Meanwhile, things are a little bit different when it's time to actually write stuff down. Because I typically try to write under the assumption that the reader has no idea about Pokémon or what they look like, that means that I'll also try to do a bit more than just provide a stylized, cartoony description of a Pokémon matching the stylized, cartoony aesthetic of the anime. I'll also assume that such "non-fan" readers will be using real life as their primary reference for what things look like, rather than an anime that they've never watched. One strategy I've thought about is to use the closest equivalent real-life animal as at least a partial reference for a more "realistic" level of description. So if I wanted to describe, say, Typhlosion, who is essentially a giant fire badger, I would base him first on... well, a giant badger, and then add in the more fantastical elements from there (although I'd also probably literally refer to him as a "fire badger" at times, if I'm feeling particularly lazy). However, such a strategy probably wouldn't work so well for something like, say, Pikachu, who despite being called an "electric mouse", doesn't really resemble a real-life mouse at all other than the absolute basic shape and concept of one. In cases like that, my description would probably lean more towards the simpler side of things, reflecting the simpler and more cartoony nature of the Pokémon being described.
How "Realistic" Do Your Pokémon Look?
By Sophia Edwards | Published April 08, 2026