Pokémon’s genius insect design: Scolipede trends as Japanese users analyze everything it gets right
The Bug type is one of the eighteen main Pokémon types that appear throughout the series, making up about 9% of all Pokémon. Recently, Japanese users have been expressing admiration for Pokémon’s numerous Bug-type designs, noting how they manage to portray a convincing insect-like nature without being uncomfortable to look at.
Unless you’re a hardcore insect-lover, you probably have a hard time understanding the appeal of small crawly beings with way too many legs and eyes. In fact, being disgusted by bugs is theorized to be an evolutionary trait of humans, which makes insects excellent material for horror. Pokémon, on the hand, is anything but horror, with even the “scariest” Pokémon being creepy more due to setting than design.
Pokémon designs are cute, cool and majestic, which is significantly more challenging to accomplish if your source material is a centipede or cockroach, as opposed to bunnies and baby seals. X user @comori_uta recently gave an analysis of the Generation 5 Poison/Bug-type Pokémon Scolipede which resonated with many Pokémon lovers.
The design incorporates a portion of the centipede’s numerous legs into the neck’s exoskeleton, effectively making them look less “leggy.” Furthermore, the abdominal portion, that would normally be segmented, is depicted as smooth and bouncy. On the other hand, the jointed back fully conveys an insect-like feeling, making it a design bug lovers will enjoy too.
It appeals to people who dislike bugs while still satisfying bug enthusiasts. A god-tier Pokémon design…it’s just too good…
The Scolipede’s design adjusts the (normally revolting) centipede anatomy to make it look almost quadrupedal, emphasizing the back legs and minimizing the numerous front legs for a centaur-like silhouette that erases any unpleasant associations. On the other hand, the rounded, segmented structure of the back and venomous-looking color scheme keep the Scolipede cool-looking and recognizable enough as a centipede-inspired creature.
The abovementioned post highlighting the greatness of the design has received 59k likes and 9.4k reposts at the time of writing, with users joining in to sing the design’s praises, particularly its “sleepy eyes” and “squishy and huggable tummy.”
Users also expressed admiration for Bug-type Pokémon in general, giving examples of how Pokémon makes even cockroach- and mosquito-inspired creatures look appealing.
As an aside, the Scolipede was designed by the Japanese freelance illustrator Tomohiro Kitakaze, who is also the creator of the Charcadet Family of Pokémon. Incidentally, he happened to notice the love Scolipede has been receiving online, prompting him to express gratitude to fans on his personal X account.
