Growing up, most of the Joystiq staff yearned for the life of a Pokemon trainer. To abscond from our responsibilities and embark on a new life, adventuring and seeing the countryside, all the while capturing and befriending adorable critters and awesome dragons along the way. We double-checked, though, and nowhere in our extensive back catalogue of Joystiq-centric Pokemon fanfiction does it say anything about being afraid to sleep at night because of Mr. Mime's fleshy abdomen and textured finger-pads.
Gavin Mackey's reimagined Pokemon are beautiful, grotesque, and masterfully well done. His controlled applications of realism counterbalance his pieces' cartoonish proportions, which results in a unique and somewhat disturbing juxtaposition of familiarity and something wholly alien. Hit the source link for more of his phenomenal work; you didn't plan on sleeping tonight anyway, right?
[Thanks, Dan!]
Reader Comments (53)
Posted: Aug 13th 2011 9:37PM kph59 said
So awesome. Muk is fantastic
Posted: Aug 13th 2011 9:38PM GodOfWar526 said
Oh cool, i was wondering when these would get out there. I personally saw these a couple months back, but its cool to see them again
Posted: Aug 13th 2011 9:38PM Tihn said
Didn't I see these a long time ago?
Posted: Aug 13th 2011 9:49PM CaptainProtonX said
@Tihn
Probably. The comments on many of the pictures go back 2 months.
Joystiq never promised to be the 6 o'clock news of videogames.
"We'll get to it when we get to it."
Reply
Probably. The comments on many of the pictures go back 2 months.
Joystiq never promised to be the 6 o'clock news of videogames.
"We'll get to it when we get to it."
Posted: Aug 13th 2011 11:36PM MystcLazrDragon said
@CaptainProtonX "we'll get to it when we get to it" sounds kind of like valve.
Reply
Posted: Aug 13th 2011 9:45PM CaptainProtonX said
This was Nintendo's "Plan B" if the dual-cart system didn't work out.
...damn.
...damn.
Posted: Aug 13th 2011 10:06PM rTwelve said
The funny thing about Raichu is that it almost makes this a Zumbahand post.
Posted: Aug 13th 2011 10:07PM SpecBlank said
Nintendo... Hire this guy! These Pokemon should become more than a painting! "POKEMON GROTESQUE AND NASTY VERSIONS", it's bound to sell 20 million units!
Posted: Aug 13th 2011 10:12PM SpecBlank said
Edit: Still amazed at all his paintings. They simply made my jaw drop. Those are how Pokemon would look in reality.
Posted: Aug 13th 2011 10:12PM Jetleo1 said
Quick, someone make a reference to how this is like Epic Mickey! Oh wait, I already did. If they do make a Epic Pokemon, I would so buy it.
Posted: Aug 14th 2011 3:41AM DarknessBear said
@Jetleo1 This is NOTHING like epic mickey. Epic mickeys initial concept art, yea, not how the game turned out however...
Reply
Posted: Sep 14th 2011 2:41PM DarknessBear said
@Jetleo1 No, you go look at the old concept art of Epic Mickey and look at how the final product turned out. Even stylistically it's not even close. They scrapped all that. It's much kid friendlier in the final version.
Reply
Posted: Aug 13th 2011 10:20PM Themariohenri said
I just shat my pants from epicness what do I do?
Posted: Aug 13th 2011 10:22PM Measlesopolis said
bulbasaur check, charmander check, squirtle... ;_;
Posted: Aug 13th 2011 10:27PM The Only Girl said
First few were fine, but as you browse each pokemon becomes more and more exaggerated. Beautiful artwork, but its a closer cousin to "spengbab" than realism.
Posted: Aug 13th 2011 10:41PM gevenstaines said
@The Only Girl
how dare he take artistic liberties! color within the lines!
Reply
how dare he take artistic liberties! color within the lines!
Posted: Aug 14th 2011 10:07AM Alex Trebek said
@The Only Girl
You're such a douche. They're interpretations... paintings which are meant to convey the surreal qualities that each Pokemon has using realistic textures, features, and environments. It's not to make plausible interpretations of the Pokemon in real life. Take a seat, bitch.
Reply
You're such a douche. They're interpretations... paintings which are meant to convey the surreal qualities that each Pokemon has using realistic textures, features, and environments. It's not to make plausible interpretations of the Pokemon in real life. Take a seat, bitch.
Posted: Aug 13th 2011 10:30PM yab said
Poor Polywag...
So Mew was a rodent? Or I'm guessing this is just his vision of what he could be in real life. Regardless awesome.
So Mew was a rodent? Or I'm guessing this is just his vision of what he could be in real life. Regardless awesome.
Posted: Aug 13th 2011 10:35PM Cypher FDP said
OH JESUS CHRIST MR. MIME
Posted: Aug 13th 2011 10:40PM Cypher FDP said
@Cypher FDP
Raichu on the other hand looks like a pretty cool bro. Dude just wants to chill.
Reply
Raichu on the other hand looks like a pretty cool bro. Dude just wants to chill.
Posted: Aug 13th 2011 11:00PM Jenks said
Eevee looks creepee
Posted: Aug 13th 2011 11:01PM Ospov said
Real life Pokemon are a lot less cute and cuddly :(
Posted: Aug 13th 2011 11:13PM glemtvapen said
This is like a cross between HP Lovecraft's mind and Pokemon. Terrifyingly awesome.
Posted: Aug 13th 2011 11:13PM Gandkaidos said
POLITOAD!!! NOOOOOO!!!
Posted: Aug 13th 2011 11:15PM Gandkaidos said
@Gandkaidos
excuse me, "polywag"
HE JUST BIT HIS HEAD!!
Reply
excuse me, "polywag"
HE JUST BIT HIS HEAD!!
Posted: Aug 13th 2011 11:19PM tendoboy1984 said
Yawn. Rawmeat Cowboy posted these on GoNintendo months ago. And he just won't stop posting them.
Joystiq needs to really stay up to date. They're always late with Nintendo news. Hmmm... bias perhaps?
Joystiq needs to really stay up to date. They're always late with Nintendo news. Hmmm... bias perhaps?
Posted: Aug 14th 2011 1:44AM Epoque said
@tendoboy1984 This is Nintendo News? Really now ... let me just dive into your comment here for a sec.
You are complaining that Go Nintendo, a site that caters only to Nintendo, posts this? Interesting.
You're also complaining that, in your fanboyishy head at least, Joystiq is exhibiting a bias. In this case, against Nintendo?
Now, does Go Nintendo also have a bias against PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Mobile gaming? Seeing as how they never cover it I mean. That has to be the case, right?
And as for this being news. Sure, it's something that's being 'reported' on, but is this gaming or Nintendo news that needed to be reported in the first place? No, of course not. This is 'news' that falls into the category of 'video game culture'. It's the fun stuff blogs get to ... have fun with! And the wonderful weekend crew are posting it on a Saturady evening / Sunday morning, when no other site posts actual video game news either.
You're just silly.
Reply
You are complaining that Go Nintendo, a site that caters only to Nintendo, posts this? Interesting.
You're also complaining that, in your fanboyishy head at least, Joystiq is exhibiting a bias. In this case, against Nintendo?
Now, does Go Nintendo also have a bias against PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Mobile gaming? Seeing as how they never cover it I mean. That has to be the case, right?
And as for this being news. Sure, it's something that's being 'reported' on, but is this gaming or Nintendo news that needed to be reported in the first place? No, of course not. This is 'news' that falls into the category of 'video game culture'. It's the fun stuff blogs get to ... have fun with! And the wonderful weekend crew are posting it on a Saturady evening / Sunday morning, when no other site posts actual video game news either.
You're just silly.
Posted: Aug 14th 2011 1:51AM tendoboy1984 said
@tendoboy1984
I'm not complaining that GoNintendo posted these. I'm saying I already saw this on that site. Joystiq is late with their reporting, as usual.
I'm saying I always see this type of stuff elsewhere, and it's only after a few days or weeks that Joystiq finds it.
Reply
I'm not complaining that GoNintendo posted these. I'm saying I already saw this on that site. Joystiq is late with their reporting, as usual.
I'm saying I always see this type of stuff elsewhere, and it's only after a few days or weeks that Joystiq finds it.
Posted: Aug 14th 2011 1:53AM tendoboy1984 said
@Epoque
You misunderstood my point. I'm complaining that Joystiq should stay up to date with their reporting. I already saw these pictures months ago when they were posted on that site.
It seems Joystiq is always a few days/weeks late with their articles. Hence the "yawn".
Reply
You misunderstood my point. I'm complaining that Joystiq should stay up to date with their reporting. I already saw these pictures months ago when they were posted on that site.
It seems Joystiq is always a few days/weeks late with their articles. Hence the "yawn".
Posted: Aug 15th 2011 8:25AM ironneko said
@tendoboy1984
Late? The first one in the series is from 2009. At this point it's more a "curious spotlight" than an actual news story. Other sites do the same: discover something fun through whatever means, and notify readership of it. Old or new, it doesn't matter.
Reply
Late? The first one in the series is from 2009. At this point it's more a "curious spotlight" than an actual news story. Other sites do the same: discover something fun through whatever means, and notify readership of it. Old or new, it doesn't matter.
Posted: Aug 13th 2011 11:58PM Veteran Gear said
Wow Typhlosion and Cyndaquill .....beautiful, it looks like something that would really exist somewhere in the universe.
Posted: Aug 14th 2011 12:03AM DJMaxxi said
I'm pretty sure I saw these in an alt art thread months ago.
Posted: Aug 14th 2011 1:11AM swooded said
Really should have gone with this one for the article pic...
http://soupandbutter.deviantart.com/gallery/24641359#/d24wp99
http://soupandbutter.deviantart.com/gallery/24641359#/d24wp99
Posted: Aug 14th 2011 2:08AM RasenganFury said
These are awesome. Alakazam is my favorite.
Posted: Aug 14th 2011 3:34AM rowd149 said
Some Japanese artist did his own rendition of this type of thing; while this guy here is definitely top quality, nothing will keep you up at night like the "Pokemon of the Damned". (go ahead, Google that. IF YOU DARE!)
Posted: Aug 14th 2011 5:48AM Jamaican1231 said
pretty good.
Posted: Aug 14th 2011 9:06AM FuzzyPierce said
Some are great, but some are ridiculously stupid.
Eevee is a damn fox with a tuft of hair around its neck, why the hell would you draw it to look like a Who from Whoville?
Eevee is a damn fox with a tuft of hair around its neck, why the hell would you draw it to look like a Who from Whoville?
Posted: Aug 14th 2011 1:22PM (Unverified) said
Shin Megami Tensei + Pokemon = this.
Posted: Aug 14th 2011 2:29PM (Unverified) said
Ugh, those are ugly as sin. Why does realistic have to = grotesque and horrifying? Even the supposedly elegant or cute monsters look like nightmare fuel with absolutely no real rationale behind it.








