Literary Fantasy Creatures That Are Basically Pokemon
It’s no wonder that Pokemon is one of the biggest franchises in the gaming world (and the cartoon world, and the toy world): everyone wishes they could have an awesome fantasy pet that is easily transportable, extraordinarily useful, and comes with a few extra powers. What child wouldn’t want that? (For that matter, what adult would turn it down?)
However, Pokemon are far from the only creatures in the world that would fulfill these requirements…at least to some degree. The world of literature is packed with creatures that would make for perfect real life pets, if only they existed.
Nifflers (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them)
Really, almost any of the creatures in the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them franchise would make for perfect Pokemon-style pets. They even come in a handy-dandy suitcase, which is essentially a Pokeball that would work in an office. However, of all the creatures in this world, the ones that people want the most (and that are probably the most Pokemon-esque) have to be Nifflers. These critters are cuter than a Pikachu (well, we could argue—they're both pretty cute), and their gold-finding and hoarding abilities would make any owner rich (if not particularly well-liked).
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Dæmons (His Dark Materials)
Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy captured the hearts of readers with the concept of the dæmon—a part of the soul that lives outside of the body in the form of a sentient, articulate animal. In childhood, these dæmons can change shape, although at puberty they settle into one final form. Especially as a child, having a dæmon would be like having an entire Pokedex with you at all times. Perfect for settling fights, sure, but also just to have the perfect companion.
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Flying Monkeys (Wicked)
While some Pokemon are completely fantastical creatures, others look a whole lot like regular animals, but with a fantasy element or two…just like the flying monkeys in The Wizard of Oz, and the reimagining of that story, Wicked. These are regular monkeys, but with wings—and at the absolute beck and call of Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West). Phenomenal fighters, extremely obedient, and just a little fantastical? That sounds like a Pokemon to us!
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Direwolves (A Song of Ice and Fire)
In many ways, these might seem like the least Pokemon-y creatures on the list, but sometimes, a Pokemon just seems like an animal…and while some are cute, cuddly, companions, let’s not forget that the point of catching them is to battle them, and plenty of Pokemon are huge and frightening! The direwolves in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire may not be totally sentient, but they are more closely connected to the Starks than any regular dog, and their size and intelligence makes them so much more than just a wild wolf.
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Oy (The Dark Tower)
This billy-bumbler from another universe is practically a Pokemon already. An adorable companion creature that mimics like a parrot, Oy (of Stephen King’s Dark Tower series) repeats sounds like many of the semi-articulate Pokemon, and is the perfect companion to the Gunslinger and Jake. The bond between them is almost as close as that of Ash and Pikachu, even if Oy would never fit in a Pokeball.
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Pygmy Puff (Harry Potter)
Finally, it’s time for another Harry Potter creature. Like those of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, so many of the creatures in this franchise are essentially Pokemon already; the owls are super intelligent and well-trained, the thestrals are dark and creepy Rapidash, even Crookshanks isn’t just a cat! However, there’s one creature in particular that is the perfect pet…and doesn’t look like any human animal that we’ve ever seen: the pygmy puff. Bred by Fred and George Weasley, these adorable little fluffy pets were so popular that they routinely sold out – and while they may not exactly be useful for fighting, some Pokemon are just plain adorable.
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Which literary creatures would you try and catch? Tweet at @quirkbooks and let us know!
