A new machine-learning model by Lambda Labs allows users to input any prompt they desire and generate a unique Pokemon. While the results are complex, the process is relatively simple. The model pulls from a database of captioned images of Pokemon and generates a new image based on the user's prompt. While examples accompanying the model include Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and My Neighbor Totoro, another natural place to begin would be to pair two of Nintendo's largest franchises.
Similar to the DALL-E program, which uses artificial intelligence to generate a user's image, the model by Lambda Labs yields better images with more specific prompts. Using a simple prompt such as "Link" will likely produce a fairly abstract image compared to more precise inputs like "Link from Breath of the Wild as a fox." The resulting image will always be rendered in a Pokemon style regardless.
Princess Zelda
The Pokemon version of Princess Zelda is fairly spot on, especially considering the prompt was intended to render Zelda in her Ocarina of Time version. As the image produced is clearly based on young Zelda in Ocarina of Time, it's appropriate that the result is a Pokemon that looks like a base evolution.
This Pokemon looks vaguely like it could fit as a Psychic-type—befitting of Zelda's increasingly prominent magical abilities that allow her to stand against The Legend of Zelda's strongest villains. The only sort of anomaly in the rendering is the overwhelming green used for Zelda's Pokemon, though this is likely pulled directly from Link's tunic.
Ganondorf
In another astonishingly accurate rendering, Ganondorf's wicked expression and reddish-yellow eyes remain perfectly intact in a Pokemon that looks fairly powerful. The model has done a brilliant job of capturing both Ganon and Ganondorf in a single Pokemon. Unlike the rendering made of Princess Zelda, the Pokemon version of Ganondorf is clearly higher up the evolution chain and looks like it could possibly be a legendary-level creature. For The Legend of Zelda's most well-known villain, there could be no alternative.
Link
This Pokemon brings a huge amount of flavor from the Breath of the Wild version of Link but misses the mark compared to Ganondorf and Zelda. The tunic is spot on, and probably more than enough for most fans to identify who it's supposed to be, but the render seems to pull too much from Link's leather gloves and sheath, leaving his iconic blond hair by the wayside. As with most of the renderings, the eyes are spot on, and the expression seems perfectly suited to Link. The resulting Pokemon also seems to be exactly right for the main character, not quite as intimidating as the Ganondorf render, but just powerful enough looking to be both an underdog and the hero that could conceivably save the day.
Happy Mask Salesman
The Happy Mask Salesman helped make Majora's Mask one of Nintendo's darkest releases to date, and the Pokemon rendering is no different. Unsurprisingly, using one of the creepiest characters in the franchise, as an input creates a Pokemon that is pure nightmare fuel. The resulting hybrid is something more at home in a Wes Craven movie than a Pokemon game, but it somehow also perfectly captures the essence of the Happy Mask Salesman.
For what it's worth, the Pokemon version of the Happy Mask Salesman could be nothing other than a Ghost-type Pokemon. While it may not visually look too similar to the in-game character, its ability to unsettle audiences would be remarkably similar.
Malon
Malon, who lives on Lon Lon Ranch, appears as nothing other than a horse-like Pokemon with her signature red hair as its coat. It's difficult to imagine a more accurate rendering than this one, with Malon's character being inextricably tied to horses. The only possible gripe is that the Pokemon version of Malon appears a bit more aggressive than the kind-hearted girl fans know from Ocarina of Time. It's also fair to say that of all the renderings, Malon would fit more seamlessly into a Pokemon game than the others, appearing fairly close in design to fan-favorite Pokemon like Ponyta or Arcanine. As she appears, Malon is likely a mid-level Pokemon that is either a Fighting or Fire-type.
Midna
The problem with one of The Legend of Zelda's best companions is that Midna already looks vaguely like she could be a Pokemon. As a result, any attempts to turn Midna into a Pokemon often end up taking her further away in the process. Still, the result here is fairly promising. She appears as a bat-like Pokemon with her electric blue highlights dominating the majority of her Pokemon form.
Much like Malon, it's fairly easy to imagine this version of Midna appearing in a Pokemon game. Unfortunately, she's definitely a low-level Pokemon, and likely the base form of a longer evolution chain. On the plus side, Midna looks exactly like the sort of Pokemon that has an extremely powerful final evolution. As far as type, she could fit a wide range, from Psychic, Dark, Electric, or even Poison.
Tingle
Whether fans love him or hate him, Tingle is one of the most iconic characters from The Legend of Zelda franchise in terms of design. Luckily, his simplistic design also lends itself perfectly to the text-to-image model, and the resulting Pokemon is faithful to the character. To boot, Tingle might be the only character on this list that could be slotted into Pokemon without so much as a change of name, as Tingle seems to fit the resulting Pokemon hybrid just as well as the original character.
As a result of his bright green suit, Tingle was always going to lean toward being a Grass or Bug-type Pokemon, but the render's liberal use of the coloring from his red nose makes him a bit more difficult to place. Regardless, Tingle looks far from a powerhouse Pokemon and is at best the kind of creature that Pokemon players would encounter in the earliest stages of the game.
Source: Lambda Labs