History Fanfic / RealisticPokemon

''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' has developed a huge following ever since the late [=90s=]. We've played the games, watched the cartoons, bought the merchandise and totally annoyed our parents by never shutting up about it. But have you ever stopped and asked yourself what the weird little creatures would look like if they were brought into the real world (and no, [[VideoGame/PokemonGo not like that]])?

One RJ Palmer (known on Website/DeviantArt as "Arvalis") did, and decided to illustrate it.

Sure enough, "Realistic Pokémon" was born. While RJ was likely not the ''first'' person to make realistic renditions of Pokémon, he was definitely the most prolific, to the point that many other realistic Pokémon artists have admitted to being inspired by his work. In some of his works, he even includes a biological explanation for what the Pokemon is like. Be warned, though: Not all of his Pokémon designs are meant to be taken seriously (Vanilluxe and Mime Jr. for example).

The pictures can be found [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/gallery/39915677/Realistic-Pokemon here]] on RJ's Deviantart.

[[folder:List of Pokémon RJ has rendered realistically]]
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Abomasnow-502274672 Abomasnow]] (also features Snover, Chingling, Delibird, Sawsbuck, Froslass, Mr. Mime and Mime Jr.)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Aerodactyl-375770736 Aerodactyl]] (also features Archen and Cranidos)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Aggron-346721993 Aggron]] (also features Aron, Lairon, Geodude and Durant)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Arcanine-344281786 Arcanine]] (also features Growlithe and Turtwig)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Blastoise-332940295 Blastoise]] (also features Squirtle, Wartortle, Magikarp, Tynamo, Shellder, Krabby and Staryu)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Bulbasaur-332237244 Bulbasaur]] (also features Ivysaur, Venusaur, Ninjask and Nincada)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Charizard-331684789 Charizard]] (also features Charmander, Charmeleon and Caterpie)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Dragonite-330244373 Dragonite]] (also features Dratini and Dragonair)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Druddigon-324100616 Druddigon]] (also features a very dead Deerling)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Eevee-340935802 Eevee]] (also features Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Umbreon, Espeon, Leafeon and Glaceon)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Feraligatr-406520189 Feraligatr]] (also features Totodile, Croconaw, Sirskit and Shuckle)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Flygon-368895966 Flygon]] (also features Trapinch, Vibrava, Cacnea, Scrafty, Sandshrew and Dwebble)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Garchomp-323480377 Garchomp]]
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Gengar-334476729 Gengar]] (also features Gastly, Haunter, Zubat and Rattata)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Giratina-419997442 Giratina]] (also features Vanillite, Vanilluxe and Crobat)
* [[https://www.deviantart.com/arvalis/art/Grimmsnarl-832744669 Grimmsnarl]] (also features Morgrem, Impidimp, Sinistea, Morelull, and Spritzee)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Groudon-350174988 Groudon]] (also features Torkoal, Magmar, Magby, Slugma, Magcargo and Larvesta)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Gyarados-478737510 Gyarados]] (also features Magikarp, Relicanth, Shellder, Cloyster, Tentacool, Clamperl and Gorebyss)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Honchkrow-343232089 Honchcrow]] (also features Murkrow, Wurmple and Venipede)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Kyogre-526534240 Kyogre]] (also features Frillish, Jellicent, Tentacruel, Omastar and Sharpedo)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Kyurem-513631464 Kyurem]] (also features Raikou and Piloswine)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Lugia-453690062 Lugia]] (also features Qwilfish, Corsola, Seadra, Clauncher, Mantine, Remoraid and Luvdisc)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Meganium-417275908 Meganium]] (also features Chikorita, Bayleef, Celebi, Paras and Foongus)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Mewtwo-333735717 Mewtwo]] (also features Mew and Ditto)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Nidoking-325848056 Nidoking]] (also features both the male and female Nidoran and Pikachu)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Ninetales-582816024 Ninetails]] (also features Vulpix, Litwick, Lampent, Trevenant and Honedge)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Noivern-460782149 Noivern]] (also features Zubat, Noibat, Woobat, Swoobat, Joltik and Excadrill)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Rayquaza-491059769 Rayquaza]] (also features Emolga, Pidgeot, Braviary, Skarmory, Altaria and Talonflame)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Reshiram-330840512 Reshiram]]
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Scyther-325354781 Scyther]]
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Steelix-571650352 Steelix]] (also features Onix, Sableye, Haxorus and Heatran)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Tyranitar-325191725 Tyranitar]] (also features Larvitar)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Tyrantrum-447300026 Tyrantrum]] (also features Tyrunt and Bastiodon)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Typhlosion-381711950 Typhlosion]] (also features Cyndaquil, Quilava, Combee, Vespiquen and Oddish)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Yveltal-609392085 Yveltal]] (also features Latios, Latias, Swellow and Salamence)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Zapdos-587107968 Zapdos]] (also features Magnemite, Magneton, Raichu and Voltorb)
* [[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Zoroark-333484044 Zoroark]] (also features Zorua, Natu, Xatu and Diglett)
[[/folder]]

!!Tropes found in the Realistic Pokémon images

* ApocalypticLog: [[https://www.deviantart.com/arvalis/art/What-Lies-in-the-Cerulean-Caves-447504505 What Lies in the Cerulean Caves]] is presented as the POV of a [[FoundFootage doomed trainer's camera.]]
* AuthorAppeal: RJ ''loves'' dinosaurs, and so many of his Pokémon designs are based on them.
* BatOutOfHell:
** The Gengar line is portrayed as such.
** Noivern was already this, but RJ makes it ''[[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Noivern-460782149 terrifying]]''.
* BigCreepyCrawlies: Bug type Pokémon are obviously portrayed as such, but more surprisingly, Giratina is depicted as a massive arthropod, Celebi as a medium-sized insect and Frosslass as a large mosquito-like bug.
* DinosaursAreDragons: Many of the Dragon-types are depicted as dinosaurs, including Haxorus (though it's already based on dinosaurs), Druddigon, Reshiram and, if you choose to get technical, Altaria.
* DoingInTheWizard: Some Pokémon's abilities are given realistic, or at least TechnoBabble-ish, explanations, such as Zoroark's apparent shapeshifting being due to it excreting a hallucinogenic chemical. Others [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane just don't get explained]], however. This is also the reason Ghost-types aren't portrayed as actual ghosts in the series-- RJ claims it's impossible to do this with ghosts.
* {{Eagleland}}: The description for its shared entry with Rayquaza states that Braviary is the national bird of Unova.
* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs: Not only do the Fossil Pokémon make appearances (so far Tyrantrum, Tyrunt, Archen, Bastiodon and Cranidos, plus non-dinosaur Aerodactyl) but several Pokémon that aren't (or at least not entirely) based on dinosaurs are also depicted this way.
** Druddigon and Abomasnow are portrayed as being therizinosaurids and are closely related.
** Magmar (and Golduck, apparently) appear to be raptor-like theropods that have ducklike beaks.
** Groudon resembles a mix between an ankylosaur and a theropod.
** Yveltal looks like a giant version of ''Yi'' (a dinosaur with pterosaur-like wings) in its wing structure. Word of God confirms that this was his main inspiration.
** Reshiram is based on a primitive bird, like ''Archaeopteryx''.
** Aggron is portrayed as a ceratopsian, even being alluded to as a relative of Bastiodon.
** Scyther looks like a generic theropod, though seeing as the canon Scyther looks kind of like a raptor, this kind of makes sense.
** Haxorus and Tyranitar are portrayed as this as well, though they were already based on dinosaurs in canon.
** Subverted with Nidoking, which is portrayed in the games as a sort of rhino/dinosaur hybrid. RJ instead portrays it as a mammal, with traits of porcupines, ground sloths, and rhinos.
* GiantFlyer: Many flying types are shown to be this, but Rayquaza and Yveltal take the cake. Subverted with Lugia, which is seen as one of these, but turns out to simply levitate with psychic abilities.
* InASingleBound: RJ's explanation for Dragonite's flying abilities, seeing as its "wings" are too short to carry its bulk.
* MasterOfIllusion: Zoroark is an interesting portrayal, as it's depicted as secreting a sort of hallucinogenic liquid.
* MonsterClown: A tongue-in-cheek invocation -- Mime Jr. is depicted as a tadpole that makes itself look "as grotesque as possible" to scare off predators. Its evolution, Mr. Mime, is depicted as a pretty normal looking (if pretty huge) frog.
* MultipleTailedBeast: Subverted with Vulpix and Ninetails, as their extra "tails" are actually massive dreads of matted fur, and these only appear in wild specimens; in domestic Ninetails, daily brushing transforms the dreads into a six-foot train of fur that resembles an opulent gown.
* NobleBirdOfPrey: Pidgeot, Braviary, Swellow and Talonflame are depicted as such, just as they are in canon.
* NotQuiteFlight: Lugia and Dragonite are depicted as a psychic levitater and a super high jumper respectively.
* OurDragonsAreDifferent: Charizard is portrayed as a winged lizard, Dragonite as a giant salamander (since Dragonair and Dratini look like tadpoles), Reshiram as a feathered dinosaur and Garchomp as...[[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Garchomp-323480377 well]]...
* PantheraAwesome: RJ's take on Arcanine has much more pronounced feline features than the canon version, being a tiger/lion/dog cross. Raikou is also depicted as a saber-toothed cat.
* PoesLaw: RJ has noted that some of his designs really aren't meant to be taken 100% seriously (indeed, some of them appear to be {{Take That}}s to Pokemon whose designs he's not particularly fond of). This hasn't stopped detractors from attacking said designs for being "inaccurate".
* PteroSoarer: Averted with Aerodactyl, no doubt due to RJ having done his homework on pterosaur anatomy.
* RelatedInTheAdaptation: Several Pokemon species are described as having sharing evolutionary ancestors with each other, such as Poutegeist and Trevenant.
* SeaMonster: Kyogre (depicted as resembling a whale) and Gyarados (portrayed as a huge, serpentine fish).
%%* ShownTheirWork: RJ's works are fairly well-researched.
* TRexpy: Tyrantrum and Tyrunt had a picture shared with Bastiodon. Subverted by Tyranitar; you'd think it would be a tyrannosaur too, but it's actually shown as a strange, bipedal ''ankylosaur'', complete with armor.
* TentacledTerror: Trevanant, weirdly enough, is depicted as a terrestrial octopus that uses hollowed-out trees to protect its fragile body. Additionally, the Tentacruel line is depicted as squids rather than jellyfish. The Sinistea line is likewise depicted as this, being specifically being described as being related to the Trevanant line.
* ThreateningShark:
** Garchomp, basically a hammerhead shark mixed with a ''T. rex''.
** Sharpedo, basically a great white shark that traded in it's tail for jet propulsion.
* TurtlePower: Meganium and its pre-evolutions are depicted as giant tortoises. Lugia also resembles a giant sea turtle, but clearly has other inspirations as well.
* UncannyValley: Some of RJ's Pokemon look really disturbing when brought into reality, but Mewtwo stands out the most here, as its origin story makes it very likely that RJ went for this effect ''intentionally'' with it.
* VertebrateWithExtraLimbs: A few Pokemon, but most notable is Dragonite, which has wing-like protuberances on its back despite being flightless. Subverted with Crobat, whose extra wings are depicted as modified legs and what appear to be vestigial legs on its hindquarters are actually two small tails.
* VoluntaryShapeshifter: A different variant--the series explains the illogical concept of Remoraid (a fish) evolving into Octillery (an octopus) by positing that larval Octillery simply mimic the appearance of actual Remoraids to seek protection from Mantines. Given the fact that there are [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimic_octopus real octopodes]] that employ similar tactics, this actually makes sense.
* VoodooShark: RJ refuses to make Ghost-types actually ghostly because "ghosts aren't realistic", yet his fire-types still breathe fire, his electric types still shoot electricity, his water types still shoot impossible quantities of water, and his psychic types still have psychic powers. One could argue that, while ghosts defy the laws of physics as we know them, generating fire, electricity, and water organically do not, at least in theory. But it's still an odd place to draw the line.

* DoingInTheWizard: Some Pokémon's abilities are given realistic, or at least TechnoBabble-ish, explanations, such as Zoroark's apparent shapeshifting being due to it excreting a hallucinogenic chemical. Others [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane just don't get explained]], however.

* TRexpy: Tyrantrum and Tyrunt had a picture shared with Bastiodon. Subverted by Tyranitar; you'd think it would be a tyrannosaur too, but it's actually shown as a strange, bipedal ''ankylosaur''.

* VoodooShark: RJ refuses to make Ghost-types actually ghostly because "ghosts aren't realistic", yet his fire-types still breathe fire, his electric types still shoot electricity, his water types still shoot impossible quantities of water, and his psychic types still have psychic powers.

* OurDragonsAreDifferent: Charizard is portrayed as a winged lizard, Dragonite as a giant predatory amphibian (since Dragonair and Dratini look like tadpoles), Reshiram as a feathered dinosaur and Garchomp as...[[http://arvalis.deviantart.com/art/Garchomp-323480377 well]]...
* PantheraAwesome: The Arcanine line, depicted as a lion/tiger cross, is this.

* TyrannosaurusRex: Tyrantrum and Tyrunt had a picture shared with Bastiodon. Subverted by Tyranitar; you'd think it would be a tyrannosaur too, but it's actually shown as a strange, bipedal ''ankylosaur''.

* PoesLaw: RJ has noted that some of his designs really aren't meant to be taken 100% seriously (indeed, some of them appear to be {{Take That}}s to Pokemon whose designs he's not particularly fond of). This hasn't stopped detractors from attacking said designs.

* PantheraAwesome: The Arcanine line, depicted as a lion/tiger cross, is this

* RealatedInTheApaptation: Several Pokemon species are described as having sharing evolutionary ancestors with each other, such as Poutegeist and Trevenant.

* TentacledTerror: Trevanant, weirdly enough, is depicted as a terrestrial octopus that uses hollowed-out trees to protect its fragile body. Additionally, the Tentacruel line is depicted as squids rather than jellyfish.
* ThreateningShark: Garchomp, basically a shark mixed with a ''T. rex''.

* TentacledTerror: Trevanant, weirdly enough, is depicted as an octopus that takes control of trees. Additionally, the Tentacruel line is depicted as squids rather than jellyfish.

* ShownTheirWork: RJ's works are fairly well-researched.

* VoluntaryShapeshifter: A different variant--the series explains the illogical concept of Remoraid (a fish) evolving into Octillery (an octopus) by positing that larval Octillery simply mimic the appearance of actual Remoraids to seek protection from Mantines. Given the fact that there are [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimic_octopus real octopodes]] that employ similar tactics, this actually makes sense.

* EverythingsSquishierWithCephalopods: Trevanant, weirdly enough, is depicted as an octopus that takes control of trees. Additionally, the Tentacruel line is depicted as squids rather than jellyfish.