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Those who know me, know that I'm a huge Pokémon fan and have been since the very beginning. I just figured that I go over what I think are the "Top Pokémon" from the Kanto region, meaning the ones that I think have remained popular or have stood the test of time, or that I think deserve another look.

If you think there's a Pokémon that should have belonged on this list, well, I encoded a funny comments section, so feel free to share your opinion.

Alakazam (Foodin)

Alright, so most Pokémon have at least two concepts to their design. Take an animal or a plant, in this case it was probably a Goat, similar to Baphomet, and combine it with something ether man-made and/or related to its typing, in this case an alien magician with Saibamen armour.

Aliens were a reoccurring motif throughout this generation, along with the likes of Clefairy, Tentacool, and Magnemite and I think that's cool.

Fans will often deride Pokémon that look like people, but in this case I think it was done in an interesting way, how it becomes more human-like as it evolves and its brain grows, leaving the animalistic parts behind.

Arcanine (Windie)

Arcanine was likely inspired by those Chinese guardian lion-dog statues, but even if you don't know that, it still works simply as this big, powerful fire dog.

I think how fluffy it is goes underappreciated. Folks always seem to want to give Arcanine a more slicked-back look and I don't understand why.

I'm curious as to why it was referred to as a Legendary Pokémon, but regardless, it was said to have been around since the ancient times, with people admiring its beauty while it runs around extremely fast.

Bellsprout (Madatsubomi)

This one is a bit debatable if it's held up, possibly because people don't seem to like Weepinbell or Victreebel all too much and while I love the idea of a pitcher plant as a Pokémon, perhaps they just needed something a little different to spice them up.

But if they dedicated this whole giant fuck-ass tower to it in the next generation, then maybe I can convince some folks to try and see what I see in it by having them take another look at it.

Bellsprout in particular seems to take inspiration from the legendary Mandrake, the shape of their roots often resembling human figures. And it's adorable!

Butterfree

Butterfree acts as a parallel to Beedrill, whereas Beedrill has a very dated robotic design, Butterfree has a more timeless humanoid design.

Pokémon fans will often argue that anthropomorphization is bad because they're very boring people who want their cat to just be a cat dammit, but people sympathize with humanoid features and you'll see that reoccurrence throughout this list.

The specific butterfly that Butterfree is based upon seems to be the black-veined white butterfly, which can be found in Japan to the east.

Charizard (Lizardon)

The concept for Charizard is very simple, design a flying Salamander, give it sharp features to convey aggression, and make it as obvious as possible that it has Fire typing.

A lot of Pokémon back then needed obvious colours and imagery that could easily identify them as their type because this was the first game in the series, so they needed to be a bit more direct.

While Charizard is simple, it is still effective. My favourite part is the flame tail, where they imply that if it ever goes out, Charizard will die. And I don't mean that in any dark way, it's just something interesting to point out.

Cubone (Karakara)

I don't know how popular of an opinion this is, but I like Pokémon who have a lot of built-in personality and Cubone is one such Pokémon.

I think maybe that I connected to this Pokémon because I was a depressed and lonely kid myself. I just wanted to make sure that it never feels alone or unloved ever again.

Dinosaurs is a reoccurring motif throughout this generation, and the helmet and club made out of bones are the major recognizable elements here, the club being used like a Boomerang. I don't know why Australia is being associated with cavemen, but it is what it is.

Dragonite (Kairyu)

Dragonite were likely inspired by the final form of Imugi. Korean dragons are said to have resided in water, often considered bringers of rain and clouds.

I remember Dragonite being extremely divisive when I was growing up and I know exactly why, because it looks like a girl. It lacks sharp, aggressive and more conventional dragon-like features.

In other words, it's the complete opposite of Charizard, so take that for what you will.

Personally, I really like the surprise factor here, that Dragonite is this terrifyingly powerful, big orange doofus. It makes it stand out, in a good way, compared to pseudo-legendaries from other regions.

Exeggutor (Nassy)

Exeggutor was an incredibly weird and scary looking Pokémon, it's based upon Jinmenju, a human-faced tree from Chinese and Japanese mythology.

You've probably noticed by now, but another reoccurring motif is to base Pokémon off of Yokai, which are these supernatural creatures based on Japanese folklore. And when they did this, it usually resulted in some of their best and most timeless designs.

Farfetch'd (Kamonegi)

I was debating ether this or Pidgeotto to put on this list, but Farfetch'd ended up winning out for me.

What makes Farfetch'd so iconic, well, outside of it being able to learn both Cut and Fly so it can be used as an HM Slave, is that it wields a spring onion as a weapon.

This is one of those designs that could get lost in translation, it being inspired by the Japanese proverb "a duck comes bearing spring onions".

I really like the marking on its forehead that acts as eyebrows, it makes it look like a cartoon protagonist. I felt like I could relate to it, as that kid who would pick up a stick and pretend that it was a sword.

Flareon (Booster)

Spoiler alert, but all of the Eeveelutions are on this list.

The gimmick here is to have a Pokémon who could evolve into multiple types, and it just so happened to be one of the best ideas that they've ever came up with.

Eevee itself is a bit of a blank slate and intentionally so, not based on any specific animal.

Similar to Arcanine, I am in love with Flareon's big, fluffy mane. This is the one that probably looks like Eevee the most, taking its poofy-ness and making it even more so.

Gengar

The thing about the obvious choice is that it's often the obvious choice for a reason.

This is one of the best evolution lines in the game, going from a floating face, to slowly manifesting itself more and more as it evolves.

It's a good thing that's the case because this is the only Ghost type in the game, which I've always considered kind of funny seeing as ghosts are considered one of the main primary attractions of the Kanto region, even though ghosts are confined to this one itty bitty little town.

Gengar seems to be based off of an Oni Spirit, combining it with a cat, possibly the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. That would make sense seeing as Japan seems to really like Alice in Wonderland, possibly due to their similarities with Yokai, but also their fascination with fancy European things.

I really like the fan theory that Gengar is the shadow of Clefable. They're the perfect opposites, so I'd like to think that they would make very good friends.

Gyarados

The concept of Magikarp is based on real world legend about how a carp that could leap over the Dragon's Gate would become a dragon.

Gyarados is commonly compared to Koinobori, which are fish-shaped windsocks traditionally flown to celebrate Children's Day in Japan.

The thing about Gyarados is that it has a well-realized concept, but it's also very complex for a Gen 1 Pokémon, it looks so much more interesting than just a blob with Mickey Mouse feet.

Here's a tip, after you buy a Magikarp from that one Pokémon Center, you can just drop it off at the Daycare and leave it there until after you get the 3rd Gym Badge. It's pretty much the only reason to use the Daycare in this first game.

Jigglypuff (Purin)

Speaking of blobs that were simply given Mickey Mouse feet, we have Jigglypuff.

You've probably heard at one point that Clefairy was once slated to act as the official mascot for the Pokémon franchise, which is funny considering that Jigglypuff ended up taking that slot as the secondary mascot for a time, getting a spot in Super Smash Bros., and sitting next to Pikachu in a lot of key art.

Jigglypuff very much feels like a retread of all the same ideas that created Clefairy, albeit just making it into a balloon this time. And while I still think Clefairy is more interesting, I can understand why many found Jigglypuff to be more appealing.

Jolteon (Thunders)

Jolteon is probably the least cute and cuddly out of the three Eeveelutions, instead looking more scrappy and rough, but that's not a bad thing.

This is another case of that simple Gen 1 design philosophy, where they just made it spiky and yellow to convey that it's an Electric type.

There's not too much to say, what you see is what you get, but you'll notice how Joleton is the only one to lose its tail upon evolution. You ever notice that?

Lapras (Laplace)

Lapras appears to be a Dinosaur-like Loch Ness Monster on the surface, though it could have also been inspired by a Japanese fairy tale where a fisherman is rewarded for rescuing a sea turtle and is carried on its back to the Dragon Palace beneath the sea.

Lapras has always stood out to me because it doesn't seem like it's trying too hard, who simply comforts you and sings to you on stormy seas and always brings you home safe.

Lapras gives me a motherly vibe, having a mature and grown-up look.

Machamp (Kairiky)

I mentioned earlier that some fans give designs that look too human a hard time, but I think you could make an exception for Fighting types, which often lean into being more humanoid to convey that type.

I believe the idea here is that it gains extra arms upon trading with Graveler, which loses its extra arms in turn.

I've heard that it somewhat resembles the stone giants from the Ultraman franchise, which is where its headpieces are probably referenced from, and could even explain its grey-ish colouring here.

While it may be simply based on a bodybuilder or a wrestler, it is weird in a way which I find appealing. Machamp is cool and I think the design ends up coming together.

Meowth (Nyarth)

Meowth seems to be based on the Maneki-neko. Maneki-neko are often used as charms in restaurants and shops to bring customers fortune and good luck.

Statues of the cat are usually depicted holding a koban, an ancient coin used in Japan, like the one on Meowth's head.

Meowth may also be based off of Bakeneko, a Japanese Yokai that could speak human words.

Mew

According to Shigeki Morimoto, the cartridges for Pokémon had some free space left after the debugging process was complete, and he thought of slotting Mew in as a last-minute addition. He revealed that he had created Mew two weeks before game development was finished.

Shigeki Morimoto stated that Mew's design was based on Mewtwo and its design was made simple in order to take up less space on the cartridge. Regardless, Mew originally resembled an embryo and is believed to be the ostensible genetic progenitor of all other Pokémon.

There are a lot of fan theories surrounding Mew, my favourite being that Ditto were failed clones of Mew. That makes perfect sense to me.

Mewtwo

The thing about Mewtwo is that this is one of the edgiest, most of-the-time designs on this list. The reason Mewtwo is kind of laughable is because it was very obviously based upon Frieza from Dragon Ball Z.

Mewtwo has an in-depth backstory, after discovering the Mythical Pokémon Mew and gathering some of its DNA, Mr. Fuji used it in his mansion to create Mewtwo.

I do think Mewtwo is a great design though, I like the ghostly colour palette, the bizarre tube structure coming out of its head, those bulbous fingers and toes paired with an oddly hardened chest piece.

It's another one of those designs that feel complicated for a Gen 1 Pokémon, but it's interesting and has a lot of built-in personality.

Pikachu

It's often times where I'll see the argument that Pokémon are at their best when they closely resemble obvious four-legged animals, but Pikachu is so much more than just a conventional mouse.

Pikachu is actually based off of squirrels, which is why it keeps its electricity in its cheeks, why it has a thick tail, and would explain the two markings on its back.

It also follows that simple Gen 1 design philosophy of making it as obvious as possible that it's an electric type, colouring it yellow and giving it a spiky tail.

The beauty of Pikachu's design is that it's not too plain or directly a hamster or a squirrel, but it also doesn't have too many foreign elements that break immersion, like Blastoise's steel cannons. Everything is naturally connected to the animal and the type that it is representing.

Pikachu is now one of the most heavily merchandised characters in the history of the planet and I'm glad that it's a cute Pokémon like Pikachu and not something way more dated and edgy like Mewtwo or Charizard.

Pikachu's modern redesign was likely motivated by the animated series. The original design is way too stocky and immobile in order to be able to act and emote, so they slimmed down the neck and gave it a more humanoid body. It presents a more relatable and less animalistic kind of cuteness.

Psyduck (Koduck)

I'm a little surprised at how popular Psyduck still is, so much so that it was close to being considered for Let's Go as Pikachu's counterpart.

Psyduck's two concepts are extremely simple, take a platypus and combine it with a rubber ducky.

What makes Psyduck stand out so much is its built-in personality, where it has psychic powers so it always has a headache.

Slowpoke (Yadon)

This is another Pokémon that I'm surprised to have been so popular for so long, that it gets to have 7 forms and presumably counting.

The joke here is that it gets bitten by a shellfish and it didn't notice because, haha, it's slow and dim-witted.

I can't help but love these oblivious Pokémon, they look clueless in a charming way.

Snorlax (Kabigon)

Snorlax's design was a joke directed at the expense of Koji Nishino. It's a big round soft boy who likes to eat and sleep in inconvenient places!

Snorlax's design is extremely simple, it's not a cuddly teddy bear, but rather that it's special and its own unique thing.

A reoccurring trend you'll notice throughout this list are simple Pokémon, but with very strong personalities. I've once heard it argued that it's better when you can project a personality onto a Pokémon, but I'm not seeing that reflected much here.

Staryu (Hitodeman)

I've loved this design from the moment I saw it. The two concepts here are a starfish, obviously, but presumably combined with a ninja star.

This is another alien-like design, the ruby in the center making it feel like it comes from outer space.

It is my understanding that this is another Ultraman reference, the "Ultra Warriors" having a similar gem on their chests that start flashing when they are weak. I am also told that its voice in the animated series brings to mind the vocal effects that they used in the original Ultraman.

Vaporeon (Showers)

Vaporeon is my favourite out of the three, if Jolteon was the most simple, Vaporeon is the most complex.

Complex designs will become a problem down the line, don't get me wrong, but I don't think we've gotten to that point just yet.

It is my understanding that the original Pokémon had a long development cycle, so there must have been a lot of time to perfect the ones which risked looking a bit too weird or messy.

Vaporeon was simply based on Mermaids and has the ability to become invisible and turn into water.