List of unused Pokémon and character designs
There are Pokémon and characters that were just a few of many different designs that Game Freak created. Only a few were added, and even those often went through redesigns before making it into the final product.
Unreleased Pokémon
Capsule Monsters designs
| Debut | Capsule Monsters |
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Nothing is known about this Pokémon other than its Pokédex number, #124, the same as Jynx's. This number is also shared with Caterpie, as its index number.
| Debut | Capsule Monsters |
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Nothing is known about this Pokémon other than its Pokédex number, #211, the same as Qwilfish's.
| Debut | Capsule Monsters |
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| Debut | Capsule Monsters |
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Pokémon designs
The only known information about this creature is its name and image. In the playable alpha demo of Gold and Silver, its National Pokédex number was 212, it was a Water-type, and knew the moves Growl, Water Gun, and Tackle. Despite its Pokédex numbering, it was the Water-type starter in said demo. Since it resembles a seal, some fans believe it may have inspired Spheal's design, but they are no more similar than either of them is to Seel.
Like Kurusu above, its name and image are all that is known about it. While not confirmed, its name, a combination of 炎 honō, flame, and 熊 kuma, bear, almost definitely indicates it was a Fire-type Pokémon. In the alpha, it was a Fire-type, and knew the moves Ember, Scratch, and Leer; it was the Fire-type starter. Given its name refers to it as a bear, some fans believe it could have been an early version of the Teddiursa evolution family.
| Debut | Game Freak interview |
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Altered Pokémon
| Debut | Capsule Monsters |
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- Main article: Gengar (Pokémon)
- Main article: Nidorino (Pokémon)
An early version of Gengar, and a creature with traits of Nidorino, Gyarados and Feraligatr.
- Main article: Weedle (Pokémon)
An early version of Weedle. This was one of several Pokémon sprites shown on Game Freak's official Japanese website circa 1997.
The evolution of Kokana. This was one of several Pokémon sprites shown on Game Freak's official Japanese website circa 1997. It was replaced by Kakuna, although they share little similarities.
- Main article: Poliwag (Pokémon)
An early version of Poliwag. This was one of several Pokémon sprites shown on Game Freak's official Japanese website circa 1997.
- Main article: Poliwhirl (Pokémon)
- Main article: Poliwrath (Pokémon)
An early version of Poliwrath. This was one of several Pokémon sprites shown on Game Freak's official Japanese website circa 1997. Notably it is wearing a crown, similar to the King's Rock necessary to evolve Poliwhirl into Politoed.
- Main article: Dragonair (Pokémon)
An early version of Dragonair. This was one of several Pokémon sprites shown on Game Freak's official Japanese website circa 1997.
- Main article: Chikorita (Pokémon)
Happa's name simply means "leaf" in Japanese. Happa is the early version of Chikorita. Happa resembles Chikorita without its body and legs. In the alpha, its Pokédex number was 152 and it knew the moves Leech Seed, Tackle, and an unknown move called "Serene".
- Main article: Ledyba (Pokémon)
An early version of Ledyba. Unlike the final design, it has a black abdomen rather than a cream colored one. It also has a single pair of hands, and a pair of feet, and it appears to be headless, with its eyes and antenna attached to its body.
- Main article: Marill (Pokémon)
An early version of Marill. While they are recognizably similar, they are visually quite different. The pink/purple color is the main difference as well as the notably missing large ears. It also sports a thinner body, more resembling a rodent, but does not sport Marill's erratic tail pattern, though with this being a concept art, small details were most likely not a concern at the time.
- Main article: Girafarig (Pokémon)
This concept art of Girafarig shows the original design contained two full-sized giraffe heads, instead of the final version's one. It is also unknown why the design was changed, but overall it remains mostly similar outside of some coloring differences (though, because this is concept art, specific coloring details were most likely not considered at the time). This design might be reference to Girafarig's name being a palindrome.
- Main article: Qwilfish (Pokémon)
Bukū's name is derived from "fugu", the Japanese word for blowfish. It is most likely an early version of Qwilfish. Notable differences between Qwilfish and this pre-release version are the colors, and shape of the tail. Notably, the shape of the tail does appear slightly similar to the length of the tail in Qwilfish's Generation II back sprite. However, this was just an error and no other generation shows Qwilfish's tail that short.
- Main article: Torchic (Pokémon)
This early version of Torchic shows its lower body covered by an eggshell, with the fluff going all around its neck and wing-shaped ears. The other early design is nearly identical to the current Torchic, aside from the large floppy ears, rather than its final design's flame shaped feathers on its head, and a flame-shaped marking on the back of its head.
- Main article: Blaziken (Pokémon)
- Main article: Latias (Pokémon)
Sometimes referred to as Latiaziken or Latiken by fans, this early image from Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire depicts a creature with traits of both Latias and Blaziken. In appearance, it more closely resembles Blaziken. However, some features, including the size, are more similar to Latias. Some of its features do not resemble those of either Pokémon, such as the hands.
- Main article: Shellos (Pokémon)
- Main article: Gastrodon (Pokémon)
Prototype back sprites of Shellos and Gastrodon show an another form for each. These forms are possibly leftovers from when Shellos and Gastrodon were planned to be in Generation III. Shellos's sprite is pink, like its West Sea variation, and seems to combine the western variation's head with the Eastern variation's body, while Gastrodon's sprite is brown and looks like its Western variation, but with more rock-like protrusions on its body. Gastrodon's Platinum Pokédex entry appears to reference it's unused sprite.
Ken Sugimori: "Deino, Zweilous, Hydreigon. At first, these incorporated an army tank motif, and the marks that look like a conveyor belt on the upper part of Zweilous’s legs are the remnants of that. Initially, they didn’t work as designs and were basically ‘put to sleep’, however, a three-stage powerful Dragon-type family was ordered and they were resurrected."
Minor alterations
| Debut | Capsule Monsters |
|---|
- Main article: Blastoise (Pokémon)
- Main article: Staryu (Pokémon)
In this early depiction of a battle, Blastoise is without its signature water cannons. In its original context, this picture is captioned "Karabajio VS. Mimii", which are not the names of any known Pokémon.
| Debut | Capsule Monsters |
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- Main article: Lapras (Pokémon)
An early version of Lapras. While they are recognizably similar, they are visually quite different. Notably Lapras's curly ears are not present. Under the chin the pattern appears different, blending in with the texture of the rest of the head. There are also no visible appendages or tail but that may be due to the water. However, it bears a striking resemblance to its Generation I back sprite. Also in the sketch is an early design of Red.
- Main article: Kakuna (Pokémon)The "arms" on Kakuna seen in its Red and Blue sprite are commonly mistaken to be a sprite error, as they are rarely shown in any other media. They have so far only been shown on its Red and Blue sprite and a Pocket Monsters Carddass Trading Card.
- Main article: Bellossom (Pokémon)
Both early artwork of Bellossom and its Gold and Silver artwork show that it was originally to be a similar color to its other evolutionary relatives. A possible explanation for this change would be the intention to avoid another racial controversy, as the original Bellossom design appears similar to traditional polynesian dress. However, this is unlikely to be the case.
- Main article: Tyranitar (Pokémon)
This early version of Tyranitar is nearly identical to the design seen in the finalized Gold and Silver versions. It was shown alongside two unnamed Pokémon (seen in the section above) on the cover of a Japanese gaming magazine, where it was the only early design to become a released Pokémon. It has very few differences compared to the final version. Of these differences, the early Tyranitar design is more heavy-set, has a tan rather than indigo belly, has arms more reminiscent of Nidoking, and dozens of short spikes upon its back rather than a few long ones. It seems peculiar that Tyranitar was nearly completed at the time, but the other two featured Pokémon were never seen in their original designs.
- Main article: Treecko (Pokémon)
Concept art of Treecko shows numerous designs for the creature before the final design was decided. Many of these early sketches more closely resemble real geckos than the final product, which would later gain a more elongated head shape and a rounder nose.
- Main article: Groudon (Pokémon)
In its early design, it had a different shape to its eyes, one more set of spikes on the torso, one less spike on the tail, one of the spikes on the neck moved to the head on the final design, overall shapes are much less sharp, head details became much more elongated in the final version, and the weather trio signature body markings are not present.
- Main article: Excadrill (Pokémon)
In Excadrill's first appearance in a promotional video, the red markings on its body were mirrored. However, it was changed to its current appearance the next video it appeared in.
- Main article: Throh (Pokémon)
- Main article: Sawk (Pokémon)
According to interviews with Ken Sugimori in Nintendo Dream, during development, Sawk and Throh both had horns making them look more like Oni. However, they were replaced with eyebrows so as not to clash with Tornadus and Thundurus, who both were originally designed to be red and blue, like Throh and Sawk.
- Main article: Stunfisk (Pokémon)
Stunfisk was originally designed with an Angler Fish in mind, but obviously turned out a bit different. It was also a Water/Electric type but was changed to Ground/Electric to balance out the type spread of Pokémon.
Unreleased characters
| Debut | Capsule Monsters |
|---|
Early Capsule Monsters artwork was shown in the book Satoshi Tajiri: A Man Who Created Pokémon, revealing an unknown male character running a shop, or what would possibly become an early version of the Poké Mart. The character is almost bald, has long eyebrows and appears to be overweight. He is presented in a similar art style to the sumo enemies from Game Freak's debut title, Quinty (localized as Mendel Palace).
This art of a female character (with Squirtle) was featured on the cover artwork for the official strategy guide for Red and Green, as published by Shogakukan. A similar character appears several times in unofficial artbooks that came packaged with Pokémon origami sets (bottom). The artbooks were, however, illustrated by Emiko Yoshino rather than Ken Sugimori. When Red and Green were later remade, players finally got the chance to use a female player character who was possibly based on this character.
In the Pokémon Adventures manga, a similar artwork appeared at the end of Volume 3 (right). The design of the character Green seems to have drawn inspiration from this unknown female character. After the release of FireRed and LeafGreen, Green donned the same outfit as the female player character in the fifth chapter of the manga, namely due to their near exact resemblance.
This unnamed female Trainer art was revealed in a magazine prior to Generation II but never officially released. It is unknown who this Trainer was supposed to represent, be it a main character, a supporting character, or just an NPC. Visually, she has similarities to multiple Trainer classes. Her age and appearance make her appear similar to a Beauty or Cool Trainer, but her outfit is similar to a Lass or Picnicker. There is an object on her shirt that looks like what could have been a Gym Badge. This Badge has a rain drop on it, meaning she could have been a Water-type Gym Leader.
Hiding in the background of the same magazine as the female Trainer above was a male Trainer that was never used. As with the female Trainer, it is unknown if he was designed as a main character, or supporting character, or was simply representing a Trainer class. He has hints of multiple classes, such as a Tamer, Psychic, Juggler, Burglar, PokéManiac, Gambler and a male Rocket Executive. There is an object on his bandana that looks like what could have been a Gym Badge. This Badge has a red diamond on it. Due to the dark colors used and the fact that he is pictured with Tyranitar, it is possible he was a Dark-type Gym Leader.
Unknown cries
In Red and Blue
Within the coding of Pokémon Red and Blue, data exists for nine unused Pokémon cries. [1] The cries are defined accordingly to the Pokémon's index numbers. Whereas cry data for 30 Missingno. are left blank, resulting in voice 0 (Nidorino), pitch 0 and length 0 cries, there are a number of remaining cries which appear to have been defined intentionally. Cry 181 is notably similar to Crobat's cry in Gold and Silver.
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In Ruby and Sapphire
In a leaked German version of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, labelled 'Debugging Version 0509A' the cries of Pokémon with index numbers 252-276 are playable in the 'Driver Test' menu. Although these Pokémon normally correspond with ?, they have the cries of existing Pokémon exclusively to the Driver Test, suggesting that they may have once been real Pokémon.
There is an unused Pokémon cry assigned to index number 266.
There is an unused Pokémon cry assigned to index number 269.
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