When Pocket Monsters Red and Green first released in Japan in 1996, few might have predicted just how popular the new Pokemon franchise could become. Now, 25 years later, Pokemon has become a worldwide cultural phenomenon and household name. Millions of fans are invested in the series, and it is commonplace to see some fans make their own creations based on the franchise, from incredible Pokemon latte art to hypothetical evolutions. One dedicated Pokemon fan took the time to design a branching evolution for the Pokemon Girafarig.
Girafarig is native to the Johto region, based on the real world giraffe, and is known as the Long Neck Pokemon. It first appeared in the second generation of Pokemon games, and Girafarig has shown up in most of the subsequent Pokemon games, multiple episode in the anime, and made its first movie appearance in Spell of the Unown: Entei. One of the unique aspects of this Pokemon's design is its two brains, one in the front and a small one in its tail.
Reddit user PTickles, otherwise known as ort_homeless, posted their take on a possible new evolution tree for Girafarig. The new evolutions rely on the use of either a Dawn Stone or Dusk Stone, leading to changes in the Pokemon's biology based on which of its two brains gets stronger. The Dawn Stone lets Girafarig evolve into Girafaraf, while the Dusk Stone lets it evolve into Giragira. PTickle ingeniously took the potential of Girafarig's two brains and ran with it.
Girafaraf is a Normal/Psychic Pokemon with high special attack and speed stats. This evolution occurs after exposure to the Dawn Stone leads Girafarig's front brain to fully take control of its body, leaving the brain in the tail to become almost nonexistent. Girafaraf's white striping and pinkish "boots" give it a bit more of a regal look. Giragira, pictured bottom left, is a Dark/Psychic Pokemon with high attack and defense stats instead. When near a Dusk Stone, Girafarig's rear brain becomes stronger, eventually allowing it to influence the front brain. The tail then claims all the available brain power for itself, leading it to become the Corrupted Pokemon, Giragira.
It is clear that this artist put a ton of thought into every aspect of the design, as the Reddit post outline the reasons Girafarig evolves, each of their stats, the shiny forms, and numerous moves each evolved Pokemon would learn. Overall, this is another cool example of Pokemon fans making new and interesting concepts based on the game. With 2021 as the 25th anniversary for the Pokemon franchise, no doubt more fans will come up with cool art and designs like this Girafarig branching evolution, or like an Unown-themed keyboard.
Source: Reddit