10 Hilarious Pokémon Trainer Sprites You Need To See

TheGamer

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10 Hilarious Pokémon Trainer Sprites You Need To See

The early Pokémon games were full of interesting art, and some of these trainer sprites are just hilarious. From the original Ken Sugimori art for Red and Blue (or Green) to today's graphics, Pokémon's art style has always been distinctive. The newer art style is cuter and sleeker, while the original aesthetic had a bit more character. It felt less afraid to be unique. It felt less sterile. Its adventurousness led to exaggerated designs. Sometimes it worked out, like Lance's cool design in Generation 1 and 2. Sometimes it didn't. We all know about the weirder original Pokémon designs, but some of the trainer sprites, especially the earliest generations, are hilarious or downright odd. THEGAMER VIDEO OF THE DAY

Burglar Pokémon Red Blue Yellow

This fella right here in the , with his too-cool-for-school sunglasses inside and a bagful of nabbed goodies, walked right in and took whatever he wanted from its burned remains. Considering the Fire-type Pokémon the Burglar trainers have, maybe they moonlight as arsonists. He looks more than a little happy to be robbing the ruins blind. Something made this his best day ever. Look at that face. You can hardly be mad at him for stealing.

Channeler FireRed LeafGreen

Most of this sprite is fine, but those eyes. Man, those eyes. It's hard to tell which part of them is worse -- the stark white sclera or the demonic red pupils locked on the player's trainer. The pixels clearly define her left eye as a square too. It looks so out of place, like her face was made with . Her mouth's open too. It's easy (and hilarious) to imagine her shrieking during the entire battle while she waves that stick around.

Cue Ball Red Blue Yellow

This guy's long been the subject of forum speculation. What's that on his belt? We hope it's a belt buckle. But it sure looks like an upside-down Bellsprout. And that's not where a Bellsprout should be at all, no no. In reality, it's probably a cow skull, but the limited amount of pixels makes it a little difficult to see the curled horns. The Pokémon Yellow color scheme doesn't help things either. This is also one of those early trainer sprites that displays a whip, presumably used to discipline and train Pokémon. The Pokémon world was a much harsher place in the first generation.

Team Rocket Red Blue

Another one of the old trainer sprites that wields a whip, but it makes much more sense of Team Rocket. These are supposed to be the bad guys. It makes sense that they'd abuse their Pokémon to make them do their bidding. This guy though, he looks like some 1990s version of Mettaton's "Oh no he's hot!" form in Undertale. Who needs more than one Pokémon when you have legs like that?

Lt Surge Red Blue Yellow

What is going on with this sprite? Is Lt. Surge sitting like that the entire fight? He looks like he got caught doing something he wasn't supposed to. Whatever it was, it was probably embarrassing. He looks mad. Lt. Surge served in a war, came back to be a gym leader and spends the entire time battling in a "You kids get off my lawn!" pose. That can't be good for his back. You're no spring chicken anymore, Lt. Surge. You're an aging veteran. Stand up before you get stuck down there.

Scientist Red Blue Yellow

This sprite is the same across the first generation but looks even funnier in Yellow due to the sickeningly Simpsons-esque coloring. He looks like he has jaundice. Like, he's legitimately ill. He should not be Pokémon battling. Someone get this man to a hospital. Does Cinnabar Island even have a hospital? We could explain the belt buckle on Cue Ball, but it's harder to do so for this banana-colored nerd. That's presumably the back of his lab coat, but it looks like something is hanging down in front.

Swimmer Red Blue Yellow

With his swimming cap and Speedo, this guy is serious about his swimming. Except he doesn't look like he's swimming at all. With his arms up like that, he looks like he's about to get down right there. Stop the Pokémon battle. It's time to boogie. Please don't ask where he's keeping his Pokéballs. Please don't ask. You don't want to know, we don't want to know. No one needs to know. Our lives are better off without thinking about it.

Firebreather HeartGold SoulSilver

This guy looks like he should be hosting Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Seriously. This is basically Guy Fieri, The Pokémon Trainer. With his shirt unbuttoned and literally fire fit, this is one of the funniest trainer sprites. It's just so ridiculous to think that this is an actual person in the Pokémon universe. Also, if he can breathe fire, why's he even bothering with Pokémon? Breathing fire would probably settle most disputes for him. Then he wouldn't have to worry about losing half his money to a ten-year-old child.

Medium Gold Silver

What even? This poor woman. Being a medium is not worth it if it tortures you like this. This woman looks like she's in pain. Everything about this sprite is hilarious. The goofy, dopey around her with their big mouths. Her contorted, too-large hands. Her eyes pointing in different directions. And that mouth. That terrifying mouth that opens not to darkness, but pure stark white, or either directly to the white background behind her. Who knows which one is true, or funnier to think about.

Twins Gold Silver

When you're playing a game, it's sometimes easy to forget that you are playing as a child. It's sometimes easy to forget that you are often battling other children. Usually, they're Bug Catchers or Youngsters, but those still seem like cognizant, middle-school kids maybe. Not these Twins from Gold and Silver. There's no question about it here. You are about to battle two literal toddlers and rob them of half their money. Look at the twin on the right. She's not even smiling like her sister. Her contorted mouth looks like she is about to vomit. She knows what's coming. It's pain. And a much lighter wallet.