>>53023043>>53023867These don't make much sense when looking at a broader picture. Basically the eeveelutions throw a wrench at this viewpoint as well as Pokémon that maintain consistency in general polls. For example Smash or Pass polls show the eeveelutions like Glaceon, Vaporeon and Sylveon outperforming the likes of Pokémon like Hatterene, Meloetta and Tsareena in almost every category. It shows that even in more general polls these Pokémon maintain a higher position, the whole "more human looking = popularity" doesn't materialize in our data, very much so the opposite happens at times. Simply put Pokémon aren't human-adjacent enough creatures for that to actually matter. Vaporeon existing in the popular imagination when it comes to Pokémon sexualization also says plenty.
If we look at a even broader picture outside of polls it also manifests in general imageboards, and surprisingly even in anime orientated imageboards.
Example of the highest rated Pokémon picture in imageboards where the human characters dominate:
Paheal: Pikachu Libre
Rule34.xxx: Umbreon
Gelbooru: Lopunny
Reddit r/rule34: Vaporeon
Twitter: Meowscarada
More interesting is that Pokémon start clumping together in these imageboard too. Here's an example of Vaporeon outscoring Gardevoir where Pokegirls dominate. The human looking aspect is severely overplayed when it comes to talking about NSFW. Most people don't view, and the series doesn't either, Pokémon as human adjacent enough for it to actually matter. Pokémon attraction tends to be pretty close with Gardevoir being the front face of feminine designs, but not dominating over the others, and Lucario being the front face of masculine designs.
