Origin of EVERY Kanto Pokemon!

[@ethandobbs]

Get your own Dobbs trading card in the link above btw 👆🏻👀👆🏻

[@shockstarmj9556]

hol up for golden fact that means all of them are born as female and later turn male in life like shirmp or clownfish

[@disneydaniel3163]

I believe the next one will be johto

[@MarkGerald2011]

Also Muk is based on cu- 💀

[@justinterry2926]

Machop line is named and based after the stocky Moschops an extinct Therapsida By name and appearance

[@gadielinutil]

No >:)

[@saltlakeatrocity9771]

Im really surprised the Nidoran segment didn't mention the "shope papilloma virus" that causes real life rabbits to become affected by large growths that look like spikes or horns. Thats almost certainly the most central inspiration to their design above all else.

[@MrMalasianLoser]

Just googled that, i never knew that virus existed. The rabbits infected looks miserable and brutal in somewhat sad way

[@angelmayo4074]

Isn't this also the first instances of jackolopes (I don't remember what they are called).

[@TreyX304]

Squirtle isn’t part squirrel. Its name is from squirt - turtle. Its tail - Its Japanese name (Zenigame) has nothing to do with squirrels. The tail isn't a squirrel tail, it's part of a reference to the Minogame, a turtle said to live for 10,000 years that has a tail made of seaweed (this is more obvious with Wartortle's tail). And fearow is not based on a peregrine falcon (but Talonflame is) Fearow resembles anhingas, long-necked birds which spear prey with their beaks. Their name comes from ajíŋa, meaning devil bird to the Tupi (an indigenous Brazilian people). Fearow's Japanese name, Onidrill, cleverly combines 'demon bird' (onidori) with 'drill'.

[@ShadowPeashooterEnjoyer]

plus the hitmons are actually based on some japanese boxers that I cannot remember the name of

[@RockyTorres43]

To expand on the Abra line, all 3 are named after famous magicians in japenese. Abra is called "Casey", presumably after Edgar Cayce, Kadabra is called "Yungerer" after Uri Geller, and Alakazam is called "Foodin", after Houdini. So Uri Geller's lawsuit against Kadabra in the TCG was not entirely unwarranted.

[@cuauhtemocgonzales2530]

I think he didn't fully look it up when making this video. 😅 Or maybe accidentally mix them up when making this vid. But poor Kadabra for being banishes from the TCG for so long.

[@sebee13]

I would like to also add that the whole spell in Poland is often cast "Abra kadabra alakazam" so it consists of whole evolution line.

[@bennu547]

The guy bitched that Kadabra has a Star of David on its forehead when it never had at any point. Somehow this warranted him to sue Pokèmon. Mainly because he’s a greedy asshole and that he thinks he’s the only person in the world who’s allowed to bend spoons. You never hear anyone else who inspired a Pokèmon sue. You can’t sue for inspiration Oh and also now he’s saying Kadabra is his favourite Pokèmon when he found out Pokèmon cards are worth money. You think this ass hat has a justifiable complaint?

[@anantsaxena5639]

This should be made into a whole series.... This felt so interesting to know the idea behind one of the most iconic things in the world

[@godeirostudios8393]

Actually Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan aren't based on Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, but on Japanese martial artists Tadashi Sawamura and Hiroyuki Ebihara, just look at their Japanese name, as well as Hitmonlee's nickname "The Kicking Fiend", which is actually a reference to a possible ring name for Tadashi Sawamura, evidenced by the anime based on his career, Kick no Oni

[@FatMarioHeads]

That's what I said. And has Jackie Chan ever even boxed?

[@fae_baobhan_cernunnos]

If I recall Jakie chan Punch and kick about as much as Bruce Lee does.

[@lukabradnock402]

Bro I was looking for this comment as soon as I saw that part of the video glad someone corrected him 😂

[@user-vi4xy1jw7e]

Their names are though.

[@justxaine.3544]

Probably just how they picked them in English, alot of pokemon names change country to country just so the name pun will work out a little better I don't have any examples but I know that the names aren't perfect translations to the meaning of the original name

[@emperora9]

For anyone wondering about the Paras/Parasect part, that fungus is called cordyceps and is apparently valued as a medical ingredient.

[@yeetuszilla1663]

I'm sorry, a mind controlling parasitic fungus is used as a MEDICINE ingredient? Reality is strange

[@aaronfraire9073]

About the medicinal thing: What he actual Hell?!

[@Zero-gl2ou]

​@@aaronfraire9073you didn't see the anime aren't ya?

[@aaronfraire9073]

@@Zero-gl2ou Buddy, I saw the Paras episode when it premiered in America back in 1999. I was talking about the real life cordyceps being used for medicinal purposes.

[@AnnieC.1993]

Why the fuck would you use a literal zombie fungus as a medicinal ingredient That's like using coffee beans that were in some animal's shi- oh wait people do that too

[@PKmaki]

Seel/Dewgong are actually a little more complicated than that. They're also based on Sirens/Mermaids. More specifically on the belief that those creatures were actually sailors misidentifying animals like seals, dewgongs and manatees. That's why they're able to learn Perish Song. Because they're Sirens singing people to their doom.

[@Grumpisaurus]

Would every pokemon that learns the move have some sort of link to sirens/mermaids then?

[@PKmaki]

@@Grumpisaurus probably not, but what other reason would Seel/Dewgong have to learn it?

[@Grumpisaurus]

@@PKmaki the move didn't come out until gen 2. They didn't get the move when they were first released, which is why I don't think they are related to sirens/mermaids, if giving it to them was an afterthought

[@omnimon1996]

Primarina does it better. Lol XD

[@theamazingspooderman2697]

​@@omnimon1996 exactly

[@winnerthecoolguy2009]

You knew what you were doing with that thumbnail 🌚

[@Stitchbash_Draws]

Well, Magmar's Japanese name is "Booba"

[@lloydiekennedy3754]

Went back to take a look. I laughed xD

[@winnerthecoolguy2009]

@@Stitchbash_Draws Indeed my culturally intelligent friend

[@spaciebun]

he's a grown ass man making "haha boobs" jokes. not really funny at all.

[@meta13gaming]

He’s keeping us on our toes this month, we should be thanking him lol

[@natenaitopaku1947]

Small correction on the Hitmon family while yes, their English names might reference J. Chan and B. Lee, their Japanese names connect them all (except for Tyrouge). Hitmonlee, Sawamular in Japanese, might have it's name drawn from Tadashi Sawamura, a kickboxer. Hitmonchan, Ebiwalar in Japanese, is probably from Hiroyuki Ebihara, a Japanese boxing world champion. And the third possible evolution, Hitmontop, aka Kapoerer may reference the Brazilian martial art known as 'capoeira', where one often spins their legs in the air. I mean, have you heard of a world famous martial artist that has their name ending in 'Top'? I haven't. So while the English names are correct, they aren't 'based' on B. Lee and J. Chan, but on T. Sawamura and H. Ebihara.

[@mellyn996]

I know there are people who wonder about the two different sized claws on Kingler. That's because it's based on the Fiddler crab, a real life crab that has two different sized claws. They use their big claw for fighting, burrowing, and to find mates.

[@christianlorre]

Kingler has the same name in Japanese. King and fiddler.

[@LammergeierX]

Ya gotta remember that Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan are only called that in English and their rather based on their respective martial arts

[@RealCutieMutie]

3:25 You're too optimistic in thinking that ANY though was put on early gen shinies.

[@LammergeierX]

I always viewed Voltorb and Electrode as being like the pokemon version of a chest mimic

[@robertbarczak3855]

Love to see a video where we discuss a full list of origin regions for pokemon. Jynx and Lapras: actually Johto Pokemon, Slugma, Murkrow: actually Kanto pokemon etc. Supposedly Zigzagoon is actually Galar as well.

[@ethandobbs]

I’ve already done that 😉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqCbiJZpgpqgoac

[@xfayzlucky7408]

Hitmonlee and hitmonchan are not based on bruce lee and jacki chan. Only their names in english. ( in french, kicklee for bruce lee and tygnon for mac tyson. ) they are based on asian fighter, their original names in japanese are based on these fighter but i can't remember their name

[@bigfloopaboi7190]

Nidoking,Nidoqueen and Rhydon could be based off Baragon, a kaiju from the Godzilla series.

[@FatMarioHeads]

They totally are, the original Red and Green games had kaiju influence all over the place, even the Pokémon cries were inspired by how kaiju tend to have their own individual roars

[@maganhassan2627]

exactly as sugmori himself stated the first pokemon created were more monster looking hence kaijus which inspired nidoking by extension nidoqueen (not sure when she was created) & rhydon

[@TheOgersMask]

Welcome to the underground! (Slowpoke/Slowbro): How are your balls?

[@DestinyHeroShademan]

Oddish is partially based on a radish, not an onion, it's in its name. Kadabra is what Uri galler had a problem with due to its Japanese name of yungerer, not alakazam, and speaking of alakazam, it's part of the phrase abra kadabra alakazam too. Voltorb and electrode are also based on mimics, and the concept of tsukumogami, old objects gaining a spirit and came to life as a yokai, so they are old pokeballs that came to life.

[@leehonglocal]

9:04 In one core game, that Meowth's eyes remained closed.

[@LevelUpRobo]

2:39 i am convinced the developers got the evos got mixed up on accident

[@TyroneTG3]

Voltorb and Electrodes are based off Mimicks a common RPG Trope where the player believes they found an item only to be ambushed by monster.

[@FuryousD]

I kind of expected Gengar to have a mention about it being the shadow of a Clafablw or something like that 😂.

[@FatMarioHeads]

16:16 this is wrong, Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan are based on Tadashi Sawamura and Hiroyuki Ebihara respectively, Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan were chosen as the namesake for their English names because they're more well known martial artists in the west

[@Jianichie]

Despite the joke, I can never look at Magmar the same way again

[@FuryousD]

I've called Magmar TitDuck for ages now 😂, once u see those titties on his head u cant unsee them 😂.

[@snicklesnockle7263]

"no, not those boobies" Are you sure? Look at its head.

[@leehonglocal]

Slowpoke could be base on a sloth due to being the slowest, and maybe base on a slug that will become a snail which Slowbro base on.

[@infinityalbi9840]

16:17 That is a common misconception, but no. The only thing that Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan have that is based on Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan are their American names, as in Japanese they have different names. Also, Jackie Chan is not a boxer!

[@austinbradley8551]

" a frog with an onion top, a dragon, oh yeah and a freaking tank" 😂

[@WaterKirby1994]

That Proto Ivysaur looks much more like Venusaur in terms of design. You showed an Axolotl when saying Salamander during the Slowpoke section. Doduo & Dodrio are also based on emus & kiwis. The Hitmons weren't based on either Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee they merely have their English names as tributes to them.

[@HackerDragon9999]

"The axolotl is a paedomorphic *salamander* closely related to the tiger salamander." -Wikipedia

[@zoa1-99.......]

7:45 Oddish isn't based on an onion, it looks nothing like an onion plant, it does look like a RADISH though, hence Od-dish, Ra-dish. 9:23 Nope, it's a Platypus not a Rubber Ducky.

[@HackerDragon9999]

Then why PsyDUCK instead of Psytypus?

[@zoa1-99.......]

@@HackerDragon9999 Ask Gamefreak, it's probably cos it's a Duck-Billed Platypus.

[@Xialdin]

I think Voltorb and Electrode are also based on the idea of Mimics like the chests in DnD and used in some final fantasy games

[@kishi7479]

That cut when you mention where did Muk is based from lmao

[@judaiyuki5597]

dobbs: and also muk is based on c- me: if he didnt say it i would 😂

[@2gredvisions8560]

0:27, I guess we now know partially why they added Ivysaur into the Evolutionary Starter Trio for the Pokémon Trainer/ Red in Super Smash Brothers, XD. Especially considering how it carries such hidden significance within the Pokémon franchise, like how it helped greenlight the game series.

[@laciereinheart9490]

PokeDex: It's true form is hidden behind an array of curling vines. Dobbs: Red shoes...I dunno...Dorothy? My autistic brain: Two new theories (GAME THEORIES; THANKS FOR WATCHING!). Either Tangela-Dorothy is so pretty it hides behind the vines so it won't get hunted by weirdos, OR, Dorothy is hiding from the Wicked Witch of tge East, who came back to life and is now hunting her to get her red slippers back. That doesn't explain where Toto went though... Maybe this possibility opens us up to the fact that we're living in the darkest timeline and Toto is gone forever...

[@Perpetuousdreamer92]

This was an incredible video very interesting , Gen 1 is supreme! You need to make these for every gen it's fascinating!

[@jadc8193]

Krabby = Crab 😮🤯 In my 30 years of life, I never knew!!!!!!!

[@NAPLEGROVE]

This was a great watch, learned a lot about pokemon I've had for 20 years, crazy haha

[@FuryousD]

I mean, some of what was said is false though, as evident by the comments section correcting him, so yea.

[@zachbundy7026]

What do you call a doduo with only one head? Doduno!

[@sonnielmatador8549]

Dobbs for president 2024

[@itsfaythe6674]

Allow me to point a few things: - The "e" in "kitsune" is not silent, it's a japanese word not english. So "kitsune" and not "kitsun" - The japanese cat which Meowth is based on is called Maneki-neko, like the statue with a moving arm you usually see entering chinese stores. - Alakazam is not based on Uri Geller but on a regular magician able to bend spoons, it's Geller that was convinces it was based on him because is main trick is bending metal spoons. Also, the deity Baphomet. - Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee aren't based on Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee, this is true only regarding their localized names. Their japanese names are Ebiwalar and Sawamular and are actually based on japanese boxer Hiroyuki Ebihara and japanese kickboxer Tadashi Sawamura. - Remove the "probably" regarding Jynx, she IS based on a ganguro kogal, which mimicked the afroamerican woman with bleached hair. That's why americans went mad about this Pokémon.

[@niallvaz737]

Caterpie fact is awesome, now I wanna catch one!

[@maganhassan2627]

lol the muk spelled backwards reference 💀 surprised you didn't mention nidoking & by extenstion maybe nidoqueen being inspired by kaijus this is supported by sugmori himself saying that & how the voltorb line being based on those Japanese toys maybe them being alive apparently explaining why its pokdex number in particular to voltorb being 100 🤔 will you do this as a series for all other pokemon? 👀

[@forsakenslum27]

I feel like Psyduck and Golduck got their names switched somehow.

[@free2sigh753]

Fearow reminds me more of a mix of vulture, condor and stork than a falcon. Yeah this buddy hunts by divebombin too, but thats just a feature - his optic is deftly not based on a falcon.

[@KIKAN_THE_RAT]

Whaat that Dobbs card looks amazing

[@Stuffnstuff650]

Wheedle was based on the super Mario worms especially if the original had a hat

[@5Porygon]

Thank you so much for all videos you made. You are one of my absolutely best youtubers ever. :) Jsi borec. Mám moc rád tvoji tvorbu. Zdraví Nogy.

[@christianlorre]

You missed on voltorb because there's Japanese mythology of yokai which can be a discarded item which comes to life after 100 years. What pokedex number is voltorb? 100. Trainers throw pokeballs all the time and if the pokemon breaks out you dont get the ball back... probably related. Also, mew is a cat fetus. That's why it's immature and mewtwo is a grown up cat.

[@themetalhead8927]

Wouldn't Persian also be based on the Egyptian Serval cat too? 12:48: While yes Slowpoke does have some characteristics to a salamander but the picture of the Axolotl does fit better for it. 17:23: Don't forget it's Item name Lucky Punch as Chansey can be caught potentially holding that item on it between gen 5 and gen 7 I would honestly like to see Dobbs do a fun fact for every pokemon of each generation, this was well put together (despite my opinions above) and while also learning some new info I never knew about.

[@otwayrpg]

Ive always thought Muk and Electrode were RPG tropes. Muk being a slime and Electrode being a mimic, since items are stored in pokeballs, so its like those chest mimics.

[@Dumbsparce]

Just adding on to it, electrodes are also based off mimics

[@detroitgamer006]

I think hitmonchan and hitmonlee are designed after other fighters but the english names are based on jackie chan and bruce lee. I could be wrong tho😅

[@adam-_-923]

When I was younger, I always thought that poliwag's mouth was actually its nose lol I grew up thinking that poliwag didn't have a mouth for the longest time

[@RAPTOR948]

Fun facts: Clefairy was designed to appeal to girls being pink and cute, and was originally planned to be the partner Pokemon of the protagonist of the manga, but it paled in comparison to Pikachu's cuteness. Pikachu was designed by a female employee at Gamefreak, and Pikachu was considered so popular between both boys and girls it became the franchise mascot. Despite how clearly obvious how other Pokemon remained so much more popular... Charizard has the most variations in final forms to date, beating out other starters with the default and shiny forms, 2 Mega Evolutions, a Dynamax and Gigantamax separately. Charizard remains super popular, and the reason Charizard doesn't become a Fire/Dragon type was because despite how much they LOVED the idea of the fire type becoming a dragon type, they knew it would make Charizard way too overpowered in the endgame, as in the first generation, there was nearly nothing if anything that could deal significant damage to a Fire/Dragon type. Charizard's Fire/Flying typing was originally the nerfbat... Made it immune to ground type attacks, but it wound up 4X weak to Rock type attacks which was a nerf too far... Would have been better if Fire types weren't weak to rock-type attacks...

[@sohantula2154]

That thumbnail tho🌚

[@Frizardfakemon]

🗿

[@CharzzTheAnimated]

Magyars face was made of black people this whole time

[@6Miya9]

Gold balls and Japan Fertility Rate 🤣

[@RealBasedNews]

5:12 - Raichu's evolution lookd based. Why did they take that from us!?!?

[@RaighnRPG]

You got the wrong martial artists for the Hitmon's... while Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan do fit the bill and are the inspiration for the English versions of their names they are not actually the inspiration for either of the pokemon themselves... Hitmonlee was based on Tadashi Sawamura a Japanese kickboxer who was known as the The Demon of Kickboxing. Hitmonchan was a homage to Hiroyuki Ebihara, a world champion flyweight boxer who passed away in 1991. You need only reference their original Japanese names for this information. Hitmonlee's name in Japanese is Sawamular, and Hitmonchan's name in Japanese is Ebiwalar.

[@malighn]

no, Mew looks like a gerbil. even has the tuft on it's tail

[@carterambeault3183]

Surprised there was no mention of how Nidoking was based on the Godzilla monster Baragon with them both being burrowing monsters with large ears and prominent nasal horns

[@midnightmotorist-gn9pk]

The thumbnail was basically 😤 OO + ∆ | |

[@jermainespeid4934]

Hope you do Johto soon

[@TheKiddGamer]

New Dobbs upload and I'm early!?! Sweet ❤

[@FuryousD]

Venonat is actually based on a knat not a flea, hence the name, Venom knat.

[@christianlorre]

Actually in most of the world the name is based on mites as in dust mites. English is a exception.

[@HackerDragon9999]

Gnat does not have a K in it.

[@Mizumii25]

Isn't Hitmonchan based on japanese boxer Hiroyuki Ebihara? With Hitmonlee based on japanese kickboxer Tadashi Sawamura? Though I could see tit being that the design is based on the people I've mentioned, while the names are designed based on Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. (at least this is what it seems to be according to Bulbapedia)

[@ArsonBjork]

Also when you trade for a Mr.Mime in the original red/blue games it will be nicknamed Marcel after fameous mime Marcel Marceau

[@GioGio7209]

Another thing to note about staryu and starmie are that they have ultraman's grunts in the anime so the reference is quite obvious.

[@Katutilism]

Yet another goated thumbnail

[@daytonnewland2763]

Early morning Dobbs awesome

[@jacobedler296]

The Nidoran lines also have a name origin referring to Cnidocytes (nye-doh-sites), which are venomous barbed cells, prevalent in jellyfish and some plants. For example, I call the mid stage Nye-doe-rhino, the venomous rhino (/rabbit thing lol)

[@ginantsfan5]

Most awesome vid!!!!

[@ChaffleWadapon]

19:27 I think you use the wrong Karura pic here, I'm 100% sure that's Garuda just by looking at the art style and the cryptid letter around the drawing that is very Balinese. Also, I would never forgot that early elephant interpretation by the old Balinese artists.

[@about7grams]

I think Kadabra was the one based on Urie Gellar. That's why they didn't have a card of it for like a decade. I guess by proxy that would include Zam though

[@gustavju4686]

I've commented this elsewhere before, but the daifuku origin really explains Alolan Raichu well. As Pikachu and Raichu are a Japanese pastry, while Alolan Raichu is a pancake.

[@kuramayoko23]

THANK YOU DOBBS FOR TELLING PEOPLE WHAT JYNX IS ACTUALLY BASED OFF OF!! I'm SICK of some people saying otherwise.

[@nebbynetwork2089]

Ye kanto gets a lot of love but the original 151 are amazing Judt wish some of them got some love like lapras give that an evolution or somthing

[@ravellxivrobinson4979]

The giant rafflesia flower is just a giant parasitic husk.

[@JTRaptor1]

What a Minute Wartortle And Terapagos ARE RELATED 0x0

[@ghoul6.6.6]

The thumbnail is not sus ... at all 🌚

[@bauaserkun]

Ok Dobbs you always do a great job looking at source material including japanese culture/folklore (which is important as at least up until gen 4 they did not really tought outside of japan, not even expecting pokemon to have so many fans over the world)... but this time you busted hitmons big time! Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan? nope - these were names that US version used to keep the sense of original inspiration. Hitmonlee in japanese is known as Sawamular which is directly derivated from Tadashi Sawamura, the japanese kickboxer champion. Same goes for hitmonchan who in Japanese is known as Ebiwalar named after Hiroyuki Ebihara the japanese boxer champion. In english they had to use famous 'martial artists' to make the theme relevant but neither Bruce Lee was a kickboxer nor Jackie Chan is a boxer. BTW the trivia with nidoran name is that the 'ran' in japanese means orchid and most commonly grown orchid in japan is the posionous Phalaenopsis Orchids (which not so long ago was pretty common as wild plant) and for japanese was pretty obvious hint that those are poison types (the japanese names for nidoran is nidoran)

[@___Monkey___D.___Luffy___6]

Mew for mutation makes sense cuz Cat meowing in Japanese is "Nya!"

[@ashuea2]

i like the today's content dobbs.

[@gorkemkibar]

Omg the best video ever 😱😱 please please please please other pokemons too pleaseeee 😢

[@DragonTyer]

so in short Pokemon are Yokai,kaijus,myths and normal animel ,incets and Bird so on

[@szegediadam8793]

I don't have any proof about this, but I always thought the machop line is based on the famous fight between captain Kirk and the lizard dude froü the first star treck, and also machamp is Goro from MK...

[@breeduce8252]

Machamp and Golem are also based on each other. Sonce they evolve via trade, the idea is that they also trade traits, machamp getting gravelers 4 arms, and Golem getting Machamps reptilianlike face

[@theamazingspooderman2697]

we cant let him keep getting away with the thumbnail

[@therealgigavolta]

The thumbnail be wild 💀

[@Piranhamatt]

Having gone to borneo earlier this year, it's pretty cool how many pokemon are based on asian animals or plants I also saw there

[@L0ve1tRetr0]

Missed a trick there... Seadra should definitely evolve to Kingdra after winning 1000 battles.

[@Jelly_shy_guy_man]

Slowpoke steels people’s poke balls I did not need to know that

[@ICallShotgun13]

CONGRATULATIONS! Your New York evolved into Los Angeles!

[@StephanieHarness-ui6tp]

Can't believe he didn't make a deez nuts joke

[@TatesMcgee12]

When I was watching the first 9 Pokémon, I thought, “sparrow is based of fearow, pikachu is based of raichu, Mewtwo is based of MEW.” But no

[@chubbyz8713]

Kits-sune-ay

[@OneJumpFromEden]

what's a kitsoon is that anything like a kitsune

[@iamSpenceGarcia]

The Machamp line is also quite literally based on the prehistoric animal called Moschops!!

[@purinsann21403]

So you're saying that Igglybuff is just a ball with a curvy hair then evolve into a jigglypuff that grow an ear and became a cat and then became a rabbit when evolve into wigglytuff? Seems about right