Following the successful launch of Pokemon Legends: Arceus just a few weeks ago, Game Freak hasn’t wasted any time announcing where the franchise is heading to next. During the latest annual Pokemon Day stream, the studio marked the franchise's 26th anniversary with the surprising unveiling of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Fans now know that the 9th generation will launch on the Nintendo Switch towards the end of 2022. Elements like the new starter Pokemon and the region that they’re indigenous to, have already been revealed for fans to speculate on as well.
Despite the fact that players will probably have to wait until later in the year to see each starter's final evolution, it's already possible to speculate what they might be based on from the details provided. Thanks to several factors like their portmanteau names, and the apparent Iberian Peninsula-inspired map that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is bringing to life, there's already some handy evidence out there. Unsurprisingly, Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly, all seem to be heavily inspired by real-world animals, objects, and themes from the real-life region.
Sprigatito's Inspirations
For Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Game Freak has stuck to the franchise’s traditional trio starter dynamic. Players will subsequently be able to pick either a fire, water, or grass type companion at the start of their upcoming adventures. While each Pokemon will have its own passionate fan base, like those that have come before them, the latest grass type starter is arguably the one that’s most directly connected to the land that the games are inspired by.
At just a quick glance, it’s readily apparent that Sprigatito's physical appearance is based on a wild cat. It’s classification as the Grass Cat Pokemon, and it’s bio alluding to it being a capricious attention-seeking species, drives this home even more. Scratch under the surface of its green grass-inspired design accents, and it’s clear that Game Freak has taken some inspirations from the real-world countries that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are bringing to life. The word Sprigatito itself is likely a combination of "sprig," a flower’s stem, and the Spanish word for kitten, "gatito."
The connection to Spain and Portugal, the two European countries that fans believe Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are taking inspiration from, doesn’t end with the adoption of the region’s languages. Based on its feline body-shape and its undomesticated appearance, it’s possible that Sprigatito is based specifically on the Iberian lynx. There’s a solid chance that its two evolutions will lean into this motif even more as they grow bigger.
Unlike other parts of Europe, the countryside of the Iberian Peninsula is still home to several hundred of these big cats. Sadly, the Iberian lynx is on the list of endangered species, which might inspire Game Freak to make Sprigatito's final evolution a ghost type, in an attempt to draw attention to this fact.
Fuecoco Origins
Despite its adorable and endearing appearance, Fuecoco is arguably the latest starter Pokemon that’s the hardest to pin down inspiration-wise. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s introductory fire type appears to be based on a baby crocodile. Its portmanteau-themed name backs this up considering how "fuego" means fire in Spanish, while "cocodrilo" means crocodile in the same language. Game Freak’s decision to create a crocodilian fire starter is significant, due to the fact that it breaks from well-established franchise traditions. Unless Fuecoco’s evolutions deviate dramatically, its lineage will become the first fire starter that isn’t inspired by the Chinese zodiac.
Crocodile design motifs are only part of the Fuecoco conundrum, though. Due to the shape of the Pokemon, it appears as though Fuecoco is also based on some form of food. The tufts on the creature’s head for example, suggest that Game Freak might have had an apple in mind when the studio designed it.
However, the Spanish connections that appear to be influencing Scarlet and Violet’s region could mean that Fuecoco is actually meant to look like a pepper. Peppers are so popular in Spain that the world’s most common, the cayenne, is sometimes dubbed Spanish chili. The fact that peppers are notorious for their spiciness and heat, would also line up with Fuecoco typing neatly.
What’s partly intriguing about Fuecoco is the fact that crocodiles and peppers aren’t indigenous to Europe. Instead, Game Freak is apparently drawing on aspects from Spain and Portugal’s colonial pasts for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s fire starter.
In South America, peppers such as the cayenne are grown and then exported across the Atlantic Ocean. Fuecoco’s crocodilian features and name could also be a similar reference to the historic interactions of the two continents. In Iberian folklore, a creature named Coco is often depicted as a dragon or boogeyman that’s said to eat disobedient children. However, the Brazilian incarnation of Coco more closely resembles an alligator, which would tie Fuecoco’s design influences together nicely.
Quaxly’s Design Influences
Out of the three starters that will be found in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Quaxly is probably the most straightforward to explain from an animal-influence perspective. As its shape and classification suggest, the Pokemon franchise’s latest water type starter is based on a duck. Due to Quaxly’s distinct blue feet, it’s highly likely that Game Freak had the blue-footed booby in mind specifically when it came up with the design. Commonly found in Central and South America, there could also be some deliberate references to Europe’s colonial past tied into its design, just like Fuecoco.
Unlike the aforementioned grass and fire starters, Quaxly’s name isn’t inspired by the Spanish language. Instead, the words quack and aqua, used frequently throughout the world, have been put together in order to create its designation. On the other hand, the clear sailing motifs that can be observed in Quaxly’s design could be direct references to Spain and Portugal.
Both nations were once renowned for their respective naval capabilities, which might explain why the water type appears to have references to the military in its design and bio. With past water types like Blastoise, Greninja, and Inteleon, all having utilized weapons to a certain extent, Quaxly’s evolutions appear to be primed to follow in this tradition.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are set to release in late 2022.