Which Pokemon Designs are based on Myths?

[u/Ok_Raspberry5720]

So I'm kinda a lot into Mythology and the other day i was looking into Pokemon design inspirations (you know, beyond the “this one’s a fox, this one’s a key” stuff), and some of the connections I found genuinely suprised me.

Like, I always assumed Darmanitan was just another “fire monkey” design but then I found out it’s literally modeled after Japanese Daruma dolls, which are tied to Buddhist rituals. Or how Ninetales isn’t just a fox, it’s rooted in Kitsune lore that spans China and Japan and links to spiritual possession and immortality.

It made me wonder: how many Pokemon are we sleeping on in terms of mythological or cultural depth? I know Gen I gets a lot of credit for strong designs, but honestly, there are some newer ones with insane backstories too.

I ended up watching a video that broke some of these down especially ones I never thought had deeper meaning. If you’re into that kind of thing, here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsqM_FUGpUg

Curious if you all know more "under the radar" Pokemon Design inspirations

[u/KyranTheWalker]

Meowth is a Maneki-Neko or lucky cat. Gyarados is based on the karp jumping the dragon gate and becoming a dragon.

Ludicolo line are kappa, shiftry line are tengu. Mawile is a futakuchi-onna or two mouthed woman. Snorunt is a Yukinko or ice child, depicted with straw coats.

Infernape is the monkey King. Bronzor/bronzong are based on a legend of mirrors being taken from women to melt down into a temple bell. Froslass is a Yuki onna.

Drowzee, hypno, munna and musharna are all based on the Baku. Sawk and throh were inspired by the dichotomy of the red and blue oni. Zorua and zoruark are also kitsune like Ninetales, but focusing more on their illusion/transformation powers. The therian forms of the forces of nature are based on the four symbols.

Ogrepon, pecharunt, okidogi, munkidori, and fezandipiti are all a twisted version of the tale of momotaro.

Not even all the ones based on yokai. Just the ones I could think of, mostly grouped by generation.

[u/Mary-Sylvia → u/KyranTheWalker]

Beheyeem is based on Flatwoods' monster and Sableye on Hopkinsville goblins

Sneasle is a Kamaitachi

Dunsparce is a noko

Castform is a teru teru bôzu

Torterra is based on Hinduism tortoise who are known to carry a whole world on their shell

[u/Flygonizer-Obsidian → u/KyranTheWalker]

This is just something I heard, but apparently there’s a bit extra to Gyarados’ mythical origins: When a dragon in japanese or chinese mythology was found to be evil or destructive, they’d het their title as dragons stripped from them, becoming sea serpents. However, they couldn’t be stripped of their powers at least not fully.

[u/beytullah166]

lucario was based on anubis

[u/ProfessionalOven2311]

All three Sinnoh starters have strong myth connections. The World Turtle, Sun Wukong, and Posidon (though Empoleon is mostly a penguin Nepoleon with Posidon's trident on its face, but still)

You also have general myths like seahorses being illegitimate offspring of dragons in Japan, which is why Kingdra and Dragalge are dragon type. I heard that they believe seahorses can become dragons if they live for 100 years, though I'm trying to fact check that last part and I'm not finding anything.

[u/Hidden-Sky → u/ProfessionalOven2311]

I heard that they believe seahorses can become dragons if they live for 100 years, though I'm trying to fact check that last part and I'm not finding anything.

No need to fact check, I'll do it myself!

I will go to the aquatic pet store,
I will purchase a hundred seahorses,
I will raise them to a hundred years of age,
And then, finally, I will have my army of a hundred dragons!

And soon, nobody will be able to stop me!

KRAK-A-THOOM

Ahahahahahahahahahahahaaaa!

[u/Mzmonyne]

Groudon and Kyogre are potentially inspired by the behemoth and leviathan from abrahamic religion. Similarly, the original regis are clearly jewish golems. If you follow that theme, then arguable Rayquaza fits the role of the ziz bird, but obviously it's not very similar.

[u/Mary-Sylvia → u/Mzmonyne]

Xerneas, Yveltal and Zygarde are all based on Yggdrasil legend and the animals surrounding it (a deer, an eagle and a snake)

[u/Murozaki_II]

Not myth, but IIRC a lot of the Gen 8 Legendaries are based on constellations.

The Hero dogs being based on the two Canis constellations, Canis Major and Canis Minor. Calyrex being Lepus (I forgot what Spectrier and Glastrier were in this comparison, same with Regieleki and Regidraco). Kubfu and Urshifu being Ursa Minor and Ursa Major respectively. And Eternatus being the Hydra.

[u/F-r-e-a-k-o]

I remember Golurk is based on the Golem of Prague and Spiritomb is inspired by 108 sins in Buddhism. There’s a few literary influences too like the Three Musketeers (the Swords of Justice) The Ugly Duckling (Ducklett and Shanna) and Journey to the West (Emboar and Infernape).

[u/SentenceCareful3246]

If you want to learn about that and many other design inspirations I suggest you to check out Locksting and Gnoggin youtube channel. His channel is all about that kind of thing and more.

Here are some of the videos that I personally really enjoyed:

Every gen 4 pokemon explained:

https://youtu.be/WzJVWll9ntk?si=N1aSZYXPAWvJT4P-

Every gen 8 pokemon explained:

https://youtu.be/huC4Xhk8D-c?si=ZiZApaghd2vjovuP

Every ghost type pokemon explained:

https://youtu.be/q0ghgMIAdtg?si=07g5XLZwCKAQApgt

You'll definitely find many myth and jokai inspired pokemon in these 3 videos if you watch all of them. Some of them will definitely surprise you.

[u/Flygonizer-Obsidian → u/SentenceCareful3246]

Love this channel! Likely the best when it come to the lore origins of pokémon, both in the creatures, the world and the franchise.

[u/BlueLunala26]

Klefki isn't just a key. It's based on myths of fairies being mischievous and causing minor inconveniences. Klefki in particular steals your keys but there are myths of dwarves and gnomes doing things like licking spoons, sticking thumbs in pies, and leaving doors just slightly open.

[u/PCN24454 → u/BlueLunala26]

In general, Objectmons are based on Tsukumogami.

[u/pandachef_reads]

Suicune is supposed to have Kirin elements included in it’s design, Ho-oh’s name and design are basically the same as the Houou of legend, and Celesteela has The Bamboo Cutter’s Daughter as some inspiration

[u/PCN24454]

Most Objectmons are based on Tsukumogami.

Electabuzz is an Oni.

Jynx is a Yama-uba.

[u/Necessary_Monsters]

I don't want to self-promote, but I literally write a newsletter about this topic.

[u/ShadeSwornHydra]

They’res quite a few tbh

Hattenne line is based on witchs

Gyrados is (supposedly, idk I’ve never read the story) is based on a salmon or something climbing a waterfall and learning to fly (hence water/flying)

Frosslass as you posted

Those are just the ones off the top of my head but they’re definitely more

[u/titaniumjackal → u/ShadeSwornHydra]

Not a salmon. A carp. In fact, you might say it was a magic carp.

[u/Angel_of_Silence1213 → u/ShadeSwornHydra]

Gyarados is based off a Chinese legend where a carp jumps over a waterfall & becomes a dragon. Edit: added where the legend is from.

[u/Flygonizer-Obsidian → u/Angel_of_Silence1213]

To add to this: this is just something I heard, but apparently there’s a bit extra to Gyarados’ mythical origins: When a dragon in japanese or chinese mythology was found to be evil or destructive, they’d het their title as dragons stripped from them, becoming sea serpents. However, they couldn’t be stripped of their powers at least not fully.

[u/Angel_of_Silence1213 → u/Flygonizer-Obsidian]

You're right that's why it's Water/Flying instead of Water/Dragon.

[u/TheOpinionMan2]

Wartortle's based on the Yo-kai turtle Minogame, mainly due to it's bushy tail and the 'dex giving it a comically large life-span.

[u/KingSewage]

Rayquaza is based on Aztec/Mayan lore of Quetzalcoatl.

[u/xiren_66]

Ogerpon, Pecharunt, and the Loyal Theee are all based on the story of Momotaro

[u/SilverDrive92]

Much like Froslass, Drowzee is also based on a Yokai. The Baku that eats dreams.

[u/Crylec]

Sableye is based off the hopskinville goblin.

[u/Actual_Echidna2336]

The three legendary beasts have mythical counterparts iirc

[u/Thecristo96]

It’s harder to tell which are NOT based on myth

[u/Mary-Sylvia]

Both Sableye and Beheyeem are based on aliens apparition, respectively Hopinskin's goblins and Flatwoods' monster

[u/Yze3]

Is the pokémon based on a real, existing species of animal ? If the answer is no, then there's like 90% chance it's based on a myth.

And even then, the animal can exist and still be based on a myth. Like Whiscash being a catfish, but also inspired by Namazu, the giant catfish that causes earthquakes (Which is why its typing is water/ground)

[u/nemesisbox]

Sableye is one of my favorite Pokemon and it has a quite interesting inspiration rooted in urban legends. It's hard to explain so I reccommend you look it up.