#capumon

Did you know Junichi Masuda was hired to compose Pokemon Gen 1's music, but ended up programming as well after all the other programmers quit?

I mean, we’re stuffing creatures of various sizes and shapes into gatchapon capsules for crying out loud. It’s just a little strange.

The concept of the Pokéball dates back at least as early as the “Capsule Monsters” phase of Pokémon in 1990. Although, there were aesthetic differences, the general purpose was the same.

The Pokéball concept a lot of people would be most familiar with is the anime portrayal. Spheres roughly the size of baseball that shrink to an easily size more akin to a ping pong ball. With a hinge and a button on the front of the ball. But this is far from the only Pokéball concept in the franchise.

Within the Pokémon world itself, the Pokéball as we know it today came into existence somewhere around 300 years ago. With 1925 being given as the exact date for the modern Pokéball. Invented by Professor Westwood of Celadon Academy, (this information comes The Encyclopedia Pokémonica And a Pokémon Daisuki Club site according to Bulbapedia.). But Pokéball style devices and analogues exist even further back. With the true invention of the “Pokéball” being traced back to Johto.

Anyone who’s played Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold or SoulSilver versions can tell you about Apricorns. A fruit that can be found throughout Johto and turned into special Pokéballs by Kurt is Azalea Town. And according to various sources, including the games themselves, this method is how Pokéballs were crafted before the mass produced versions made by Silph Co. and yet still, we find that there were similar methods of capture before even this invention. Especially in the Anime series.

Episode 72 of the original series, “The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis”. Depicts several ancient artifacts which contained ginormous Pokémon that were considered deities by the ancient people of Pokémopolis. In particular, a Giant Gengar, Alakazam and JigglyPuff. Each contained in their own uniquely shaped capsule.

Episode 178 of Advanced Generation, “Battling the Enemy Within!”. Also depicts an ancient device with a very similar appearance to a Pokéball. Discovered in the Tomb of the King of Pokélantis. It surprisingly housed, not a Pokémon. But the spirit of the wicked king himself! Although it is rumored the king once caught Ho-Oh with this device.

Movie 04, “Pokémon 4Ever”. Depicts a Pokéball dating back at least 40 years belonging to a time traveling boy named Sam. Whether this is how all pokeballs worked at the time or is simply a homemade variant by Sam is unknown. (But if you know the plot twist of this film, it’s not outside the realm of possibility.)

Movie 08. “Lucario and the Mystery of Mew”. Depicts a curious example of Pokémon storage. With A Lucario belonging to Sir Aaron being stored in the crystal on Sir Aaron’s staff in manner very similar to a Pokéball for hundreds of years.

In the end, this is only the briefest of history to an item we all don’t really question. We just accept that it exists and is part of the Pokémon world. But this little sphere has quite the history.

There is one more tidbit I shall leave you with. You might think that Pokéballs are named after Pokémon. And while this is most likely true IRL, this is not the case in canon. Apparently the name “Pocket Monsters” only came around after the invention of the “Pocket Ball”. Before that, Pokémon were simply known as Maju. Or magical creatures.

Just remember guys, there’s a whole history of Pokémon yet to be explored. This is just one of many possibilities.

(Better image quality can be found here)

The people of helixchamber on Twitter released a brand new discovery! According to them, an anonymous donor had contacted them about an old piece of Pokemon gen 1 prototype they owned. They weren’t able to get a full dump of the prototype, but they were able to get a lot of information, including all but 7 backsprites, and a lot of missing front sprites. You can read helixchamber’s thread about how it all came to be right here!

HelixChamber have written an article about the discoveries right here, but here are some noteworthy things in the pokemon sprites I found the most interesting!

First, some old friends we saw in the Tajiri manga now have some back sprites to go along with them!

Some friends from the Spaceworld demo are making guest appearances as well! Here we have the Vulpix pre-evo, the meowth pre-evo (i think? Hmm...) and our friendly neighborhoor Kotora (who has a 2 stage evolution line here! Woah!)

We also have some brand new faces! Well, more like backs! Like this Zubat pre-evolution??? And this second stage evolution for Cubone, which seems to show a bigger marowak holding a baby cubone! “Kangashkan is Cubone’s dead mother” anyone?

And lastly, we now have a back sprite for none other than Gorochu, the mysterious lost 2nd evolution for Pikachu!! Finally, some (very limited) depiction of Gorochu!

You are free to be sceptical about all this, it’s very understandable! I personally think it is worth documenting here! What are your thoughts about this?