Line #36 Main/Phonymon


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5	[[caption-width-right:350:[[MerchandiseDriven Collect them all to become the Royal Crown Chinpoko Master and destroy the evil power!]]]]
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10	As the single most successful multimedia franchise of all time, it goes without saying that the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' series has been parodied, {{homage}}d, and referenced in other works quite a bit. Most of these parodies, however, bear little actual resemblance to the franchise they are based on, and they are quite prone to CowboyBebopAtHisComputer. They tend to instead be general parodies of the concept of "MerchandiseDriven GottaCatchThemAll {{to Be a Master}}" {{Mons}} franchises from UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} that ''Pokémon'' [[FollowTheLeader paved the way for]], such as ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'', ''Franchise/{{Tamagotchi}}'', ''Franchise/YuGiOh'', ''Franchise/{{Beyblade}}'', ''Franchise/{{Bakugan}}'', and others of their nature.
11
12	If a series -- especially a Western series, as opposed to a Japanese one -- includes a ''Pokémon'' {{parody}}, certain elements are almost guaranteed to pop up:
13
14	* It may have a [[AsLongAsItSoundsForeign very nonsensical-sounding pseudo-Japanese name]], often with the inevitable -mon suffix.
15	* There might be a reference to the StrictlyFormula nature of the {{anime}}, with a TerribleTrio appearing OnceAnEpisode only to be "[[ATwinkleInTheSky blasted off]]" by the heroes.
16	* If a creature from the parody work is shown, it is quite likely to be an {{Expy}} of Pikachu, thanks to its massive popularity, and being the only Pokémon that people who aren't fans of the series can usually name. If not, it will be one of either Charmander or ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'''s Agumon, a vaguely [[DinosaursAreDragons dinosaur/dragon-like creature with a fire motif]].
17	* If the work is a BlackComedy or otherwise aimed at older audiences, you might get a reference to the infamous "[[EpilepticFlashingLights seizure episode]]" ''[[Recap/PokemonS1E38ElectricSoldierPorygon Electric Soldier Porygon]]''.
18	* Newer parodies might contain a reference to ''VideoGame/PokemonGO'' and its unexpectedly high popularity as a smartphone app.
19	* How the fans are portrayed usually depends on when the work came out. If it was made in UsefulNotes/TheNineties, when ''Pokémon'' first became popular, they'll be elementary school-aged children who obsess over the trading cards and TV show. If it was made later, especially in UsefulNotes/TheNewTens, they'll either be [[OccidentalOtaku somewhat creepy men in their 20s and 30s who hang around video game stores and comic conventions]], or shallow, trend-hopping {{hipster}} millenials [[NewTechnologyIsEvil addicted to their smartphones]] after ''Pokémon Go'' became popular.
20	* It's likely to be the basis for a TrendAesop, with all the kiddies realizing how silly it was to get swept up in such a trite and silly thing, and moving on to [[NostalgiaFilter more tried-and-true playtime activities]]. This was most common during ''Pokémon'''s initial wave of popularity in the late 1990s and has seen a resurgence in the late 2010s with ''VideoGame/PokemonGO''; most modern versions not involving ''Pokémon GO'' are likely to be made by people who are fans themselves and are therefore less likely to be done in a negative light.
21
22	As the last few points should indicate, this {{trope}} [[EvolvingTrope has evolved]] (pun unintended) ever since ''Pokémon'' proved to be far more enduring than it was initially thought to be. Most parodies nowadays come from its PopularityPolynomial-inducing PeripheryDemographic, and are as such far more {{affectionate\|Parody}}. The classic version of this trope, which typically dismissed ''Pokémon'' and others like it as a bizarre and ultimately insipid fad, [[DiscreditedTrope is on its way out]].
23
24	Contrast AllAnimeIsNaughtyTentacles, which is the other way anime is usually depicted in Western media, though some overlap is possible. Compare SailorSenshiSendUp.
25
26	----
27	!!Examples:
28
29	[[foldercontrol]]
30
31	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
32	* ''Anime/AnohanaTheFlowerWeSawThatDay'': Tetsudo suggests that Menma might have wished for a rare "''Nokemon''" game. The game's versions are listed as ''Opal'', ''Gold'', and ''Emerald'', the latter two of which are the names of actual ''Pokémon'' games. They're played on a BlandNameProduct version of the GBA SP and most resemble ''[=FireRed=] and [=LeafGreen=]''.
33	* ''Manga/AsobiAsobase'' features "Bacteri Go", a smartphone game based on ''Pokémon GO''.
34	* ''Anime/ExcelSaga'' has the Puchuu, a race of adorable yellow Pikachu-like creatures that can only say their own name--and, in typical ''Excel Saga'' fashion, turn out to be evil warlords.
35	* ''Manga/FrankenFran'': One story has Fran genetically engineering a mouse-like creature with an accelerated mutation speed, which could "evolve" over the course of a single generation into various forms. An unscrupulous rival scientist starts selling the creatures, and kids use them to battle for sport. One of the kids even looks like Ash.
36	* ''Anime/GagMangaBiyori'': The sketch "Stickers 2" focuses on a licensing deal for [[FreePrizeAtTheBottom stickers included with a food product]] based on ''Dokimon'', an anime which proudly advertises having over 100 collectible creatures. Unfortunately, the artist charged with the task, Shimagi Shimami, [[InvertedTrope inverts]] FurriesAreEasierToDraw and is only capable of drawing the human protagonist, Takeru-kun. When accused of being an amateur, she reveals that she's created a ''Dokimon'' {{doujinshi}} before... [[AlternateUniverseFic where Takeru-kun is the only thing in existence]]. Her later attempt at drawing one of the creatures ("White Dragon") in a "lively" way results in a drawing of it roasting over a spit.
37	* ''Manga/OnePiece'': An [[LineToGod SBS]] revealed that there is a picture book series (the ''One Piece'' world's equivalent to manga and comic books) called ''Pocket-Mon'', which seems to be also a parody of {{Franchise/Doraemon}}, with the Pocket-Mon character shown being a CaptainErsatz of the robot cat himself.
38	[[/folder]]
39
40	[[folder:Comic Books]]
41	* [[ComicBook/DisneyMouseAndDuckComics Disney comics]] had multiple parodies of Pokémon. A pair of interesting examples:
42	** [[https://inducks.org/story.php?c=I+TL+2359-6 Donald Duck and the Cicciomon Craze]] features Donald Duck trying desperately to make his nephews concentrate on their studies instead of playing with the new trend of Cicciomon games and cards. At the end he succeeds in his target by overloading them with gadgets until they're tired of them, only to discover that a full collection of Cicciomon cards is worth thousands of dollars [[OhCrap a few minutes after throwing everything in the garbage]].
43	** [[https://inducks.org/story.php?c=D+99160 Battle Beasties]] is once again based around Huey, Dewey and Louie going after a new brand of collectible creatures, discovering that they're real and live in another dimension, and the franchise was created after a toymaker accidentally found a gate for their dimension. They open it and the Battle Beasties are soon spread around all Duckburg, starting a hunt to get all them back in their dimension. [[https://inducks.org/story.php?c=D+2000-084 A sequel also exists]], with a new batch of creatures coming out of the gate and being controlled by an evil scientist.
44	** [[https://inducks.org/story.php?c=I+TL+3227-1 Mickey Mouse and the Dark Matter Blot]] features an explicit ''VideoGame/PokemonGo'' parody called ''Mouseghost'' being vital to the main plot, as Goofy's obsession with it ends up being vital in foiling the Phantom Blot's latest ploy with a dark matter generator (which somehow [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext makes creatures in the game run away from the place where it's located]]).
45	* ''ComicBook/{{Impulse}}'' has the titular character playing "Poxy Monsters" on what is obviously a UsefulNotes/GameBoy. In the ''Comicbook/YoungJustice'' CrisisCrossover ''Sins of Youth'', one of Klarion's spells bring the Poxy Monsters to life, emerging from "Game Guys", trading cards, and movie theaters showing ''Poxy Monsters: The Next Wave''. The most prominent is a blue Pikachu called "Peekaboo".
46	* The Brazilian comic ''ComicBook/MonicasGang'' features Pokemão and Digimão (a pun with "mon" and the similar sounding Portuguese word for hand, "mão"). The 98th issue of the teen imprint, which was released around the time where ''VideoGame/PokemonGo'' was most popular, features a parody of that with ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' expies.
47	* A ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' comic features [=SpongeBob=] collecting "Battle Monster" trading cards that feature all sorts of bizarre-looking creatures. Patrick finds a bunch of real Battle Monsters and he and [=SpongeBob=] bring them to Bikini Bottom, where they cause a mess.
48	[[/folder]]
49
50	[[folder:Fan Works]]
51	* In the ''Ever After High'' fic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12694285/1/A-Fairytale-is-a-Metaphor A Fairytale is a Metaphor]]'', Maddie is fond of playing ''Polymon Go'', even though it's not in style anymore. She mentions having a Leafasaur and looking for a Driporeon.
52	* In ''Fanfic/IrreversibleDamage'', Greta pokes fun at Rowley’s “female” name, Rowlette for sounding like a “Battlemon” name.
53	* The ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/199625/1/Gotta-Catch-Em-All Gotta Catch 'Em All]]'' features a new collectable card game called "Coldimon" sweeping Ankh-Morpork. All of them have names referring to cold symptoms or remedies for some reason, including Snifflypuff, Lipbalmander and, of course, Pik-ah-ah-ah-choo. And, inevitably, a magical accident brings the damn things to life.
54	[[/folder]]
55
56	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
57	* ''Magic Pocket Slave Monster'' is a ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' {{Expy}} that exists in the world of ''Film/SmoshTheMovie''.
58	[[/folder]]
59
60	[[folder:Literature]]
61	* ''Literature/HighSchoolDXD'' has Issei and Asia try to get their own familiars; while trying to catch one, Issei yells "Sprite Dragon, I choose you!". They are also guided by Zatouji, who wears a baseball cap and strives to become a Familiar Master.
62	* ''Literature/XanaduStoryverse'': Gamimon is an in-universe ripoff of ''Pokémon'', centered around both a card and a video game, tweaked just enough to dodge lawsuits but otherwise a 1:1 translation of the "capture superpowered wild animals with handheld objects and make them fight each other" formula.
63	[[/folder]]
64
65	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
66	* An episode of ''Series/EverybodyLovesRaymond'' had Ray's daughter become obsessed with an anime franchise called "Hackidu". From what we are shown of it, it seems similar to ''Pokémon'' having a trading card game (which forms the plot of the episode), as well as a creature called "Scramisaur".
67	* ''Series/GoodLuckCharlie'': Teddy once dates a guy who is obsessed with the game "Pokeoh", which is both a ''Pokémon'' parody and a ''Anime/YuGiOh'' parody. Her brother Gabe teaches her the ropes of the card game, which includes knowing the standard ElementalRockPaperScissors that ''Pokémon'' is known for -- such as "Flame" types being strong against "Plant" types.
68	* The short-lived Creator/ComedyCentral SNL spinoff series ''Series/TVFunhouse'' featured ''Jokamel'', which was basically this trope meets a Joe Camel advertisement, and with all the private part-tastic designs and attacks[[note]]which start from Joe Camel's [[UnfortunateCharacterDesign vague phallic resemblance]] and introduces a bunch of other creatures with equally genital-inspired designs, complete with fake commercials for [[CrossesTheLineTwice merchandise that uses their designs in the least desirable ways]][[/note]] it's quite possibly the most demented of the bunch, in typical Robert Smigel fashion.
69	[[/folder]]
70
71	[[folder:Print Media]]
72	* ''Magazine/{{MAD}}'' had a feature in one 2000 issue caricaturing US politicians as Pokémon and describing their characteristic types, abilities, strengths and weaknesses as such. They also did "Hokéycon" in their usual parody feature format, though this mocked the human characters and StrictlyFormula plots of ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'' and players of the CollectibleCardGame more than the monsters themselves.
73	[[/folder]]
74
75	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
76	* The roleplaying game ''TabletopGame/BigEyesSmallMouth'' has a supplement specifically for simulating this specific genre titled "Cute and Fuzzy Seizure Monsters", referencing the infamous Porygon episode.
77	* ''TabletopGame/{{Pokethulhu}}'' is pretty much this trope as a game, while simultaneously skewering the Franchise/CthulhuMythos.
78	[[/folder]]
79
80	[[folder:Video Games]]
81	* ''Franchise/FateSeries'':
82	** ''VideoGame/CapsuleServant'' is a spoof of ''Pokémon'' where Shirou and Rin collect and battle with chibi Servants.
83	** ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'' has the AprilFoolsDay prank ''Fate/Grand Order Gutentag Omen'', a spoof of ''Pokémon GO'' where the aim is to collect as many Servants as possible in real life because you have unlimited Saint Quartz for the day.
84	* ''VideoGame/HyperdimensionNeptuniaMk2'' has the villain Warechu (called Pirachu in the dub), essentially a demonic Pikachu knockoff. He represents the "evils" of video game piracy. Additionally, protagonists Rom and Ram at one point are seen discussing a game called "Pocketed Monstrosities", which includes a character named "Eebee" (presumably based on Eevee).
85	* ''VideoGame/HypnospaceOutlaw'' has ''[=SquisherZ=]'', which basically is a cross between ''Pokémon'' and ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'', and features {{Blob Monster}}s of various types. In keeping with the {{Retraux}} late '90s aesthetic of the game, it comes complete with a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsO_JqH5saM rap video.]] While you can't play the game itself, it's promoted heavily within Hypnospace, and there's even in-universe religious sites [[{{Demonization}} trying to claim it's Satanic]], much like what happened with ''Pokémon''.
86	* One Critical Choice in ''VideoGame/LetsBuildAZoo: Dinosaur Island'' is about a multi-media franchise called ''[=DinoMonsters=]'', that's about tiny monsters that fit in your pocket, made by someone called Satoshi. The associated image even looks like the original "Who's that Pokémon?" EyeCatch from the English dub of ''Anime/PokemonTheOriginalSeries''.
87	* The [=PlayStation=] RPG ''VideoGame/MonsterCompleteWorld'' recycles pretty much the whole premise behind ''Pokémon'' but [[RecycledInSpace recycled in a medieval setting]]. You're a child who received a unique pet on your 10th birthday, and spends the whole game travelling various environments to capture and collect other exotic pets. There's even exactly 150 critters you can encounter throughout the game, the exact amount as ''Pokémon'''s first-generation.
88	* ''VideoGame/NeoTheWorldEndsWithYou'' features ''[=FanGO=]'', a game where you catch AR creatures in real world locations much like ''VideoGame/PokemonGO'', but featuring classic ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' monsters instead of original/bootleg {{Mons}}.
89	* This is essentially half of the premise of ''VideoGame/PocketMortys'', while the other half is being a SpinOff of ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty''.
90	* ''VideoGame/{{Palworld}}'' is essentially a BlackComedy ''Pokemon'' spoof (albeit with gameplay more similar to ''VideoGame/ArkSurvivalEvolved''), and its advertising cheerfully plays up the ''Pokemon''-like aspects for the sake of irony.
91	* ''VideoGame/{{Rakuen}}'' has, in the chapter where you play as a dog, an unnamed smartphone game played by two kids that is most likely based on ''Pokémon GO,'' having to collect creatures in the "real world" and all that.
92	* ''VideoGame/TheSimpsonsGame'' features the ''Big Super Happy Fun Fun Game'' stage, where Lisa and Homer have to catch creatures called Sparklemon. Lisa even gets new clothes based on Ash's.
93	* ''VideoGame/TheSims4: Kids Room Stuff'' introduces Voidcritters, a fictional collectible card game about creatures with five kinds of ElementalPowers that kids can play with. There's also an in-universe TV show, and plenty of furniture depicting Voidcritters in various packs.
94	* ''VideoGame/{{Smite}}'': Erlang Shen's "Monster Trainer" costume has him dress up akin to a Pokémon trainer and spout animal-related puns. His dog likewise gets a redesign to make it look like Pikachu.
95	* Enemies encountered in ''VideoGame/YakuzaLikeADragon'' are referred to as "Sujimon", or "super jittery men". During the story, Ichiban meets Professor Morikasa, the "Sujimon Sensei". Morikasa invites Ichiban and his party to his "Sujimon Center", where he tasks them to discover all the Sujimon to complete the Sujidex. In ''Videogame/LikeADragonInfiniteWealth'', Ichiban is even able to engage in "Sujimon Battles" where he uses collected Sujimon to engage in underground battles as well as become a "Sujimancer" who summons Sujimon in battle.
96	[[/folder]]
97
98	[[folder:Web Animation]]
99	* ''WebAnimation/StrongBadEmail'': One series of trading cards that Strong Bad talks about in the enail "trading cards" is a ''Stinkoman'' card game The Cheat made up that parodies both ''Pokémon'' and ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'', with its point system and Cheatball speaking in PokemonSpeak. Strong Bad even describes the game as being "a [[BuffySpeak cutesy Japanese-y]] game for little kids to play during recess, to make sure they don't get any real exercise."
100	* The Brothers Chaps would go on to give it a more fleshed-out parody in ''WebAnimation/TwoMoreEggs'' as "[=QblePon=]", whose character names and designs are distinctly in line with their bizarre, random sense of humor.
101	[[/folder]]
102
103	[[folder:Webcomics]]
104	* ''Webcomic/TheCartoonChroniclesOfConroyCat'' gives us ''Bagémall'', which revolves around catching various "Thangs" with paper bags. It's more of an AffectionateParody due to the creator being a fan. Said creator also shamelessly admits that the Thangs follow a ''Digimon'' naming convention so he could have one called "Sexythang".
105	* The ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive NP'' non-canon storyline "[[https://www.egscomics.com/egsnp/gam-01 Grace-a-Monsters]]" is a close parody of the franchise, except that all the Pokémon are Grace. The main trainers are Justin, Nanase and Ellen. Sarah and Diane appear as a Team Rocket parody, [[https://www.egscomics.com/egsnp/gam-24 Team Bad Guys]], except they're "basically licensed roleplayers ''pretending'' to be bad to help train, and make things more interesting for, new trainers".
106	* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' has Fiduspawn, a card game that Tavros plays which seems to be a parody of ''Pokémon'' with some elements of ''Franchise/{{Alien}}''. After the player throws an Oogonibomb in a similar fashion to throwing a Pokéball, a FaceHugger-like creature hatches and grabs a host plush and impregnates it, before an actual monster hatches out of it. Interestingly, there were no references to the battling aspect of ''Pokémon'', as the main goal of the game seems to be breeding and collecting various Fiduspawn monsters.
107	[[/folder]]
108
109	[[folder:Web Originals]]
110	* ''Website/{{Mortasheen}}'' is (or least began as) a parody of ''Pokémon'' with a NightmareFetishist BioPunk twist. However, it quickly developed an identity of its own and is now seen as a unique work in its own right rather than a parody.
111	[[/folder]]
112
113	[[folder:Western Animation]]
114	* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'' has Gumball's little sister, Anais, attempt to use subliminal messaging in a cartoon to convince him to take her to a scary movie. Said cartoon is an homage to the ''Pokémon'' anime.
115	* The infamous ''WesternAnimation/AngelaAnaconda'' short at the beginning of ''Anime/DigimonTheMovie'' was repurposed as part of the episode, "Good Seats". It was otherwise word for word the same but had the SerialNumbersFiledOff and ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'' was replaced by a franchise called ''Mega Giants''.
116	* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/AngeloRules'' had Angelo's younger brother Peter going crazy for the "''Wiznimals''" franchise, a mixture of ''Pokémon'' and random Japanese culture tropes (clan wars with [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor some characters changing factions multiple times]] and others fighting to protect their families are mentioned). The episode has Angelo trying desperately to kill Peter's obsession for them so that he will not be forced to take him to the Wiznimals convention the next day, but at the end, he surrenders and brings him to the con... only for Peter's best friend Cooper to come and tell him that Wiznimals are for dorks, [[ShaggyDogStory convincing him instantly and making Angelo's tentatives worthless]].
117	* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'' had Muffy showing off her new "[=DopeyMon=]" cards, including, as Arthur and his friends point out, "Stinkachu".
118	* ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'' has Burobu. Tina even lampshades this, "So Burobo's like ''Pokémon'' but just everybody's a slug?". The end credits for that episode were even a SuspiciouslySimilarSong version of the first English dub theme of ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'' with pastiches of scenes from the anime's opening.
119	* In ''WesternAnimation/DrawnTogether'', this is what Ling-Ling is. However, most of the jokes revolving around him aren't so much ''Pokémon'' references as general {{anime}} {{stereotype}}s.
120	* ''WesternAnimation/TheEmperorsNewSchool'' had "Llámaballs", which is a parody of ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'' with some elements from ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' in there.
121	* ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'' had "Hokey Monsters", a trading card game that Grim brought to life.
122	* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/JohnnyBravo'' featured Clam League 9000, a bizarre MerchandiseDriven combination of ''Pokémon'' and ''Anime/DragonBallZ''.
123	* There are two episodes of ''WesternAnimation/JohnnyTest'' featuring "''[=TinyMon=]''", and they contain a number of surprisingly accurate references to the franchise, such as trading and evolution via happiness. One of the creatures shown even looks like [[VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness Shadow Lugia]]!
124	* The ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'' episode "My Two Bobs" focuses on a game called "''Pantsu Hebi X''", which is a parody of not only ''Pokémon'', but also {{anime}} in general. Frisket even makes himself look like Pikachu by rebooting himself. "Pantsu Hebi" can also more or less be translated as "Trouser Snake"...
125	* "The Game" episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'' is a downplayed example. It revolves around all the kids becoming obsessed with a collectable card game called "Ajimbo". The game itself doesn't particularly resemble ''Pokémon'', but the episode aired at the same time as the ''Pokémon'' trading card game was becoming a massive fad with elementary-school-aged kids, making the parallels more obvious.
126	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "Looking For Mr. Goodbart" had "Peekimon Get!" an obvious parody of ''VideoGame/PokemonGo''.
127	* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' had the infamous [[Recap/SouthParkS3E11Chinpokomon Chinpokomon]], which were meant to control the minds of American children so America would be vulnerable to a Japanese attack. There's also some BilingualBonus in the parody name, as "chinpoko" is a Japanese term for "penis."
128	[[/folder]]

Context Main / Phonymon