Times The Pokemon Games Referenced Pop Culture

As time has moved on, it has become increasingly clear to fans that the Pokemon world takes place in a completely different universe from our own. The developers may use things from real life as inspiration for Pokemon designs or location names, but for the most part, the Pokemon world is an entirely fictional place.

However, fans have noticed a few things from our world have made their way into the games over the years. This may be a subtle reference or an outright nod to something from pop culture. Either way, it is clear that the Pokemon team aren't shy about including some references to our world occasionally.

7 My Neighbor Totoro

Snorlax References The Film In Let's Go

The Pokemon Let's Go games take place in the Kanto region once again. In an effort to make this playthrough of the region different this time, the developer included Following Pokemon. This means that all 151 Pokemon in the Let's Go games can be released from their Pokéballs to follow the player throughout the game. Each one has a unique walking animation, and some Pokemon are even large enough to be ridden.

Snorlax's walking animation is entirely unique, however. The player will grab the Pokemon's belly as it walks around the region. While this animation fits the gluttonous Pokemon, many fans believe this to be a nod to the anime movie My Neighbor Totoro. This is how the protagonist of that film travels with the title character and both franchises are anime. As such, it would make sense to include a nod to each other in this way.

6 Looker

This Detective Bears A Striking Resemblance To A Famous Time Lord

Looker is a Pokemon detective who first appeared in the Pokemon Generations anime. However, the character later appeared in Pokemon: Platinum a nd other games in the franchise since. Although Looker is his own character, many fans can't help but notice that he shares a lot of similarities with another character from popular culture.

The messy hair, suit, and long brown trench coat make Looker a dead ringer for the tenth incarnation of The Doctor from Doctor Who. Since this was the version of the character on TV at the time of Looker's first appearance, it isn't too much of a stretch to think that someone at GameFreak was inspired by the British Time Lord when they were designing Looker's outfit.

5 Beauty And The Beast

Even People In The Pokemon World Know Disney Classics

In the real world, almost everyone is aware of one of the biggest entertainment companies in the world, Disney. Most people can at least name one or more of their most famous movies. Although, it might seem strange that even people in Pokemon are aware of this company.

In Pokemon X and Y, players will find an NPC in Lumiose City who asks if they have heard of the story of Beauty and the Beast. Her version of the French fairytale is eerily similar to that of the Disney classic, only this time the beast is depicted as a Pokemon.

4 Power Rangers

Hoenn Has Its Own Team Of Crime Fighters

The games Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire for the 3DS take players back to the Hoenn region from the third generation of Pokemon. It is here that they will meet the Hoenn Rangers, a group of powerful trainers who task themselves with solving the region's ecological problems and taming wild Pokemon.

While these characters do not dress in colorful outfits or carry weapons, their heroic nature makes the group eerily s imilar to the Power Rangers. The characters from this TV show are superheroes looking to sort out fairness in the world and even have their origins in Japan as the Super Sentai. Therefore, it doesn't take much to draw a straight line between the Hoenn Rangers and the Power Rangers.

3 Watching TV

Looking Around The Protagonist's Room Has Its Advantages

When players start their first Pokemon journey in Generation 1, they begin in their bedroom. They can interact with a variety of objects in the room, including the TV, before going downstairs to start their adventure. In the first games, players who interact with the TV will be told it is showing a movie where four boys are walking along a railway track. This happens in the hit movie Stand By Me, and is a direct reference to this film existing in the Pokemon universe.

This tradition continues in both Generations 2 and 3, with each one depicting other famous films from the real world.

2 Too Much Water

Pokemon Sun And Moon Reference A Famous Review

The Pokéfinder may not be the most fun item to play with in Pokemon : Sun and Moon, but there are secrets that can be found when using this device. For instance, if a player points the device at an empty spot of water anywhere in the game, they will receive a comment that reads "too much water. 7.8/10."

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For those who do not know, this is a reference to a review of the first Hoenn games by IGN, who marked the game down for having too much water. Not only has this become a meme among Pokemon fans, but it is also nice to see that the developer has a sense of humor about the issue.

1 Games Consoles

Nintendo Moves Through Time

In every player's room in a main series Pokemon game, they will find there is a bed, PC, TV, and a games console. However, only by interacting with this game console will players learn what it is. In the Gen 1 games, the player character had access to the Super Nintendo System. The series would continue this trend, with the player later having a Nintendo 64 and a Wii in later Pokemon generations.

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Players even had a Nintendo Switch in their rooms in Pokemon: Scarlet and Violet, showing that Nintendo is not ready to give up on this trend any time soon. Who knows what consoles will be showing up in future Pokemon games?

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