current obsession: prevos & evos that existed in the spaceworld demo, were scrapped, and then went on to be included in later games
Jaranra: Tangela had both a pre-evolution named Monja, and this form that it evolved into at level 44. The name comes from Tangela's Japanese name Monjara, from a word meaning "densely covered in thick hair." (If you're curious, Tangrowth's Japanese name is Mojumbo, coming from Monja and jumbo.)
Both Jaranra and Tangrowth have the same general premise of "what if the vines got bigger and covered EVERYTHING." Tangrowth has only the eyes showing, while Jaranra only shows its mouth. That's upsetting omg. But ultimately this is probably the one closest to its final design.
Shibirefugu: was planned to evolve from Qwilfish at level 18. Name essentially means "numb pufferfish." It's a pure Water-type, so I'm not sure why it has a lightning bolt on its head. It has basically nothing in common with Overqwil.
Baririina: pre-evolution of Mr. Mime, evolves at level 15. Name is a fusion of "Barrierd" (Mr. Mime's Japanese name) and ballerina. Notably, it is a Normal-type, not a Psychic-type. (Mime Jr.'s Japanese name, Manene, comes from a word for mimicry.)
The choice to make Mr. Mime a dancer in the Galar region seemed odd at the time, but I suppose it goes back further than I thought! Though it gives us a source for that connection, it has very little in common with Mime Jr.
Madaamu: evolves from Farfetch'd at level 24. Obviously, the name comes from "madame," though I can't figure out how that name connects with Kamonegi. Overall this Pokémon has very little in common with Farfetch'd or Sirfetch'd, though it is kind of funny that the two evolutions are essentially Sir and Madame.
Nameeru: evolves from Lickitung at level 32. Name comes from a verb meaning "to lick," and is notably unconnected to Lickitung's Japanese name Beroringa. (Lickilicky stays closer to its prevo with the name Berobelt.)
There are some interesting similarities between Nameeru and Lickilicky - both have a swirl on their head, and patterns on their body (Nameeru has circles across its body, while Lickilicky has the weird internet-connection-looking stripes on its stomach). Poor Nameeru's tongue is so long that's constantly dragging on the floor, and rolled up like a scroll. Lickilicky's tongue isn't quite that big, it more juts out of its face. And why does Nameeru have a moustache? So many questions about the development of this Pokémon.
Riifi: evolves from Eevee after being exposed to a Leaf Stone. Kind of ironic that Leafeon originally didn't evolve by Leaf Stone, but now does in some games because they got rid of the moss rock mechanic. Name obviously comes from "leafy." Leafeon's Japanese name is extremely similar, with just a single kana added: "Riifia" or Leafia.
You can really see influences of this design on Leafeon - they both have stray leaves that stick off their legs, and leaves for ears and tails. Riifi seems a bit more, for lack of a better world, feral - it's all-green, all leaf, while Leafeon has a tan body that makes it look more mammalian. Overall Leafeon's design fits in better with the rest of the Eeveelutions, but I appreciate the untamed naturalness of Riifi.
