It's no secret that the Pokemon fanbase is not only one of the most loyal around, but also one of the most artistically talented. There seems to be a never-ending stream of all kinds of fan-made Pokemon creations going viral, with the latest one being an impressive purple Charizard plush.
A cornerstone of the franchise since its inception over 25 years ago, Charizard is arguably the most recognizable Pokemon of all time behind Pikachu. The Fire/Flying-type was recently featured in Pokemon GO's Lush Jungle event, where Mega Charizard Y was the Battle Raid boss.
Posted onto r/pokemon by a user named MeandSamBFFL, the purple Charizard is nothing short of impressive. Modeled after the Pokemon's Gen 2 sprite, the hand-made creation hits all the details with precision. From the correct proportions, to the spot-on head shape, to the realistic-looking flame on its tail, the plush is a job well done. The most interesting aspect is that it's actually a Shiny Charizard from Gen 2. The first generation with Shinies, Shiny Charizard's color scheme was changed from purple-and-green to red-and-black thereafter, making the plush an homage to a rather obscure piece of Pokemon lore.
Here’s a plush I’ve sewn of the original Gen 2 ✨ Charizard! I always wished they’d bring these colors back. I hope you all like it! from pokemon
While the purple Charizard plushie is certainly impressive, it's hardly the only form of fanart the Pokemon has recently appeared in. One of the more unconventional creations includes a Pokemon fan who created a giant wood-burned Charizard card using only the sun and a magnifying glass. Posted in the same location as the purple plush, the wooden Charizard card features all the details of the original coveted card, even including the shadow of the artwork frame.
For fans who may not have the time nor the skill to create a Pokemon plush of their own, Build-a-Bear has them covered. The famous stuffed animal chain has been steadily adding more Pokemon options over time, including Charizard's initial form of Charmander. For the even bigger Pokemon plush fans, The Pokemon Company itself has begun offering a life-size Lucario plush complete with poseable arms. The massive plush dwarfs the fan-made purple Charizard plush, standing at nearly four feet tall, and retails for a little over $400.
Fans in the purple Charizard post's comment section have come to a consensus that the original purple-and-green color scheme is superior to the red-and-black one implemented after the second generation of Pokemon. However, the newer version of Shiny Charizard is part of what comprises some of the rarest and most valuable Charizard cards in existence.