Post by Keith Claymore on Feb 9, 2012 8:56:03 GMT -5
A Pokémorph is a popular term used among fans to describe two things; it is used as a term for either a character, usually a human, that has the ability to transform into one or more Pokémon, or an anthropomorphic Pokémon. It is assumed by several Pokémon fans and some non-fans who are aware of Pokémorphs that most, if not all, Pokémorphs of the anthropomorphic kind are either closely related to or are the Pokémon-based version of furries, which are fictional anthropomorphic animals that are part of the furry fandom subculture.
Pokémorph - I shudder as I write this, but it is a sacrifice I as an author am required to make. A Pokémorph is a creature that is a combination of a Pokémon and a human. It is essentially the Pokémon equivalent of a furry. (If you don't know what a furry is, consider yourself lucky.) Pokémorphs (and the stories that include them) are very popular in furry circles, and should be avoided at all costs.
However, contradicting the above "definition", the furry fandom does not generally see Pokémorphs as a part of their fandom, rather seeing Pokémorphs as an extension of the Pokémon fandom.
As a general rule, not all people with Pokémorph characters are furries. In point of fact, these people play such characters out of a kind of fandom for the video game they were based on. As such, unless a person with such a character says they are a furry, they should not be considered to be a furry. To them, it is more of an interest in the subject and fandom of the game which is thought of as separate from the furry fandom, although there are some with Pokémorph characters who are actually furries and also have separate furry characters. In some general consensus, the number of actual furs with such characters is low, though this is not confirmed and is subject to shifting even lower, or higher as time passes.
The simple naming scheme of a specific species of Pokémorph is adding the suffix, "-morph", to the name of a Pokémon species (e.g. "Pikachu-morph"). However, despite the basic descriptions above, Pokémorphs come in a variety of different forms, beyond being simply humans mixed with different species of Pokémon.
Most of these different types are based on the anthropomorphic meaning of Pokémorphs:
X"Human" Pokémorphs - Pokémorphs that look much like humans, but are still referred to as "morphs" due to that they are able to use a Pokémon's attacks or abilities. Rarely, they may also have some of a Pokémon's behaviours and instincts.
XPolymorphic Pokémorphs - As aforementioned, these Pokémorphs are usually humans who have the ability to transform into a Pokémon, mostly at will. They were usually based off of K. A. Applegate's Animorphs books.
XMoe anthropomorphic Pokémorphs, also known as "Gijinka Pokémon" - Anthropomorphic Pokémon that look mostly human, but contain moe qualities. Many of these Pokémorphs tend to look like humans in cosplay, though they often have some Pokémon features, such as tails, ears, fins, and wings.
XTaur Pokémorphs - Based off the centaurs of Greek mythology, these Pokémorphs have the upper body (head, arms, and torso) of a human, but the body (and, occasionally, the ears) of a Pokémon with a quadruped or other multi-legged body. Bipedal variations of these Pokémorphs are very rare.
XNaga Pokémorphs - Based off the nāgas of Hinduism and Buddhism, these Pokémorphs have some of the parts, especially the arms, of a human, but the body and appearances of a serpentine Pokémon, such as Arbok and Seviper.
XTraditional anthropomorphic Pokémorphs - Currently the most common form of Pokémorphs, they basically look like Pokémon with humanoid body forms. The Pikachu-morph character seen at the top of the article, Stunner Pikans, is an example of this type.
XCombiomorph - A rare kind of Pokémorph, combiomorphs were created by fan fiction writer, pikachuhunter1, in the fan fiction, Pokémon Periwinkle: It's Real. They are described by pikachuhunter1 as "a combination of two Pokémon and a human. The human side of them is the most prominent, and whoever is afflicted with being a combiomorph is able to turn into either [one] of the Pokémon associated with them." Their appearances look similar to that of chimeras, which are mythical creatures composed of different animal parts.
Pokémorph - I shudder as I write this, but it is a sacrifice I as an author am required to make. A Pokémorph is a creature that is a combination of a Pokémon and a human. It is essentially the Pokémon equivalent of a furry. (If you don't know what a furry is, consider yourself lucky.) Pokémorphs (and the stories that include them) are very popular in furry circles, and should be avoided at all costs.
However, contradicting the above "definition", the furry fandom does not generally see Pokémorphs as a part of their fandom, rather seeing Pokémorphs as an extension of the Pokémon fandom.
As a general rule, not all people with Pokémorph characters are furries. In point of fact, these people play such characters out of a kind of fandom for the video game they were based on. As such, unless a person with such a character says they are a furry, they should not be considered to be a furry. To them, it is more of an interest in the subject and fandom of the game which is thought of as separate from the furry fandom, although there are some with Pokémorph characters who are actually furries and also have separate furry characters. In some general consensus, the number of actual furs with such characters is low, though this is not confirmed and is subject to shifting even lower, or higher as time passes.
Types
The simple naming scheme of a specific species of Pokémorph is adding the suffix, "-morph", to the name of a Pokémon species (e.g. "Pikachu-morph"). However, despite the basic descriptions above, Pokémorphs come in a variety of different forms, beyond being simply humans mixed with different species of Pokémon.
Most of these different types are based on the anthropomorphic meaning of Pokémorphs:
X"Human" Pokémorphs - Pokémorphs that look much like humans, but are still referred to as "morphs" due to that they are able to use a Pokémon's attacks or abilities. Rarely, they may also have some of a Pokémon's behaviours and instincts.
XPolymorphic Pokémorphs - As aforementioned, these Pokémorphs are usually humans who have the ability to transform into a Pokémon, mostly at will. They were usually based off of K. A. Applegate's Animorphs books.
XMoe anthropomorphic Pokémorphs, also known as "Gijinka Pokémon" - Anthropomorphic Pokémon that look mostly human, but contain moe qualities. Many of these Pokémorphs tend to look like humans in cosplay, though they often have some Pokémon features, such as tails, ears, fins, and wings.
XTaur Pokémorphs - Based off the centaurs of Greek mythology, these Pokémorphs have the upper body (head, arms, and torso) of a human, but the body (and, occasionally, the ears) of a Pokémon with a quadruped or other multi-legged body. Bipedal variations of these Pokémorphs are very rare.
XNaga Pokémorphs - Based off the nāgas of Hinduism and Buddhism, these Pokémorphs have some of the parts, especially the arms, of a human, but the body and appearances of a serpentine Pokémon, such as Arbok and Seviper.
XTraditional anthropomorphic Pokémorphs - Currently the most common form of Pokémorphs, they basically look like Pokémon with humanoid body forms. The Pikachu-morph character seen at the top of the article, Stunner Pikans, is an example of this type.
XCombiomorph - A rare kind of Pokémorph, combiomorphs were created by fan fiction writer, pikachuhunter1, in the fan fiction, Pokémon Periwinkle: It's Real. They are described by pikachuhunter1 as "a combination of two Pokémon and a human. The human side of them is the most prominent, and whoever is afflicted with being a combiomorph is able to turn into either [one] of the Pokémon associated with them." Their appearances look similar to that of chimeras, which are mythical creatures composed of different animal parts.
