THE CATERPIE FAMILY

Now that we're off the starter Pokemon, we move on to the somewhat less popular early-game wild Pokemon, starting with the first Bug-type in the Pokedex- Caterpie. Caterpie is a design that's kind of hard to comment on, because it's lifted very directly from a real-world animal, that being the spicebush swallowtail caterpillar.

That being said, it's a very good stylization of said caterpillar, compacting all of its little details down into one simple, pleasant caterpillar design. It even includes the osmeterium- an organ folded up inside the caterpillar normally that emerges when it's threatened, and also smells absolutely wretched, this being regularly noted in Caterpie's Pokedex entries. For what it is- just a heavy stylization of a real animal- Caterpie is really, really good. It's cute, quirky, and fun, and a great introduction to the Bug-type.

The theme of directly stylizing a real animal continues with Metapod, which is a stylization of a spicebush swallowtail's pupa. With eyes slapped on, of course. And for what it is, a mostly immobile chrysalis, Metapod is ridiculously lovable. Its dopey little eyes alone give it so much personality; it looks so tired at all times. Appropriate for a creature that can't move and is regularly hassled by other Pokemon in the wild.

Now we move on to Butterfree, which has been a perpetual source of confusion for not just me, but other Pokemon fans too, for its sheer, jarring difference from the rest of the line. It has a completely different color palette and drops any resemblance to a real animal, in a very interesting and strange design move. Plenty of theorization has been thrown around regarding this, most commonly people suggesting Butterfree was originally concieved as an evolution for Venonat- which seems quite likely, looking at how similar they are- but unfortunately, I couldn't find any information regarding this, so we're still in the dark. Alas.

Anyway, judging Butterfree on its own, it's a fine Pokemon. Probably my...third favorite butterfly/moth Pokemon there's been (though there's some VERY stiff competition we'll be getting to much later), it's a really nice bug with an equally nice color palette. Though, to be honest, I like the shiny palette a bit better.

All things considered, it's a good design, though not a supremely memorable one.

I have absolutely no idea why, maybe because Beedrill got a mega and Butterfree didn't, but they decided to give Butterfree a Gigantamax form in Gen 8, and before I get too lost in pondering why they might have decided to do this, let's talk about the design itself. Which is REALLY good! A Gigantamaxed Butterfree obviously grows larger (and seemingly fatter), but its wings particularly grow to a massive span, turning a lovely mint green color and emerging from a pile of white fluff on its back. One little detail I particularly love here is the positioning of the Dynamax clouds, forming a sort of "halo" over Butterfree's head and making me think of a sort of insectoid angel.

Gigantamax Butterfree also hinges a fair bit off the reason butterflies are also called lepidopterans- its wings are constantly shedding glittering, beautiful scales, which happen to be just as horribly toxic as they are gorgeous. This is a really nice touch and also present in standard Butterfree, but exaggerated here to the point that you can visibly see scales falling off its wings. Real butterflies' wing scales typically aren't poisonous, but they do have quite a habit of getting everywhere, and also serve as a good defense mechanism- a butterfly (or moth) caught in a spider's web can just roll out and their scales will detach!