Pokémon sprites, art evolve over the years, Part 2: Readers point out Arbok differenc

[BulbaBot]

Continuing last week's editorial on the evolution of Pokémon designs and graphics, I will explore several more changed Pokémon designs as well as address some of the comments made by readers. As the last editorial was, this article is image-heavy.

Read more on Bulbanews

 

[Habunake]

They need to mention Spinarak's GS miscolored sprite.

Nice article

 

[inkysquid12]

It's a shame because Jynx looked better with black skin. I don't think any of the sprites truly capture her essence though.

 

[RBYGSCRSFRLGEPD]

It's a shame because Jynx looked better with black skin. I don't think any of the sprites truly capture her essence though.

What, pray tell, would be "her essence"? >_<

Just kidding. I would think that you might be able to gain some insight into the sprites by comparing the games' credits. I know GameFAQs, at least, tries to keep a complete record of developer credits.

 

[Argy]

Habunake: I ran out of time. I'll do it next time, I promise.

 

[Porygon]

Wow, 3 of these? I guess we're going to have a review of all the Pokemon by the end aren't we?

Jokes aside, I do like these articles more than regular news, so I'm all for it.

 

[DanPMK]

I finally registered at the forums, needing to mention one that bugged me for years:

Charmeleon's back sprite in the Generation I games very, very clearly shows a horn which is not in any other incarnation. It appears to have become an extension of its head.

 

[Snake Bandage]

I hope I'm not the only one who actually sees a very slight difference between Sinnoh!Arbok and Kanto!Arbok's markings.

 

[RBYGSCRSFRLGEPD]

I hope I'm not the only one who actually sees a very slight difference between Sinnoh!Arbok and Kanto!Arbok's markings.

You're not. Isn't there a Pokédex flavor text that says the markings are different in different regions, or something?

To make this post worth a little more, I'll put down the credits for the various versions from GameFAQs, except D/P's, which aren't there yet.

Unfortunately, I can't find any title that explicitly means "sprite maker", but "monster design" is the closest.

Green:
Monster Design Ken Sugimori
Monster Design Atsuko Nishida
Monster Design Motofumi Fuziwara
Monster Design Shigeki Morimoto
Monster Design Satoshi Ohta
Monster Design Rena Yoshikawa

Red/Blue: apparently same as Green

Yellow:
Monster Design Ken Sugimori
Monster Design Atsuko Nishida
Monster Design Hironobu Yoshida

Gold/Silver: GRB's staff plus
Monster Design Atsuko Nishida
Monster Design Hironobu Yoshida
Monster Design Muneo Saito

Crystal: GS's staff plus
Pokémon Animation Hironobu Yoshida
Pokémon Animation Jun Okutani

Advanced Generation:
Pokémon & Graphic Designers Ken Sugimori
Pokémon & Graphic Designers Hironobu Yoshida
Pokémon & Graphic Designers Motofumi Fujiwara
Pokémon & Graphic Designers Satoshi Ohta
Pokémon & Graphic Designers Asuka Iwashita
Pokémon & Graphic Designers Aimi Tornita
Pokémon & Graphic Designers Takao Unno
Pokémon & Graphic Designers Kanako Eo
Pokémon Designers Shigeki Morimoto
Pokémon Designers Jun Okutani
Pokémon Designers Atsuko Nishida
Pokémon Designers Muneo Saito
Pokémon Designers Rena Yoshikawa

 

[Nando]

They need to mention Spinarak's GS miscolored sprite.

Nice article

Ah, wasn't he blue then? Funny thing is, I caught a shiny Spinarak in Crystal and I seem to remember it being blue.

Interesting, too, that differences within the same species based on region/location became a full feature in DP, with Toritodon's line changing based on whether it was caught in East or West Sinnoh and the shape-shifting of Minomutchi.

 

[DanPMK]

Spinarak was blue in Gold and Silver, and Shiny Spinarak was redish-purple.
In Crystal and ever since, normal Spinarak was green, and Shiny Spinarak was blueish-purple.

 

[Æsahættr]

They need to mention Spinarak's GS miscolored sprite.

Nice article

You don't let up about that, do you?
Actually, I agree, that was really confusing when I played the games and watched the anime together (I don't really watch the anime anymore.)