>>35849744It's cool how all of these are based on youkai or some other Japanese cultural thing.
Vulpix & Ninetales = nine-tailed fox
Growlithe & Arcanine = Komainu/Shishi
Greninja = ninja
Mawile = Futakuchi-Onna
Snorunt = Zashiki Warashi
Glalie = Oni mask
Froslass = Yuki-Onna
Dunsparce = Tsuchinoko
Golisopod = armored samurai
Chingling & Chimecho = Japanese bell and wind chime
Bronzor & Bronzong = story of the bronze mirror and bell
Oricorio = fan dancer
Meowth = Maneki-Neko
Lombre = Kappa
Nuzleaf = Tengu
Phantump = Kodama
Ampharos = Yugong
Kartana = origami samurai
Celesteela = Princess Kaguya
I don't think Ariados is based on one, but it can work as a Tsuchigumo.
Mimikyu and Shedinja don't totally fit outside being spooky ghosts, unless they have some basis I don't know. Similar with Regigigas. The Magnemite line being there is the weirdest thing though.