>>25301102Probably because they were the most expressive but simplistically colored pixelwork the series. Its probably due to the GBC's color limitations that GF's artists were able to do more than just sprite and color.
Later gens decreased the animation quality for more colors. Gen 5 tried to bring it back with sprites that are constantly animated, but failed horribly with the aesthetics(pixelated mess and are just body parts moving). Gen 2's sprites animated felt like characters from a cartoon show but in pixels over pencil. They were literally "quality over quantity" sprites which is why they were so well made.
