How do you describe Pokemon in your fic?

[brickwork]

Thread title says it all. When your POV sees a Pokemon for the first time, how is it described? Do you describe it in detail? Or do you not describe it at all?

 

[Instrutilus]

Breifly, without much detail =P Unless I've not got an english name for it, then I detail it the best I can. Otherwise, a more detailed description of Travelsverse (and most other works of mine) can be found 'ere if you ask for it =P

 

[AceTrainer14]

I usually describe some Pokemon in detail if the Pokemon is important and the detail is handy. I don;t describe every single wild Pokemon my characters pass, as that seems pointless and a rather silly waste of space. So the important Pokemon get described, the others don't

 

[LightningTopaz]

I include a little idea of what the Pokemon basically look like the first time it appears. (so Pikachu is described as "The little yellow mouse", for example)

 

[CrystaI]

I give a brief description, generally summed up in one or two sentences. But depends on the POV, I might describe it a little longer than that.

Just like it was said by AceTrainer14, the important Pokemon will be described in more detailed description, whereas the less important ones like wild Pokemon or handheld Pokemon from some random trainers will be described in less detailed description.


For example, in Episode 3 of my ポケモンNAC (translated from Japanese):

Chris saw a Pokemon fell near the thicket. That Pokemon is a green mantis having the size a little smaller than Chris herself, its two arms being two sharp scythes, and additionally its whole body is full of burns and bruise, lying on the ground and breathing very weakly.​

I then refer this Pokemon as "the mantis Pokemon" until Chris take out her Pokedex to search for information about this Pokemon. This Scyther is the main Pokemon in this episode, so I give longer description.

During battles, I generally give very short descriptions, and mention the Pokemon names immediately despite that the protagonist may not yet known to that Pokemon. For example, a battle scene in that same episode:

Daisuke had throw out his second Pokeball and sent out his next Pokemon. Chris' next opponent is a round monkey having a pig-like nose, commonly called as Mankey.​

Chris have not yet seen any Mankey before, but still I mention the Pokemon species name immediately after the short description. This is because this Mankey is not important enough to let the protagonist to take out the Pokedex to search for information.

Sometimes, other than just the physical look, I might also give description to how the Pokemon appeals to one character. This is generally for the Pokemon that gives major mental impression like extremely scary, sacred, beautiful, etc.
For example, during a battle scene in Episode 1 of クロスワールドの冒険者たち (Translated from Japanese):

Ray throws out his yellow and black HyperBall, revealing the Pokemon hidden inside. And the Pokemon that come out is indeed an unordinary Pokemon that Atsusi had expected. That is a Dark Dragon Pokemon having six pitch-black wings on its back, its two hands are shaped like head, so it looks like it has three heads in total. It has extremely horrific appearance, such that it is like it can plant horror into one's heart. Additionally this Pokemon seems to be extremely savage, it howls out tempestuously when it came out from the Pokeball, making the shuddering chill oozing out from it even stronger.​

However, I don't know would you consider the latter part in this example as part of the description of this Pokemon.

 

[Trouble]

Well, although I use a mostly omniscient 3rd person POV in my current fic, the one thing the 3rd person doesn't know all about are the Pokemon and Pokemon technology. That's mostly because the main character doesn't either, so any Pokemon appearing for the first time are described pretty thoroughly, or at least I give a rough idea of what they look like. The rest is either left up to imagination, or the reader's current knowledge of Pokemon.

 

[Kyuuketsuki]

Just brief description of the Pokémon. Because this is a Pokémon forum, and I imagine that most, if not all, of the members know what Pokémon look like, and can distinguish the species.

 

[Giustizia]

I agree with Kyuujux, only a brief description. However when introducing important Pokemon, i.e the main protagonist's, I'll go into deeper detail.

I usually take inspiration from the Bulbapedia description page too.

 

[Kantomasta]

I usually do a brief decription if it is just a regular pokemon. If i have a shiny, legendarie, rare, etc, I usually describe it a little better.

 

[Drakon]

Pretty much no description unless there is something unique about the pokémon.

 

[MuddyMudkip]

I usually describe its outer features. And, if I see it fits, their usual behavior, too. I just go to Bulbapedia and describe from there on. I get a bit more detailed/descriptive for rarer/special/legendary Pokemon.

 

[matt0044]

I use the description of their physical features from Bulbapedia.

 

[voidcritter]

Pretty much no description unless there is something unique about the pokémon.

This. Or sometimes I have a little description when it figures into the plot, even if the Pokemon itself isn't terribly unique.

Example that I just did off the top of my head:

"Isn't she cute?" she held the Wooper in her arms, careful not to let the gloves slip and expose her bare skin. "I've named her Wanda."

"Why?"

"Well, she just looks like a Wanda to me." Amy said. She gave a confused glance at Marie before adding more water to the tub. "Wanda" seemed to enjoy learning more about this strange new contraption--the faucet--and had dunked its head underwater.

"It's a boy. Look at the gills." Marie said. "The mother Quagsire we saw didn't have fins this big either, did she?"

Wanda was called Waldo from then on.

Or sometimes brevity works just fine:

There was a Gyarados in the middle of the lake. It was bright red, and he had to look twice to be absolutely sure of what he was seeing.

Whatever it was, that wasn't supposed to happen.

 

[Sarcastically Insane]

I think of describing them the same way you would describe an animal- if I see 'Haunter', I think of a floating face and hands, the same way when I see 'fox' I think of a red dog-like animal with a bushy tail. If something warrants more description- scars, unusual manerisms, special marks, etc.- I add that, the same way one would with a real-life animal.

 

[Kayi Rowling]

I just name their Pokemon species... :sweatlol: *lazy*

 

[Mr Metagross]

Well, uhm, I tend to describe it like I do the environment. It's like you're describing it to someone who's never seen that 'mon before. If I were to describe, say, a Metagross (who else saw that coming?), I'd do it like this:

The creature barely seemed to be living. Vaguely resembling a flying saucer from a science-fiction movie, the Pokémon before me almost seemed to be robotic; artificial. Its four legs were rippling with realistic muscles, as if real organs were to dwell beneath. Three bone-like spikes provided support for the flat-footed limbs and were the only part of the entire creature that didn't seem robotic. These limbs were connected by metallic tendrils to the main body; a shape that could pass for a UFO. The signature "X" stretched across its face, allowing only room for a pair of blood-red eyes, and even those seemed unreal. Its entire being was coated in a resilient steel, glinting in the radiant noon sun. Its lower half detached itself as it released a savage battle cry. Its every step shook the ground, demonstrating its raw power.

Okay, so that wasn't the best description, but did you see? I didn't even say "Metagross" in that whole text. That's what I do anyway, for some of you who are too lazy might not do that. *glares at Kayi*

 

[Glitchipedia]

I generally do not do this with my RP character Colin Sonan. I rationalize this by making it clear that Colin has read the entirety of The National Pokémon Encyclopedia, Fifth Edition and thus knows each and every species by heart.

As for Joanie Aimes, in spite of the fact that she is not native to the Pokémon nation, I figure she would be the type to do the research before traveling to a foreign country. There would only be a few Pokémon she might not know about—mostly the more exotic species. In those cases, I might resort to describing them. Such a situation has yet to arise.

 

[SuperTrainStationH]

When writing original fiction I describe unusual or made up creatures in detail either from the outset from their first appearance, or gradually as the story progresses.

In the case of Pokémon fanfiction, I personally wouldn't bother with that as the target audience is already going to be familiar with the different creatures featured and just the species name alone would probably be enough to express what was going on. I'd only describe them physically if they had any unique characteristics (like Spike Eared Pichu) or describe them physically in relation to what they are doing.