Pokemon

‘Pokemon’ Creator Reveals His 6 Favorite Characters

Nick Steinberg (@Nick_Steinberg)

Source: The Pokemon Company

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If you don’t know who Junichi Masuda is, you really should. He’s been involved with the Pokemon franchise from the beginning — helping compose some of its iconic music and designing creatures are just a few of the contributions he has made and he’s currently serving as game director for the newest games in the series, Pokemon Sun and Moon.

With a current roster of 765, it would be tough for anyone to come up with a shortlist of their favorite Pokemon, especially if they were involved in creating some of them. Well, Masuda recently shared his 6 favorites with IGN and some of them may surprise you.

6. Alolan Exeggutor

Pokedex says: “Unlike other Exeggutor, the Alolan Exeggutor has a fourth head—on its tail! This fourth head controls the tail independently and can take on opponents to the rear that can’t be reached by the main heads’ attacks.”

Masuda loves the Alolan Exeggutor, the evolved form of Exeggutor, one of the original 151 Pokemon, because, “I think it’s really fun – it’s trying to be the very tallest thing there is, and I think it’s just a really fun Pokemon to go on an adventure with.”

We have to admit: Alolan Exeggutor looks like he knows how to party! (although it’s limbo game may leave something to be desired).

http://www.pokemon-sunmoon.com/en-ca/pokemon/alolan-exeggutor/ Source: pokemon-sunmoon.com

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5. Sylveon

Pokedex says: “It wraps its ribbonlike feelers around the arm of its beloved Trainer and walks with him or her.”

An evolution of Eevee, Sylveon is a Fairy-type Pokemon that Masuda loves because he feels such a close attachment to it. “When designing fairy-type Pokemon for th efirst time, Sylveon was one that came from that. When test-playing the games themselves, I spent a lot of time using Sylveon, so I formed a real attachment.”

Fun fact: Sylveon was designed by artist Atsuko Nishida, who also created the original design for Pikachu!

http://pokemon.wikia.com/wiki/Penelope’s_Sylveon Source: Pokemon Wiki

4. Victini

Pokedex says: “This Pokemon brings victory. It is said that Trainers with Victini always win, regardless of the type of encounter.

Victini is a unique Pokemon, in that its Pokedex number is 000, which means it’s the only Pokemon listed before starters such as Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle. Masuda likes Victini because it helps win battles. “We had the idea that a Pokemon can lead you to victory, and I think Victini really gives you this really cool feeling that it could get you to victory from anywhere.”

Hmm, that sounds like it totally cheats the system, but winning is also the best, so we can see why Masuda likes Victini so much.

http://comicbook.com/2016/09/01/pokemon-victini-distribution-begins-today/ Source: ComicBook.com

3. Torchic

Pokedex says: “Inside its body is a place where it keeps a small flame. Hug it! It will be as warm as a host-water bottle.”

Torchic, whose Japanese name, Achamo, literally means “baby fighting chicken,” is a cute little fire bird and that’s pretty why Masuda loves it. “We wanted to design a Pokemon with a chick-based design, and I like designing birds, so this kind of design we came up with is cool.”

We’re inclined to agree.

http://pokemon.wikia.com/wiki/Torchic Source: Pokemon Wiki

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2. Pichu

Pokedex says: “When Pichu plays with others, it may short-out electricity with another Pichu, creating a shower of sparks. In that event, this Pokemon will begin crying [d’aww], startled by the flash of sparks.”

Everyone knows Pichu as Pikachu’s even cuter pre-evolution and evidently, there may not be a bigger fan of Pichu out there than Masuda. “I think it’s just really cute, and sometimes I don’t even evolve it into Pikachu because it’s so cute!”

We’re sure he’s not alone.

http://pokemon.wikia.com/wiki/Pichu Source: Pokemon Wiki

1. Psyduck

Pokedex says: “It has mystical powers but doesn’t recall that it has used them. that is why it always looks puzzled.”

Psyduck, a psychic/water-based Pokemon with a propensity for losing its mind on a near-constant basis, is hard not to love, so it’s understandable why Masuda would highlight it as one of his favorites. The fact that he doesn’t even really have much of a reason for why is even better. “I think ducks are really cool, and I had Psyduck on my business card for a while, so I really like that design.”

Ducks are really cool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x_4ks-raL0 Source: Youtube