Fake Pokémon: Difference between revisions

'''Fake Pokémon''', or '''Fakemon'''  for short (alternatively, '''Fakémon'''), is a term in the Western [[fanon]] for unofficial {{OBP|Pokémon|species}}. A counterpart term in the Japanese fanon is '''{{j|オリポケ}}''' ''Oripoké'', from {{j|オリジナルポケモン}} ''Original Pokémon''.

 

Early usage of the English term Fakemon included counterfeit [[Pokémon merchandise]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19991013025321/http://pocket.ign.com/news/9550.html IGN's article from August 13, 1999]</ref>

Sometimes before the release of a new [[generation]] of [[Pokémon games]], a silhouette of a new Pokémon is released, with the picture shown later. In that timeframe, sometimes fans will guess what the Pokémon will look like and draw up their assumptions. Others interpret these assumptions as the actual Pokémon.

In other instances, a false name or evolution of a Pokémon may be invented by a fan before any official release. Other fans, again, interpret these assumptions as fact.

Notable assumed Pokémon include:

* Pikablu, the assumed name of {{p|Marill}}

* Assumed [[Eeveelution|evolutions]] of other types for {{p|Eevee}}

[[File:Shellbro.png|thumb|right|A fake sprite for Shellbro, by artist DigiX101<ref>https://www.deviantart.com/digix101/art/Shellder-Slow-Form-pixel-art-113034962</ref>]]

* {{p|Regigigas}}'s Sky Forme, a forme that was assumed to belong to either Regigigas or {{p|Shaymin}} before its official unveiling. This assumption may derive from the fact that both Regigigas and Shaymin were scheduled to appear in [[M11|the eleventh movie]].

* Assumed evolutions of {{p|Porygon2}}, often named Porygon3, have been assumed to be less erratic branched evolution of Porygon2, due to the [[Dubious Disc]]'s dubious origin.

* Shellbro, the assumed evolution of {{p|Shellder}} (usage of a [[Slowpoke Tail]])

* Kangaschan or Kanga, the assumed name of {{p|Kangaskhan}}'s baby, which could evolve into a male or female Kangaskhan depending on [[gender]].

* A common pre-evolution of Tauros and Miltank.

Fake items, with accompanying "methods of obtaining", were invented to evolve regular Pokémon into fake Pokémon. For example, in [[Generation I]], a false item known as the "Mist Stone" circulated around the Internet, and claimed to be able to evolve every single Pokémon.

==April Fools' Pokémon==

Commonly for {{wp|April Fools' Day}} pranks, Pokémon-related websites will create fake Pokémon and attempt to pass them off as recently revealed new Pokémon. These often include some of the commonly assumed fake Pokémon.

Some April Fools' Pokémon include:

* [[April Fools' Day 2005|Korechu]], supposedly created for a [[Nintendo DS|DS]] version of [[Hey You, Pikachu!]], which coincidentally looks strikingly similar to {{p|Shinx}}.

*Cell-phone {{p|Rotom}}, a supposed new Rotom form created by [[WTPT - Pokémon Radio]] (from podcast episode 57). Coincidentally, the concept of a [[Rotom Phone]] would debut officially years later.

* {{smw|Yoshi}}, claimed to be the [[evolution]] of {{p|Dragonite}} by an issue of {{wp|Expert Gamer}}.

* [[April Fools' Day 2005|Chance]], claimed to be a Pokémon that would evolve into {{p|Chansey}}. Coincidentally, {{p|Happiny}}, which evolves into Chansey, would later debut officially.

* {{smw|Luigi}}, claimed to be the evolution of {{p|Lickitung}} by the official Nintendo website.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20000127223129/http://www.nintendo.com/april1/pokemon/index.html Pokémon # 160 - Nintendo] (archived)</ref> Coincidentally, Lickitung's supposed evolution method requiring the console to be turned upside down would later be used for {{p|Inkay}}.

With the leak of {{p|Shaymin}}'s {{form|Shaymin|Sky Forme}} in name but without images to back the claim up, PurpleKecleon, a well-known Pokémon artist, created a fake version of this alternate form. Many in the fandom jumped to conclusions about its veracity,<ref>[http://eevee.livejournal.com/289857.html fuzzy notepad - Sky Forme Shaymin is fake]</ref> as the trademark on the terms "Land Forme" and "Sky Forme" had already been verified, while there was heavy evidence that Shaymin would be getting an alternate form. PurpleKecleon, however, announced the next day in her {{wp|DeviantArt|deviantART}} journal that she had created the fake Sky Forme Shaymin. The real one was leaked some time later in artwork on drink cups from [[Pokémon Festa]].

Kaenchu<ref>[http://kotaku.com/5975401/how-a-phony-pikachu-tolled-japanese-twitter-users Kotaku - How a Phony Pikachu Trolled Japanese Twitter Users]</ref> (Japanese: カエンチュ ''Kaenchu''), supposedly a {{type|Fire}} Pokémon, gained notoriety shortly after the announcement of [[Pokémon X and Y]]. Kaenchu's name derives from the Japanese words 火炎 ''kaen'' (meaning "flame" or "blaze") and チューチュー ''chūchū'' (the sound of squeaking). It was purported to be an [[evolution]] of {{p|Pikachu}}, capable of generating thermal power and unloading hydrogen explosions. At one point, it ascended to the fourth position of the daily trending topics of the website [[wp:Yahoo|Yahoo! Japan]] and was retweeted thousands of times on {{wp|Twitter}} before being discovered to be part of a hoax.

It is not unusual for fans to create their own fake Pokémon for pure amusement, often creating new [[type]]s (such as Sound and Light) and [[move]]s as well. These are usually openly displayed, usually on fanart websites or in [[ROM hacks]], and are intended by their creators to be seen as unofficial. Sometimes, however, one may be assumed to be a real Pokémon by another fan, depending upon the skill of the artist and the gullibility of the fan.

* [[PokéGods]]

* [[List of unused Pokémon and character designs]]

* [[Disputed Pokémon]]

* [[ROM hacks]]

* [http://pokefactory.pokemology.com The Pokémon Factory]

* [http://hiatudex.wikia.com/wiki/Hiatu_Wiki HiatuWiki]