In the vast Pokémon world, there are a lot of extraordinary and unique regions. However, there’s no place quite as special as Unova (also known as Teselia in Latin American countries).
Pokémon Blog had the privilege of having an in-depth conversation with the Dream Team of Ilustradoras Unidas, formed by our dear friends and talented artists: Costanza (C.a.cosas/An Ordinary Frög), Karen (chibichubi_), Francisca (Sheiklei), Camilla (Kitara), Bakustrider, and Achy_, about the process of putting together the fifth generation of Pokédex Ilustrada, published on September 26th, 2024.
A total of 166 artists participated in this generation’s Pokédex Ilustrada.
In general terms, the Ilustradoras Unidas team described the process as one focused on research: “We played the games, watched videos, studied the Wikidex, and discussed the lore among ourselves.”
According to the members of Ilustradoras Unidas, one of the biggest challenges during the process was integrating elements of the lore into this Pokédex, as some participants weren’t familiar with the lore because they hadn’t played the games yet. However, they still managed to include those elements in the postcards, by referencing pages from Wikidex and helping everyone who needed assistance.
Speaking of the lore, Karen finds it fascinating how the Legendary Pokémon are tied to abstract concepts about human behavior, rather than simple natural deities like in previous generations. This influenced the Pokédex by emphasizing Zekrom and Reshiram, representing the essence of this generation’s Pokémon.
Achy and Kitara consider the concepts of Truth and Ideals to be very complex, and they admire how these themes were implemented through the Pokémon designs and the storyline in the games.
“In the Pokédex, we tried to play with this concept through the use of black and white, and by exploring the balance between the two,” Achy said.
Kitara added that she believes this conceptualization represents the graphical essence of the fifth generation of Pokédex Ilustrada.
Meanwhile, Baku told the Pokémon Blog Team that “it was a mature topic to delve into” and they took an easy and visual approach with the Pokédex than in the games.
“It is an interesting dichotomy, as the narrative of the game invites you to question two visions that seem to be opposites but can find balance,” Constanza shared. “It was a concept that we discussed implementing since it is an important part of the game, and finally, we decided to incorporate it into the aesthetics and a postcard.”
Another element of the games represented through a postcard was the customization of the seasons, and it was perfectly linked through Sawsbuck.
This unique feature of Pokémon Black and Pokémon White was also suggested to the artists for inclusion.
They have a high opinion of the Pokémon designs introduced in this generation and all agree on the creativity displayed in them.
“It’s a very unique generation,” Achy expressed.
Baku shared the same sentiment: “I think it was very drastic for the fans. Everyone was used to a very defined style until Sinnoh. But I don’t think they can complain when we have designs like Voltorb vs. Lampent.”
“I consider the designs very interesting and striking. There are very iconic Pokémon; they are unique and very typical of this generation, like Garbodor, for example, or Chandelure,” Constanza added.
A notable thing when you check this generation of Pokédex ilustrada is how iconic and beloved N is among Pokémon fans.
“Many artists integrated him and made a nod to this great character in their illustrations. I’m glad to see him in them,” Achy disclosed.
“How could we not include N in this Pokédex through a postcard? The fifth generation without N is not the fifth generation” Baku affirmed. “I consider N the most memorable part of the games, after the Driftveil City and Accumula Town theme songs.”
“N is the main antagonist of the game, so much of the plot revolves around him and the conflict between ideals and truth, with which the player can identify, depending on the decisions they make. Therefore, it was important to give him his space on a postcard, considering how significant he is for the generation,” Karen continued.
There’s a consensus among the organizers of Pokédex Ilustrada about the soundtrack and the creative and unique Pokémon designs (with a great emphasis on Chandelure) being some of their favorite aspects of Unova.
“The music is so iconic that it sticks in your head,” Baku revealed. “I’m not saying that previous generations didn’t have great themes (Hello, Cynthia’s piano), but Unova has the greatest of them all.”
Karen also thinks Unova has the best music in the franchise, especially Driftveil City.
“Actually, both the setting and the soundtrack. As memorable as N is as a character, the music is so beloved and appreciated that many fans listen to it daily,” Kitara remarked.
And Constanza loved seeing the introduction of the first female Pokémon researcher with Professor Juniper and the battles against N (“I remember the nerves I felt when facing him”.)
Constanza told us that the fifth generation marks a precedent within the Pokémon franchise because, even though each game has its own history and importance, Unova is a generation you either love or hate.
“Unova marks a drastic change within the Pokémon franchise, and for this reason, I feel that it was not very well-liked when it was released,” Achy weighed in. “In my opinion, it’s a very interesting region to explore, and having such a great antagonist, it was a very entertaining story to develop.”
“Because it marks a before and after in terms of Pokémon and Pokémon character design. It’s like the litmus test to see if you continue here or go home (Game Freak, give me my Unova remake without chibis and being cheap!),” Baku said.
“Unova, in the beginning, was an underrated generation, since its designs were uncommon and the legendaries represented abstract concepts very different from past generations. However, over time, much of the community has accepted and agrees that it is one of the best generations and that it has gained more affection from the fans,” Karen explained.
“So much for the story, which is captivating, and Unova shows a slightly more mature plot. The designs are beautiful, and I know I already said it, but the music is awesome!” Kitara mentioned.
We asked them what their biggest learning experience was while organizing the Pokédex of this fifth generation, and their answers couldn’t be more inspiring.
For Achy, it’s being able to meet many more artists and share more experiences with them: “Since the fourth generation, I have been joining this small group little by little, and in the fifth generation, I was able to share and interact more with both the artists and the members who have made this project possible since the first generation. It was a very nice experience, and I’m happy to continue collaborating both on these Pokémon projects and on others the team wants to develop in the future.”
“I know too much about Pokémon for my own good. That’s why they contacted me in the first place,” Baku confessed.
Karen has learned a lot from this project, especially about the love people have for Pokémon, which has become more and more noticeable to her: “In this generation, I learned about the Gym Leaders, and it was very exciting—something I had overlooked. I now see their importance in the story.”
Kitara and Constanza agreed that they need to implement changes to the participation rules because people misread or don’t read them at all due to their length.
“Every generation, we have a new learning experience. The love for Pokémon is always lovely to see. The truth is that I learned a lot more about the lore since I had to do detailed research on the postcards. I’m very grateful to my partner, who, as a fan of this generation, has helped me a lot,” Constanza concluded.
You can see the three previous generations of Pokédex Ilustrada here:
Pokédex Ilustrada 1 Gen (Kanto)
Pokédex Ilustrada 2 Gen (Johto)
Pokédex Ilustrada 3 Gen (Hoenn)
Pokédex Ilustrada 4 Gen (Sinnoh)
You can see the entirety of the fifth generation of Pokédex Ilustrada here:
Pokédex Ilustrada 5 Gen (Unova)
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