In general
- Ever since Yamamoto took over for the series, he's inserted a lot of subtle references to Godzilla and old school Toku.
RGB arc
- One issue had a Gastly being captured by some Ghostbusters-type characters.
- Green is based on Fujiko Mine, as evident by their numerous similarities.
- The Safari Zone logo looks like the Jurassic Park logo.
- The device that Brock uses to communicate in chapter 65 is modeled after the Game Boy Camera.
GSC arc
- The Portable Transporter that Crystal receives from Bill is based on Japan-exclusive Mobile Game Boy Adapter, which similar to the real life version, connects to a Pokégear.
- The trainer Ryu in Blackthorn Gym looks similar to Bruce Lee.
- When preparing to catch Entei and Raikou, Falkner's Skarmory flies with its wings folded, just like how Gyaos does at one point in Gamera: Guardian of the Universe.
- In the exhibition match between Brock and Jasmine, her "Onyx" gets scratched, is shown to have a body of metal inside, and reveals itself to be Steelix. Just like how Mechagodzilla is introduced in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla.
- In the hot springs at Mt. Silver, the way how Sabrina teleports away is similar to how the original Ultraman does.
- In chapter 166, As Ho-Oh and Lugia are about to use their respective signature move, the air around their mouth vibrate, which too is based on Gamera: Guardian of the Universe right before Gyaos is about to shoot its supersonic scream.
- In Mt. Silver Training Chapter, Gold’s Pichu plays jumprope with Pika’s tail, similar to Minilla doing it to Godzilla in Son of Godzilla.
RS arc
- Ruby's Pokémon are written in alphabet, which require Ruby characters for Japanese to read, small annotations that are rendered alongside base text for mostly Japanese people to read.
- The activation of the Running Shoes are based on Kamen Rider V's Double Typhoon.
- Wally's dad bears resemblance to Ned Flanders.
- The Submarine Explorer 1 is based off of Wadatsumi-1 from a 1973 movie called Japan Sinks, while the Devon Parts is modeled after the Oxygen Destroyer.
- The conclusion of Sapphire's match against Brawly features Hariyama and Combusken dealing each other a blow, i.e., referencing Tomorrow's Joe.
- Professor Cozmo looks similar to Woody Allen.
- Wallace's aircar is a mix between Yatabe RS and Ferrari Dino 246 GT.
- The way how Professor Cozmo's assistants' mouth works are taken from how the character's mouth moves in Chulip.
- The remodeled Submarine Explorer 1 modeled after a spaceship called Jabala appearing in Mirrorman.
- After Kyogre awakens, the emergency broadcast issues an alert, which is another nod to the original Godzilla.
- The blind Magikarp boy resembles Filippo from I'm Not Scared.
- The device that Team Magma uses to communicate resembles a Nintendo DS.
- Tabitha's design is apparently based on Gallows Carradine from Wild ARMs 3. Next up, before battling the Gym Leaders, the 3 Team Magma admins are standing on clifftop, which is similar to the animated opening of the game.
- Drake smoking a pipe is inspired by Colonel Douglas Mortimer For a Few Dollars More.
- In his battle against Blaise, Brawly pulls out a nunchaku which his pose is a homage to Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon. Not to mention his stance when imitating Bruno is based off of Fist of Fury.
- When Groudon and Kyogre meet in Sootopolis City, the long horizontal double-page spread is reminiscent of CinemaScope ratio that was popular in Showa-era kaiju films.
FRLG arc
- The Rocket Admins are based off of the 3 main characters from s manga called Kaibutsu-kun by Fujiko A. Fujio. Carr is modeled after Kaibutsu Tarou, Orm is Franken, and Sird is Dracula.
- Sird's Banette pointing its finger when incapacitating Silver is a homage to Laughing Salesman.
- The robe that Sird puts on Silver resembles Emperor Aton from Kagaku Sentai Dynaman. Additionally, Banette's rings are inspired by Zetton being captured by Ultraman's Catch Rings in the final episode of the original series.
- The Mossdeep rocket is based on Helios 7 rocket from Space Amoeba
Emerald arc
- The first maid that Emerald encounters in the Battle Pike vaguely resembles Sakura Kinomoto from Cardcaptor Sakura.
- Latias’ reporter attire is based on a reporter (played by Yuriko Hoshi) in Mothra vs. Godzilla, while her hat is based on Flash Honey from Cutie Honey.
- Tucker's frequent poses seem to resemble that of Hard Gay.
- The deadline for Emerald's Battle Frontier challenge is July 7th, where Tanabata (the inspiration for Jirachi) usually happens on the same day.
DP arc
- Platinum's family name comes from the Berlitz Corporation
, a Japanese-owned worldwide company meant to train people in language and global leadership skills. - Demon Brioche, the villain of Proteam Omega, is said to be modeled after Baseball Mask from Himitsu Sentai Gorenger.
- How Diamond and Lax chew their food early in the arc is based on how the critters does it in The Little Mole.
- Dia's "Proteam Omega Secret Encyclopedia" is based on ''Fujiko Fujio no Manga Daigaku'' from Korotan Bunko.
- Byron's face when he's flabbergasted by Platinum's skills is a nod to Kaiji.
- Dia has a Nintendo Wii and all its different controllers in his room, similar to how in the games the player character always has the current Nintendo console in their room.
Pt arc
- Looker's ringtone is meant to refer to the second opening of Tokusou Saizensen.
HGSS arc
- A character named Jet resembles Jet Link from Cyborg 009. He even has the same name!
- Petrel’s hand gestures when switching disguise is another reference to Monster-kun, which the eponymous protagonist would swipe his hands over his face.
BW arc
- N’s debut in the magazine scans shows him in tears, a recreation of how Gekijirou Taiga appears in the 53rd chapter of Stop!! Hibari-kun!
- The movie shown in chapter 466 is inspired by a Showa era movie called “Your name is” (1953), where even the name of the man and the woman wearing a shawl is identical. (Haruki and Machiko).
- A Biker (who turns out to be the former boss of Black Empoleon) wears a jacket that says GOD SPEED YOU, referring to a 1976 Japanese documentary.
- Grimsley leaves behind a card, letting White in on what happened in route 4. This is a homage to Kaiketsu Zubat, where the titular hero would leave behind a card after defeating a criminal.
- Cafe Sonata’s design is modeled after a former New York City music club called CBGB. Following that, the brand of guitar is called YanaGibson, which is a reference to Gibson guitar brands and a comedian with the stage name Yanagibson (real name Manabu Yanagitani).
- Leo's design seems to be one for ''Suitmation'' technique used for old Kaiju movies. (More specifically, a person with a half-worn Godzilla suit)
- Croagunk’s resistance to Signal Beam is another homage to Ultraman, this time for the 3rd episode named “Science Patrol, Move Out”. In addition, Looker screams “Mugaaal!!” in his defeat, which Mugal (ムガール) is the leader of the Black Hole Planet 3 Aliens in Terror of Mechagodzilla.
B2W2 arc
- Two of Cheren's male students that appear throughout the arc appear to be Ness and Porky. In addition, 2 girls are seen discussing lunch, who resemble Mirei Minami and Sophie Hojo from PriPara in their middle school outfit. Lastly, a black-haired girl with twin tails is seen here and there, who resembles Nico Yazawa from Love Live!.
- Lack-Two's character seems to take a lot of cues from characters like Batman, Conan Edogawa, and Dexter Morgan.
- Lack-Two finds Colress in Area 03 which is inspired from "Warehouse 03" from the 23rd episode of Ultraseven, Search for Tomorrow.
- Roxie's father's design comes from Lemmy, where Looker's second ringtone is also revealed in the chapter. It's based on the first intro of G-Men '75.
- Ghetsis' appearance in this arc is said to take cues from Mads Mikkelsen in Hannibal.
- After revealing his Red Genesect, Colress tells how the performance between theirs is incomparable, similar to what Kuronuma, the leader of Black Hole Planet 3 Aliens says after Mechagodzilla is revealed Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla.
- After breaking the students out of Marine Tube, Bianca calls Cheren an idiot, which is a reference to a scene in King Kong vs. Godzilla. (when Kazuo Fujita rescues Fumiko Sakurai from Godzilla)
- Another King Kong vs. Godzilla reference is found in the epilogue, where Whi-Two lifting a train in her performance of the Giant Woman is to King Kong in the promotional materials.
- The Foongus Girl movie poster shown in the epilogue is based off of a Miraculous Ladybug promo art. And lastly, the theater in Mistralton City is based off of Minami Kaikan Cinema in Kyoto.
XY arc
- The inn that the children stay in is called "Prancing Ponyta", a homage to Prancing Pony from The Lord of the Rings. The innkeeper is a nod to Aunt Stella brand of cookies◊.
- In his video to Professor Sycamore, Trevor states that this isn't a movie, making a third reference to Godzilla 1954.
- The movie playing at Lysandre Cafe is The City of Lost Children, with Diantha having played the role of Miette. Her hairstyle in the film is also a shout out to a young Audrey Hepburn.
- The cover of chapter 563 is based on the promotional posters for Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster.
- One of the members of Cassius' gang is a de-aged version of Abby with some hints of Gothorita.
- In Y's backstory, a short-haired girl with glasses can be seen admiring Yvette that looks identical to Hanayo Koizumi from Love Live.
- A few of the named, kidnapped residents from Vaniville Town are straight out of the mast cast of Criminal Minds, which include David Rossi, Spencer Reid, Penelope Garcia, and Derek Morgan.
- The cover of 29th chapter in the magazine scans references The Birds, which makes sense as the professor is attacked by a group of Hawlucha. On top of that, Essentia’s pose in the 5th minivolume is based on Mantis from Game of Death.
- Mewtwo fusing his 2 spoons into one is taken from Darth Maul's lightsaber from The Phantom Menace. This is especially emphasized in the cover of vol. 61, where Mega Mewtwo X uses a double-sided spoon.
- In his reappearance, Blaine states a modified quote of what Kaoru Kiriyama says at the end of episode 18 of Ultraseven: "Intelligence without god makes a clever devil."
ORAS arc
- Emerald's double bandolier is inspired by El Vasco in Compañeros. In the same chapter, Sapphire imagines 2 Gardevoir, which their poses is a nod to the original Kamen Riders, Takeshi Hongo and Hayato Ichimonji.
- When explaining the meteor to Ruby, Zinnia's imagination of the aftermath is based on one scene in Gorath, when showing a slideshow of a large space object crash.
- The silhouette of Mega Rayquaza that Ruby and Norman see references the halo effects found in the works of Koichi Kawakita.
SUMO/USUM arc
- Moon is modeled after Doona Bae's character Namjoo Park from The Host (2006). Her pose on the first SM volume is directly based off an official movie poster.
- Professor Burnet watches the Royal Mask on tv, where his beckoning gesture and overall feel is inspired by Dwayne Johnson.
- Guzma and Plumeria’s pose on the back of minivolume 3 is reference to the pose from Indonesian band named ‘Marjinal’ in their tour on Japan in 2015.
SWSH arc
- Piers has essentially been made a love letter to 70s and 80s era UK rock, with Yamamoto cramming as many references to him as possible. For drawing models, Yamamoto used Blixa Bargeld, Peter Murphy, and Nick Cave, while the in-universe songs are titles based off of the works of The Clash, The Exploited, The Killing Joke, G.B.H, The Cure, The Pogues, and The Smiths.
"'SV arc"'
- Naturally, the first chapter has Violet and Miraidon performing the famous Akira bike slide.
