>>27713071>>27713255Unfortunately, market research for a number of fantasy properties has shown that most people identify most readily with more human designs. This is why you don't see a lot of works with, say, a sphinx as the main character.
While I don't have access to TPC's market research data, I would be highly unsurprised to hear that it bears out the same trend. If people identify more with more humanoid designs, they're more likely to see humanoid-looking Pokémon as companions.
Hell, just look at Pikachu. Over the years, it has moved from being a fat mouse to having more humanoid proportions and posture. In the latest games, we even got Pikachu wearing clothing!
Now, this isn't going to apply to all Pokémon, but the starters are specifically meant to be your first friends and your loyal traveling companions. There is going to be a push to make them as easy to bond with as possible.
