koikatsumoemon

[Route 114] Territory Wars (Patreon)

Published:

2020-06-16 19:12:16

Imported:

2021-01

Content

Zangoose & Seviper are here!

I'm really excited how these two came out. With a project this large, gathering inspiration for any random set can be difficult, particularly if I don't connect with how a certain pixel artist interprets and draws up a Moemon. Sometimes it's obvious, but oftentimes it isn't, and when working with pixels, there's not a lot of room for creativity, especially when these Moemon sprites have to be limited to a certain number of colors for the game to display them.

So, as is usually the case, I'll work with what I have available and try to create a basic personality around whatever the artist envisioned for them. Sometimes that inspiration fails, or doesn't fully translate. This, in combination with the limitations of KK itself, make producing over 800 Moemon rather difficult, time consuming, and sometimes leaves me unsatisfied with how they come out.

This, however, is not one of those times. Not only are the sprites well-representative of what the artist(s) had in mind, but it also gives creative inspiration to fill in some of the gaps in-between. This by no way means that these are somehow the "best" I've ever done, but the EASE at which I was able to design them, as well as the fun had in making their outfits, etc, were really, really satisfactory.

I wish I had even more time to devote to them, but these are two I definitely want to explore with in the future.

Anyways.. Zangoose is our first example. Her sprite depicts her almost Ninja-like, with claws and loose-fitting pants (which aren't particularly available in KK). But, the thing that stood out was the red marking around her chest area - I wonder, what exactly was that? After looking at the original design, Zangoose does have unique red patterns across its body, but the design on the sprite almost made it look like a ribbon. Was it a ninja garb, or a school girl outfit? Well, why not both?

So you throw those two together - Ninja + Schoolgirl and immediately Senran Kagura came to mind, as well as a few other anime that involves highschool and battlegirls (so like, 90% of them). Regardless, that's where Zangoose's main outfit came from - her secondary is an altered version, and her actual schoolgirl outfit is an extension of that.

But for her actual design, her mismatched hair gave me an immediate Harley Quinn vibe, which allowed me to give her a more menacing, psychotic appearance. Removing eye highlights, darkening the sclera (I almost went with an all-reddish-pink sclera, but it was too spooky), and a general angry expression just fit too well.

Of course, one other thing that stood out, was Zangoose's Pokedex entries:

Ruby - Memories of battling its arch-rival Seviper are etched into every cell of Zangoose's body. This Pokémon adroitly dodges attacks with incredible agility.

Sapphire - Zangoose usually stays on all fours, but when angered, it gets up on its hind legs and extends its claws. This Pokémon shares a bitter rivalry with Seviper that dates back over generations.

Compare, as well, with Seviper's:

Ruby - Seviper shares a generations-long feud with Zangoose. The scars on its body are evidence of vicious battles. This Pokémon attacks using its sword-edged tail.

Sapphire - Seviper's swordlike tail serves two purposes - it slashes foes and douses them with secreted poison. This Pokémon will not give up its long-running blood feud with Zangoose.

This, of course, is all well known if you've ever played the games or watched the anime. Zangoose/Seviper are not just bitter enemies, but they are meant for each other. Which allows for a hell of a lot of interpretation.

The contrast of light/dark has always been fascinating, and it was apparent with the artist's decision to make Zangoose light skinned and Seviper dark; black/white, darkness/light yin/yang, those have always been popular contrasting forces in nearly every civilization.

As with Zangoose, Seviper's overall design flowed out similarly, though hers took a more regal/tribal route. To emphasis this blood-fued between them, they both carry scars on their body. Zangoose's right eye is scarred from where Seviper slashed her with her spear, and Seviper bares claw marks on her body from where Zangoose wounded her.

But even though they are bitter enemies, I like to imagine they cannot live with out each other, and that leaves some room for a potential bond or love interest.

After all, both Seviper and Zangoose are in the Field Egg Group, meaning that even in the game, they can breed - and it's one of a few ways to produce a Zangoose, a Normal-Type, who knows Night Slash, a Dark-Type move.

Gamefreak knew what they were doing.

It's canon.