The world of Pokémon has captivated people of all ages. Because of this, many have lived a dream where they could see their favorite cartoon characters go on their own journeys to become Pokémon masters.
Imagine if we walked into the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender and saw Aang gliding through the Air Temple with an Emolga at his side. Or what would life in Bikini Bottom be like with the help of water Pokémon? The possibilities with a crossover of this scale are endless, and it makes us desperate for Nintendo to start divvying out the license.
Thankfully, through the power of the internet, we get a special taste as to what that could look like. For the purposes of this piece, we will include characters that have appeared in an animated cartoon or movie. They must have at least one Pokémon with them (rather than specifically be turned into Pokémon themselves).
Get ready to combine the best aspects of your childhood as we explore 20 cartoon characters who are re-imagined as Pokémon trainers. Regardless of whether they fit with the Pokémon mythos, each character deserves a shot at being the best and having their own creatures.
24 Who Is That Trainer I See?
When it comes to turning popular cartoon characters into Pokémon trainers, it’s obvious that Disney would be very high on the list. Countless Disney princesses have had artwork that would thrust them into the world of Pokémon, but rarely does it ever look this good (or this authentic). What makes this version of Mulan stand out is that not only is she given a full team of six Pokémon, but she was also redesigned to look like she could fit in one of the games.
Naturally, her team would consist of Pokémon that resembled China in some way.
That’s why she’s given two dragon Pokémon and a red Gyarados. Needless to say, she looks like someone who could be a gym leader in the Johto region.
23 The Perfect Little Pokémon
Blossom. Bubbles. And Buttercup. These three little girls were created by Professor Utonium (with the help of a little Chemical X). They were born with superpowers and protect the city of Townsville. However, they are still children underneath that rough exterior and interact as siblings normally would (including super fighting).
Because of this, if they had Pokémon to play with, they would have to be related yet distinct. What better option to give them each a Pokémon? What makes this brilliant is that all of the starters match their personalities. While Bellossom might be more-suited to Buttercup’s color, it all looks fantastic. It’s also worth noting that Bubbles has Marill, who is excellent at using the Bubble attack against its opponents.
Art by popysfilms.
22 From Sailor Scout To Trainer
Ever wondered what Sailor Venus from the anime Sailor Moon would look like as a Pokémon trainer? We’re not sure we ever did, but here she is! It seems like Venus has a particular affinity for “cute” Pokémon, and we honestly don’t blame her for that. This team seems to suit her personality so well!
It makes us wonder what the other Sailor Scouts would look like as trainers.
Would Sailor Mars specialize in fire-type Pokémon? Would Mercury only use Water-types? And would Luna and Artemis exist as some kind of Meowth, where they’d still be able to talk to her owners? Hopefully, some talented artists will take on the challenge and let us see that someday.
21 Under The Sea
Disney Princess Ariel makes the perfect candidate for a Pokémon trainer! She’s already living under the water, so it makes sense for her to specialize as a water-type trainer. She’s friends with animals even in the movie, so we imagine that she’d be a very kind and loving trainer to all the Pokémon she used on her team. Even the Magikarp seem to be interested in hanging out with her! She’s the kind of trainer that might seem friendly on the outside, but we’re sure she could put up a good battle. Better watch out if you ever have to face her! Also, we love how her chosen Eeveelution is Vaporeon.
Art by Flying-Fox.
20 Home By Midnight
Cinderella just looks so pleased to be sitting there with her Eeveelution! Sylveon honestly just seems like a really great choice for her. Cinderella, much like Ariel, would be a very kind trainer to her Pokémon. In fact, we’re not even sure that Cinderella would actually battle her Pokémon; she seems a lot more like the type to enter them in contests and just show them off.
She’d be a bit of a Pokémon pageant mom!
We have to say that the artwork on this one is especially nice, and there’s just something that makes us feel happy about this. And Cinderella’s dress just looks really good. This is a crossover we never knew we needed.
Art by Zhivagooo.
19 Come On, Grab Your Friends
There are few cartoons that are every bit as wacky and off-the-wall as Adventure Time. Following the journeys of Finn and Jake as they protect the land of Ooo, this cartoon became an instant classic among people of all ages.
If there is one thing that could make the show even better, it would be the addition of Pokémon. Knowing how each of the characters behave, we have to give props to the artist for taking that idea and delivering. What makes this artwork so great is that each character has Pokémon that fit their personality. On top of that, some of the side characters have been mixed with these designs. We especially love Jake as Pikachu and Gunter as Piplup.
Art by Chrisj-alejo.
18 Growlithe, The Big Red Dog
One of the most popular shows for kids in the 90s was Clifford, the Big Red Dog. It tells the story of a girl named Emily Elizabeth, who adopts a puppy who just so happens to grow into the largest canine in the world.
From there, it proceeds how you might expect, including other dogs and humans.
This artwork imagines how Emily Elizabeth’s life would be different in she lived in the Pokémon world. Instead of a regular dog, she would have a Growlithe, who would presumably grow into a massive Arcanine in no time at all. Her life wouldn’t be that different, but she would likely have to keep fire extinguishers on hand. The thought of a building-sized Arcanine is actually pretty terrifying.
Art by EmilyElizabethFan98.
17 A “Courageous” Adjustment
Disney and Pixar’s Brave was a hit among fans when it came out. Telling the story of a girl and her mother in a land that had been unexplored by the company since then. Incorporating themes of evil bears, magic, and understanding responsibility as a mother and a daughter, there’s a lot to love.
As if Merida’s life weren’t already complicated enough, her brothers would be swapped out with a bunch of Teddiursas if she were to travel to the Pokémon world. Her brothers have already proven to be quite a handful, but if they had the same abilities as a Teddiursa (and, heaven forbid, an Ursaring), the royal family would certainly be in a lot of trouble. That said, this artwork is extremely adorable and worth the view.
16 Who Lives With SpongeBob Under The Sea?
Nickelodeon’s flagship cartoon has been SpongeBob SquarePants since 1999. Following the adventures of SpongeBob as he works at the Krusty Krab and interacts with his friends, it was a gold mine for the company. After a brief downturn in quality, the series has reportedly improved and is back on top of kids’ TV.
How could Nickelodeon make it better?
The best way to do this, obviously, would be to have a crossover with Pokémon. It’s a bit difficult to pinpoint which creature SpongeBob would choose as his partner, but this artwork makes a solid case for Corphish. Not only would it hearken to his job at the Krusty Krab, but there’s no denying that SpongeBob would love having the crab Pokémon in his pineapple home.
Art by Topdylan.
15 Get Ready To Rumble
Not many people remember the show, Mucha Lucha. It was every bit as stylistic as you might expect, seeing little luchadors as they dealt with being in school. The main character, Rikochet, got into a lot of trouble with his two friends, Buena Girl and the Flea, as they learned how to be great luchadors while keeping up with their studies.
Of course, seeing Rikochet have a Pokémon feels so right, and there’s a clearly obvious choice here: Hawlucha. The only Pokémon based on a luchador, Hawlucha’s design would lend itself perfectly to the world of Mucha Lucha and fit right in. If this Pokémon were introduced on the show, it’s likely that nobody would’ve been able to tell the difference. Hawlucha and Rikochet are a match made in heaven.
Art by TheRScrooge.
14 Good Grief
One of the oldest characters on this list is Charlie Brown. When he and the rest of his friends became a TV show, the Peanuts roster was suddenly an instant classic. Try to think of one Christmas where you and your family didn’t watch A Charlie Brown Christmas. There’s something about that underdog of a young boy and his trusty dog that is still captivating hearts to this day.
Naturally, Charlie Brown is well-suited to be an underdog Pokémon trainer as well.
And what better underdog to represent than Ash Ketchum? This art gives Charlie his own trainer getup reminiscent of the anime’s protagonist, and Snoopy is decked out as the electric mouse, Pikachu. To make things even better, Snoopy already has a hard time obeying Charlie Brown’s orders, so it makes sense he’d be a Pokémon to never go in its Poké Ball.
13 Blind And Powerful
Toph Beifong is the greatest Earthbender who ever lived. After doing the impossible and learning how to bend metal, the entire world grew to respect her efforts. Not only did she teach countless others her art, she did so in her rough and sarcastic way. Later on, she would become a legend to all who had heard of her.
When creating her Pokémon team, it was important that it be comprised of something tough and unmovable, just like her. That’s why her team is primarily composed of rock-type Pokémon (the big scary Pokémon are also quite fitting of her small yet powerful demeanor). She could fight alongside them with ease. The added touch of Lairon is also a nice nod to the fact that she was the first metalbender.
Art by jmascia.
12 Trapped For 1000 Years
Philip J. Fry’s life was forever changed when he was stuck in a cooler for 1000 years. When he awoke, everyone he ever knew was gone and he had to learn how to live in the world of tomorrow. Despite enjoying this second chance at life, Fry sometimes misses the relationships he had back in the year 2000, and he longs to show his new friends the commodities he had hundreds of years in the past.
To play around with the fact that Fry is a living relic, he’s given Pokémon like Cofagrigus and Beheeyem, which are relics in and of themselves.
Some other choices, like Meganium and Krookodile, don’t quite make sense (we’re not getting the connection there), but it’s still a decent look at how Futurama would adjust if Pokémon were introduced.
Art by Darthraner83.
11 The Darkest Night
The tale of Sleeping Beauty is a classic one that has one of the most memorable villains in Disney history: Maleficent. This dark witch had the benefit of being purely evil and terrifying. She was best-known for turning into a dragon near the end of the movie to destroy the prince. However, she was defeated at the end of the day.
If such a dark villain were given a Pokémon team, it would certainly be a powerful roster. We like the touch of the Honchkrow over her staff, but it’s the Charizard, Hypno, and Sableye that really sell the look. Maleficent would play to her strengths and personality, and having Ghost, Psychic, Dark, and Fire Pokémon, fit the bill. Imagine if she had this in the Maleficent movie.
10 The Ice Queen
While we’ve seen a few Disney princesses here already, this is the first one that we probably wouldn’t want to encounter in the wild. Pokémon trainer Elsa is just something else. It’s made doubly scary since she’s got powers of her own, so there’s probably a strong chance that she’ll sic both her Pokémon and her own powers on you if you treat her wrong. She seems to have a bit of an understanding with Articuno, as they probably relate to each other due to the ice thing.
Both of them can blast some ice at you!
Hopefully Prince Hans watches his back and doesn’t try messing with Anna again, lest he run into Elsa and her legendary bird.
Art by Sa-Dui.
9 We Are The Crystal Trainers
After Rebecca Sugar bowed out of working on Adventure Time, she later put together her own show, Steven Universe. It stars the main character of the same name, who is the son of a legendary warrior who gave her life for his. It’s up to Steven to work with his mom’s comrades to not only protect the world but to stop the evil Gems from taking it over.
What Steven Universe does well is give each of its characters a distinct personality, and the artist of this piece understood that. Each character has a Pokémon that is suited to their own likes. We could easily see Steven with a Cleffa on his head just as easily as Peridot having a Reuniclus. We never even realized how perfect Gallade and Pearl would fit together until this picture.
Art by Quarbie.
8 Sailing The Seven Seas
The newest Disney princess to join the roster is Moana. Starring in a movie of the same name, Moana was a strong-willed character who was the daughter of a chief on a struggling island. She goes off on a journey in the ocean to work with the demigod, Maui, as they bring peace to the world and prosperity back to her home.
Being entirely based on sailing and exploring, Moana needs a Pokémon team that reflects that.
Lapras and Mantine are perfect fits in her roster with this in mind, and Golduck has such a cool personality that melds with hers perfectly. The final touch that makes her stand out is that she has a little Tepig to represent Pua the pig. If only she had a Pokémon in place of Heihei.
Art by Tails19950.
7 Serenade The Woods
There are a lot of magical characters in Adventure Time, and none of them quite like Huntress Wizard. As opposed to a fat wizard with robes and a crown, Huntress Wizard is active and powerful. What makes her different is that she uses her magic in tandem with her parkour and bow-shooting skills. She also is putting together a budding relationship with Finn the human.
If she were to have a Pokémon partner at her side, there are a few choices that would fit, but Decidueye is obviously the best choice. A grass and ghost owl that is also an archer is a perfect mirror of Huntress Wizard. We could easily see them leaping through the treetops looking for a new monster to take down. It would also give her someone to listen when she played music.
Art by Theyahid.
6 The Last Airbender
Aang had it rough. After being told he was the Avatar at a young age, his life was changed upside down. He ran away from home, got caught in a storm, and managed to put himself in cryo-sleep for 100 years. When he awoke, everything he knew was gone. The Air Nation had been destroyed, and it was up to him to take down the now in-control Fire Nation by mastering all four elements.
Being a free spirit who often takes to the skies, Aang would need a Pokémon who represented that as well.
It’s hard to argue against Emolga, a Pokémon based on a sugar glider. Not only could we see it gliding alongside Aang, but its cute demeanor would meld perfectly with the Avatar’s kind and gentle spirit.
5 Getting Ahead Of The Game
The Mystery Shack is, by far, the most fascinating piece of Gravity Falls. Not only does it have all kinds of weird creatures to look at (which are clearly fake), but it also has some of the strangest people ever known to the world. The head of the Mystery Shack is Stanley Pines, who is focused on scamming people to get away with as much money as possible.
If Pokémon made the jump to Gravity Falls, there is an obvious choice for Stanley: Meowth. Being a Pokémon who can create a charm that’s worth a lot of money, it would be a great friend to the head of the Mystery Shack. While there would be moments where his ethics would be questioned, the two would probably form some sort of symbiotic relationship.
Art by Infusions.
