Ralts line was the easy pick for Knights. They are both always ready to protect their trainer and pokemon around them and based on the whole concept of empathy and chivalry. Gardevoir’s Japanese name is Sirnight. Leo was the Knights' leader so I gave him Gardevoir which was introduced before Gallade.
Tsukasa is good at horseback riding so i gave him Galarian Rapidash. Tsukasa is really into the knights theme so the fairy horse works the best. Also, Galar is bri’ish region so it can work as a reference to Tsukasa’s english. Tsukasa likes sweets and snacks so Swirlix, the cotton candy pokemon, was a choice.
Kingambit is a reference to Chess and other Knights calling him “King”. Leo believes in aliens so I gave THE alien (not Ultra Beast) pokemon. Elgyem’s name is based on LGM (little green men). For Leo’s composer side I went with Kricketune. It’s the only music-based pokemon which fits “composer” rather than “performer”.
There’s no italian based pokemon dammit! Clauncher is a shrimp. Bisharp is a reference to Chess. Izumi is a model so I checked among Beauty and Lasses trainer classes. Budew line is one the common pokemon they use. And Roserade does feel like can be Izumi’s pokemon.
Swoobat was given as Woobat by Rei. Ritsu loves sleeping and napping so I went over pokemons who can learn Hypnosis, Yawn and Dream Eater. I picked two pokemon: Komala and Musharna. They both are Drowsing pokemon. Komala always sleeps and can cling to its trainer, like Ritsu’s clinginess. Musharna feeds on people’s dreams and constantly sleeps and dreams. Also, Ritsu does not like being disturbed from sleep and Musharna “can become a terrible grump should it be freshly roused from sleep”.
Sylveon became proclaimed THE trans icon as pokemon for both color palette and 1:7 female rate with “girly” appearance. Also, Sylveon evolves through affection which fits Arashi’s “big sister” role.
Delcatty = Nyanko. I was torn between Mewoth, Glameow and Delcatty. Nyanko appears to be a Siamese cat which is Meowth based on, but it feels more like a stray cat. Glameow and Delcatty are more domestic cats. Delcatty looks more similar to Nyanko and more calm, then Glameow is spiteful.
First Pikachu appearance! Alolan Raichu is the only electric/psychic type. Switch’s symbol is lighting and the main motif is magic. Hence electric/psychic type. Also Pikachu does fit Sora.
Natsume’s all into magic, spells and fortune-telling, so a full psychic-type team was a pick. Espeon was a first choice. Natsume has associations with cats and is said to have 2 pet cats. Espeon is most likely based on sphynx cats, bakeneko and nekomata and the most cat-like among all of eeveelutions. Similar to this was picked Meowstic. Hatenna is a witch hat.
Togekiss is left from ex-fine where he was a leader (his Togekiss has Super Luck ability instead of Serene Grace). Tsumugi’s main association is “bluebird of happiness” and first solo is named “Hummingbird”. Altaria is most likely based on bluebird of happiness for The Blue Bird (L'Oiseau bleu) with japanese names referencing the character’s name, and Altaria’s category is Humming pokemon.
Sora’s synesthesia is described more like aura so I went for the aura pokemon, Lucario. Sora’s name means “sky” and “midair” and good at acrobatics and parkour. Emolga is a flying type which can learn move as “Acrobatics”. It's a cute creature which can be a troublemaker.
MaM
Madara: Braviary. Bouffalant. Kangaskhan.
MaM's style cowboy and sheriff, so the american pokemon, Braviary, was a choice. He’s aggressively protective of his friends and will protect others even if his life is threatened. And now guess which was I describing, Madara or Braviary (hint: both). Bouffalant = volcano bison. Madara calls himself “Mama” and encourages others to do so, so mother pokemon was a pick. I didn't mean to give him a full normal type team, but it happened and i don’t know what to do with it.
Special for Princess!
Esu: G. Rapidash. Minior (indigo).
Kanna: G. Ponyta. F.Meowstic.
Yume: G. Ponyta. Gothita. Amaura.
Raika: G. Ponyta. Archeops (shiny).
They’re new and we don’t know much about them so it was hard. I was ready to skip them and just say “there’s too little information about them”. But it has been half-year since their introduction and multiple stories (events, scouts, idol stories) so it’s too late to pull out that card. Any of their producers, I will try my best.
All white/pink/violet princess-like have already been taken by other units (Hatterene and Gardevoir). And then i noticed… logo has unicorn on it what looks like Galarian Rapidash! I’m saved!
Esu’s fs costume is themed around stars and blue. I was to give him Starmie but it’s purple. That color of Minior is different from Kanata’s Minior.
Female Meowstic has a similar color palette. Kanna’s image is being stoic, calculated and kinda emotionless. “-stic” in name may be from “stoic” due to their generally emotionless facial expression.
Yume’s fs costume has a lot of ribbons and his original signature had a ribbon on it. Gothta’s line has a lot of ribbons too. Yume means winter so I went with Amaura also for cuteness.
Raika is Sakuma's distant relative and instead of bats he’s harpy. And there’s no harpy pokemons. So just bird. Archeops is the most “weirdest” one and its feather has a similar color and is as wild as Raika’s hair. He can have shiny. As a treat. Also, it’s said Raika is from a facility(..?) and Archeops is a revived fossil.
speaking of esupri I do enjoy how underneath Esu's loud and outgoing personality is a shaking mess riddled with anxiety and stress that renders him a Comparatively Normal Guy when dealing with his three much more....unique new unit mates
