Do you know that a number of of the Mega Evolutions in Pokémon have some component of the letters “X” or “Y” of their designs? It’s true! Whereas they don’t actually seem like the letters generally, some facets of their designs resemble the names of the 3DS Pokémon video games they initially debuted in again in 2013. When one Pokémon pixel artist and commentator known as TAHK0 pointed this out on X, he was bombarded with hateful responses. The place some folks would retreat and attempt to ignore the harassment, TAHK0 as a substitute made a two-and-a-half-hour-long video breaking down how nearly each one among these superpowered transformations has some a part of their design that’s primarily based on “X” and “Y.” If that’s not dedication, then I don’t know what’s.
it has been over 15 years and pokemon followers and fakemon artists have but to catch on that just about all mega pokemon up thus far have been formed like an x or a y
will this proceed to go unnoticed when new mega pokemon begin turning into z formed keep tuned
— TAHK0 ☕️ (@TAHK0) February 20, 2025
In an interview with Kotaku, TAHK0 says he didn’t anticipate this commentary to be as controversial because it was, and that by the point he realized folks had been mad about it, he’d already spent a while joking with detractors.
“It was similar to another throwaway half-joking over-exaggerated tweet I wrote after waking up, and I solely realized issues had been going unsuitable after about an hour afterward when issues began taking off,” he says. “I had thought after pointing it out, it could be clear to everybody, so I used to be initially replying with jokey solutions since I assumed they’d be in on it like an upside-down Mega Camerupt— However everybody was taking it very critically and had been very indignant. That’s once I knew it was uncontrolled.”
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A number of of the arguments, as TAHK0 factors out in his video, appear to be rooted within the assumption that this design motif signifies that Pokémon should actually be formed like an X or Y–assume a letter puppet from Sesame Road–whereas others pointed to particular photographs of the Pokémon in query wherein this high quality is de-emphasized in an effort to “debunk” the idea, somewhat than wanting on the Pokemon’s design as a complete. However TAHK0 is right. Generally it’s greatest seen when viewing a Pokémon from the entrance, somewhat than the aspect as some paintings depicts them. Within the video, TAHK0 factors to the Aphantasia Check, which illustrates how folks’s skills to think about objects of their thoughts range, and for some, taking a look at a bit of artwork which, out of necessity, depicts an object (or, on this case, a Pokémon) from a selected angle could make it troublesome to ascertain the way it appears to be like from all angles, leading to a number of the disagreements folks have had with this idea on-line. The important thing to an entire takedown is anticipating all of the bad-faith arguments somebody goes to make, in addition to the trustworthy misunderstandings some could have, and as somebody who has much less persistence than he used to for folks willfully misinterpreting the issues I say, I gotta hand it to TAHK0 for addressing nearly each argument in good spirits.
The video goes by means of all of the Mega Evolutions that had been revealed previous to Legends: Z-A’s launch, and likewise breaks down lore parts like how Mega Evolution originates from X and Y mascots Xerneas and Yveltal, who’re distinctly and deliberately formed like their respective letters. Some monsters, like Metagross with its 4 arms or Absol with the wings on its again, are very clearly formed like an X or Y, whereas others, like Sableye, have a hidden component of their character design that references letters. Watching the video was fascinating for me, as somebody who was largely keen to purchase the idea, however hadn’t stopped to take a look at each Mega Evolution to confirm. Some I hadn’t even thought-about caught me off guard.
TAHK0 says he felt “discouraged” after the preliminary pushback, however as new Megas from the then-unreleased Pokémon Legends: Z-A had been revealed, like Mega Dragonite and Mega Malamar, which each have fairly noticeable Y silhouettes, he felt extra emboldened that it wasn’t all, as some detractors stated, a “large coincidence.”
“After the tweet left my viewers, I keep in mind addressing most arguments fairly early on, nevertheless it received such a viral response that I couldn’t sustain with answering everybody, and never everybody would see my responses to others, so then their responses began being about how I wasn’t responding to something,” he says. “My very own preliminary jokes had been being taken critically, so being light-hearted wasn’t the play, and any disagreement on my half was taken as me having my head up my very own butt. So responding to each attainable argument I might, whereas being light-hearted to verify this time it was clear it’s not that severe, appeared like the one method I might ‘get out alive,’ so to talk. Individuals had been initially far more fast to imagine a assured argument towards me than something I might reply with, which sadly is how the web has labored for a very long time now.”
Whereas TAHK0 was engaged on his feature-length response for his YouTube channel, maybe the largest piece of proof within the Pokedex was revealed: Mega Raichu X and Y. These long-overdue Mega types for the ultimate stage of Pikachu’s evolutionary line are set to hitch Legends: Z-A within the RPG’s Mega Dimension DLC, and their very apparent “X” and “Y” silhouettes have basically been the silver bullet for the entire dialogue, and TAHK0 notes that the onslaught of jokes at his expense on unrelated posts and content material have “vanished” in a single day.
“When Mega Raichu X and Y had been introduced, I keep in mind being so excited whereas concurrently so relieved with how apparent and clear they made [the X and Y shapes],” TAHK0 says. “If you happen to return and watch my response, I really couldn’t type a sentence. It was quite a bit all of sudden after coping with a not-so-good time for eight months. Additionally, Pikachu is my favourite Pokémon, so it was fairly becoming.”
TAHK0 says his breakdown of each particular person Mega Evolution has modified some minds, and that he generally will get a pleasant remark from randos saying they’re now “a believer.” Now that Legends: Z-A is out and introduced with it a number of new Mega Evolutions, it appears to be like like Recreation Freak isn’t holding as tightly to the design motif, although Dragonite, Raichu, and others do preserve that spirit alive. The sport even goes out of its method to present that Mega Zygarde, one of many final Mega types the participant receives in Legends: Z-A, has a definite X, Y, and Z on the cannon it holds after it transforms. So if X and Y set the stage for this design motif, Legends: Z-A is driving it dwelling. Will these apparent examples be sufficient for many who are nonetheless digging their heels into the bottom over it? Possibly not. However within the meantime, TAHK0 says he’s open to “non-threatening” dialogue and disagreements. Particularly with no less than a number of extra Mega Evolutions nonetheless on the way in which when Mega Dimension launches.
“Clearly, now I would like they keep on with the letter theming, however I’m fairly detached,” he says. “I’m an enormous fan of creator’s intent, so [new Megas] may very well be whatever-themed and I’d nonetheless be excited. Studying about their design and lore choices is the enjoyable half for me.”
