Junji Ito does Pokemon

[skemono]

That title isn't a joke. Junji Ito is having an official collaboration with Pokemon. Pokemon has created a site entitled "Kowapoke" (or "scary Pokemon") which features, among other things, Ito's take on certain Pokemon. So far only two are up, but they'll probably release more along the line.


The two Pokemon Ito has illustrated thus far are both Ghost type, and really, they're perfect fits for a horror mangaka. I regret that I don't know Japanese, so I can't translate the text that accompanies the illustrations.



One of the Pokedex entries for Banette: "An abandoned plush doll became this Pokémon. They are said to live in garbage dumps and wander about in search of the children that threw them away."



And Gengar's entries read: "Under a full moon, this Pokémon likes to mimic the shadows of people and laugh at their fright. ... Hiding in people's shadows at night, it absorbs their heat. The chill it causes makes the victims shake." (Not sure where the tongue thing comes from.)

Comments

[crinos]

Ah Junji Ito. He's basically the modern day HP Lovecraft, not only because of his creepy horror stories, but because of his love of cats.

Also, I hope there's more Pokemon stuff where this came form.

[drtechnobabel]

As a massive Pokemon fan for as long as I can remember, I have to say that this is amazing. I hope (though I doubt that it'll actually happen) that Ito actually writes some one-shots as well. There more than enough creepy stuff in Ghost Pokemon lore to fuel it's own mini-series of manga.

[thanekos]

" This Secret Base.. it was made for me! "

[rainspirit]

I actually wailed, "Oh noooooo" when I saw this subject line. I'm happy to report I wasn't disappointed.

[crimsonmoonmist]

I had a dumb grin on my face,
I wasn't disappointed either.

[raisedbymoogles]

Man, there is so much nightmare fuel for Ito to mine in the Pokeverse. This should be interesting.

[xakko]

i first read that is "mime", and given that my wife was totally creeped out by Mr. Mime - and Gengar - it made too much sense.

[raisedbymoogles]

Yyyyeah, she's not the only one. He didn't bother me in previous gens, but holy shit his movements in X/Y. He's like a possessed puppet.

[ozaline]

Hey look... spirals!

[icon_uk]

You... you mean.... you see them TOO???

[penguinzero]

I know a bit of Japanese, so here's my translations for the two captions. I can't guarantee I'm 100% right about them, but I'm sure I've got at least most of it.


"I've drawn here a Banette looking for the child who threw it away. Unfortunately, it's found a girl who's carrying a new doll that seems precious to her, and behind her, the Banette's grudge grows...!"

"I've drawn here the image of a Gengar scaring a human by stretching its tongue to great lengths. Its eerie smile makes ice run down her spine... Naturally, they ended up drawn into some horrifyingly beautiful 'spirals of terror' at that very moment!'

[icon_uk]

That first one adds to the horror immeasurably!

Thanks.... I think.

[tianyulong]

The funny thing is that Banette stuff he wrote? Totally canon. "A doll that became a Pokémon over its grudge from being junked. It seeks the child that disowned it." - From the 4th generation pokedex.

But wow this is so cool! I hope he makes more of these, thankfully since it's pokemon related they will inevitably be translated.

[michaelhealy]

So it's basically Lotso from Toy Story 3?

[skemono]

Or a less creepy Lord Kuruku.

[tianyulong]

I suppose you could put it that way yes

[kamino_neko]

(Not sure where the tongue thing comes from.)

'Lick' is one of Gengar's starting moves, so...it makes sense to me.

[q99]

I do wonder who in Nintendo decided on this.

And this is... *relatively* tame for Junji, but the guy's art is terrifying XD

[kevinroc]

I wonder if it was the same person who approved the Fire Emblem X Shin Megami Tensei game. (I hope that game comes out. I know Atlus had some problems, but Nintendo said back at E3 that the project was still happening.)

[q99]

Possibly!

[big_daddy_d]

I...would totally read this if this was a series.

[leoboiko]

Ooh what good timing, I was just writing Banette into chapter 4 of my Pokémon/Monster Hunter crossover fanfic! The perfect cue for a shameless plug :)

But yeah, Pokémon is probably the children's game with the biggest amount of fridge horror. Just read them Pokédex entries, and consider the ramifications…