Quoted By:
Do you like Mana Ibe as Pokémon designer?
Shall she do Ken Sugimori's job in the future?
Do you have one of the Pokémon Mana Ibe designed in your party?
A interview with Mana Ibe from 2011:
Axew, Fraxure, Haxorus
Haxorus appeared so early [in development] you might as well call him first.
They attack by turning their heads.
Part of their charm is that they don't look like Pokemon.
Axew and Fraxure were created after Haxorus.
Darumaka & Darmanitan
Thought up from the tradition of burning Daruma dolls at festivals and such.
Because Daruma dolls are based on Bodhidharma, who it is said looks like a gorrilla, they made it look like a Daruma doll-like gorilla.
Stunfisk
It was made because [someone] wanted to make the flattest Pokemon.
It was originally a Water/Electric-Type with a blue body based on a goosefish.
But, when they were adjusting the balance [of the Pokedex (colour, type, order, of various Pokemon etc)] they changed its type and made it like a Right-Eye Flounder.
There was a rough sketch of someone stepping on it and it producing an electric shock.
Frillish & Jellicent
At first, they were based on a Prince and Princess, but during the balance adjustment [see above] they added the Ghost-Type.
The original designer was disappointed because they had the frightening aspects added [like their Pokedex entries].
