The Pokemon Company
Pokémon Sun and Moon’s creature designer has explained the unusual creative approach behind the Ultra Beasts, revealing why they were deliberately designed to look so unsettling.
Since their debut, Ultra Beasts have been known for their alien shapes and chaotic presence, often splitting fan opinion over how far they stray from the familiar Pokémon designs.
Thanks to translated quotes from Automaton, we now know the reasoning behind their unhinged looks as creature designer Yusuke Omura revealed they grew out of ideas that had previously been rejected.
Pokémon’s Ultra Beasts look unhinged for a reason
“I designed the Ultra Beasts by recalling some of the designs I made which were rejected by Mr. Sugimori, and I decided to deliberately use the very reasons for why they were rejected and base the artistic direction of the designs on them,” Omura revealed via a post on X.
“So in some way, they’re like a manifestation of my own resentment – pretty scary.” Omura also stressed there was no personal animosity behind the comment.
“Of course, this doesn’t mean that I hate Mr. Sugimori or anything like that.”
The Pokemon Company
Introduced in 2016’s Pokémon Sun and Moon, the Ultra Beasts are mysterious entities that emerge from Ultra Wormholes and have sci-fi-inspired designs. Their arrival marked one of the series’ boldest changes, prioritizing otherworldly influences over the animal-inspired creatures that Ken Sugimori designed.
While Game Freak has continued experimenting with different monster concepts like Tera forms in Scarlet and Violet, the Ultra Beasts remain among the most visually divisive Pokémon ever created.
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