Summary
APokemonfan has recreated the sprites of thePokemon Red and Bluestarters in the style ofPaper Mario. The animation is charming and can give fans an idea of what it would be like to see aPokemonRPG that looks likePaper Mario.
Paper Mariois having a big moment right now, asPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Doorhas recently released. The remake has received tons of praise from fans and critics, becoming one of the highest-ratest games of 2024. WhileMarioandPokemonhave been under the Nintendo umbrella since their respective inceptions, the series have never really crossed over in any major way outside of games likeSuper Smash Bros. The works of this fan, however, shows what it would be like ifPokemonsuddenly got integrated into thePaper Mariouniverse, or if the same designers made aPokemongame.
Artist TimDrawsStuff shared their recreation of theclassic Pokemon Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle, redesigning and animating them in thePaper Mariostyle. The three Pokemon look fantastic inPaper Mario’s style. Each one is is essentially in an idle animation, happily bobbing up and down with even the ears of Bulbasaur waving independently with inertia. The three designs are extremely cute, and offer a refreshing take on standard Pokemon designs from Game Freak and The Pokemon Company.
ThePokemonseries has been around for a long time, but Gen 1 continues to captivate players all over the world. WhilePaper Marioisn’t quite as old asPokemon Red and Blue, its cute and retro-esque aesthetic lends itself well to crossing over withPokemon. Both series have proven that they also have staying power, as fans have not been shy aboutcelebrating the launch ofPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.
Paper Mario’s Future
Going forward, it will be interesting to see how Nintendo approaches the remainder of thePaper Marioseries. The original title,Paper Mario, is alreadyavailable on the Nintendo Switch Online subscription program, perhaps indicating that Nintendo isn’t interested in remaking it at this time. However, a number of the other entries to the series, likeSuper Paper MarioandPaper Mario: Color Splash,have yet to come to the Switch in any way. With the success ofThe Thousand-Year Door, it’s possible that morePaper Mariogames could get remasters or remakes. Given the timing, if such a thing happens, they would likely be revealed for the Switch 2, which will allegedly launch in 2025.
Pokemon
Pokemon is a franchise that needs no introduction. One of the most successful media empires in history, Pokemon spans games, television, films, manga, merchandise, music, and more.
