With over 800 creatures now in the Pokémon series, there are a lot of Pokémon out there, many of which have different artistic inspirations. It's no surprise that some anime creatures occasionally get confused for Pokémon, especially in the case of shows like Digimon or Yokai Watch, which are incredibly similar in formula. Even outside of other monster-focused games though, there are a ton of mascots and anime characters that could easily pass as Pokémon, and some of them even have seconded forms.
These characters often also possess supernatural abilities, and many of them can use elemental attacks similar to those seen in Pokémon battles.
10 Rimuru's Loyal Wolf Companion Ranga (That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime)
Ranga comes from That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime and is Rimuru's loyal companion. Ranga could easily pass as a legendary dog and even evolves through the series to even more powerful forms.
Ranga also has storm-related abilities that he can attack foes with reminiscent of flying and electric-type Pokémon. He can both create mini-storms and strike opponents with lighting.
9 Kero The Guardian of The Clow Cards (Cardcaptor Sakura)
Kero is Sakura's loyal companion in Cardcaptor Sakura and is a magical being who takes the form of a small cat. Although Kero can usually pass for a stuffed animal, his true form resembles that of a winged lion.
In his Cerberus form, Kero is able to summon barriers and breath fire at enemies. While this doesn't get shown too much in the show, when it does, it makes the Clow Cards look weak.
8 Kirara The Fiery Companion of Demon Slayers (Inuyasha)
Kirara is Sango's companion from Inuyasha, who later works with her brother Kohaku in Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon. Kirara is a small cat that can engulf itself in flames to transform into a fierce-looking sabertooth cat when needed.
Kirara is able to fly through the sky and has a strong bite that can inflict heavy damage onto weaker enemies in the show. She also seems to be immune to fire-based attacks during the course of the show.
7 Kanenogi, The Strangely Fluffy Husband (Jingai-san no Yome)
Kanenogi is one of the strangest anime characters to date and comes from Jingai-san no Yome. In the show, the strange yokai becomes the husband of a boy named Tomari, and the show follows their comedic relationship.
Kanenogi looks like a Pokémon evolution and has the strange ability to consume concrete for dinner. The show reveals other husbands, like Fuwai, who also looks like it could pass for a Pokémon.
6 Monokuma, a Beary Evil Mastermind (Danganronpa)
Monokuma is from Danganronpa, and his color scheme is similar to the Pokémon Morpeko. Monokuma is actually a robot, but anime fans can't tell from just looking at him, and he could easily be mistaken for a dark or ghost-type Pokémon.
Monokuma doesn't have elemental powers, but he has been shown to have extremely sharp claws that would be perfect for a slash attack.
5 Kumoko, The Isekai Spider With High Intelligence (So I'm a Spider, So What?)
Kumoko is one of the newest isekai protagonists from the series So I'm a Spider, So What? In the show, Kumoko becomes an arachnid-type monster who must learn to use her ability and eat other creatures to survive.
As she levels up, she evolves into a stronger-looking creature and has several attacks similar to bug-type Pokémon. Her main line of defense is using her web to tie up enemies and then biting them with her poisonous fangs.
4 Masha, The Helpful & Empathetic Assistant (Tokyo Mew Mew)
Masha is a pink-winged creature from the magical girl series Tokyo Mew Mew. Masha looks just like what players expect out of fairy-type Pokémon, down to his signature fluffy nature.
While Masha likely wouldn't be a strong Pokémon, he does have the ability to sense when others are in trouble. This is an ability that fits in with other fairy-types like Sylveon, who can calm other creatures.
3 Pen Pen, The Genetically Altered Penguin (Evangelion)
Pen Pen from Evangelion is similar to the first few gens of Pokémon that tried to go with a more realistic art style. Pen Pen even has claws on his fins that would be perfect for slashing away at opponents.
While Pen Pen may not get too much screen time in the show, the situations he is shown in have led fans to believe that he is incredibly intelligent, just like a Pokémon.
2 The Carnviosully Cute Great Rabbit (Re: Zero)
While many fans probably hope the Great Rabbit stays in Re: Zero where it belongs, it does look like a gen I Pokémon. The carnivorous bunny looks like it could be a great design for an ice-type and only appears in snowy regions.
Pokémon has also been known for some incredibly dark episodes and Pokédex entries. A dangerous rabbit that consumes all that is around it may not be as far-fetched as some trainers believe.
1 Komainu, The Twin Helpers of The Goddess (In/Spectre)
Komainu are actually two creatures who are almost always paired together in In/Spectre. One of them is white while the other is black, and Pokémon is known for creating legendaries that look similar but have different color schemes.
The color scheme could easily fool fans into thinking one Komainu is fairy-type while the other is dark-type. The creatures don't seem to have any special power, but their design alone is reminiscent of legendaries like Latios and Latias.