History UnfortunateCharacterDesign / Pokemon

* An emote of Bonsly FlippingHelpless, taken from the picture in its TCG card, was [[https://x.com/SBCoop89/status/1754571890247491988?s=20 removed from Twitch]] for showing "sexual content" which most likely stemmed from it having a hole unfortunately placed on its bottom like most plant pots, and the way the picture displayed its rear a lot more prominently than other artworks of the Pokemon.

* Gym Leader Lenora from ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'' is a dark-skinned woman with a hairband, and an apron (which was removed in the American dubs of the anime to avoid controversy), leading to her resembling the {{Mammy}} stereotype.

* [[VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield Sordward]]'s hair is supposed to resemble a sword, but when it sways in the wind and flops sadly after losing a battle, you can't help but see a phallic resemblance.

* [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Gym Leader Lenora]] is a dark-skinned woman with a hairband, and an apron (which was removed in the American dubs of the anime to avoid controversy), leading to her resembling the {{Mammy}} stereotype.

* Mew has suffered this twice throughout the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS era of ''Pokémon'':

* Lileep and Cradily's petals unfortunately bear a striking resemblance to a certain part of the male anatomy. The fact that they are both Rock-type doesn't help.

* Registeel's sprite in ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'' has its right arm raised in a Nazi salute. For the European release (as well as all versions of ''Platinum''), it was lowered.

* Due to how it's rendered in the 3D ''Pokémon'' games, the Dream Mist that comes out of Musharna's nose looks like a flailing intestine to some.
* Some people have noticed how [[https://archives.bulbagarden.net/wiki/File:647Keldeo.png Keldeo's official artwork]] makes it look like it has a butthole.

* Each Falinks' spiked, rounded shields look like a pair of breasts when they cover the front.

** There's also the pattern on its dress that combined with her breasts looks like a penis and testicles.

* Jynx's original black-skinned, large-lipped design was so controversial that Creator/GameFreak actually had to redesign her to have purple skin. Just compare her [[https://archives.bulbagarden.net/wiki/File:Jynx_original_design.png original look]] to her [[https://archives.bulbagarden.net/wiki/File:Jynx_anime.png new one.]]
** There's also the pattern on her dress that combined with her breasts looks like a penis and testicles.

* The Nosepass line is based on the Moai of Easter Island, but their giant noses make them resemble an Anti-Semitic caricature. Probopass has it even worse, since it has a mustache made of magnetic filings that somewhat resembles a stereotypical Jewish 'stache, as well as a cap that resembles a ''kippa''.

* Poor Gardevoir led to a lot of Rule34 fanart because of the slit up the front of her (sometimes [[DudeLooksLikeALady his]], to make it worse) "dress".

* Thanks to the leaf marking on its face and its reddish-pink eyes, Sprigatito from ''VideoGame/PokemonScarletAndViolet'' looks like it has a marijuana motif, almost as if it's getting high on its own supply. This lead to lots of [[TheStoner stoner]] jokes, namely that Sprigatito will evolve into a Grass/Fire cat that's perpetually baked.

With over 1000 monsters and counting in addition to oodles of human characters, it shouldn't be surprising that a number of the franchise's characters [[UnfortunateCharacterDesign have designs or design elements that can come off as questionable]].

* Peliper has a large beak that looks like a toilet.

* Medicham's legs resemble a pair of boobs, with the yellow spots as nipples.

* The eyes and nose on [[https://archives.bulbagarden.net/wiki/File:562Yamask.png the mask Yamask carries with it]] come together to form something that looks like a very simple 'dick and balls' graffiti.

* The Meltan line from ''VideoGame/PokemonGo'' and ''VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndLetsGoEevee'' is supposed to be based off of a blob of mercury with a hex nut atop it. In-game it looks like a blob of semen, a similarity not helped by the fact that "nut" is a common euphemism for ejaculation.

* Most infamously, Cloyster looks a bit like a vagina with horns stuck on it, complete with a ''giant'' horn on top of its head, right where a clitoris would be. This, however, ''may'' be intentional (or the developers realized after the fact), because in ''[=FireRed=] and [=LeafGreen=]'', there is a young couple Trainer duo who use Cloyster and... Onix. Coincidence?

* Some of the player characters have some pretty questionable designs for what are supposed to be [[AgeInappropriateDress 10-to-15 year olds]]. Of note are [[https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/f/f7/Ruby_Sapphire_May.png May's]] [[SpandexLatexOrLeather latex]] short shorts, and [[https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/1/1c/Diamond_Pearl_Dawn.png Dawn's]] short skirt that barely covers her hips, which she [[https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/6/6f/Platinum_Dawn.png doesn't even replace]] in ''Platinum''.
* [[https://archives.bulbagarden.net/wiki/File:Spr_GS_Lance.png Lance's sprite]] in Gen II looks like he's flashing the player. This has led to the meme "Lance is a pervert".
* [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Eusine]]'s [[http://pokecompany.com/images/juegos/cristal/Suicune_Eusine_Cristal.png official art]] for ''Crystal''. Look carefully at his right hand... looks kind of like he's [[FlippingTheBird flipping us off]], doesn't it?
* Team Flare's soft-serve ice-cream hairstyles look more like poo to some detractors.

With over 1000 monsters and counting in addition to oodles of human characters, it shouldn't be surprising that a number of the franchise's characters have designs or design elements that can come off as questionable.

** ''Pokémon'' fans had a lot of humorous reactions to [[https://twitter.com/iamrav/status/1285390385666285579 the Mew DS stylus]] which has the stylus protruding from Mew's crotch. Even worse, the red color resembles certain erect animal penises, and tip of the stylus is white and translucent.

* When viewed from behind, the tightly-curled end of Kingambit's hair looks like a turd to some detractors. Additionally, when it uses moves like Kowtow Cleave, it [[https://twitter.com/AGlitchyDemon/status/1596643393182240768 shows]] an oddly well-defined posterior. Finally, the red badges on its body resemble nipples, which are more prominent on its shiny form.
* [[https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/8/83/Menu_SV_Gholdengo.png Gholdengo]], with its yellow-colored body and four dangling tufts of "hair", looks like a giant string cheese snack to some.

* Grafaiai's elongated middle finger makes it look like it's constantly flipping the bird at everyone (and is often drawn as such in many fanarts).
* When viewed from behind, the tightly-curled end of Kingambit's hair looks like a turd to some detractors.

* In its normal form, Castform has a growth beneath its head that is meant to resemble a cloud, but there are two giant lumps right below its face. This makes it look like it has boobs or testicles.

With over a 1000 monsters and counting on top of oodles of human characters, it shouldn't be surprising that a number of the franchise's characters have designs or design elements that can come off as questionable.

With over 900 monsters and counting on top of oodles of human characters, it shouldn't be surprising that a number of the franchise's characters have designs or design elements that can come off as questionable.