I think that both old and new Pokemon all look fantastic, but I feel that the shape of the eyes is a huge part of why people say that new Pokemon "don't look like Pokemon."
This is a good way to structure a conversation about art, btw.
When people are expressing preferences about something (like old vs. new) you first need to establish what the difference between old and new actually is. So many conversations about Pokemon for example devolve because people don't adequately describe the differences that their preference is based on which opens you up to the old, "There are crappy pokemon in the old games too!"
For me a big difference is that there is a much lower inclusion of "monsters" as a design element. Monsters in the kaijuu sense, so not inherently "scary" but often intimidating and aggressive looking.
And the "monster" design element has been largely replaced by anthropomorphic elements. There were anthropomorphic elements in the old games but they largely represented the weaker designs (jynx, mr. mime, etc).
The prototypical 'old' pokemon design was to start with a creature that was "cute" that would then evolve slowly into a "monster". Currently they tend to start with a creature that is "cute" but then it turns into an anthropomorphic thing. Easy starter example:
Charmander is cute, evolves into Charizard which is a monster
Fennekin is cute, evolves into a fox-lady wearing pants.
To fit the most common formula of the old games a Fennekin would have to evolve into a pokemon that was aggressive or intimidating. That's not to say 'elegance' isn't used as a design motif but it would have to be an elegant creature (i.e. Articuno) not an elegant humanoid. That is the largest difference in old vs. new designs to me and I think eye shape is a facet of that to be sure.
Now from there I personally prefer the 'monster' designs to the 'humanoid' designs. You might disagree or like both equally.
tl;dr There are fewer 'monsters' and more 'humanoids' in the new art
zdwolf on April 11st, 2017 at 04:44 UTC »
Old Pokémon eyes were thuggin. New Pokémon eyes r softies
GMJizzy on April 11st, 2017 at 04:47 UTC »
PSBattle, Put the old Pokémon eyes on the New Pokémon
-Swade- on April 11st, 2017 at 09:11 UTC »
This is a good way to structure a conversation about art, btw.
When people are expressing preferences about something (like old vs. new) you first need to establish what the difference between old and new actually is. So many conversations about Pokemon for example devolve because people don't adequately describe the differences that their preference is based on which opens you up to the old, "There are crappy pokemon in the old games too!"
For me a big difference is that there is a much lower inclusion of "monsters" as a design element. Monsters in the kaijuu sense, so not inherently "scary" but often intimidating and aggressive looking.
And the "monster" design element has been largely replaced by anthropomorphic elements. There were anthropomorphic elements in the old games but they largely represented the weaker designs (jynx, mr. mime, etc).
The prototypical 'old' pokemon design was to start with a creature that was "cute" that would then evolve slowly into a "monster". Currently they tend to start with a creature that is "cute" but then it turns into an anthropomorphic thing. Easy starter example:
Charmander is cute, evolves into Charizard which is a monster
Fennekin is cute, evolves into a fox-lady wearing pants.
To fit the most common formula of the old games a Fennekin would have to evolve into a pokemon that was aggressive or intimidating. That's not to say 'elegance' isn't used as a design motif but it would have to be an elegant creature (i.e. Articuno) not an elegant humanoid. That is the largest difference in old vs. new designs to me and I think eye shape is a facet of that to be sure.
Now from there I personally prefer the 'monster' designs to the 'humanoid' designs. You might disagree or like both equally.
tl;dr There are fewer 'monsters' and more 'humanoids' in the new art