>>44885342The evolution of every Pokemon design in the first generation was to create the pixel art first, then make changes based on critique from other people on staff. I don't remember if it was before or after the games' release, but it was only after the designs had been finlized in the game that Sugimori painted his watercolors. Those drawings even made changes to the designs seen in the games, and though he caught Charmander's spike here, it must have faded out because it was a hard detail to catch once other artists joined the pixel art and promotional art teams.
