Fan theories, Creepypasta, and more
The world of Pokémon is a strange place. There are so many questions that are purposely left unanswered. What type of meat do humans eat if all the animals are Pokémon, but Pokémon are supposed to be their friends? How come the pro-tagonist of the game always has an absent father? Why do adults leave important tasks like saving the world to 10-year-old children?
No one’s sure if there’s an answer to these questions, but still fans try to figure them out.
Here are some of the spookiest theories about Pokémon.
The Lavender Town background music from Pokémon Red and Green caused child suicides
This belief stems from a Creepypasta story (sort of an online urban legend) that details children’s apparent compulsion to hurt themselves after hearing the unsettling background music that played when the player entered Lavender Town. Lavender Town is home to Pokémon Tower, a burial site for beloved Pokémon companions, which only adds to the atmosphere.
Fans theorized that the song was laced with deadly frequencies, but this has not been scientifically proven. There is no evidence that there was actually an increase in suicides when the game was released.
Voltorb is a Haunter that’s been trapped inside a Pokéball
The idea is that the ghost-type Haunter Pokémon possessed an inanimate Pokéball and got stuck inside it. If you compare the eyes of a Voltorb and Haunter, they are indeed similarly shaped.
Cubone are the orphans of Kangaskhan
One of the most compelling fan theories is that Cubone is an orphaned Kangaskhan. The baby Kangaskhan seen in the adult’s pouch bears a shocking resem-blance to Cubone, except for the skull that Cubone wears on its face.
The explanation for the skull? The Pokémon Crystal Pokédex entry says, “It lost its mother after its birth. It wears its mother’s skull, never revealing its true face.”
Ghost Pokémon are born from the souls of other Pokémon
Normally, Pokémon faint when they lose a battle, and are taken to a nearby Pokémon Centre to heal. There’s never been an official explanation of how Pokémon actually die, but ghost Pokémon are always found in the wild near graveyards.
Moreover, Pokédex entries for ghost-type Pokémon are pretty disturbing. These aren’t exactly urban legends — they’re considered facts since they’re written in the official Pokédex, but there is debate among fans over whether Pokédex entries are meant to represent scientific research conducted by the Pokémon profes-sors, or if they’re random theories devised by the 10-year-old chil-dren that the professors employ.
Here are some of the creepiest:
Banette: “A doll that became a Pokémon over its grudge from being junked. It seeks the child that disowned it.” (Pokémon Black/White)
Yamask: Each of them carries a mask that used to be its face when it was human. Sometimes they look at it and cry.” (Pokémon Y)
Lampent: “The spirits it absorbs fuel its baleful fire. It hangs around hospitals waiting for people to pass on.” (Pokémon Omega Ruby)
Phantump: “According to old tales, these Pokémon are stumps possessed by the spirits of chil-dren who died while lost in the forest.” (Pokémon Alpha Sapphire)
Froslass: “The soul of a woman lost on a snowy mountain pos-sessed an icicle, becoming this Pokémon. The food it most relishes is the souls of men.” (Pokémon Moon)
Mimikyu: “Its actual appear-ance is unknown. A scholar who saw what was under i0ts rag was overwhelmed by terror and died from the shock.” (Pokémon Sun)
Image by Karen K. Tran/The Ontarion