All the Pokémon based on pandas, obvious and subtle
Pandas are a frequent inspiration for Pokémon, but fans may not realize just how many there actually are.
Despite their rarity, the panda is easily one of the most recognizable animals. These deeply symbolic animals are the crown jewel of zoos all over the world. Pokémon has always taken inspiration from real animals when designing new creatures to catch, and pandas are no exception. Here are three Pokémon with designs based on pandas.
Pancham and Pangoro are straightforward Pokemon pandas
While many Pokémon take inspiration from pandas, none of them do so as directly as Pancham. The Fighting-type Pokémon and its Dark evolution are the most direct equivalent to panda bears in the Pokémon world by a large margin. Pangoro is even more obvious as it gains cape-like fur and human hands.
Pancham sports black and white fur with separations at the neck and belly. They always have a leaf sticking out of their mouth. Pandas can eat over 80 pounds of bamboo in a single day, making it a clear reference. Pangoro’s leaf evolves into a full stalk, referencing their massive appetites. While this Pokémon has Dark and Fighting as types, real pandas are much less belligerent.
Spinda’s name makes it obvious, but there’s more
Spinda is a little less obvious than Pancham, but there are many connections between this eternally confused bear and the land mammal. The most obvious is the name “Spinda” itself. The name Spinda is clearly a combination of panda and spin, and the Pokémon’s appearance is just a dizzy panda bear.
Aside from that, Spinda is a pretty barebones Pokémon. Originally from Hoenn, the species’ gimmick is that each one features a unique combination of orange and cream splotches. This spot gimmick makes it even more like a panda. Pandas aren’t zebras with their unique stylings, but there are plenty of different fur patterns and styles present. They’re generally found in mountainous regions, which could be a reference to the panda’s natural habitat.
Stufful is an honorable mention for panda Pokemon
Stufful may not be directly based on the same kind of panda as Pancham and Spinda, but it still has a spot on this list. Many fans have theorized that Stufful’s design is based on a plush red panda. Though not related to actual pandas, red pandas have distinct circular facial markings. Stufful’s design sports this feature, linking the two species.
Stufful has a youthful vibe that also helps it resemble a young panda. It is also on all fours, which is how pandas primarily operate. When it evolves to Bewear, the Pokémon does become bipedal. However, many of the design elements, including the black base color, harken back to pandas in many ways. The white ears also play a role. It’s extremely subtle, but there are some definite references here.
Kubfu and Urshifu fit the bill
Kubfu and Urshifu are also very panda-esque. These are a little more abstract and convoluted than the others on this list, but the design elements are clearly referencing the Asian bear. The color schemes of black, white, and tan match real-world pandas, for one thing. That’s a very overt reference.
Kubfu looks like a tan panda with its ears, hands, and feet. When it evolves to Urshifu, it becomes much more fighting-inspired, but the colors get even closer to most pandas. It’s bipedal, but sometimes, pandas do stand up, and Pokémon loves making things bipedal even if the real-life inspiration is not.
Pawmi brings a new Panda Pokémon
Generation 9 introduced a new Pokémon to the list of panda or panda-adjacent Pokémon in Pawmi and its evolution line. It shares no colors with pandas, but it does have a similar design to Stufful, being on all fours at first and looking very much like a young panda.
As it evolves, it stands up, but Pawmi, Pawmo, and Pawmot still have panda-like ears and hands, perhaps even more so than Stufful and Bewear. The color scheme and type don’t exactly remind you of a panda, but when looking closer, the resemblance becomes clearer. Given the impact of pandas on East Asian culture, there are pandas all over Pokémon for those who look closely enough.
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