Pokemon are some of the most beloved fictional characters out there, and practically every player has their personal favorite. Amazingly, the series has crafted over 800 Pokemon and still manages to make most of them engaging and imaginative.
Despite how many good Pokemon designs there are out there, not every single one is up to the same level of quality. Pokemon like Trubbish simply don't stake up to great designs like Bulbasaur, Pikachu, or countless others.
But what exactly makes a good Pokemon design? There doesn't seem to be some tried and true trick, but there are some key features that help define good Pokemon designs.
The Best Pokemon Designs are Simple & Relatable
Look at the three starters of Pokemon's first-gen, Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur. Simplicity unites all three of these designs, as they're based on identifiable, relatable creatures. Charmander is a lizard with a flaming tail, Squirtle a turtle that shoots water, and Bulbasaur an omnivorous dinosaur. Even after they evolve, none of the designs are overly complicated and they stick to that core idea. Even though Pokemon aren't real, if they were, these are designs that would make sense, since they're so similar to creature seen on Earth.
Compare this to some of the more inanimate designs, like Trubbish or Klefki. Those Pokemon aren't as easy to imagine as living creatures, it's more of a stretch to see a set of keys or a trashbag come to life. This fact is coupled with the ever-increasing complexity of Pokemon designs. Part of the reason the original designs were so simple is because of the limits of the Game Boy. In Red and Blue, Pokemon designs had to be simple in order to render, and even the Game Boy Color could only display a handful of colors. Still, when these designs were translated into the anime they came alive, and adding quirks and voices to each one only gave them more personality. Game Freak still manages to consistently make great designs, but the most memorable are always the ones that are the easiest to relate to, and people's favorites tend to coincide with what animals they like best. Even though people love to see crazy Pokemon designs, sometimes simplicity is the best route.
