u/mycomicbox-draws

>🎵 And you can make it pretty far
🎵 Something on which you can depend
🎵 You'll be a guiding little star
🎵 When people posture, play pretend

Based on the art for the song People Posture Play Pretend by Jamie Paige.

You're such a liar
You say pretty words about "pursuing our true selves"
Gold-painted words with little value
Unless "true self" has another meaning to you?
Do you even know what you want to say?

You're such a bully
You said some truly horrible things
About the young ruffian with the bleached hair
His emotions knotted like disheveled threads
And you shamed him for it
Is that how you truly feel about people like me?
Is that how your parents feel about people like me?
Do you even care where your words land?

You're such an idiot
You said some truly stupid things
About the young detective with the blue cap
The girl
The girl
The girl
Why were you so fixated on that?
And why were you so weird about it?
I know what you were trying to say
But did you really even try?
The implications were still there
Even if you were blind to them

You're such a manipulator
You did some truly heinous things
To the young city boy with the headphones
You silenced his declarations of love
And forced him to bury those feelings forever
Is love truly that repulsive to you?

I've tried to analyze you
Figure out why you're like this
"He was born in a bygone era"
"He was raised an ocean away"
"His words were lost in translation"
But I'm sick of it
Some things you've said are beyond any excuse
All I see are the wretched tales that you've spun
I've kept a record of them in my heart
And now they're at war with my memories of you

When I try to speak up about you
Your fanboys rush to your defense like angry wasps
They say that I just don't understand you
They claim that I've never even met you
That I'm nothing but an illiterate crybaby
That you're a perfect angel who can do no harm
And that I need to take off my rainbow lenses
How could I
When you fooled me into putting them on?

I'm not asking to be coddled
I never expected you to be my mirror
I just wanted for you to hear my voice
I thought that we could be of like minds
And we could sing together in harmony

If that makes me a sensitive fool
Then a sensitive fool I'll be
I'd rather have a gentle heart
Than no heart at all

Your fanboys' words slash through me like blades
They'd rather I bleed than reveal your faults
But why?
Was it because of your influence?
Or do the heartless willingly bow to you?
I weep at the thought
That they'll never see the wound between my lungs

I'm sick of it
I'm sick of your fanboys
I'm sick of your parents
And I'm sick of—

...

I've met your siblings
The twins adorned in blue, with death crossed on their hearts
The one clad in red, with the fire of rebellion in his eyes
They're not perfect either
They get on my nerves sometimes
But at least they try to practice what they preach

I like your siblings more than you
But I still see your spirit in them
For better and for worse
You're the one who's always on my mind

I can't help it
You were fun to be around
You did some really cool things
You were thought-provoking at times
And you even made me chuckle
Not to mention your incredible songs
I still listen to them on repeat
While I draw pretty pictures of you

It's all so bittersweet
But even as I'm sprawled out in the rain
I still yearn for the rainbow

...

Your parents told me the news
They say that tomorrow, things will be different
They say that you're trying to being better
You'll be more sensitive
More aware
More complete

I was hoping that they would be right
For my sake, and for yours
But hope is a fickle beast
One wrong move and it'll disappear
Leaving nothing but an empty void
For fantasy to crawl inside and die

This was your next chance to set things right
Your next chance to be born anew, again
Your next chance to move on

The sky is the limit
You're bursting with potential
But I'm afraid that you've squandered it again
Afraid that you've shattered my heart again
And you'll forever be a hollow shell
Aggrandized with pretty lights

...

I love you
Even if my words fall on deaf ears
Even if I forever mourn what you could have been

💛

.

[This poem is about the video game Persona 4.]

Based on the song Queen of Venus by FLAVOR FOLEY, with a little help from Dance Delightful by Jamie Paige. Also intended to be somewhat of a Deoxys counterpart.

(I put a lot of thought into this Fakémon, so please click here to learn everything about it)

FLAVOR FOLEY peak

Origin:

Galakorai draws inspiration from various ancient Greek art, technology, and mythology. Its shoulders resemble an Ionic column, a staple feature in ancient Greek architecture. Its broken arms reference Venus de Milo, an ancient Greek marble sculpture believed to depict Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love whose Roman counterpart was Venus.
The gear on Galakorai's chest references the Antikythera mechanism, an ancient Greek model of the solar system that was used to depict astronomical positions years in advance, and is the earliest known example of an analog computer. The Pokémon is also inspired by various humanoid robot characters in popular media.
Galakorai's lore of being an ancient statue came to life references the Greek story of Galatea and Pygmalion, where a sculptor falls in love with his own creation and prays for her to be real. Galatea is a post-antique name given to the sculpture, meaning "she who is milk-white".
Most importantly, Galakorai is directly and primarily based on the song Queen of Venus by FLAVOR FOLEY, a track about a computer yearning for her female lover. The Pokémon's design and color scheme mimic that of UTAU Adachi Rei in the music video.
Galakorai's Shiny form alludes to UTAU Momone Momo.

Mega Galakorai is loosely based on the song Dance Delightful by Jamie Paige, another Adachi Rei song which released a mere two weeks after Queen of Venus. The two songs have related themes, and JamieP is also one of the three members of FLAVOR FOLEY. The blue wings and massive increase to Galakorai's Speed stat reference specific lyrics from Dance Delightful:

>🎵 I dance delightful, it feels so right
🎵 To be oscillating at rates unbound by
🎵 No other constant but the speed of light
🎵 I'm a bolt of blue and a conscious mind
🎵 I dance delightful the whole damn night, oh!

Additionally, Mega Galakorai has taken on a more angelic appearance, as the gear above its head now resembles a halo. It has also gained traits of a clock, with the arrows on its arms mimicking clock hands, and its eyelash-like patterns mimicking minute ticks.

Galakorai was deliberately designed to share similarities with Deoxys. Both are Mythical Pokémon that came to life due to exposure to a laser beam. Both lack a visible mouth and have similar humanoid bodies, and both are based on science fiction tropes: aliens and robots respectively. The hole in Galakorai's chest resembles the purple crystalline organ in Deoxys's chest, which is actually Deoxys's brain. Galakorai's legs resemble those of Deoxys's Defense Form, while the spikes on its head resemble those of Deoxys's Attack Form. Galakorai's base stats are simply inverted from those of Deoxys's Normal Form, and both Pokémon have the Ability Pressure. Deoxys and Galakorai's signature moves, Psycho Boost and Hypostatic Bolt respectively, have the same base power, accuracy, and PP count, and they both harshly lower one of the user's attacking stats after use.
While Deoxys came from space, Galakorai is found on Earth. Deoxys is based on DNA, the basis for all cellular life, while Galakorai is entirely artificial.

Name Origin: Galakorai comes from Galatea, Galvanism (muscular responses to electricity), korai (plural form of kore, the modern term for a type of Archaic period Greek sculptures depicting female figures), and 古来 korai (Japanese for "from time immemorial"). It also contains gal (an informal term for a woman), and 雷 rai (Japanese for thunder) or 雷光 raikō (Japanese for lightning).

Other Notes:

• For a while, I wasn't sure what to do with Queen of Venus. How do I make the lesbian computer sex song into a convincing Pocket Monster? That was until I found out about the Antikythera mechanism. And then I found out about the myth of Galatea. With those two design bases, the connection between robotics, love, and Greco-Roman mythology was solidified. Pokémon design is often about linking together concepts in a coherent way, and I am incredibly pleased with how I was able to bring together so many different ideas while maintaining the song's essence.
• Mega Evolution also fits with the concept! Queen of Venus and Dance Delightful are both about computers desiring human connection, and most Pokémon media mentions that successful Mega Evolution requires a strong bond between the Pokémon and its Trainer (finding the point where the two paths meet!). Mega Galakorai can also be seen as a parallel to Deoxys's three alternate forms.
• Galakorai is probably my favorite name that I've conceived for a Fakémon so far: it was the result of several perfect linguistic coincidences. The name really does sound more "grand" than the average Pokémon, befitting of a Mythical.
• The name of Galakorai's signature move subtly references a third song that isn't Queen of Venus or Dance Delightful. I want to see if anyone can figure it out. (Hint: If you know Dance Delightful, you'll likely know which song I'm referring to.)
• I'd like to imagine that, if Galakorai was in the games, you would encounter and catch it in a Mirage spot in the Hoenn region.
• Before anyone calls Mega Galakorai overpowered, remember that it is a Mythical Pokémon, meaning that it would be automatically restricted from most battle facilities and official competitive formats... I'm pretty sure.

(Also, I have now uploaded all of my past Foleymon to a dedicated folder on my Toyhouse page! Galakorai will be on there soon.)

<< BUTCHER VANITY | [MASTERPOST]

Origin:

This regional form of Munchlax is based on a grizzly bear cub, further emphasized by its behavior of digging through trash to find food. It is also based on cartoon depictions of masked burglars.

This regional form of Snorlax is directly inspired by the song BUTCHER VANITY by FLAVOR FOLEY, a track about cannibalism, though this aspect is reworked into Snorlax being a general carnivore. Its face and color scheme even resemble that of SynthV Yi Xi in the music video.
Additionally, Snorlax has a base HP stat of 145. According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, 145°F (~63°C) is the minimum safe internal temperature for cooking most meats. This temperature is referenced in the lyrics to BUTCHER VANITY:

>🎵 All that I see, 63
🎵 为让我心醉的你 (For the you I hunger for)
🎵 I'll be waiting, so impatiently

Snorlax's aggressive behavior, sharp claws, and reddish color draw from grizzly bears. The second mouth on its stomach is a common trope in character design (sometimes used to indicate a character's gluttony), though it also resembles a hellmouth. It is also partially inspired by the Mapinguari from Brazilian folklore: a man-eating monster with sharp claws and a large, toothy maw on its stomach. The glowing orange interior of the mouth resembles the inside of a hot oven or furnace.
The red fur on Snorlax's paws alludes to fireballs, oven mitts, and/or hands soaked in blood. The pattern on its face mimics the symbol for the Darkness type in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Its pale face, prominent fangs, and access to Leech Life allude to common depictions of vampires.

Other Notes:

• No, you're not experiencing déjà vu. I decided to redesign my BUTCHER VANITY Foleymon, specifically Snorlax. Originally, I rushed it out the door and didn't give it the thought it deserves, which defeats the whole purpose of why I started this project. If you really want to see the old design, click here, but I now consider this new design to have supplanted the old one.
• Regional forms are one of the coolest concepts ever introduced in the Pokémon series. It's essentially the equivalent to real-world divergent evolution, and it's a fun way to put new spins on older designs. In fact, my favorite Pokémon is a regional form; Alolan Raichu!
• So, why did I choose the Snorlax family specifically? Most of these Pokémon's Pokédex entries mention how they're gluttons that will eat almost anything, but in most media, they're usually shown eating plant matter, like berries and roots. I thought that designing a more aggressive and carnivorous Snorlax line would make for an interesting contrast to the originals. It's also an easy and clever way to incorporate some of BUTCHER VANITY's themes without literally making a knife-swinging cannibal, since that would be too scary to make for a believable Pokémon. Plus, Snorlax and Yi Xi... kinda have the same face.
• I took a glassblowing class in university once, and the insides of the furnaces were so hot that they had a bright orange glow (as one would expect; glass can only be shaped at super high temperatures). I was thinking of that while designing Snorlax's stomach mouth.

<< Water the Roses | [MASTERPOST]

>🎵 This bird, constantly overturned
🎵 Ten-time unwitting champion of being spurned!

Based on the song BIRDBRAIN by Jamie Paige & OK Glass.

Based on the song Ego Renegade Boy by FLAVOR FOLEY. Phenomenal song, though be warned that the music video contains flashing lights and glitch effects.

[YouTube // YouTube (no MV) // FLAVOR FOLEY website]

I am begging on my hands and knees, please listen to Ego Renegade Boy... and the rest of FLAVOR FOLEY's discography, for that matter.

A new evolution of Petilil, based on the song Water the Roses by FLAVOR FOLEY. (automod hates external links, so click here for more info)

go listen to FLAVOR FOLEY, it's good for you

Origin: Petinelli is primarily based on the song Water the Roses by FLAVOR FOLEY, a breakup track about the falling out of a sapphic relationship, which is metaphorically compared to maintaining a dying garden. The Pokémon's design alludes to that of SynthV GUMI in the music video.
Like Petilil and Lilligant, Petinelli is also based on a lily, specifically Lilium candidum. Lilies are often given at funerals in Western tradition, and white lilies are also greatly associated with the yuri (girls' love) genre of Japanese media. The Japanese word yuri (百合) translates literally to "lily".
The flower and leaves on Petinelli's head allude to sage, a genus of plants often historically used for medicine and/or rituals. This is further referenced with the Pokémon's signature move, which deals super-effective damage to Dark types (called the Evil type in Japanese). Petinelli's head flower also resembles a wide-brimmed hat.
The blue flowers near Petinelli's face resemble myosotis flowers, colloquially known as forget-me-nots. These flowers are where the Pokémon's mouth and neck would be, referencing the fictional disease Hanahaki, a popular trope in fan fiction. In most depictions, a character will contract Hanahaki disease when their love for someone is unrequited. This manifests as flowers growing within the lungs and throat of the afflicted character, eventually leading to death by asphyxiation if the disease isn't addressed.
Petinelli is also partially based on common depictions of ghosts, such as gwisin from Korean folklore. The shape of its flower body is reminiscent of a church bell.
Petinelli's Shiny form incorporates the colors of the lesbian pride flag.

Name Origin: Petinelli comes from petal, nettle (a type of plant with small hairlike needles that can cause stinging), bell, death knell (the slow ringing of a church bell to announce a person's death), and lily.

Other Notes:

• This one was a struggle. Originally, I wanted this Pokémon to be a Grass/Ghost-type based on a dead flower, but that felt too weak of a concept by itself. Since the title of the song has "roses" in it, I then envisioned a branched evolution of Roselia based on a zombie, as well as real diseases that can affect roses, like black spot. That could still be an interesting idea, but it didn't feel related to the song's themes. But then I remembered lilies: the de facto symbol of the yuri genre. Water the Roses is about lesbian divorce. Petilil and Lilligant are Grass types based on lilies, and they are a 100% female species. I nearly jumped out of my seat when I made this connection! After that, I shifted gears to make a branched evolution of Petilil.
• If there is one thing I always look forward to in every new Pokémon game, it's new evolutions to older species. Pokémon like Gallade, Togekiss, Gliscor, Farigiraf, and Archaludon are some of my favorites.
• When a Pokémon gains the Ghost type after evolving or changing form, fans often make the joke of "lol it died". That is true in some cases, like with Annihilape, but the Ghost type is more than the literal act of dying. Take Decidueye, for example. It's a Ghost type, but not because it's a literal owl corpse. It's based on the pueo owl, which is a common physical form of the aumakua, ancestral spirits in Hawaiian culture. Decidueye isn't dead, but it's related to spirits. That's partially what I did with Petinelli: Water the Roses is about the death of a relationship, so the Pokémon's Ghost type is more meant to represent a metaphorical death than a literal one.
• (Also, unrelated to the design, but Lilligant is probably my favorite Grass-type Pokémon that isn't a starter. I think it's adorable.)

<< BUTCHER VANITY

Based on the song BUTCHER VANITY by FLAVOR FOLEY. (More info here because the automod is allergic to external links)

everyone go listen to FLAVOR FOLEY

Origin:

This regional form of Munchlax is based on a grizzly bear cub, further emphasized by its behavior of digging through trash to find food. It is also based on cartoon depictions of masked burglars.

This regional form of Snorlax is directly inspired by the song BUTCHER VANITY by FLAVOR FOLEY, a track about cannibalism, though this aspect is reworked into Snorlax being a general carnivore. Its face and color scheme even resemble that of SynthV Yi Xi in the music video. Snorlax has a base HP stat of 145. According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, 145°F (~63°C) is the minimum safe internal temperature for cooking most meats. This temperature is referenced in the lyrics to BUTCHER VANITY:

>🎵 All that I see, 63
🎵 为让我心醉的你 (For the you I hunger for)
🎵 I'll be waiting, so impatiently

Snorlax's aggressive behavior, sharp claws, and reddish color draw from grizzly bears. The pattern on its belly gives the appearance that its stomach has been torn open, though it also resembles the Japanese kanji 大, meaning "large" or "great". This kanji is also used in the Kyoto festival Daimonji, in which five giant bonfires are lit in the shape of the letter 大, signifying the spirits of deceased family members safely returning to the spirit world. This celebration is also the basis for the move Fire Blast, called だいもんじ (Daimonji) in Japanese.
The red fur on Snorlax's paws alludes to fireballs, oven mitts, and/or hands soaked in blood. The pattern on its face mimics the symbol for the Darkness type in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Its pale face, prominent fangs, and access to Leech Life allude to common depictions of vampires.

Other Notes:

• Regional forms are one of the coolest concepts ever introduced in the Pokémon series. It's basically the equivalent to real-world divergent evolution, and it's a fun way to put new spins on older designs. In fact, my favorite Pokémon is a regional form; Alolan Raichu!
• So, why did I choose the Snorlax family specifically? Most of these Pokémon's Pokédex entries mention how they're gluttons that will eat almost anything, but in most media, they're usually shown eating plant matter, like berries and roots. I thought that designing a more aggressive and carnivorous Snorlax line would make for an interesting contrast to the originals. It's also an easy and clever way to incorporate some of BUTCHER VANITY's themes without literally making a knife-swinging cannibal, since that would be too scary to make for a believable Pokémon. Plus, Snorlax and Yi Xi... kinda have similar faces.
• Most of the future Foleymon in this series will be original species, though some will have connections to existing Pokémon (regional form, convergent form, new evolution, new Mega Evolution, etc.).

Also, since it's July, I'd like to mention that I'm on Art Fight! All of the Foleymon that I've designed for this series are on there, so if you want to draw them for the event, you can!

<< weathergirl

Based on the song weathergirl by FLAVOR FOLEY. (More info because I can't post all my yapping here for some reason)

please listen to FLAVOR FOLEY

Origin:

Cirrusol is based on the kasa-obake, an animated umbrella yōkai from Japanese folklore. It is also inspired by the teru teru bōzu, which are handmade Japanese dolls that are displayed outside to call good weather. Its white cloud-like fluff resembles cumulus clouds. The yellow circle mark on its head resembles the meteorological symbol for clear skies.

Stratusol is also partially based on the kasa-obake and teru teru bōzu. Its cloud-like hair resembles pigtails, as well as stratus clouds. The water droplets on Stratusol's chest resemble a necktie or neckerchief, making it look like it's wearing a sērāfuku. The comma-like mark on its head resembles the meteorological symbol for drizzle.

Nimbrelona is based on cumulonimbus clouds. The pattern on its dress resembles the meteorological symbol for a cold front, while the shoulder pattern resembles the symbol for turbulence. The lightning bolts on its head and chest resemble a hair ribbon and a scarf.
Most importantly, Nimbrelona's evolutionary line is primarily based on the song weathergirl by FLAVOR FOLEY, a track about an unrequited yet persistent love, which is metaphorically compared to changes in weather. The designs and color schemes of these Pokémon mimic that of SynthV Eleanor Forte in the original music video.
Nimbrelona also draws some inspiration from La Llorona (The Weeping Woman), a vengeful ghost in Hispanic-American folklore. While the details of the story change between tellings, the gist is that La Llorona is the spirit of a woman who drowned her children in a jealous rage after discovering that her husband was unfaithful to her, before drowning herself. Nimbrelona's La Llorona inspiration ties into weathergirl's themes of unrequited love.

Because the Dynamax phenomenon is native to the Galar region, Gigantamax Nimbrelona is a nod to the often cloudy weather of the United Kingdom, the country that Galar is based on. The squiggly lines on Nimbrelona's dress resemble isobars on meteorological maps. Its arms now look like stylized human bones, both emphasizing its La Llorona inspiration and referencing the media trope of electrocution making victims' skeletons visible. Nimbrelona's signature G-Max Move, G-Max Heartbreak, references both a metaphorical broken heart (again alluding to weathergirl's themes of unrequited love) and the fact that extreme electrostatic discharges can lead to cardiac arrest.

Name Origin:

Cirrusol comes from cirrus (a type of thin, wispy cloud) and parasol.

Stratusol comes from stratus (a type of light gray cloud associated with light rain or snow) and parasol.

Nimbrelona comes from cumulonimbus (a type of dark cloud associated with severe storms), umbrella, and La Llorona.

Other Notes:

• It feels like every new Pokémon region introduces a three-stage humanoid family (Machamp, Gardevoir, Tsareena, Hatterene, etc.). I looked at many of these Pokémon while designing Nimbrelona's evolutionary line, as that was the kind of series trope that I wanted to lean into.
• This was probably the hardest Fakémon to conceptualize in this series so far. At first, I thought of a Pokémon that changes form with the weather, but that's just Castform. I then tried to think of animals associated with rain. I landed on frog, but that felt too similar to Politoed, which already has the Drizzle Ability. I tried to look up folklore and mythology associated with rain, but I just kept running into the thunderbird, which is already what Zapdos is likely based on. I even briefly considered a Water-type regional form of Skitty and Delcatty with an umbrella-shaped tail (based on the idea that cats hate getting wet), but that concept felt too shallow for my liking. I was originally going to skip weathergirl entirely for this series, but then all the ideas struck me like lightning (pun intended).
• Because of the La Llorona inspiration, I could have made Nimbrelona a Water/Ghost type, but I was really attached to the concept of a Water/Electric type based on thunderstorms. Electric is my favorite type, and Water/Electric is a really cool type combination that I wish was used more in canon Pokémon. At the time of posting, the only Pokémon to have it are Chinchou, Lanturn, and Wash Rotom.
• This was my first time ever designing a Gigantamax form, and it was a lot of fun! I know that some Pokémon fans dismiss the mechanic as just clearance-bin Mega Evolution, but from an artistic perspective, Gigantamax absolutely has its place in the series. Gigantamax forms are specifically designed around their massive size, meaning that there are different design conventions at play compared to designing a Mega Evolution. In the case of Nimbrelona specifically, I felt that a Gigantamax form better fit with its concept than a Mega Evolution: its cloud-like hair grows to the size of an actual storm cloud.
• (Though, spoilers, one of my future FLAVOR FOLEY Fakémon will likely have a Mega Evolution. Stay tuned!)

<< Static

Origin: Biribark is based on a dog, which are commonly featured in children's media as protagonists. Specifically, Biribark is based on a Basset Hound, a breed of dog known for their short legs, floppy ears, and gentle demeanor. Basset Hounds are also known for being naturally stubborn.
Biribark draws inspiration from children's toys, such as those produced by Fisher-Price. The Pokémon's stomach pattern resembles a set of buttons, and its tail resembles both a pullstring and a wire. Biribark's design also alludes to retro technology; the two tufts of fur on its head allude to set-top television antennae, and the pattern on its back resembles a cross-shaped directional pad. Biribark's Shiny form alludes to the original Game Boy Advance, which were commonly produced in an indigo color.
Most importantly, Biribark is based on the song Static by FLAVOR FOLEY, a track about a children's show host beckoning the viewer to indulge in nostalgia and block out the noise of the modern world. Biribark's design and color scheme mimic that of Vocaloid Hatsune Miku in the music video.
Biribark's base stat total of 404 references the length of the song (4 minutes and 4 seconds), though it also references an HTTP 404 status code, which indicates that a web page cannot be found or does not exist.

Name Origin: Biribark comes from ビリビリ biribiri (Japanese onomatopoeia for an electric shock) and bark. It also alludes to Biri-Biri, a song by Japanese duo YOASOBI which was released to commemorate the first anniversary of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet.

Other Notes:

• Right off the bat, I knew that I wanted this Pokémon to be small, cute, and mascot-like. I briefly considered drawing inspiration from the ungaikyō (mirror monster from Japanese folklore) with a TV for a head, but I felt that a toy-like dog would better fit the concept.
• I specifically wanted Biribark to be a weak single-stage Pokémon. It looks like a Pokémon that should evolve, but it can't. It will forever stay the same and never get stronger, alluding to Static's theme of stagnation and harmful nostalgia.
• There are some small things about Biribark that hearken back to older Pokémon. For example, it has equal Special Attack and Special Defense, because in Generation I, those two stats were fused into one stat: Special.
• For the Abilities, I had to give Biribark Static because... yeah. However, Retro Power also fits with the concept: it alludes to the pre-chorus lines where Miku sings "the world you know never seems to take it slow". It also references how older tech is sometimes considered to be slow, and at other times more reliable.
• Biribark's resemblance to Blue from Blue's Clues was completely coincidental (I didn't watch much Blue's Clues growing up)... At least it fits with the concept.

<< 炜WARD ROMANCE

Based on the song 炜WARD ROMANCE by FLAVOR FOLEY. (More info because I can't post all my yapping here for some reason)

Origin:

Wilowei is based on a rabbit, specifically the Dwarf Hotot breed, which are known for their small size, white fur, and black markings that look similar to eyeliner. It is also based on a will-o'-wisp and other similar atmospheric ghost lights. Its Fairy typing comes from the legend of the Moon rabbit. Wilowei's ears resemble candle flames when upright, giving it the appearance of a tealight.

Illunawei is based on a mixture of Chinese and Japanese myths and folklore. Conceptually, it draws some inspiration from Yotsuya Kaidan, a Japanese ghost story. Its rabbit-like traits reference the legend of the Moon Rabbit, and its spherical red paper lantern resembles the moon's reddish appearance during a lunar eclipse. The tassel hanging from the lantern resembles a Chinese knot. The evolution method involving said lantern also references the Chinese fairy tale The Magic Lotus Lantern. The moon-related aspects justify the Pokémon's Fairy typing.
Most notably, Illunawei is directly based on the song 炜WARD ROMANCE by FLAVOR FOLEY, with the Pokémon's design mimicking that of SynthV Feng Yi in the music video. The lop rabbit ears and hitodama-like fireballs on its head resemble long hair tied up in buns, and the pattern on its torso resembles a qipao. The heart-shaped patterns on Illunawei, along with its signature Ability, reference the romantic subject matter of the song's lyrics.

Name Origin:

Wilowei comes from will o' wisp and 炜 wěi (Chinese character roughly meaning "to glow" or "to burn").

Illunawei comes from illuminate, luna (Latin for moon), and 炜 wěi.

Other Notes:

• My favorite FLAVOR FOLEY song! That's why it's first in line to be Pokémon-ified.
• These Fakémon went through some drafts. First, I had the idea for a Bug/Fire-type firefly with a lantern-shaped abdomen, but my initial sketches didn't turn out great. I also briefly had the idea for a Ghost-type humanoid based on a jiangshi (undead creature from Chinese folklore), but I scrapped it in favor of the moon rabbit concept.
• Those names were brutally difficult to come up with, but I am so happy with them. They roll off the tongue nicely!
• I wanted to give Illunawei access to Tail Glow (since it would make sense with its anatomy), but that move is very strong, only balanced out by its limited distribution. If I did that, r/stunfisk would have me executed.

I do plan on making Pokémon based on other FLAVOR FOLEY songs, but only when I actually feel like it. Though, be warned: To make these designs feel more like authentic Pokémon, I like to introduce other concepts or adapt the songs' themes in new ways. For example, just because I'm making a Queen of Venus Pokémon, that doesn't mean it's going to be a literal lesbian sex computer. Nothing against lesbian sex computers, of course, but I want to be faithful to the original song while also making designs that feel at home in the Pokémon world. It's a delicate balance.

When you catch a Pokémon but it's Chinese: