What Was The First Pokemon

Okay, so picture this: it's 1998, you're glued to the TV, totally mesmerized by this electric yellow mouse zapping Team Rocket into oblivion. Pikachu! Everyone knew Pikachu. He was the face of the whole Pokemon craze. For years, you probably even thought, "Yeah, Pikachu, that's totally the first Pokemon, right?" Wrong! (And honestly, me too, for a while there. No shame!).

But this got me thinking. If it wasn't Pikachu, then who was it? What Pokemon held the honor of being the very first, the OG, the alpha and omega of pocket monsters?

Enter: Rhydon!

That's right! The first Pokemon ever designed was the rock/ground type, Rhydon. Who would have guessed, huh? Not some cute little critter destined for mascot fame, but a big, bulky rock rhino thing.

Mind. Blown.

Now, before you start frantically Googling "Is Rhydon Pikachu's dad?" (please don't), let's get into the nitty-gritty. While Pikachu became the global icon, it was Rhydon that came first in the development process. Ken Sugimori, the legendary artist behind the original 151, spearheaded the design, and Rhydon was his first creation.

So, what's so special about Rhydon being the first? Well, it’s not just about bragging rights. It’s baked into the very fabric of the Pokemon world. Check this out:

• Look closely. Rhydon's design is actually scattered throughout the games. Ever noticed those statues outside of gyms? They're based on Rhydon!
• Rhydon's Japanese name is "Saidon." Say it out loud. Sounds kinda like "Side-on," right? That's because Sugimori envisioned Rhydon as a sturdy, reliable Pokemon, always by your side.

See? The design choices, even the naming, all contribute to the lore and history of the games. Rhydon was setting the stage.

But Why Rhydon?

That's the million-dollar question! Why not a Charizard, or a Blastoise, or even... a Jigglypuff? (Okay, maybe not Jigglypuff first). It probably boils down to a few things. Rhydon's strong, dinosaur-like design could have been inspired by Sugimori's own childhood interests. He loved monster movies, so a prehistoric-looking creature might have been a natural starting point.

Plus, Rhydon is just... solid. Like, literally made of rocks. Maybe the design team wanted to start with something grounded and stable, before moving on to the more fanciful and elaborate designs. (Just a theory, of course!).

The First of Many

Think about it this way: Rhydon was the prototype. The blueprint. The original seed from which the entire Pokemon universe blossomed. He paved the way for all those other awesome monsters. Every electrifying Pikachu, every fiery Charizard, owes a little something to the rock rhino that started it all.

And you know what? That's pretty darn cool.

So, next time you're battling it out in the Indigo League (or just grinding XP in your living room), take a moment to appreciate Rhydon. He might not be the flashiest or the cutest, but he’s a legend. A first edition. A true Pokemon pioneer.

It’s funny, isn't it? How something so influential can be so easily overlooked. Kind of makes you think about other hidden gems in the world, right? Anyway, I’m going to go train my own Rhydon now. See ya!