Pokémon’s evolution has been nothing short of incredible, and it currently holds its head high as the highest-grossing multimedia franchise of all-time. There’s no end in sight for Pokémon’s success with new anime, video games, and off-shoots continuing to expand upon the franchise’s brand. Each new Pokémon generation ushers in exciting changes and original Pokémon, and the once-humble roster of 151 Pokémon has gone on to surpass 1000 after the latest Paldea region additions.
There’s tremendous variety on display across Pokémon’s 1000+ creatures, yet it’s sometimes easy to feel like that series is much smaller because the same Pokémon are always on display. Some Pokémon are always a delight and never wear out their welcome, but audiences have also seen enough of other Pokémon who have gradually become overrated and overexposed.
Garchomp’s Engaging Design Has Pushed The Pokémon To Wear Out Its Welcome
It’s easy to understand the appeal of Gen IV’s Garchomp. There’s a lot of potential in a Dragon/Ground-Type Pokémon and Garchomp’s design is certainly creative. However, an aggressive and interesting design isn’t analogous to a good Pokémon. Garchomp can get the job done, but he doesn’t deserve the extended fanfare that he continues to receive.
There are far better Dragon-Type Pokémon that aren’t as shallow. The Pokémon’s overblown popularity has extended to two Mega Evolutions – Mega Garchomp and Mega Garchomp Z – neither of which help the Pokémon’s case. They simply amplify the worst aspects of Garchomp’s design. Garchomp’s spotlight has been slightly dimmed, but he’s still a major Dragon Pokémon presence.
Bidoof Is A Basic Pokémon Who Has Gained Godly Acclaim
Bidoofs play together in the Pokemon anime.Image via The Pokemon Company
There is no shortage of Pokémon with designs that are basically just regular animals, rather than some fantastical creature. Bidoof, a Gen IV Normal-Type Beaver Pokémon, is one of the lazier versions of this. Bidoof is a cute presence in the Sinnoh region, but his reputation should only be on par with a Rattata or Furret. And yet, Bidoof has become the subject of endless meme fodder that presents him as a God.
Bidoof’s boosted reception was born out of trolling, but it’s still kept the Pokémon popular. Bidoof’s evolved form, Bibarel, doesn’t exactly wow the Sinnoh region either. There’s at least more personality on display in Bibarel, and its lackluster reputation is the level of acclaim that should be present for Bidoof.
Arceus Is A Mythical Pokémon God With Too Much Power
Arceus flies through the night sky in Pokémon anime.Image via OLM
Pokémon has dense lore that’s gradually been expanded upon. The series’ Legendary and Mythical Pokémon are often connected to grander events, but Arceus is regarded as Pokémon‘s equivalent of God, and the creator of its universe. Arceus, in many ways, represents the apex of Pokémon‘s tendency to heighten its Pokémon’s powers. Less is more with Arceus and a Pokémon of this incredible power is more effective when it’s not overexposed.
Unfortunately, Arceus continues to receive greater attention in games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Arceus is still a fascinating Pokémon, yet each additional appearance seems to misunderstand why the Pokémon was interesting in the first place. Alternatively, Arceus’ Creation Pokémon peers — Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina — are heavy-hitters who could use a little more love.
Ash-Greninja Gives The Pokémon A Superfluous New Form
Ash-Greninja attacks in Pokemon anime.Image via OLM, Inc.
Greninja is resilient in battle, but the Gen VI Pokémon gets a little too much love for what’s ostensibly just an anthropomorphic frog with ninja vibes. The Pokémon anime contributed to Greninja’s overexposed nature by making him one of Ash’s most important Kalos region partners. Greninja comes across as an unavoidable Pokémon, but Ash-Greninja’s popularity is even more egregious.
This anime promo creation is a special form for Greninja that becomes the result of his Battle Bond with Ash. Ash-Greninja bears a closer resemblance to Ash from Pokémon the Series: XY. This unique form makes its way into Pokémon Sun & Moon and comes across as a manipulative anime promotion that got out of hand.
Lucario Is A Serviceable Pokémon Who Has Become Overexposed
Pokémon introduced some incredibly memorable creatures during Gen IV. There’s a lot to love when it comes to Sinnoh’s new Pokémon, but it’s also quite rare to see a party from this period that doesn’t include Lucario. To be clear, Lucario is a solid Pokémon and a reliable Fighting/Steel-Type, but he’s just completely overexposed compared to the rest of the roster.
Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew certainly did a lot to make new Lucario fans. His major role in the film, along with his preferential treatment from Ash in the anime, have given Lucario an unreasonable amount of love. Lucario’s prominence in both Super Smash Bros. and Pokkén Tournament speaks to his overrated status and Pokémon’s compulsion to shoehorn him into everything.
Jigglypuff’s Funny Frustrations Have Diminishing Returns
Jigglypuff swells with rage after seeing its audience fall asleep in Pokemon.Image via OLM
Jigglypuff is an especially polarizing Pokémon who seems to be deeply loved or completely hated. There technically isn’t anything that special about Jigglypuff, a Gen I Normal-Type who later gains a little more depth in Gen VI when it becomes a dual-type with Fairy. Jigglypuff isn’t especially strong and its other evolutionary forms – Wigglytuff and Igglybuff – are cuter than they are practical.
This is another situation in which Pokémon’s anime seriously boosted Jigglypuff’s reputation by expanding upon the Pokémon’s penchant to sing and its corresponding frustration over its slumbering audience. Super Smash Bros. has also seriously increased Jigglypuff’s cache, but it remains a one-note gag.
Dragonite Represents The Bare Minimum Of Early Pokémon Designs
Children ride on a Dragonite’s back in Pokemon’s ‘Dragonite and the Mail Courier.’Image via The Pokémon Company, CoMix Wave Films
Pokémon has come a long way from Gen I’s designs, yet there’s still so much love for these Kanto region Pokémon, many of whom were represented in players’ first Pokémon party. Dragon-Types were extremely rare back in Gen I, and it’s disappointing that Dratini and Dragonair’s interesting designs are completely abandoned for the bulky, enormous Dragonite.
There’s really not much to talk about with Dragonite. The design is a silly mess, right down to its tiny wings that shouldn’t be able to actually lift the Pokémon’s huge body. Mega Dragonite is a more successful take on the same idea and at least attempts to do something different.
Typhlosion Is A Lackluster Gen II Juggernaut Who Deserves To Be Snuffed Out
Typhlosion roaring in a Pokémon anime movie.Image via The Pokémon Company
Pokémon was faced with some lofty expectations upon the release of its first sequel and the introduction of Gen II Johto region Pokémon. Typhlosion, the final evolved form of Fire Starter Pokémon, Cyndaquil, is a disappointing design with an oddly popular reception. Typhlosion was a valuable party member back in Gen II, but a lot of time has passed since then.
There are now many superior and more compelling Fire-Types entering the scene. It remains a very overrated Starter Pokémon who feels like a relic of the past. There’s a bit of a design improvement with the Hisuiian Typhlosion regional variant and its Fire/Ghost-Type combination, but it’s not enough.
Pikachu Is Ash’s Pokémon Companion & The Face Of The Franchise
Pikachu is hypnotized by Malamar in Pokemon anime.Image via OLM
It’s hard to feature a Pokémon project without Pikachu. He’s practically synonymous with the series, and the adorable electric rodent has a tendency to pop up in all Pokémon media. There’s a simple, playful quality to Pikachu that makes the Pokémon appealing to children and adults alike. That being said, Pikachu is hardly a game-changing Pokémon in terms of its stats.
Pikachu’s prominence as Ash’s signature Pokémon in the anime has solidified Pikachu’s placement in the franchise. There has since been an abundance of “Pikachu clones” and special variants, like Surfing Pikachu and Detective Pikachu. It’s wild to consider that Clefairy was initially going to be the face of Pokémon instead of the iconic Electric-Type.
Charizard’s Popularity Is Influenced Heavily By Nostalgia
Charizard has become a major Pokémon mascot, whether it’s in the anime, games, Trading Card Game, or merchandise. He’s received a much greater showcase than Gen I’s Blastoise and Venusaur, despite their more creative designs. Charizard really just looks like a dragon. It’s a design that may have been interesting back when there were only 151 Pokémon, but it’s wild that Charizard is still so in vogue.
He’s even a rare case of a Pokémon who receives two separate Mega Evolutions, neither of which are especially revelatory. The ongoing love for Charizard definitely seems to be wrapped up in nostalgia that’s connected to the anime’s first season and the Pokémon’s impact in the Trading Card Game.
Created by
Satoshi Tajiri
First Film
Pokemon: The First Movie
Latest Film
Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle
First TV Show
Pokémon
