An interesting thing about Falinks’ marching animation is that it marches to the beat of the Pokémon Center theme. I kept trying to match the marching to different tracks, and when I found the match, it made the troopers feel even more cute.
Swellow gliding indefinitely in midair is pretty bad, but Xatu is just atrociously butchered by it. Kinda wish these indefinitely-gliding Pokémon go on the ground or at least start flapping
Worst thing about Xatu is that it's dex entry literally says it stands still for most of the day. It makes no sense for a Xatu to fly at all and that's not even mentioning how stupid it's ''flight animation'' looks.
I kinda wish that the model was like When its sent out its unlit for only a half second before bursting in flames and staying like that, to give the feeling that it's ready for battle
@@lloydirving6209 oh nono, i was saying that it was one of the sprites i hate ^^' ill edit it rn. but good for you for liking it! you shouldnt let others tell you that you cant think its great
An easy solution to Pokemon like Typhlosion and Blaziken that have the blast-style flames where it would make sense they aren’t emanating them all the time is to just have them periodically “pulse” the flames every few seconds in their idle animations, enough to show off that cool design element and show they are tensed up and anticipating fighting more. 😎
Gen 7 Pokemon have this interesting quirk. In Gen 6 Pokemon were coloured after their stock art. For Gen 7 the new Pokemon designs used very bright colours. When Gen 8 came around and gave every Pokemon more saturation to their base colour Gen 7 Pokemon became even better looking if you ask me. They straight up look magnificent in Gen 8. Shocking I know but seriously it really shows how amazing Gen 7's palette was and that it became even better the Gen after.
That's pretty much because of engine difference. The rendering engine that pokemon XY and Sun and Moon were using resulted into pokemon looking a lot more gray-ish, so for gen 7 they decided to "fix that" by designing pokemon a bit more saturated. Of course with the new generation being developed on a new console, they had technical improvements and that resulted in better renders that didn't look gray-ish
'Devoid of personality' that's the big issue with the 3D models in general. Even masuda said he wanted to avoid them for that reason. Oh shoot not all of em are like that!! Epic!
I mean you will be surprised how lifeless some 2d slrites as well and some are weird without animation. I would say that most pf good 3d models were from hen 7 and 8.
@@showmeyourmoves8551 I mean I grew up with sprites. Notice the poses on sprites always show big Pokémon personality. It's not as much with the models I'm sorry to say. Though they've certainly been addressing this. LOOK AT HOW BEAUTIFUL Regieleki is
I dunno, I remember really enjoying playing Colosseum and seeing all the pokémon ported in there come to life and be animated. I think the problem with the 3ds games is that with their fast-paced release schedule, their models are more cheaply/hurriedly animated, so some of them can seem pretty lifeless.
@@subwayfootlong2678 I loved Infernape's sprite especially when he moved and how the fire on his head moved. It's easily one of my favorite sprites in gen 5.
typhlosion is literally just a bear when it’s idle now, super disappointing, if let’s go johto ever comes to fruition i really hope they revise the model
It's funny because I always thought Typhlosian looked too plain. I just didn't like seeing the smooth belly when it stands on two legs, even with the fire. It was already boring and less cool to me, so back then Quilava was my favourite pokemon and I wouldn't evolve it.
In Pokemon Home they give the Cyndaquil family their flames back. And actually all the models in Home look way better than they do in any of the games. They're nice and vibrant
2:58 I would personally argue the opposite. 9/10 times in the anime, Eelektross is seen standing up and NOT floating about. Still, I COMPLETELY agree with you on his ruined design... It is the worst change in my opinion....... I love him!!!
I've been playing Pokemon Diamond again recently, and some of the sprites hit so much better in the old style than the do in 3D. The Chimchar line, Shinx line and Buizel line to name a few off the top of my head just really miss the mark in 3D. They look too... Idk, smooth? It feels wrong to be seeing them like that.
They're simpler, more organic designs made to be seen on a low resolution screen, and exaggerated in 2D. It makes sense that making them 3D would suddenly make them boring. Look at newer Pokemon - they're designed more complex for a reason, and often consist of many basic shapes to make them easier to animate.
Something I really have to give credit to 3d models is Diglett/Dugtrio. Whenever it has to use an animation where it rises to the sky, it either stays still on the ground or carries a piece of debris to keep the mystery of this line. Even for illegal moves it still works!
Honestly the models in general shifted to stiff idle animations with almost no personality. Not to mention the colors got so washed out. A shame because pokemon often have so much personality just from a few small animations.
Some of the best models are the ones that are constantly in motion. I'd cite Scorbunny as a good recent example. He's just more fun to look at than most other 3D Pokemon.
@@alfalldoot6715 I honestly love Chimchar's 3d sprite. They're always bouncing around, being energetic like a little kid. Sometimes the sprite even does a in air flip animation and all that. Sucks that my favorite Pokemon's 3d sprites mostly suck :(
It would be nice if they just took off temporarily whenever the ground immunity comes into effect, just a quick animation like any attack. That would allow them to be in whatever postition looks the best for the rest of the time.
I'm surprised you didn't bring up Altaria's sprite from Black and White. It's literally just sitting on the ground with miminal animation, always looked really weird but funny to me
Great video JPR! Here are some of my favorites: -blastoise from any gen 3 game. Looks very threatening and the back sprite is sick -Dragonite from HGSS is adorable -jolteon form HGSS is adorable and nostalgic -Swellow from gens 3-5 looks amazing and cool -typhlosion from HGSS
When gen 6 came out I was super bummed about how lifeless the model idles were compared to gen 5's animated sprites. Eelektross was actually one of the Pokemon that I like in gen 6 because of how animated it is (relatively) and how different it was to gen 5.
Thats because the 3ds cant contain 700-800 models animated. Cutting down is one step then animating the models is another step. It kinda hurts but thats whats gotta happen
@@artistaroundtheblock2047 Flames pop out when the entire Cyndaquil line attacks. Thus actually oh idk actually looking like every sprite we ever had of them. Whereas with the Gen 6+ model idle animations. More than 90% of what you see they lose their signature accented fire manes
@@artistaroundtheblock2047. Sprites are designed to look dynamic because they only show one image (until Gen 5). When comparing Typhlosion’s model, the always use the idle animation or image of it standing still and not in an equally dynamic pose. They could at least use one of its attack animation or capture a frame from it instead of it standing still.
@@UltraBall23 But this boring standing animation is what you see 90% of the time while the sprite. Even if the last 10% are great it won't repair the bad design
@@UltraBall23 Typhlosion’s idle animation is fine for when you interact with it but doesn’t make sense in the middle of a tense battle where it should look its fiercest
4:56 That was an hilarious idea. And now I can't help but to imagine a Gen 3 Hitmonlee and a Gen 3 Female Fighter floating around, ironly staring at each other in their silent competition who loses focus first and can no longer maintain the "sheer willpower flight". 8:10 I am surprised that you didn't list Xatu as one of the "victims" of Sky Battles. It's Flying Animation (just being suspended in an inclined position like a part of a mobilee) doesn't do it any favors and it argumentably REMOVED it from its totem inspiration. Granted, I understand that they didn't want to deal with incredible stupid scenes like Noctowl using Fly in Pokémon Colosseum again. 10:55 To be fair: If a failed clone (and no, Mewtwo is NOT a success if it was it would be just another Mew) makes you uncomfortable that's an uncanny valley moment well used.
Mewtwo wasn't a failed clone he was success. They job wasn't to just make another mew it was to make a stronger mew which is why mewtwo is physically stronger and heavier than mew.
I know people already don't like the Gen 5 monkeys, but my guy Simisear was done dirty when the 3d models came about. My main problem with Simisear's 3d model is that its hands seem held too far from the rest of it and its torso looks like a wide vase from the bottom that gets thinner as you go up like its head and smoke neck pillow thing are balanced on a twig
I always thought that the permanently flying Flying-Type pokemon was meant to be a way to visually represent the ungrounded mechanic - they don't touch the ground, so ground type moves don't work.
It's a nice concept in theory, until you consider that there are grounded Flying Pokemon (such as Toucannon, Hoothoot and Hawlucha) who also aren't affected by Ground type moves. Don't get me wrong, some Pokemon have great flying sprites (like Altaria, Pidgeot, Yveltal and Galarian Articuno to name a few), but some I feel look stupid or lose their personality with it.
Poliwrath's sprite from Diamond, standing on one knee, fist raised towards the sky. So much personality there; it was the reason it was one of my first lv 100s.
14:14 I laughed in this one. Can you make a list with the best back sprites in Pokémon in Pt/HGSS? I know that is strange, but some are really cool, like Croagunk's and Luxray's sprites.
I understand the hate for 3D Typhlosion, (it sucks) but the rest of the line looks fine, they're supposed to be chill fire types that activate their hidden power when they need to. I think it's a good subversion of fire types.
As another fun thing about genesect’s flight form: it actually HAS been in the games as it’s running animation since gen 7. There are so many cool and personality filled Pokémon animations that are usually so hard to see, in the 3D games. Like each Pokémon’s unique walking and running animations, or how every Pokémon that floats or flies in battle like electross has a grounded idle animation too that just isn’t used in battle, or how each Pokémon has a real sleeping animation (not just closing its eyes) but they are so rarely used
I really wish they utilized the few animations they had more often. There were definitely places in the 3d model era where they had animations for really mundane stuff like coming out the pokeball or in pokemon amie, but would also work perfectly as a battle animation for certain moves.
Mewtwo had an almost perfect 3d model in the Stadium games. The eyes were angry, the poses were perfection. When it attacked, a nerv was forming on its head and his hands would form like a ball firing of its powerful attacks. Even when defeated, it wouldn't outright faint but drop on one hand, you could feel its anger and frustration. And all of this was made and animated in a game that came out more than 20 years ago...
I think the best part of this video is that it’s not just trashing on the jump to 3-D models. (Like every other video/discussion thread about Pokémon sprites put there)
They absolutely butchered Purrloin in the shift from 2d to 3d. Liepard is a quadruped, all you had to do was keep it on 4 legs. It just looks off when it stands on its hind legs. I know it stands on two feet to thieve items but it still runs on 4 legs.
I always Loved all of Nidoking's sprites, they just felt so cool and intimidating. Then he just looks so awkward and dopey in 3d it was so disappointing.
Genesect's flight mode isn't just shown when it is sent out into battle. It's also its running animation in Sword and Shield when in Pokémon Camp or following you in Isle of Armor and the Crown Tundra.
Typhlosions name doesnt come from typhoon. Like all pokemon, it comes from the creature its based on. Typhlopontix (greek) The blind rat that lives underground. :)
I don't know why but I always really liked the sprites and late the 3Ds from Emboar. I think the Gen6 and onward really sold the weight of the Pokemon. Since you talked a bit about flying Pokemon, I think Talonflame was a fantastic example how the flying models could have looked like. Its animation is so well done, how with every swing of the wings Talonflame would get lifted up a bit and while it lifts the wings back up again, it would sink down a little bit. And oh boy... Typhlosion... it got done so dirty... I mean, just look at the animation from Crystal. It really sells the energy with the flames and the facial expression. The sprites in the 5th gen also had so much energy, a real treat to look at... and then Gen 6... it's just sad...
I have to agree with you on almost every flying Pokemon being suspended in the air in 3D. Salamance was a Pokemon I always found to look super cool when he was on the ground, but when he's forever gliding in the air, he looks dumb as hell. Other 3D modesl I don't like include Pidgeot, Scyther, Dragonite, Xatu, Archeops etc. Some pokemon like Flygon managed to look cool when flying tho, I just wish they didn't need make every single one have to fly in the air 24/7
Archeops flied in Gen 5 too If anything, it's one of the better animations that shows off personality, it could just be the model that looks bad, not the animation
@@goGothitaLOL that's what I meant to say actually. I'm aware Archeops did fly in BW too. I just think he looked much cooler doing it in gen 5 than he does as a 3D model. He just looks too goofy flying in 3D, it's hard for me to take it seriously honestly.
@@DannyJennyArtz i mean... isn't that kinda the point? Its struggling to fly the entire time, so yeah its gonna look ridiculous. It flying flawlessly wouldn't make much sense.
the koffing g1 speite was so bad that, with how the ancillary media protrayed selfdestruct and explosion back them, I was convinced he and weezing just reassembled from the broken parts, and the pieces moving around was due to how precarious it was. cindaquill, quilava and thyplosion NEEDS flame in their animation cicle. even just the ones that they have now plus them arching and letting the flame go for a couple seconds. 3D mewtwo looks like his toys. there's absolutelly nothing else to it; I theorize that it's done as a marketing idea
i actually like to highlight a lazy animation, but it does make it a lot funnier Golurk using Fly in the 3D games (special mention to Golurk using Supersonic Skystrike (the Flying Z-Move))
When Electross was first introduced in Gen 5, it easily became part of my default team for its ability Levitate and its wide move set to go from electric type moves to Flamethrower, Earthquake, and Dragon Claw. 3D did them dirty, I never used the again because that sprite just made me repulse in disgust 😔
for footage of the weird kingler sprite, I was able to find some randomizer nuzlocke that featured it. link: ua-cam.com/video/Y5T45ycLCTU/v-deo.html I don't watch that channel or anything, it's just the first clip that I was able to find.
I love giratinas gen 5 origin form sprite. The way it's wings curl forward and seem to claw at the air made it feel really threatening. On the other side, it's 3d model is terrible. The wings are super stiff, and with the desaturation of the model colors they look grey instead of black. They went from shadowy claws to lumpy playdough covered toothpicks. Plus, it's stuck in this seated position the whole time. In the sprites it seemed like it was rearing up, but in the model it's mostly stuck like that, making it feel bloated and immobile. The whole thing just feels so stiff and awkward.
my favorite sprites are tentacruel, omanyte, and slowbro from pokemon blue Edit: posted this before watching, but now that I finished the video I think you'd really enjoy/appreciate tentacruel and omanyte's pokemon blue sprites based on your taste! lots of personality in those ones
I understand that you were only looking at the main games for this video, but I really like the animated sprites and pixelated portrait art in the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon explorers games, imo Darkrai's portrait in particular perfectly captures the essence of his character in the story of those games
my fav 3d models are archeops and megazard x. the other flying types tend to either glide elegantly or they slowly flap their wings. archeops, being an early bird looks like it's struggling to fly and megazard x looks like it's constantly shifting side to side, like it can't fly in a straight line properly after loosing the flying type. my fav sprite is r/b mewtu the way it's hunched over with it's arms in front, presenting it's massive head is just much more menacing than it just standing there exposing its belly with the arms stretched out.
Favorite: Gen 5 Quilava, I've always liked Quilava's design a lot and the flickering of the flames really drives it up a notch. My least favorite is probably obvious based on my favorite and was already mentioned.
One of the things I miss most about the use of sprites is the silhouetted Pokémon moving across the screen at the start of a wild battle. Like you knew when it was a small silhouette it was going to be another Pidgey encounter but on those rare occasions you got a dark shape that filled whole sprite area you knew it was going to be something cool
imo shiny reshiram and zekrom in gen 5 look sick. The purple flames from reshiram and green glows from zekrom look simply enchanting. Huge disappointment that they were removed in gen 5. Took out pretty much all the appeal. Edit: meant gen 6 when the glow was removed.
The porygon line has nice 3D models. The way porygon moves very sharp and robotically fits well with it being made from early 90s tech. Porygon2 bobs up and down like a drinking bird, which is what it’s upper half is based off. And porygonZ moves very irradically and spontaneously showing off how it is corrupted/created wrong.
honestly i love the 3d pokemon models. they all look really good (play any 3ds game upscaled on citra, it is beautiful). the problem is a lot of them got really boring animations. on the 3ds they were fine but on sword and shield since its on a console now its way more noticable. i feel lije gamefreak put most if the animation budget to pokemon amie. this sounds like sych an odd waate if resources and it prob is, but i get why they did it. features like amie, refresh, and camp really made pokemon feel more like pets, and interaction with pokemon is an important part of the franchise. my dream pokemon game would have sprites like gen 5, but more clean looking using a 3d model as a reference (think of Hades if you played that game).
Cool little factoid, the gen 5 animations for nearly every sprite in the game including humans are moved by rotating parts, look closely at the sprites and you’ll see them come apart from one and other.
I think the reason they still use the sort of levitating, suspended sprites despite no Sky battles is sp its easier for newcomers to identify which Pokemon are immune to Ground-Type moves. Not the greatest of reasoning, but I can see why'd they do it.
I dont care about the flames but it looks so confuse. It should be angry infact most of my problems with 3d models is how they dont have dynamic emotions during idle anomation. Some are naturally good like gengar tho.
I kinda wanna say- with most gen 5 sprites, they are all kinda like puppets. What I mean by that is that they take a still image and move each part around. I think that this method is pretty cool because it’s a very cost effective way of breathing life into the Pokémon. It kinda looks weird with some Pokémon with tails like mew but I’m really happy that they were able to let them move around!
If you send a genesect to sword or shield, it changes to its high-speed flight form when over water in the crown tundra or isle of armor. And also when it runs to catch up with you.
Anyone remembered where back in the day Pokémon showed off their elemental prowess? Some Water-types would glow blue, some Fire-types glowed red and some Electric-types glowed yellow and had sparks when coming out of a Pokéball? Those were the good old days.
Emerald may be my favorite game and this may be bias but Swampert's Emerald animation has always been dope to me. It's not much but it shows off Swampert pretty well I think.
The gen 5 sprites don't have individually drawn frames, they're on a 3D rig (not sure if rig is the right word) similar to Paper Mario TTYD's sprites. They have separate parts that are put together in game and animated. They still look good though
Tell me what your favorite and least favorite sprites and models are!
Favourite sprite is Krookodile
least favourite sprite is none
favourite model is still Krookodile
least favourite model is almost every other
Breloom is disgusting in all its 3D models
I love it but it just looks terrible
They did my boy Archeops extremely dirty in the shift to 3D 😔
Favorite Sprite is Scraggy
Favorite Model is Incineroar
Least Fav Sprite is RB Wigglytuff
Least Favorite Model is Arcanine
Why are 3d models so desaturated
Nothing will beat Ghetsis slamming his cane into the ground because he's wacko.
Plus, he uses both Eelektross and Hydreigon, so we get to see two of the best sprites.
Facts. I get so sad when I see elektross swimming in this air after gen 6 and beyond, why did they change him to be so underwhelming😭
@@marcussmart5329 Yeah it looks disgusting
@@DeHammXXIII i mean, it is supposed to be disgusting but yeah, the 3D one looks disgusting as hell
@@mewhenlikeuuh5499
They probably should have had it curl up like Rayquaza, that worked really well.
An interesting thing about Falinks’ marching animation is that it marches to the beat of the Pokémon Center theme. I kept trying to match the marching to different tracks, and when I found the match, it made the troopers feel even more cute.
Now that you mentioned it, I can’t unsee it now😭
Awesome
@@tonyeharrison1899 how is that a bad thing
@@zubair-rp1ie Oh, I didn’t try to say it was. It’s just so crazy how I never noticed before. It really is on beat to the Pokémon center theme🤯
The Little waddle dees are the best Mons from gen 8
Swellow gliding indefinitely in midair is pretty bad, but Xatu is just atrociously butchered by it. Kinda wish these indefinitely-gliding Pokémon go on the ground or at least start flapping
Skarmory's flat Flying animation is disappointing. In gen 5 all of its wings flapped in sequence. But now it just glides in mid air.
Worst thing about Xatu is that it's dex entry literally says it stands still for most of the day. It makes no sense for a Xatu to fly at all and that's not even mentioning how stupid it's ''flight animation'' looks.
@@TheFreshEC so you're saying xatu cannot fly?? XD
Xatu is the worst gliding model imo. He just looks so weird gliding in midair. He looks much better on the ground.
Typhlosion family got done dirty
Yet it’s everyone’s favorite.
Expect for me
True
@Sisi Sasa That's the case for Charmander, Cyndaquil family has always had a semi fiery design.
My favorite pokemon got fucked over.
Lots of Pokemon got done dirty, but Typhlosion and Marshtomp definitely had it worse
The Cyndaquil line was massacred in the transition to 3D
But cyndaquil got it flames back in legends
@@mikeval1525 good
@@mikeval1525 Hopefully the evolutions will get the fire back as well.
I kinda wish that the model was like
When its sent out its unlit for only a half second before bursting in flames and staying like that, to give the feeling that it's ready for battle
Swear😂😂😂😂
Fun fact: That window breaking was not caused by Hitmonlee, instead it was done by bigfoot who has finally caught JPR
golbat's gen 1 design. i'm surprised you didnt talk about it in the video
I agree that one is great
@@lloydirving6209 oh nono, i was saying that it was one of the sprites i hate ^^' ill edit it rn. but good for you for liking it! you shouldnt let others tell you that you cant think its great
@@afro025 oh
What about Exeggutor’s Red/Blue sprite? That thing looked like it came from the ninth circle of hell.
ngl gen 1 had some of the worst sprites tbh it so dumb it’s down there with gen 6 onward
An easy solution to Pokemon like Typhlosion and Blaziken that have the blast-style flames where it would make sense they aren’t emanating them all the time is to just have them periodically “pulse” the flames every few seconds in their idle animations, enough to show off that cool design element and show they are tensed up and anticipating fighting more. 😎
I have an even better solution : Make them like Xerneas. Flames off for passive form, flames on for battles !
@@corruptedteka this aged well
Gen 7 Pokemon have this interesting quirk. In Gen 6 Pokemon were coloured after their stock art. For Gen 7 the new Pokemon designs used very bright colours. When Gen 8 came around and gave every Pokemon more saturation to their base colour Gen 7 Pokemon became even better looking if you ask me. They straight up look magnificent in Gen 8. Shocking I know but seriously it really shows how amazing Gen 7's palette was and that it became even better the Gen after.
That's pretty much because of engine difference. The rendering engine that pokemon XY and Sun and Moon were using resulted into pokemon looking a lot more gray-ish, so for gen 7 they decided to "fix that" by designing pokemon a bit more saturated. Of course with the new generation being developed on a new console, they had technical improvements and that resulted in better renders that didn't look gray-ish
'Devoid of personality' that's the big issue with the 3D models in general. Even masuda said he wanted to avoid them for that reason.
Oh shoot not all of em are like that!! Epic!
I mean you will be surprised how lifeless some 2d slrites as well and some are weird without animation. I would say that most pf good 3d models were from hen 7 and 8.
@@showmeyourmoves8551 I mean I grew up with sprites. Notice the poses on sprites always show big Pokémon personality. It's not as much with the models I'm sorry to say. Though they've certainly been addressing this. LOOK AT HOW BEAUTIFUL Regieleki is
3D models aren't the real issue though. The problem is the animation team.
@@sonario6489 yes that’s true
I dunno, I remember really enjoying playing Colosseum and seeing all the pokémon ported in there come to life and be animated. I think the problem with the 3ds games is that with their fast-paced release schedule, their models are more cheaply/hurriedly animated, so some of them can seem pretty lifeless.
gen 5 had the best sprites, nobody can change my mind
pokemon blue had the best sprites, nobody can change my mind
They were very hit and miss with the moving parts. Like Infernape sprite is... ew.
@@subwayfootlong2678 I loved Infernape's sprite especially when he moved and how the fire on his head moved. It's easily one of my favorite sprites in gen 5.
well yeah...but it ain't all better then models.
True. Even the newer Pokemon look dope in gen 5 animations
3:10 Eelektross' animated sprites really explains its Levitate ability.
I liked that about it too
It will be fine if the colors dont look flat. In gen 5, its yellow markinh actually emits light
Imo elektross should have levitate in the first place, it's supposed yo be a Land eel
typhlosion is literally just a bear when it’s idle now, super disappointing, if let’s go johto ever comes to fruition i really hope they revise the model
It looks more like some kind of badger to me.
Or at least use the showdown model, it's so good there
It really didn't have much going for it and then it just became pathetic. Sad times.
It's funny because I always thought Typhlosian looked too plain. I just didn't like seeing the smooth belly when it stands on two legs, even with the fire. It was already boring and less cool to me, so back then Quilava was my favourite pokemon and I wouldn't evolve it.
In Pokemon Home they give the Cyndaquil family their flames back. And actually all the models in Home look way better than they do in any of the games. They're nice and vibrant
2:58 I would personally argue the opposite. 9/10 times in the anime, Eelektross is seen standing up and NOT floating about. Still, I COMPLETELY agree with you on his ruined design... It is the worst change in my opinion....... I love him!!!
I've been playing Pokemon Diamond again recently, and some of the sprites hit so much better in the old style than the do in 3D. The Chimchar line, Shinx line and Buizel line to name a few off the top of my head just really miss the mark in 3D. They look too... Idk, smooth? It feels wrong to be seeing them like that.
They're simpler, more organic designs made to be seen on a low resolution screen, and exaggerated in 2D. It makes sense that making them 3D would suddenly make them boring. Look at newer Pokemon - they're designed more complex for a reason, and often consist of many basic shapes to make them easier to animate.
So... Arbok is the first pokemon with regional variations
Something I really have to give credit to 3d models is Diglett/Dugtrio. Whenever it has to use an animation where it rises to the sky, it either stays still on the ground or carries a piece of debris to keep the mystery of this line. Even for illegal moves it still works!
Honestly the models in general shifted to stiff idle animations with almost no personality. Not to mention the colors got so washed out. A shame because pokemon often have so much personality just from a few small animations.
It would have been just as easy to replicate the energetic gen V animations in the 3D models, but they just didn't!
@@JOCoStudio1 Shut up
But then Pokémon fans complain when Game freak gives the Pokémon personality in the case of the starters
Some of the best models are the ones that are constantly in motion. I'd cite Scorbunny as a good recent example. He's just more fun to look at than most other 3D Pokemon.
@@alfalldoot6715 I honestly love Chimchar's 3d sprite. They're always bouncing around, being energetic like a little kid. Sometimes the sprite even does a in air flip animation and all that. Sucks that my favorite Pokemon's 3d sprites mostly suck :(
I like many of the flying animations, and it makes sense with the Ground immunity, but the gliding ones are pretty dumb.
It would be nice if they just took off temporarily whenever the ground immunity comes into effect, just a quick animation like any attack. That would allow them to be in whatever postition looks the best for the rest of the time.
@@JOCoStudio1 That would be very cool, yeh.
@@JOCoStudio1 that would be perfect for skarmory.
I like Charizard one. But skarmory and swellow tho. Eww
People talk a lot about Typhlosion, but they always forget about my bro Magcargo who suffered a similar fate
One of the great injustices of X and Y is the need for Flying animations to be standard for Sky Battles
I'm surprised you didn't bring up Altaria's sprite from Black and White. It's literally just sitting on the ground with miminal animation, always looked really weird but funny to me
Great video JPR!
Here are some of my favorites:
-blastoise from any gen 3 game. Looks very threatening and the back sprite is sick
-Dragonite from HGSS is adorable
-jolteon form HGSS is adorable and nostalgic
-Swellow from gens 3-5 looks amazing and cool
-typhlosion from HGSS
Glaceon from Platinum
When gen 6 came out I was super bummed about how lifeless the model idles were compared to gen 5's animated sprites.
Eelektross was actually one of the Pokemon that I like in gen 6 because of how animated it is (relatively) and how different it was to gen 5.
Thats because the 3ds cant contain 700-800 models animated. Cutting down is one step then animating the models is another step. It kinda hurts but thats whats gotta happen
I give gen 6 a pass as it was their first mainline 3ds game. Gen 8 tho...
Drilbur and excadrill sprites in gen 5 are amazing, they made it look almost like a 3d model
I love Eelektross’ 3d model because it shows everyone what he’s supposed to be like.
It's supposed to be terrible?
Dumb?
Why don’t we ever use Typhlosion’s attack animation? Why always it’s idle animation.
How do you mean?
@@artistaroundtheblock2047 Flames pop out when the entire Cyndaquil line attacks. Thus actually oh idk actually looking like every sprite we ever had of them. Whereas with the Gen 6+ model idle animations. More than 90% of what you see they lose their signature accented fire manes
@@artistaroundtheblock2047. Sprites are designed to look dynamic because they only show one image (until Gen 5). When comparing Typhlosion’s model, the always use the idle animation or image of it standing still and not in an equally dynamic pose. They could at least use one of its attack animation or capture a frame from it instead of it standing still.
@@UltraBall23 But this boring standing animation is what you see 90% of the time while the sprite. Even if the last 10% are great it won't repair the bad design
@@UltraBall23 Typhlosion’s idle animation is fine for when you interact with it but doesn’t make sense in the middle of a tense battle where it should look its fiercest
4:56 That was an hilarious idea. And now I can't help but to imagine a Gen 3 Hitmonlee and a Gen 3 Female Fighter floating around, ironly staring at each other in their silent competition who loses focus first and can no longer maintain the "sheer willpower flight".
8:10 I am surprised that you didn't list Xatu as one of the "victims" of Sky Battles. It's Flying Animation (just being suspended in an inclined position like a part of a mobilee) doesn't do it any favors and it argumentably REMOVED it from its totem inspiration.
Granted, I understand that they didn't want to deal with incredible stupid scenes like Noctowl using Fly in Pokémon Colosseum again.
10:55 To be fair: If a failed clone (and no, Mewtwo is NOT a success if it was it would be just another Mew) makes you uncomfortable that's an uncanny valley moment well used.
Mewtwo wasn't a failed clone he was success. They job wasn't to just make another mew it was to make a stronger mew which is why mewtwo is physically stronger and heavier than mew.
One of my favorite sprites is maril from gen 4, it's face is just like "oh frick"
Maril in gen 3 is a zombie.
Ain’t no one gonna talk about how he missed the shiny golbat on 10:50?
I know people already don't like the Gen 5 monkeys, but my guy Simisear was done dirty when the 3d models came about. My main problem with Simisear's 3d model is that its hands seem held too far from the rest of it and its torso looks like a wide vase from the bottom that gets thinner as you go up like its head and smoke neck pillow thing are balanced on a twig
Those monkey pokemon should not even exists outside gen 5. Worst pokemon
I always thought that the permanently flying Flying-Type pokemon was meant to be a way to visually represent the ungrounded mechanic - they don't touch the ground, so ground type moves don't work.
It was for sky battles, which never came back after generation 6, but sadly, the permanently flying pokémon stuck.
@@sonc_ Well, the grounded/ungrounded thing is still a thing, so.... maybe it's both?
@@BloodSonicFlux Maybe. Who knows at this point?
It is still stupid. Atleast flap their wings like zubat or charizard.
It's a nice concept in theory, until you consider that there are grounded Flying Pokemon (such as Toucannon, Hoothoot and Hawlucha) who also aren't affected by Ground type moves. Don't get me wrong, some Pokemon have great flying sprites (like Altaria, Pidgeot, Yveltal and Galarian Articuno to name a few), but some I feel look stupid or lose their personality with it.
Corviknight's animation looks nice but the wooshing sound effect of the wings really sells it.
Finally someone who agrees that Mewtwo doesn’t look so good in these games.
try looking at genesects walking animation in crown tundra, it has that same animation
I’ve always loved how Eevee looks in HeartGold/SoulSilver. I know most prefer the sprite in Platinum and gen 5, but HGSS just really nailed it
I had a look just now. HGSS is SOOOO FREAKING CUTE!! I just love that cute little playful pose, too!! 😍😍🥰🥰🥰
Poliwrath's sprite from Diamond, standing on one knee, fist raised towards the sky. So much personality there; it was the reason it was one of my first lv 100s.
Just wanna go back to 2D sprites. We could even have the national Dex again.
"BoO 2D BeTtEr ThAn 3D"
National dex had nothing to do with resources, it had to do with money
Personaly, if they fix the 3D models im ok with the Games beign 3D
Why? What the series needs is progression, not a return to the old
@@stankylad8815 it is
14:14 I laughed in this one. Can you make a list with the best back sprites in Pokémon in Pt/HGSS? I know that is strange, but some are really cool, like Croagunk's and Luxray's sprites.
The fire/electric effects on Zekrom/Reshiram are viewable, but only on attacks. Green electricity and purple fire is great for shinies.
I understand the hate for 3D Typhlosion, (it sucks) but the rest of the line looks fine, they're supposed to be chill fire types that activate their hidden power when they need to. I think it's a good subversion of fire types.
I’m so happy someone’s finally brought up how bad Eelektross looks in 3D, they gotta put him in back in his old position
His talent is litteraly levitate. He looks a bit dumb but it makes more sense thn him clearly being on the ground and having levitate
"3d Mewtwo just looks like me when I step into a puddle with Crocs"
I felt that
Some of the mons from gen 1 that really gain from the 3D jump are Jynx and Mr. Mime.
Jinx looks terryfying in 3D. When a Jinx started to chase me in Crown of tundra it was more Scary than a lot of horror Games
@@kirbyfazendoummoonwalk9214 And I love it.
As another fun thing about genesect’s flight form: it actually HAS been in the games as it’s running animation since gen 7.
There are so many cool and personality filled Pokémon animations that are usually so hard to see, in the 3D games. Like each Pokémon’s unique walking and running animations, or how every Pokémon that floats or flies in battle like electross has a grounded idle animation too that just isn’t used in battle, or how each Pokémon has a real sleeping animation (not just closing its eyes) but they are so rarely used
finally a video about sprites vs models that doesn't boil down to "sprites good, models bad."
Did everyone forget that that is typhlosions model from pokemon stadium 2 as well? lol
@@user-ym2tl5zf9k yes I know. But when he's not attacking there are no flames
When they get the wing-to-body ratio right I'll be happy.
The fact that the flying Pokémon actually do have standing animations... in Pokémon refresh they all stand
I really wish they utilized the few animations they had more often. There were definitely places in the 3d model era where they had animations for really mundane stuff like coming out the pokeball or in pokemon amie, but would also work perfectly as a battle animation for certain moves.
Mewtwo had an almost perfect 3d model in the Stadium games.
The eyes were angry, the poses were perfection.
When it attacked, a nerv was forming on its head and his hands would form like a ball firing of its powerful attacks.
Even when defeated, it wouldn't outright faint but drop on one hand, you could feel its anger and frustration.
And all of this was made and animated in a game that came out more than 20 years ago...
I think the best part of this video is that it’s not just trashing on the jump to 3-D models. (Like every other video/discussion thread about Pokémon sprites put there)
The red and blue Pikachu sprite is one of my favorites. Running into one of these rare little guys in the viridian forest was always exciting to me
You also see the flying genesect mode when it follows you in swsh
I watch your videos 40% because your content is good, but 60% because your intro and outro music is so great 😅
They absolutely butchered Purrloin in the shift from 2d to 3d. Liepard is a quadruped, all you had to do was keep it on 4 legs. It just looks off when it stands on its hind legs. I know it stands on two feet to thieve items but it still runs on 4 legs.
I always Loved all of Nidoking's sprites, they just felt so cool and intimidating. Then he just looks so awkward and dopey in 3d it was so disappointing.
In 3D the Typhlosion line looks like a Route 1 Normal type
The 3d electross is one of the coolest imo. The black and white sprite is cool and all but the 3d version seems way more fitting and way cooler to me
EELEKTROSS DOES NOT START WITH ELEC, IT STARTS WITH EELEK! FIX IT NOW!
@@Amelia4111 OP
Thankfully, SV fixed a lot of these, namely a few gliding ones like Salamence, Tropius, and Charizard, as well as Typhlosion
3:10
You know you’re only when you remember what Pokédex 3D pro was without needing a reminder of explanation
Genesect's flight mode isn't just shown when it is sent out into battle. It's also its running animation in Sword and Shield when in Pokémon Camp or following you in Isle of Armor and the Crown Tundra.
Typhlosions name doesnt come from typhoon. Like all pokemon, it comes from the creature its based on. Typhlopontix (greek) The blind rat that lives underground. :)
I don't know why but I always really liked the sprites and late the 3Ds from Emboar. I think the Gen6 and onward really sold the weight of the Pokemon. Since you talked a bit about flying Pokemon, I think Talonflame was a fantastic example how the flying models could have looked like. Its animation is so well done, how with every swing of the wings Talonflame would get lifted up a bit and while it lifts the wings back up again, it would sink down a little bit.
And oh boy... Typhlosion... it got done so dirty... I mean, just look at the animation from Crystal. It really sells the energy with the flames and the facial expression. The sprites in the 5th gen also had so much energy, a real treat to look at... and then Gen 6... it's just sad...
I have to agree with you on almost every flying Pokemon being suspended in the air in 3D. Salamance was a Pokemon I always found to look super cool when he was on the ground, but when he's forever gliding in the air, he looks dumb as hell. Other 3D modesl I don't like include Pidgeot, Scyther, Dragonite, Xatu, Archeops etc.
Some pokemon like Flygon managed to look cool when flying tho, I just wish they didn't need make every single one have to fly in the air 24/7
Archeops flied in Gen 5 too
If anything, it's one of the better animations that shows off personality, it could just be the model that looks bad, not the animation
@@goGothitaLOL that's what I meant to say actually. I'm aware Archeops did fly in BW too. I just think he looked much cooler doing it in gen 5 than he does as a 3D model. He just looks too goofy flying in 3D, it's hard for me to take it seriously honestly.
@@DannyJennyArtz i mean... isn't that kinda the point? Its struggling to fly the entire time, so yeah its gonna look ridiculous. It flying flawlessly wouldn't make much sense.
the koffing g1 speite was so bad that, with how the ancillary media protrayed selfdestruct and explosion back them, I was convinced he and weezing just reassembled from the broken parts, and the pieces moving around was due to how precarious it was.
cindaquill, quilava and thyplosion NEEDS flame in their animation cicle. even just the ones that they have now plus them arching and letting the flame go for a couple seconds.
3D mewtwo looks like his toys. there's absolutelly nothing else to it; I theorize that it's done as a marketing idea
I like how Chandelure swings like a chandelier
i actually like to highlight a lazy animation, but it does make it a lot funnier
Golurk using Fly in the 3D games
(special mention to Golurk using Supersonic Skystrike (the Flying Z-Move))
I much preferred it when tranquill and unpleasant were on the ground. I LOVE the 3d model for galvantula and spinarak.
IT'S UNFEZANT, NOT UNPLEASANT!
@@Amelia4111 THATS THE JOKE!!
Mudkip looks amazing in sprite and 3D
Swampert too. For some reason he is really cute for me in 3D.
"Woah! I'm getting jumped!"
-Ashton Kutcher....probably
The high speed form of genesect is also seen in Pokémon Go if it’s your buddy Pokémon. It flies around the map in that form to travel alongside you.
When Electross was first introduced in Gen 5, it easily became part of my default team for its ability Levitate and its wide move set to go from electric type moves to Flamethrower, Earthquake, and Dragon Claw. 3D did them dirty, I never used the again because that sprite just made me repulse in disgust 😔
LMAO Hitmonlee flying through your window, good stuff dude love your opinions on things
for footage of the weird kingler sprite, I was able to find some randomizer nuzlocke that featured it.
link: ua-cam.com/video/Y5T45ycLCTU/v-deo.html
I don't watch that channel or anything, it's just the first clip that I was able to find.
I love giratinas gen 5 origin form sprite. The way it's wings curl forward and seem to claw at the air made it feel really threatening.
On the other side, it's 3d model is terrible. The wings are super stiff, and with the desaturation of the model colors they look grey instead of black. They went from shadowy claws to lumpy playdough covered toothpicks. Plus, it's stuck in this seated position the whole time. In the sprites it seemed like it was rearing up, but in the model it's mostly stuck like that, making it feel bloated and immobile. The whole thing just feels so stiff and awkward.
my favorite sprites are tentacruel, omanyte, and slowbro from pokemon blue
Edit: posted this before watching, but now that I finished the video I think you'd really enjoy/appreciate tentacruel and omanyte's pokemon blue sprites based on your taste! lots of personality in those ones
I understand that you were only looking at the main games for this video, but I really like the animated sprites and pixelated portrait art in the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon explorers games, imo Darkrai's portrait in particular perfectly captures the essence of his character in the story of those games
my fav 3d models are archeops and megazard x. the other flying types tend to either glide elegantly or they slowly flap their wings. archeops, being an early bird looks like it's struggling to fly and megazard x looks like it's constantly shifting side to side, like it can't fly in a straight line properly after loosing the flying type.
my fav sprite is r/b mewtu the way it's hunched over with it's arms in front, presenting it's massive head is just much more menacing than it just standing there exposing its belly with the arms stretched out.
Favorite: Gen 5 Quilava, I've always liked Quilava's design a lot and the flickering of the flames really drives it up a notch.
My least favorite is probably obvious based on my favorite and was already mentioned.
One of the things I miss most about the use of sprites is the silhouetted Pokémon moving across the screen at the start of a wild battle. Like you knew when it was a small silhouette it was going to be another Pidgey encounter but on those rare occasions you got a dark shape that filled whole sprite area you knew it was going to be something cool
imo shiny reshiram and zekrom in gen 5 look sick. The purple flames from reshiram and green glows from zekrom look simply enchanting. Huge disappointment that they were removed in gen 5. Took out pretty much all the appeal.
Edit: meant gen 6 when the glow was removed.
Gen 5 arcanine also looks sick.
The porygon line has nice 3D models. The way porygon moves very sharp and robotically fits well with it being made from early 90s tech. Porygon2 bobs up and down like a drinking bird, which is what it’s upper half is based off. And porygonZ moves very irradically and spontaneously showing off how it is corrupted/created wrong.
Thank you for putting one of my Favorite Pokémon Eelektross on the thumb nail
Typhlosion has never had flames constantly in 3D. I’m beginning to believe no one played Stadium 2, Colosseum, XD or Battle Revolution
Swampert still has the best 3D model and you can’t convince me otherwise
honestly i love the 3d pokemon models. they all look really good (play any 3ds game upscaled on citra, it is beautiful). the problem is a lot of them got really boring animations. on the 3ds they were fine but on sword and shield since its on a console now its way more noticable. i feel lije gamefreak put most if the animation budget to pokemon amie. this sounds like sych an odd waate if resources and it prob is, but i get why they did it. features like amie, refresh, and camp really made pokemon feel more like pets, and interaction with pokemon is an important part of the franchise. my dream pokemon game would have sprites like gen 5, but more clean looking using a 3d model as a reference (think of Hades if you played that game).
Cool little factoid, the gen 5 animations for nearly every sprite in the game including humans are moved by rotating parts, look closely at the sprites and you’ll see them come apart from one and other.
I think the reason they still use the sort of levitating, suspended sprites despite no Sky battles is sp its easier for newcomers to identify which Pokemon are immune to Ground-Type moves.
Not the greatest of reasoning, but I can see why'd they do it.
Magnezone would like to talk with you
to be fair typhlosion never looked good in 3D. They should just retcon it so the flames are always out
I think the expression is worse than the lack of flame
Well you better be ready for legends arceus then
I dont care about the flames but it looks so confuse. It should be angry infact most of my problems with 3d models is how they dont have dynamic emotions during idle anomation. Some are naturally good like gengar tho.
I kinda wanna say- with most gen 5 sprites, they are all kinda like puppets. What I mean by that is that they take a still image and move each part around. I think that this method is pretty cool because it’s a very cost effective way of breathing life into the Pokémon. It kinda looks weird with some Pokémon with tails like mew but I’m really happy that they were able to let them move around!
Yes! Looking forward to watching this mate
If you send a genesect to sword or shield, it changes to its high-speed flight form when over water in the crown tundra or isle of armor. And also when it runs to catch up with you.
Ludicolos 3D model from Pokemon XD was everything!
Anyone remembered where back in the day Pokémon showed off their elemental prowess? Some Water-types would glow blue, some Fire-types glowed red and some Electric-types glowed yellow and had sparks when coming out of a Pokéball?
Those were the good old days.
Emerald may be my favorite game and this may be bias but Swampert's Emerald animation has always been dope to me. It's not much but it shows off Swampert pretty well I think.
Zekrom & Reshiram have the same issue Typholosion has. The tails are supposed to glow but instead they just briefly flash during an attack.
Look at how they massacred my boy typhlosion.
The gen 5 sprites don't have individually drawn frames, they're on a 3D rig (not sure if rig is the right word) similar to Paper Mario TTYD's sprites. They have separate parts that are put together in game and animated. They still look good though