Do you think pokemon is influenced by other franchises?

[Almonds]

Just out of curiosity, I wonder if Pokemon is influenced by other anime/manga/game ... stuff like that.


For example, Crocodile from One-piece existed before Gen5 came out - and anyone who's seen him would know he can control sand, which we could also take as "ground". He's also one of the bad guys, which is pretty "dark".

And then there's the Sandile family in Gen5. Ground/Dark.


...Coincidence?

 

[Ghetsis-Dennis]

Most of the elements from the Pokemon franchise were inspired by the Mother series, but there are few from other franchises:

- Excadrill (Gurren Lagann)
- Lyra (Mario)
- Ghetsis (Zero Wing, a.k.a. All Your Base)
- Infernape (DBZ)
- Lucario (Street Fighter)
- Tyranitar (Godzilla)

 

[SolgaleoGX]

Yes.

Spoiler

We can play as a princess now.

 

[Blockhead Pippi]

Most of the elements from the Pokemon franchise were inspired by the Mother series, but there are few from other franchises:

- Excadrill (Gurren Lagann)
- Lyra (Mario)
- Ghetsis (Zero Wing, a.k.a. All Your Base)
- Infernape (DBZ)
- Lucario (Street Fighter)
- Tyranitar (Godzilla)

You do realize that DragonBall was based on the Chinese tale Journey to the West right, and that Infernape (and Emboar) were influenced by that? I wouldn't say that it was influenced by another franchise.

Anyway, I can definitely say that some parts of the games are influenced by Pulseman. S.S. Anne, Volt Tackle/Volteccer, Team Galactic, Rotom, so on...

 

[Garren]

Nah, Emboar is based off the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, another Chinese epic, according to GameFreak interviews. I don't know if it's any one character who he draws from though.

Shinx is Kimba the White Lion, Munchlax and Snorlax are Totoro, Purloin and Liepard are Doronjo from Yatterman, and Salamence is Devil Man (same color scheme and wings). There are probably other lesser manga and anime references too...I've always suspected Machamp was inspired by Kinnikuman due to his big lips and horns, and then there's all the Kaiju Pokemon like Nidoking (Baragon), Tyranitar (Godzilla), Volcarona (Mothra), and even Garchomp resembles this Gamera villain I remember seeing.

Lucario (Street Fighter)

I'm not sure, "Hadou" is a pretty big element in a lot of anime, so I don't think it's Street Fighter in general. But I do think that was one of the main inspirations in creating Lucario, and the "Hadou" subset of moves, since it's well known.

 

[Almonds]

Nah, Emboar is based off the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, another Chinese epic, according to GameFreak interviews. I don't know if it's any one character who he draws from though.

Lucario (Street Fighter)

I'm not sure, "Hadou" is a pretty big element in a lot of anime, so I don't think it's Street Fighter in general. But I do think that was one of the main inspirations in creating Lucario, and the "Hadou" subset of moves, since it's well known.

Wut, Emboar and the Romance of the Three Kingdoms?? Just WHO is he supposed to represent?

Lucario's Aura Sphere - I always thought it was another version of Enerugi Beam or something from Dragon Ball

 

[Xenidal]

Godzilla is a definite influence, as seen in the early concept art (there's even a Pokémon named "Godzillante"). Also in that picture is a giant gorilla named "Gorillaimo"... possibly a reference to Donkey Kong but I'm thinking it is a reference to King Kong.
But those never made it into the actual game... however, Godzilla references are common as seen in Quattro ~ Bajeena's post.

The concept itself (catching Pokémon) was based on insect collecting (Tajiri collected insects as a kid). I've also heard (although I haven't seen an official source backing this up) that the battling aspect was based on insect fighting.

Generation I was based on "science", with several Pokémon resembling dinosaurs, experiments, or genetic stuff.

Gligarman was an obvious reference to Batman, with his dub name being a reference to Peter Parker (SpiderMan).

 

[Garren]

Wut, Emboar and the Romance of the Three Kingdoms?? Just WHO is he supposed to represent?

Dunno.

The closest character, and I've never read it, this is just browsing through the Wiki Page, is Guan Yu - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, known for his red face and magnificent beard.

Speaking of Chinese Epics, Spiritomb draws inspiration from the Water Margin, which was the basis of the series Suikoden, as the beginning of the novel involves 108 spirits being released from a stone prison.

 

[Te-em]

I've seen a monster in Zelda which looks very much like Sounansu with a long body and strange feet, and if you hit it, it deals you back damage. I don't know if the idea is originally from Zelda or if it comes from somewhere else.

Perhaps it's just a coincidence, for their design is quite simple, and I first noticed the similarities because you'd get hurt if you hit them.

The Pokemon Buizel reminds me of Tails in Sonic, the Hedgehog, because of its two tails.

I also saw that the second Pokemon movie had scenes similar to Ocarina of Time scenes, like playing an ocarina before an altar with three elemental stones.

Playing RSE, there were also similarities to SaGa, where you collect two orbs, one red and one blue, to fight a monster in the sky and one below the sea.

 

[Xenidal]

Speaking of Chinese Epics, Spiritomb draws inspiration from the Water Margin, which was the basis of the series Suikoden, as the beginning of the novel involves 108 spirits being released from a stone prison.

I think 108 is a common theme in Buddhism, so it could just be coincedence that both involve 108 spirits and a stone.

 

[Blockhead Pippi]

Purloin and Liepard are Doronjo from Yatterman

Okay, now that is an interesting one, especially since I was just about to post something here about Team Dorombo. I wouldn't say that Purlion and Liepard are based on her though, as the mask she wears is kind of a common thing.

Anyway...

I personally believe that the anime's Team Rocket was influenced by Team Gaikottsu (Yatterman is a spin-off series of Time Bokan. Team Dorombo were based on a nearly identical team in it called Team Gaikottsu, so they were technically the first). The fact that Team Rocket is always getting involved with the twerps, use mecha in many of their schemes, and often get a crushing or explosive defeat at the end of most episodes all pretty much allude to Team Gaikottsu in nearly every way.

 

[Twinmold]

Hydreigon has clear roots in the old KG.

 

[33Whimsicott33]

Bisharp and the sentai.
Emboar may also come from zhu ba jie, from the Journey West. The devs did mention a Chinese influence on the Tepig line.

 

[The Froakster]

My friend showed a drawing of a snake/serpent to someone from Nintendo, the sake looked like serperior (this was before gen 5) and he said, we could make a Pokemon out of it.

 

[S.S. Shadow Minun]

Some parts of Pokémon media were influenced by other franchises, for example, Charon's English name is a corruption of Carton's name in Quinty but he looks more like Doc Waruyama from Pulseman game. Quinty (aka Mendel Palace) and Pulseman were also designed by Pokémon's creator, Satoshi Tajiri.

 

[ArceusAlpha493]

I have noticed that since Pokemon Ranger: Gaurdian Signs, Game Freak has been putting references to the Legend of Zelda series.

First off on Gaurdian Signs:

On Gaurdian Signs there are references to Phantom Hourglass.

In Noir Forest, the Dusclops act as PH Phantoms. In Guardian Signs, you can get behind them and capture them to eliminate them. In PH, you can get behind them and use the Phantom Sword to eliminate them.

Daybreak Ruins has a lot of puzzles, just like the LoZ series! You use Pokemon to solve them, and in LoZ you use your weapons to solve them.

In Oblivia Ruins, the Claydol remind me of Phantom Eyes, because Claydol and Phantom Eyes can see you in all directions.

Also, when you get the real Rainbow grail, the character holds up the item Link style with a little fanfare playing.


On Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explors of Time/Darkness/Sky

In the Igglybuff the prodigy special episode, is a cutscene involving a room in a dungeon filled with many Zelda dungeon puzzle-like implements that a character explains are probably all used to open the door in that room. A later cutscene involves the same character talking about a single simple, common (but reverse-solution) Zelda puzzle type found in front of him inside another dungeon.

In Pokemon Black and White:

There is the seven sages in Team Plasma like Seven Sages in Ocarina of Time. Also, Emboar bears a striking resemblance to Ganon, a recurring antoganist in the Zelda series. In fact, I nicknamed my Emboar Ganon because of that. I have seen many devianart works with Emboar as Ganon. Also, the Celestial Tower music is similar to the Light World dungeon music on Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. And when the character gets an item he holds it up like Windwaker Link and a little fanfare plays.

In Emerald, there is the Rain Badge resembling the Triforce

Another thing is that Pokemon Black and White came out on the same year that was the 25th Anniversary of the Legend of Zelda series. I wouldn't be suprised if GameFreak puts Zelda references in future Pokemon games. In fact, I wonder if a few of the staff also worked on the Zelda games too.

 

[Garren]

Charon's English name is a corruption of Carton's name in Quinty but he looks more like Doc Waruyama from Pulseman game

Probably a coincidence, since Game Freak named him "Pluto".

It was NOA/TPCI who named him Charon, and that was theme naming.

 

[S.S. Shadow Minun]

Other Quinty references in Pokémon franchise:
Hitmonchan, Mudkip, Makuhita and Lombre = inspired by some enemy dolls' sprites.
Meloetta = inspired by the final boss dolls' sprites.

Jerry Boy references in Pokémon franchise:
Marill = influnced by Jerry Boy's jumping moves
Ditto = somewhat influnced by Jerry Boy's design

More Pulseman references in Pokémon franchise:
Ledian = Pulseman's body design
Hariyama = corruption of Doc Yoshiyama/Waruyama's name
Plusle = influenced by Pulseman's name and powers. Its twin, Minun, also shares Pulseman's Japanese name portions.
Regigigas = Stage 4 Boss' design
Bisharp = Pulseman's body and armor design

Drill Dozer/Screw Breaker references in Pokémon franchise:
Buneary = Jill's design (Jill's real name is Dori Kururi, but Jill uses her real name in Screw Breaker, and uses her nickname in Drill Dozer)
Drilbur and Excadrill = Drill Dozer's moves and designs

 

[Great Otaku Princess]

I don't think so, it's a pretty original franchise.

I think it draws a lot from the Japanese culture though.

 

[Ghetsis-Dennis]

I don't think so, it's a pretty original franchise.

I think it draws a lot from the Japanese culture though.

Yet we see some references from their past works (Ex: Mother). You don't think Ninten and Red look somewhat alike?