Pokemon designer reveals reasoning behind Ultra Beasts’ unusual designs

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The artist who designed the Pokémon in Sun and Moon recently shared details about the Ultra Beasts, explaining that they were intentionally made to appear strange and unsettling.

Ultra Beasts have always stood out from other Pokémon due to their strange appearances and unpredictable behavior, which has sometimes divided fans on whether they fit into the Pokémon world.

Recent translations from Automaton explain the unsettling designs of the creatures in the game. According to creature designer Yusuke Omura, these designs actually evolved from earlier ideas that hadn’t been used.

Pokémon’s Ultra Beasts look unhinged for a reason

According to a post on X, the designer of the Ultra Beasts, Omura, explained that he revisited some older designs that Mr. Sugimori had previously turned down. He intentionally used the reasons those designs were rejected as the foundation for the Ultra Beasts’ unique artistic style.

Omura described the comments as a reflection of their own frustrations, admitting it was unsettling. They clarified, however, that there wasn’t any personal dislike involved.

“Of course, this doesn’t mean that I hate Mr. Sugimori or anything like that.”

The Ultra Beasts debuted in the Pokémon Sun and Moon games in 2016. These strange creatures come from Ultra Wormholes and have designs inspired by science fiction. Their introduction was a major shift for the Pokémon series, moving away from the animal-based designs created by Ken Sugimori and embracing a more alien aesthetic.

Even though Game Freak keeps trying out new ideas for Pokémon designs, like the Tera forms in Scarlet and Violet, Ultra Beasts are still some of the most controversial Pokémon when it comes to how they look.

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2026-02-04 14:48