One artist created fan-made regional variants for two Poison-type Pokémon: Gulpin and Swalot.
As reported by Game Rant, u/Haychel posted their appetizing redesign of Gulpin and its evolution, Swalot, on Reddit. Introduced in the Generation III games, the two Poison-type Pokémon have bulbous designs, which the artist maintained for their fan-made regional variants. Haychel labeled their new forms the 'Elysian' variant of the original Pokémon. Inspired by prawn and soup dumplings in combination with semi-slugs, the artist reconstructed Gulpin and Swalot with translucent and stretchy skin, contrasting with their original purple and green design.
Haychel included a description of their newly designed regional variants in the Reddit post's thread. "Elysian Gulpin and Swalot have stretchy skin, allowing them to swallow things of their own size. They are known to spit out some of their innards when they're intimidated. The innards smell appetizing, but they are also molten hot. This serves as a useful bait for their predator." Instead of their initial Poison typing, Haychel changed Gulpin and Swalot to a dual Fire/Fairy-type.
Before their redesign of Gulpin and Swalot, Haychel also created Elysian forms of both Tangela and Tangrowth. The artist gave the two Pokémon a Grass/Water dual-type instead of simply Grass and remodeled them into seaweed. "Tangelas and Tangrowths that reside in coastal areas take the form of seaweed and kelp. Swimmers must be wary of their surroundings when these Pokémon are around," Haychel wrote in a Reddit thread.
Pokémon First Introduced Regional Variants in Sun and Moon
The Pokémon Company first introduced regional variants in the Generation VII games, Sun and Moon. Exeggutor became the first pokémon to receive a regional variant with the introduction of its Alolan form. Other Pokémon include Raticate, Raichu and Vulpix. On Sept. 28, The Pokémon Company unveiled Wiglett, a new creature from the Paldea region in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Much to the viewers' confusion after assuming Wiglett's status as a regional variant, the company stressed that the Pokémon has no connection to Generation I's Diglett. Unlike Diglett, Wiglett is a Water-type and resembles an eel instead of a mole.
Pokédex entries throughout the years frequently inspire artists to create new designs based on various pocket monsters. In the past, artists have transformed Pokémon into cuter or creepier counterparts. Sometimes an anime series may influence an artist to transform their favorite Pokémon into an animated character. For example, Magikarp wearing Naruto's Hokage robes in a piece posted on Reddit by artist Backfisch85.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet releases for the Nintendo Switch on Nov. 18, 2022.
Source: Reddit, Game Rant