When Pokemon Gets Dark: The Disturbing Concept Art Behind Ultra Beasts

Pokemon has always been known for its colorful, family-friendly creatures that capture the hearts of trainers worldwide. But what happens when Game Freak's artists venture into darker territory? The Ultra Beasts introduced in Pokemon Sun and Moon represent some of the most unsettling and alien designs in the franchise's history.

These interdimensional beings were designed to feel fundamentally wrong – creatures that don't belong in the Pokemon world. The concept art reveals just how far the artists pushed the boundaries of what we consider "Pokemon-like," creating beings that blur the line between fascinating and frightening.

This early concept art shows just how alien these creatures were meant to feel.

From the parasitic Nihilego to the muscular nightmare that is Buzzwole, each Ultra Beast was crafted to evoke a sense of unease. The design philosophy behind these creatures represents a bold departure from traditional Pokemon aesthetics, embracing body horror and cosmic terror in ways that would make H.P. Lovecraft proud.

Ultra Beast concept art showing alien designs

The Psychology of Fear in Pokemon Design

What makes the Ultra Beasts so unsettling isn't just their alien appearance – it's how they subvert everything we expect from Pokemon. Traditional Pokemon, even the scary ones like Gengar or Giratina, still follow certain design rules that make them feel like they belong in the Pokemon universe. Ultra Beasts deliberately break these rules.

Take Nihilego, for example. Its translucent, jellyfish-like body and parasitic nature tap into primal fears of contamination and loss of control. The concept art reveals early iterations that were even more disturbing, with visible internal organs and more explicitly parasitic features that were toned down for the final release.

Buzzwole: When Muscles Become Monstrous

Perhaps no Ultra Beast embodies body horror quite like Buzzwole. This mosquito-like creature takes the concept of muscular strength to grotesque extremes. The concept art shows various iterations where the artists experimented with different levels of muscle definition, some so extreme they bordered on the absurd.

Breaking the Pokemon Formula

Game Freak's artists deliberately avoided the "cute" factor that defines most Pokemon. Instead, they drew inspiration from cosmic horror, body horror, and alien invasion narratives. The result is a collection of creatures that feel genuinely otherworldly – beings that could have stepped out of a science fiction thriller rather than a children's game.

Traditional Pokemon Design

• Expressive eyes
• Recognizable animal features
• Appealing color schemes
• Friendly or neutral expressions

Ultra Beast Design

• Alien geometries
• Unsettling proportions
• Unnatural color combinations
• Ambiguous or threatening poses

The Legacy of Ultra Beasts

The Ultra Beasts represent a fascinating experiment in Pokemon design – proof that the franchise can venture into darker, more mature territory without losing its core identity. While they may not be as immediately lovable as Pikachu or Eevee, they've earned their place as some of the most memorable and discussion-worthy creatures in the Pokemon universe.

Sometimes, the most interesting Pokemon are the ones that make us a little uncomfortable. The Ultra Beasts remind us that even in a world of pocket monsters, there's still room for genuine mystery and unease.