Badge, which appears to be made of one half of a clam shell.

However, animal appearances in the anime have become less frequent as more Pokémon have been added to take their places.

Original series

A wild Pidgey eating a regular worm in Route 1

• Pokémon - I Choose You!

When Ash overslept and didn't get a Pokémon, Professor Oak says in the English dub, "The early bird catches a worm, or... in this case... A Pokémon...".

A wild Pidgey can be seen eating a worm right before Ash tries to catch it.

• Pokémon Emergency!

Various animals were mentioned by Team Rocket. Mostly, they referred to Meowth as a cat, and Pikachu as a mouse.

• Ash Catches a Pokémon

Misty is scared when she sees a Caterpie, and Ash tries to calm her down by reminding her that it's a Bug-type Pokémon rather than a "real" bug.

Pidgeotto is seen eating a regular worm before being captured by Ash.

Ash in a cow costume

• Challenge of the Samurai

As a pun on 虫 (mushi, "insect") and 牛 (ushi, "cow"), Ash is seen in a cow costume because Misty is scared of bugs. In the dub, he makes a pun saying, "Cowterpie".

• The Water Flowers of Cerulean City

Fish can be seen in the fish tanks inside the Gym. They have made later appearances featuring the Cerulean Gym.

• Path to the Pokémon League

Misty mentions that A.J.'s ability to control Pokémon with a whip is similar to a lion tamer.

• Here Comes the Squirtle Squad

After Ash, Misty, and Brock fall into the Squirtle Squad's pitfall trap, a dinosaur fossil can be seen.

• Battle Aboard the St. Anne

A cooked lobster can be seen as food served on the ship.

A fish is seen on the counter while James is running after his Poké Ball in the sinking ship.

In the Japanese version, the Magikarp salesman tells James that Magikarp is the king of koi. This is a reference to "Koiking", the Japanese name of Magikarp. In the dub, he says, "The king of all carp! A Magikarp!"

• Pokémon Shipwreck

More fish can be seen swimming in the ocean near the sunken St. Anne.

A fish biting Slowpoke's tail

• Island of the Giant Pokémon

In the episode's Dare da?, a fish is biting Slowpoke's tail.

• Beauty and the Beach

Brock attempts to attract customers to a restaurant by advertising unusual animal-themed dishes, including french-fried flounder, seven-layered crab cakes, squid on a stick, and clam juice snowcones.

Team Rocket sends a missile that is shaped like a shark's head to ruin the Beach Beauty and Pokémon Costume Contest.

• Tentacool & Tentacruel

Fish can be seen in the aquarium in Nastina's vision of her completed luxury hotel.

The Tentacool are referred to as jellyfish in the episode.

The mongoose in The Ghost of Maiden's Peak

• The Ghost of Maiden's Peak

There is a drawing of an octopus on the front board of a takoyaki stand (this drawing is airbrushed out in the dub).

A Gastly created an illusion of a mongoose in order to scare Jessie's Ekans. It later defeated James's Koffing by stomping on it.

• The Tower of Terror

When Charmander lights up the room, a mounted deer head can be seen on the wall.

Some of the toys in the Ghost Pokémon's playroom appear to resemble giraffes and ducks, and there is a merry-go-round with horses.

• Hypno's Naptime

Two different species of real world fish are seen in Meowth's fantasy.

• Pokémon Fashion Flash

One of the signs on Scissor Street features a crab.

• The Punchy Pokémon

Fish tails are seen in one plate when James and Meowth were dreaming about food. Meowth also mentions roast leg of lamb.

• Sparks Fly for Magnemite

After witnessing a wild Magnemite "falling in love" with Pikachu, Brock comments that he can understand a romantic based relationship between animal-based Pokémon, but not an inorganic-based Pokémon like Magnemite.

• The Flame Pokémon-athon!

Some real world animal plushes are seen on some of the shelves of the festival.

• The Bridge Bike Gang

At the end of the episode, when Team Rocket comes out of the water, Jessie can be seen with a starfish, an urchin and a seashell on her head.

• Holiday Hi-Jynx

Santa Claus tells Ash and his friends that he has "no reindeer" to pull his sleigh, and uses a Ponyta instead.

• The Battling Eevee Brothers

In one scene, James is seen holding a lobster.

In the last scene, Team Rocket are eating canned squid, salmon and brown fish.

• Princess vs. Princess

Lots of real world animal plushes are seen in the stores in the Princess Festival.

• The Purr-fect Hero

There are banners depicting multiple random fish on some houses.

Drawn bunnies and bears appear on some of the walls of the school.

Rabbit ears are seen in the top hat drawn on Team Rocket's van.

• Case of the K-9 Capers

Meowth compares his voice to one of the chipmunks after inhaling gas coming from a tank with a Psyduck on it.

• Riddle Me This

While Ash and his friends are looking for a hotel to stay in, a picture of a tiger can be seen in one of the hotels.

During Gary's banquet, some fish are seen sliced up.

Butterflies are seen on a painting when Ash and his friends are at Blaine's hotel.

A green mouse is seen on a cup in one of the many tourist stands of Cinnabar Island.

• The Misty Mermaid

Real world fish are seen in an aquarium inside the Cerulean Gym.

James and Meowth wear Swan Lake-inspired costumes.

In addition, Seel and Dewgong are compared to seals.

Various coral is visible underwater.

A starfish is seen underwater.

Misty goes inside a giant clam underwater.

• Clefairy Tales

While Ash and his friends are falling down the sewer pipes, several skeletons of unidentified prehistoric animals are seen. Also, when a chef gets his kettle back, he talks about cooking chicken.

• Mewtwo Strikes Back

Miranda talks to seagulls to learn the conditions of the sea.

When Meowth despises the idea of going into a sewer, in the dub, Jessie tells him, "Pretend you're a catfish!" In the Japanese version, Meowth says, "I'm not a brown rat!" (Japanese: ドブネズミじゃにゃ!)

• The Pi-Kahuna

There is a swordfish on Victor's wall.

Some kind of yellow shark/seal is seen in a picture frame when she talks.

• Make Room for Gloom

When Ash's Bulbasaur smells Poké-nip and becomes dazed, Misty reads a sign that says Poké-nip's scent affects Pokémon like catnip affects cats.

• Go West, Young Meowth

While Meowth was looking for food, he came across some fish bones. Meowth is also seen eating fried chicken.

• To Master the Onix-expected

While Ash and his friends are resting, their elderly female host mentions the disappearance of her "muskrat meatballs." However, this was only in the English dub of the episode, and is actually an example of a dub edit very similar to Brock's "donuts" in another episode. The so-called meatballs are actually dango, a sweet Japanese dumpling made from rice flour.

The host also refers to Team Rocket as "polecats", another name for wild ferrets.

• A Friend Indeed

One of the foods the characters eat is shrimp tempura.

• Meowth's Song

In one scene, Meowth mentions insects.

• The Crystal Onix

A starfish is seen on the sandbar.

• The Joy of Pokémon

Real fish can be seen in the moment before a young Nurse Joy falls into the water.

• Meowth Rules!

Meowth is seen holding and talking about eating clams.

Kabutops and its prey

• Tanks a Lot!

When Meowth mentions his "top of the line" food, it cuts to an image of a can of cat-food with a real-world cat on the label.

• Grin to Win!

A fried chicken stand can be seen along with a chicken thigh in the Sunflora Festival.

• Foul Weather Friends

Meowth mentions chicken feed.

• Pikachu & Pichu

A horse statue can be seen in the background.

• Spell of the Unown: Entei

At one point in development, this movie was going to feature a Tyrannosaurus Rex. This idea was scrapped as more Generation II Pokémon designs were revealed.

• The Bug Stops Here

Jessie is seen holding a goldfish.

• Fossil Fools

A fish can be seen in statue form, being attacked by Kabutops.

• Hook, Line, and Stinker

When one of Misty's catches escapes from her fishing line, Ash says that it was probably a catfish.

• From Ghost to Ghost

Meowth's food illusion created by the Gastly includes a fish.

• Mantine Overboard!

Various corals are visible underwater.

Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire

• Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snorunt!

During the Team Rocket motto, James mentions he's wearing mink.

• Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea

Various corals are visible underwater.

Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl

• Keeping in Top Forme!

In the Norwegian dub, after Brock comments on the Team Rocket trio's endurance, James replies that they "are stubborn like mountain goats[.]"

Pokémon the Series: Black & White

• Expedition to Onix Island!

Various corals are visible underwater.

Pokémon the Series: XY

• Going for the Gold!

Various corals are visible underwater.

• Day Three Blockbusters!

In the video of Team Charmander on the Wailord, real mollusk shells are seen.

• Unlocking Some Respect!

During the Poké TV segment, barnacles can be seen on rocks above the sea.

• A Gaggle of Gadget Greatness!

Snail-like Sliggoo toys can be seen in the Gadget Festival.

Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon

• Due to the tropical theming of the Alola region, a significant number of episodes contain depictions of various corals. This includes:
  • Alola to New Adventure!
  • Yo, Ho, Ho! Go, Popplio!
  • The Sun, the Scare, the Secret Lair!
  • Partner Promises!
  • A Shivering Shovel Search!
  • The Island Whisperer!
  • Balloons, Brionne, and Belligerence!
  • Let Sleeping Pokémon Lie!
  • Dewpider Ascending!

A starfish and shell seen on a bucket

• Mimikyu Unmasked!

One of Mimikyu's disguises shows a starfish and a shell that appear on a beach bucket.

• Balloons, Brionne, and Belligerence! and Evolving Research!

The shape of Ida's clasp is a real shell.

In the manga

Animals have also been seen in the manga.

Pokémon Adventures

Red, Green & Blue arc

• A Hollow Victreebel
  • There are real-life mice, shrews, and birds as Bellsprout, Weepinbell, and Victreebel's prey at the Kanto Safari Zone.
• You Know...Articuno!
  • Gyara is seen smiling at a butterfly.

Yellow arc

• Do Wrong, Dewgong!
  • Pika is seen chasing a butterfly or a moth.

Ruby & Sapphire arc

• With a Spoink in Your Step I
  • In the Chuang Yi version, Ruby states that Fofo has the strength of a lion and the heart of a tiger.
• The Final Showdown VII
  • In the Chuang Yi version, Archie or Maxie says that Winona has been "buzzing around [their] ears like an annoying fly".
• The Final Showdown VIII
  • In the Chuang Yi version, Archie and Maxie say "we can get rid of you flies anytime we want", referring to Ruby and Sapphire.

Diamond & Pearl arc

• Boogying with Buneary
  • In the Chuang Yi version, Keira calls her Buneary a "snugglebunny".
• Vexing Vespiquen & Unmanageable Mothim I
  • A Roughneck's Vespiquen uses grubs for the moves Attack Order, Defend Order, and Heal Order.

Black 2 & White 2 arc

• Legendary Tornadus
  • On page 11, after Whitney wakes up screaming, her schoolmates ask if a spider was bothering her.

How I Became a Pokémon Card

In How I Became a Pokémon Card, a cat appears in one chapter.

Pokémon Pocket Monsters

In Pokémon Pocket Monsters, regular animals appear alongside Pokémon.

Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All

In Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All, a snail appears in GDZ04. In GDZ13, Shu is shown capturing some beetles in the forest.

The Electric Tale of Pikachu

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu, the Cerulean Gym Aquarium has real-life fish and whales.

Magical Pokémon Journey

In Magical Pokémon Journey, real-life animals such as fish, butterflies, and horses have occasionally been seen.

Pokémon Newspaper Strip

• In Strip 16, there is a short narration: "...not a creature was stirring... not even an electric mouse..." (a reference to the 1823 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas").
  • Additionally, Santa Claus is heard saying "Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now—" This may indicate that he has reindeer, but Santa Claus and the reindeer are not seen.
• In Strip 22, Misty also called Pikachu an "electric mouse".
• In Strip 23, Delia says that Ash's Snorlax ate a frozen turkey.

In the TCG

Numerous early Pokémon cards featured animals.

• A bird perched on Weepinbell.
• A bug near Bulbasaur.
• A frog next to Oddish.
• A wasp flying near Venonat.
• A butterfly flying near Squirtle and Eevee.
• A worm for Magikarp, Spearow, and Wobbuffet.
• A crab next to Exeggutor.
• A fish near Psyduck.
• Fish, or perhaps porpoises, near Magikarp.
• Multiple fishes next to Lotad.
• Butterflies and fish near Slowpoke.
• Sea anemones near Wooper.
• Coral near Horsea, Quagsire, Luvdisc, Seaking, Corsola, Mantine, Golduck, Gorebyss, and Chinchou.
• The shadow of what appears to be a shark is on the original Super Rod card.
• Shadows of what appear to be a school of fish next to Squirtle.

Attacks

Attack	Card
Cat Fleas	Giovanni's Meowth (Gym Challenge 74)
Cat Kick	Meowth (EX FireRed & LeafGreen 69) Meowth (Next Destinies 80) Giovanni's Meowth (Gym Challenge 74) Glameow (Battle Styles 115)
Cat Punch	Meowth (Wizards Promo 10)
Caturday	Glameow (Unbroken Bonds 159)
Dogpile	Chansey (Expedition 72)
Jellyfish Pod	Misty's Tentacool (Gym Heroes 32)
Jellyfish Poison	Misty's Tentacruel (Gym Heroes 10)
Jellyfish Sting	Tentacruel (Fossil 44)
Tiger Swing	Incineroar-GX (Sun & Moon 27)

In books

• At least three animals can be spotted in the Let's Find Pokémon! series.
  • In Let's Find Pokémon!, a dragonfly can be seen near a pond, and a worm can be seen in the beak of a Pidgey.
  • In Let's Find Pokémon! 3, a Kangaskhan is eating a fish with rice.
• The Pokémon Tales book Bulbasaur's Trouble revolves around a Bulbasaur who must find a frog in order to settle an argument between two children, making this one of the only Pokémon stories where a real animal is directly relevant to the plot.

Trivia

• Takeshi Shudō's original idea for the third Pokémon movie was about a real-world Tyrannosaurus rex fossil being discovered. It would have come to life and gone on a rampage through the Kanto region.
  • Also according to Shudō, real animals went extinct in the Pokémon world years ago and no longer exist. He claimed that instances of real-world animals appearing in earlier episodes of the anime were due to the animation staff not paying enough attention.

See also

• Pokémon world in relation to the real world

Pokémon world Nature: Pokémon • Humans • Animals • Flora History: Games • Animated series • Adventures Culture: Currency • Magazines • Movies • Radio • TV (Sinnoh) Transport (Land • Air • Water) • Weaponry Mortality: Illness • Death • Ghosts Pokémon world templates Regions