The Undeniable First: 5 Surprising Facts About The First Pokémon Ever Designed

Despite the common misconception that the starter Pokémon Bulbasaur or the franchise mascot Pikachu holds the title, the true first Pokémon ever designed is a much tougher, more imposing creature: Rhydon. As of December 17, 2025, the undisputed answer remains the rhino-like Ground/Rock-type, a fact confirmed by the franchise's primary designer, Ken Sugimori, decades ago. This foundational design choice reveals crucial insights into the original vision for the monster-catching game, a concept that began long before Pokémon Red and Green ever hit the shelves.

The story of Rhydon's creation is a fascinating deep dive into the early days of Game Freak, illustrating the evolution from the initial "Capsule Monsters" concept to the global phenomenon we know today. Understanding why Rhydon was chosen as the inaugural design helps us grasp the core aesthetic and mechanical ideas that defined the entire first generation of creatures.

The Visionaries: A Profile of Pokémon's Founding Designers

To truly appreciate the origin of the first Pokémon design, one must first understand the creators who brought the world of Pocket Monsters to life. The design process was spearheaded by two key figures: the creator of the concept and the main artist.

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• Satoshi Tajiri (Creator and Director)
  • Born: August 28, 1965, in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Role: Creator of the Pokémon franchise, Co-founder and President of Game Freak.
  • Inspiration: His childhood hobby of collecting insects, which led to the core concept of catching and trading creatures.
  • Key Title: Director of Pokémon Red and Green (Japan) and Red and Blue (International).
• Ken Sugimori (Lead Artist and Designer)
  • Born: January 27, 1966, in Tokyo, Japan.
  • Role: Primary character designer and illustrator for the first 151 Pokémon and the main Art Director for Game Freak.
  • Design Philosophy: Known for his unique art style that blended Western comic influences with traditional Japanese aesthetics, and a design technique he calls "keep the balance."
  • Key Title: Illustrator, Manga Artist, and Art Director.

Rhydon: The Undeniable First Pokémon Design

The confirmation that Rhydon (Pokédex #112) was the very first Pokémon ever conceptualized and drawn comes directly from Ken Sugimori. This fact is a cornerstone of Pokémon trivia and reveals the foundational ideas that guided the entire design process for the Kanto region.

The Rhino-Like Origin and Kaiju Influence

Rhydon's imposing, rhinoceros-like figure is no accident. Ken Sugimori, the main designer, was heavily influenced by his love of classic Japanese monster movies, known as kaiju (like Godzilla). Many of his early designs, including Rhydon, were brutish, powerful, and intimidating, reflecting this love for giant, powerful beasts.

Rhydon, along with its pre-evolution Rhyhorn, was one of the first creatures sketched during the project's earliest phase, back when it was still known as Capsule Monsters. The design features a powerful drill horn and a thick, protective hide, embodying the kind of formidable, battle-ready monster the developers envisioned.

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The Internal Index: Rhydon's Numerical Proof

While Rhydon is Pokédex entry #112 in the final released games, its status as the first design is cemented by the game's internal data. In the original programming for Pokémon Red and Green, the monsters were assigned an internal index number that tracked the order of their creation or programming.

The internal index list begins with Rhydon, which is internally labeled as #001. This suggests that Rhydon was the first creature to be fully coded and implemented into the game's system, predating even the final Pokédex starter, Bulbasaur, which occupies the internal slot #002. This internal data is considered the definitive proof of its priority in the development timeline.

Interestingly, the internal list originally contained 190 slots, suggesting that the development team had many more Pokémon planned for the first generation than the 151 that were ultimately released. This early development phase, where Rhydon was king, was crucial for establishing the game's core mechanics.

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Beyond Rhydon: The Nuances of the "First" Pokémon

The question of the "first Pokémon" is actually more complex than a single answer. Depending on the context—design, Pokédex order, or in-lore mythology—the answer changes, leading to endless fan debates and adding topical authority to the discussion.

1. The First Pokédex Entry: Bulbasaur (#001)

For most players, the first Pokémon is Bulbasaur, simply because it occupies the coveted #001 slot in the National Pokédex. This numbering was a deliberate choice by the development team to organize the final roster in a user-friendly way, grouping the starters and their evolutions together at the beginning, rather than reflecting the historical order of design.

2. The First in Lore: Arceus

In the official Pokémon mythology, the "first" Pokémon is Arceus, often referred to as "The Original One." Arceus is a Mythical Pokémon said to have emerged from an egg in a place where nothing existed and then shaped the entire Pokémon universe. While it was designed much later (Generation IV), its narrative role makes it the chronological first within the established lore.

3. The Contenders: Diglett and Caterpie

Two other Pokémon occasionally surface in the "first designed" debate, though their claims are weaker than Rhydon's:

• Diglett: According to designer Shigeki Morimoto, the concept for Diglett was based on a doodle he drew as a child. While the doodle predates the Pokémon project, Rhydon was the first fully realized monster created for the Capsule Monsters pitch.
• Caterpie: Some early accounts suggest that Satoshi Tajiri's first inspiration for a creature was Caterpie, based on his childhood fascination with catching insects. However, inspiration and final design are two different things, and the official record points to Rhydon as the first completed design.

The Legacy of Rhydon's Priority

Rhydon's status as the first Pokémon ever designed is a powerful testament to the original vision of the franchise. It was intended to be a strong, memorable creature that could stand as a mascot for the new game. This early focus on a powerful, earth-shaking monster set the tone for the entire Kanto region, which is filled with creatures inspired by real-world animals, mythology, and kaiju.

The fact that Rhydon’s design has remained largely unchanged since its inception speaks to the strength and timelessness of Ken Sugimori’s initial concept. It is a vital piece of history that connects the modern, expansive world of Pokémon back to its humble, rhinoceros-inspired beginnings at Game Freak.