Venusaur
This early design shows Venusaur, though with Ivysaur's final index number and name, フシギソウ. Though, this is indeed Venusaur, as this is also the case with Cloyster from this period which uses Shellder's final index number and name. It maintains a blossomed flower on its back.
Karabajio and Mimī
In this early depiction of a battle, Blastoise is shown without its signature water cannons, and Staryu has a slightly different design. This picture is captioned "Karabajio VS. Mimī", which are not the names of any known Pokémon. Karabajio may be a reference to the Italian painter Caravaggio, which in turn may reference how the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are named after Italian artists. It also may include "carapace".
Kokana
An early version of Weedle. This was one of several Pokémon sprites shown on Game Freak's official Japanese website circa 1997.
Kasanagi
Kasanagi evolution
Spearow
This early version of Spearow, identified by its index number, was revealed on a sprite sheet for Pokémon Red and Green. Its design is different, with traits similar to both Farfetch'd and its final version.
In an interview with Japanese newspaper Yomiuri on May 2, 2018, Pikachu's original illustrator, Atsuko Nishida, revealed the Pokémon's initial prototype resembled a daifuku (a round dessert) with ears.[4][5][10] Its design basis changed to a squirrel to make it cuter overall, although the black tips on its ears are remnants of the initial concept.
Clefairy
An early design for Clefairy, identified by its index number, that was shown on a sprite sheet for Pokemon Red and Green. Its round body is similar to its final design, although there are many differences, such as its horns and extremely enlarged eyes.
Poliwag
An early version of Poliwag. This was one of several Pokémon sprites shown on Game Freak's official Japanese website circa 1997.
Nyosuka
An early version of an evolved form for Poliwag. 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.
Seel
A very early design for Seel, revealed in the 2018 educational manga "Satoshi Tajiri: The Man Who Created Pokémon". It was again part of the Popularity Poll entry sheets shown in the manga on a board. Although it does not resemble its final design, its name in Japanese, Pauwau (パウワウ'), is identical.
Lapras
This early version of Lapras is recognizably similar, but visually quite different. Lapras's curly ears are not present, and the underbelly coloration ends under the lower jaw instead of including it. 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.
Dragonair
An early version of Dragonair. This was one of several Pokémon sprites shown on Game Freak's official Japanese website circa 1997.
Hanamogura
Chikorita's prototype evolution, present in the Spaceworld '97 demo, looked drastically different from the final Bayleef, with an appearance resembling a blossom. Its name in the demo was (Japanese: ハナモグラ Hanamogura). The final design, released a couple of years later in 1999, can be seen below.
Hōhō
An early design of Hoothoot, present in the Spaceworld '97 demo, had facial markings resembling freckles and a tail acting as a single, pendulum-like feather. Its name in the demo was (Japanese: Hōhō). The final design, released a couple of years later in 1999, can be seen below.
Bobo
An early design of Noctowl, with a design more reminiscent of Hoothoot, was present in the Spaceworld '97 demo. Its name in the demo was (Japanese: ボーボー Bobo). The final design, released a couple of years later in 1999, can be seen below.
Kokumo
An early design of Spinarak with segmented legs was present in the Spaceworld '97 demo. Its name in the demo was (Japanese: コクモ Kokumo). The final design, released a couple of years later in 1999, can be seen below.
Twohead
An early design of Ariados that strongly resembles Spinarak and has a face on its abdomen, was present in the Spaceworld '97 demo. Its name in the demo was (Japanese: ツーヘッド Twohead). The final design, released a couple of years later in 1999, can be seen below.
Pachime
An early design of Mareep was present in the Spaceworld '97 demo. Its name in the demo was (Japanese: パチメエ Pachime). The final design, released a couple of years later in 1999, can be seen below.
Ampharos
An early sprite of Ampharos from when Pokémon Gold and Silver were in development for the original Game Boy, as shown by its two-tone color palette. Ampharos is shown with a shorter neck and it only has two rings around its neck instead of three.
Bellossom
The artwork of Bellossom used until Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen shows that it was originally to be a similar color to its other evolutionary relatives. This might have been changed to avoid another racial controversy, as the original Bellossom design appears similar to traditional Polynesian dress.
Mariru
An early design of Marill was present in the Spaceworld '97 demo. While it is recognizably similar, it has several visual differences, most notably the pink color. It also does not sport Marill's erratic tail pattern. Its name in the demo was (Japanese: Mariru). The final design, released a couple of years later in 1999, can be seen below.
Nyorotono
A drastically different early design of Politoed with a more frog-like appearance, no antenna, and the swirling pattern seen on the rest of the Poliwag line, was present in the Spaceworld '97 demo. Its name in the demo was (Japanese: Nyorotono). The final design, released a couple of years later in 1999, can be seen below.
Haneko
An early, darker version of Hoppip present in the Spaceworld '97 demo, lacked limbs and had a long tail. Its name in the demo was (Japanese: ハネコ Haneko). The final design, released a couple of years later in 1999, can be seen below.
Poponeko
An early design of Skiploom with no limbs and a long tail was present in the Spaceworld '97 demo. Its name in the demo was (Japanese: ポポネコ Poponeko). The final design, released a couple of years later in 1999, can be seen below.
Wataneko
An early design of Jumpluff with no limbs and a long tail resembling a hot air balloon was present in the Spaceworld '97 demo. Its name in the demo was (Japanese: ワタネコ Wataneko). The final design, released a couple of years later in 1999, can be seen below.
Tail
A drastically different design of Aipom, closer in design to a lemur, was present in the Spaceworld '97 demo. Its name in the demo was (Japanese: テイル Tail). The final design, released a couple years later in 1999, can be seen below.
Mizuuo
An early design of Quagsire, with a chubbier body, no dorsal ridge, and a tail resembling Poliwag's, was present in the Spaceworld '97 demo. Its name in the demo was (Japanese: ミズウオ Mizuuo). The final design, released a couple of years later in 1999, can be seen below.
Kirinriki
This sprite of Girafarig from the Spaceworld 1997 demo shows the original design featured two full-sized giraffe heads. It is unknown why the design was changed, but overall it remains mostly similar outside of some coloring differences. This design might be a reference to Girafarig's name being a palindrome. It also bears a resemblance to a pushmi-pullyu. Its name in the demo was (Japanese: Kirinriki). The final design, released a couple of years later in 1999, can be seen below.
Treecko
Concept art of Treecko shows numerous designs for the creature before the final one 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.
Torchic
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, and a flame-shaped marking on the back of its head, rather than the final design's flame-shaped feathers on top of its head.
Blaziken
A design of Blaziken that featured wings.[11] Sometimes referred to as Latiken or Latiaziken by fans, this early image from Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire also features many traits shared by Latias and Latios.
Groudon
In its early design, its eyes were shaped differently, the positioning of the spikes on its body was slightly different, its overall shapes are much less sharp, its head details became much more elongated in the final version, and the Super-Ancient Pokemon's signature body patterns are not present.
Combee
The original design for Combee featured three larvae, instead of honey bees, wedged inside a honeycomb. Ken Sugimori noted that while the concept sounded "gross", it is nonetheless a distinctive and attention-grabbing idea, so the team decided to keep the design and tweak it slightly. In particular, Combee's three faces were simplified, based on simple faces found in old comic books, to make its overall appearance friendlier.[12]
Shellos and Gastrodon
Prototype back sprites of Shellos and Gastrodon found in the release versions of Diamond and Pearl show 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 form, and seems to combine the West Sea form's head with the East Sea form's body. Gastrodon's sprite is brown and looks like its West Sea form, but with more rock-like protrusions on its body.
Excadrill
In Excadrill's first appearance in a promotional video, its body was violet and its markings were mirrored and a different shade of red. However, it was changed to its current appearance in the next video it appeared in.
According to interviews with Ken Sugimori in Nintendo Dream, during development, Sawk and Throh both had horns to look more like oni. However, these were replaced with eyebrows so as not to clash with Tornadus and Thundurus, who were originally designed to be red and blue, like Throh and Sawk.[13]
Stunfisk's design was originally based on a goosefish, but eventually became more like a flounder. It was also a Water/Electric-type, but was changed to Ground/Electric to balance out the type spread of Pokémon.[8]
Hydreigon's evolutionary line was originally designed with a tank motif, with the tread-like markings on Zweilous and Hydreigon being remnants of this design. The initial designs were scrapped after the designers felt that it didn't work. Later, a powerful, three stage Dragon-type evolution was needed and the design was brought back and revised.[13]
Hydreigon's design was based on the eight-headed Yamata no Orochi, although it is designed with fewer heads to appear less off-putting.[13]
Initially, Tornadus and Thundurus were designed as red and blue demons. However, the designers felt that the colors made them too similar to Sawk and Throh, so the horns of Sawk and Throh were replaced with eyebrows.[13]
ncG1vNJzZmiapaGvorzEnaCaZpKquaOtxpqpnZ2eY7umwI6woKShX4G2tMC%2BqJ2YrZ6qwKawvommpF1zaHKChcyopZiZnpmspLTAq5icrJWnrKWx0qKep6s%3D