Pokemon Sun and Moon, developed by the renowned Game Freak for the Nintendo 3DS, introduced one of the franchise's most enigmatic groups of creatures: the Ultra Beasts.
Debuting in the series' celebrated seventh generation, the Ultra Beasts quickly sparked fan intrigue with their striking designs and origins set outside the typical Pokemon canon.
Yusuke Omura, a long-time illustrator and character designer at Game Freak, has recently offered compelling insight into how these otherworldly entities came to life. The Ultra Beasts are unique among the franchise's extensive roster, first making their appearance in Pokemon Sun and Moon, which launched globally in November 2016 for the Nintendo 3DS.
Unlike most Pokemon, Ultra Beasts hail from Ultra Space—a dimension distinct from the familiar regions of Kanto, Johto, or Alola.
Their atypical forms and unsettling motifs marked a bold creative departure for Game Freak, a studio founded by Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori, with Sugimori being the principal creature designer for many mainline titles. In a revealing statement shared on social media, Yusuke Omura provided a behind-the-scenes look at the conceptual process for the Ultra Beasts.
Omura explained that the origins of these Pokemon trace back to "rejected designs" he had previously submitted for consideration by Ken Sugimori.
Drawing upon those earlier concepts and, crucially, the specific reasons they were not selected, Omura decided to intentionally incorporate those elements into the Ultra Beasts’ final forms.
He described this decision as a way of giving form to his own creative challenges, noting, "There is almost a manifestation of personal feelings in these designs, guided by taking what was previously turned down and transforming it into something deliberate and impactful." Further elaborating on the artistic direction, Omura clarified that the Ultra Beasts were conceived to evoke feelings of discomfort and otherness, setting them apart from traditional Pokemon.
He stated that their unusual appearance and a sense of dread upon first viewing were intentional, aiming for creatures that, as Omura put it, "do not immediately feel like Pokemon" in the classic sense.
This approach aligns with fan interpretations, who have often noted the Ultra Beasts’ removal from anything conventionally Pokemon-like and recognized their surreal, almost alien motifs. Since their introduction, the Ultra Beasts have become an enduring topic within the Pokemon community, symbolizing both Game Freak’s willingness to innovate and the evolving artistry required in video game character design.
Their debut in Pokemon Sun and Moon contributed to the titles’ commercial success, with both games surpassing 16 million units sold worldwide and further solidifying the Nintendo 3DS's legacy as a pivotal platform for the franchise. By drawing inspiration from past rejections, Yusuke Omura and the Game Freak team have demonstrated the creative possibilities that arise from revisiting and reimagining earlier ideas—showcasing both the artistry and resilience behind one of Nintendo’s most iconic series.
Debuting in the series' celebrated seventh generation, the Ultra Beasts quickly sparked fan intrigue with their striking designs and origins set outside the typical Pokemon canon.
Yusuke Omura, a long-time illustrator and character designer at Game Freak, has recently offered compelling insight into how these otherworldly entities came to life. The Ultra Beasts are unique among the franchise's extensive roster, first making their appearance in Pokemon Sun and Moon, which launched globally in November 2016 for the Nintendo 3DS.
Unlike most Pokemon, Ultra Beasts hail from Ultra Space—a dimension distinct from the familiar regions of Kanto, Johto, or Alola.
Their atypical forms and unsettling motifs marked a bold creative departure for Game Freak, a studio founded by Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori, with Sugimori being the principal creature designer for many mainline titles. In a revealing statement shared on social media, Yusuke Omura provided a behind-the-scenes look at the conceptual process for the Ultra Beasts.
Omura explained that the origins of these Pokemon trace back to "rejected designs" he had previously submitted for consideration by Ken Sugimori.
Drawing upon those earlier concepts and, crucially, the specific reasons they were not selected, Omura decided to intentionally incorporate those elements into the Ultra Beasts’ final forms.
He described this decision as a way of giving form to his own creative challenges, noting, "There is almost a manifestation of personal feelings in these designs, guided by taking what was previously turned down and transforming it into something deliberate and impactful." Further elaborating on the artistic direction, Omura clarified that the Ultra Beasts were conceived to evoke feelings of discomfort and otherness, setting them apart from traditional Pokemon.
He stated that their unusual appearance and a sense of dread upon first viewing were intentional, aiming for creatures that, as Omura put it, "do not immediately feel like Pokemon" in the classic sense.
This approach aligns with fan interpretations, who have often noted the Ultra Beasts’ removal from anything conventionally Pokemon-like and recognized their surreal, almost alien motifs. Since their introduction, the Ultra Beasts have become an enduring topic within the Pokemon community, symbolizing both Game Freak’s willingness to innovate and the evolving artistry required in video game character design.
Their debut in Pokemon Sun and Moon contributed to the titles’ commercial success, with both games surpassing 16 million units sold worldwide and further solidifying the Nintendo 3DS's legacy as a pivotal platform for the franchise. By drawing inspiration from past rejections, Yusuke Omura and the Game Freak team have demonstrated the creative possibilities that arise from revisiting and reimagining earlier ideas—showcasing both the artistry and resilience behind one of Nintendo’s most iconic series.
