so much whimsy in this place

alopecia venonat

I genuinely think it is a rite of passage for a Pokemon fan to champion a Pokemon that is unpopular, uncool, or 'weak'.

For some, it comes quickly. A child sees Gulpin and thinks it's the funniest thing ever. For some, it's trying something new. The competitive battler who just starts messing around, picks up a Pachirisu, and leads it to victory against impossible stakes. For some, it's an accident. The Nuzlocker who got way too attached to an early game friend who refused to die, and grieved for their friend and comrade when their time came. For some, it's defiance. The person who kinda likes Raichu and will defend it from the slings and arrows of all others. For some, it's just comfortably growing up and realising you don't have to justify liking something, just that it makes you happy.

It's easy to be drawn to the crowd favourites. And why not? They can be powerful fighters, cute merch, fanart-bait, they have a je ne sais quoi that draws the eye. And that's still fine! I'm not going to tell anyone they're a bad person for liking Charizard, or Mewtwo, or Gengar, or Pikachu. They're popular for a reason. But there is a kind of zen, a state of enlightenment of sorts, in finding a funky little guy who isn't very good and isn't very popular but makes you smile, and you go out of your way to find them and raise them and maybe even never evolve them, despite them being a damp squib in actual battles.

One of my favourite Pokemon ever is Swinub. Swinub is not a strong Pokemon. In fact, statistically, it's one of the weakest. Swinub has 5 weaknesses, including all 3 starter types. It doesn't learn many coverage moves, and it's abilities are not very exciting either. But I love this little piglet. It's round and soft! It digs up hot springs with its nose! You never see its eyes! I just think it's neat.

It's an important thing, I think, to find a Pokemon you like just for you. Not because it makes you better than 'the normies', but because it makes you appreciate the Pokemon you do meet, not for their battling prowess, but for how much you just want to be around them. When I see @good-pokemon-center-reviews frankly doing the lord's work in sharing people who are just so happy to have their little guys, I see starry-eyed children relishing in the wonder the Pokemon world is meant to bring. Genuine, earnest joy at a plushy Croagunk will always be more real to me that any Smogon tier chart. That guy gets it. The guy being a dick on Pokemon showdown with a team of 5 Zacians and a Mega Rayquaza for spice does not.

I pet Venonatalie. Venonatalie is a Venonat hitting the books hard. Her notes are indecipherable and I'm not sure she knows how to read but those glasses make her look very wise.

Pokémon TCG Neo Southern Islands illustrations by Keiko Fukuyama 😍

I made a set of pride badges featuring some of the less popular Pokemon.

Some of us folks have a harder time finding their place in the LGBTQ+ community because their own experiences or presentation don't quite match up with how certain identities are typically portrayed, even when they're portrayed in ways that are considered realistic, respectful, or empowering.

Shoutout to all my fellow weirdos and anomalies: You don't have to be iconic to be proud of who you are!! At the end of the day, we're all weird little monsters with our own unique sets of traits and abilities. If we all fit into a set of fancy expectations, the world would be a lot less colorful. The right people will love you for who you genuinely are, if you let them. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤

Please feel free to use any of these anywhere you'd like, as long as you leave my watermark intact.

Im autisitc and this comes from a place of love for my neurodivergant homies

Punkomon by laimakes on Instagram

I can be your bugy or your... bugy

One of three sets of drawings I did for a Kanto Pokedex collab! 🐛

See the rest early and read my ramblings on them here! https://www.patreon.com/posts/some-kanto-2024-100078331

Venonat -- Yuka Morii

day 48: venonat

support me on kofi!

BUTTERNAT

Venonat 💜✨🐛

8/2/24-- roumd pokemon