A recently surfaced internal Game Freak documentary, apparently covering the development of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, has revealed a trove of scrapped and early Pokémon designs. The 43-minute video, found on the Internet Archive, offers a visual journey through the games' creation, showcasing concepts that differ significantly from the final releases.
While the documentary is in Japanese and currently untranslated, its visual content provides significant insight for fans. It includes numerous images of unused Pokémon concepts, early iterations of familiar Pokémon, and concept art for characters and in-game environments. These glimpses into the development process are particularly interesting given the typical secrecy surrounding the franchise.
One notable segment, appearing around the 23-minute mark, flashes a series of concept images. Among these are potential early designs for Pokémon like Turtwig, Sandshrew, and even Dialga, which appears more formidable in its initial concept art. The documentary also teases what could be a proto-Bidoof, a fluffy creature reminiscent of a Sandshrew, and a yellow variant of Gastrodon.
Perhaps the most exciting reveal for many fans is a design that strongly resembles a Delibird evolution, depicted in a festive, Santa-like outfit. This particular concept has generated considerable excitement online due to its unique and appealing design.
The leak provides a rare look at the evolution of Pokémon designs and the development pipeline for major titles. Fans are hopeful for a translation of the documentary to gain a deeper understanding of the discussions and decisions made by the developers during the creation of Diamond and Pearl.