20 Cutest Pokmon Of All Time

Summary

• Jigglypuff is a classic in the adorable Pokémon category known for its constant antics in the original anime series by putting the main cast to sleep by singing.
• An underrated baby Pokémon like Swinub deserves more love for its super cute design, even if it loses that simplicity once it evolves.
• Dratini is a Dragon Pokémon loved for its charm and nostalgia factor for older Pokémon fans that evolves into an elegant middle form before returning to cuteness as Dragonite.

Pokémon is the biggest franchise in the world, and part of its appeal is in just how many incredibly cute creatures it has introduced. Currently, the series has introduced over 1,000 Pokemon, and though their designs range from scary to cool to purposefully gross, it’s difficult to deny just how many Pokémon are outright adorable.

Given the sheer number of Pokémon, it’s difficult to decide which are the most adorable. In addition to just how aesthetically appealing each ranked Pokémon is, there are also elements of considering their impact in both the game series as well as the anime.

Ultimately, part of what makes Pokémon so special is how fans can pick and choose their favorites. Not every Pokémon can appeal to every fan, and that’s okay. However, the following Pokémon are so adorable and notable that it’s difficult not to rank them among the cutest Pokémon of all time.

25 Jigglypuff – #39

Red & Blue

A favorite of many Pokémon fans, Jigglypuff is certainly considered a classic in terms of cuteness. With a round, ball-like shape, googly eyes, and pointy cat-like ears, it’s safe to say that Jigglypuff hits all the major determining factors for adorable. The Jigglypuff fandom extends well beyond the original series, as the character has also popped up as a playable character in Super Smash Bros and multiple side games.

Recently in
Scarlet
and
Violet
, Jigglypuff’s ancient ancestor Scream Tail was revealed.

Given Jigglypuff’s appearances in Smash Bros and of course the anime, it’s no wonder the boisterous fairy type is so beloved.

24 Swinub – #220

Gold & Silver

An underrated Pokémon first introduced in Pokémon Gold & Silver, Swinub is the cross between a baby boar and a baby mammoth, meaning an adorable pig snout with shaggy hair. The creature looks like a sad, hairy balloon in the wild due to its hair concealing its legs when it walks. Swinub is an Ice-Ground type Pokémon that can use its stature and snout to inspect the ground for items, including discovering hot springs.

Swinub is an example of Generation II capturing that adorable magic of the original Pokémon in Kanto. However, its evolutions, Piloswine and Mamoswine, lose the cuteness factor as they become mammoths poised for a fight. The Swinub lives largely in icy spots, including caves and snowy terrain, and their keen sense of smell is used to track down the source of anything pleasant, akin to pigs sniffing out truffles.

23 Dratini – #147

Red & Blue

With a sleek snake-like shape and big eyes, Dratini is a Dragon Pokémon that’s simply too cute. Fans of aquatic Pokémon will appreciate the teeny white fins extending from either side of Dratini’s face, while a small rounded nub on its forehead adds even more whimsical charm.

Fans of the first, third, and fourth generation Pokémon games will experience waves of nostalgia from trying to snatch up a Dratini from the Safari Zone.

22 Shaymin – #142

Diamond & Pearl

One part Chia Pet, and another part hedgehog, Shaymin is an undeniably adorable Pokémon. Originally introduced during Generation IV, this Grass-type Pokémon has a sweet-looking design, looking like a hedgehog with flowers and leaves instead of spikes.

On-screen, Shaymin had its original debut during Giratina and the Sky Warrior, the second Diamond & Pearl series movie. In Sky Forme, the Pokémon’s shape alters drastically, almost resembling a small deer-like creature. Whether fans prefer the Pokemon’s hedgehog version or the Sky Forme, it’s pretty clear that the adorable Shaymin well deserves its slot among the cutest Pokémon.

21 Fidough – #926

Scarlet & Violet

One of the first Pokémon introduced in Generation IX’s Paldea region, Fidough is a fluffy, elastic, pastry-inspired dog, ideal for petting or kneading like biscuit dough. Its protrusions and growths are also pastry-shaped, including ears shaped like and positioned similarly to Princess Leia’s iconic buns from Star Wars. However, Fidough is also the Pokémon world’s most adorable cooking companion, as it is a natural source of yeast for baking.

What’s especially adorable about Fidough is that its evolution Dachsbun more closely resembles a dog, and more importantly, looks like a canine-shaped loaf of knotted challah bread. This fun detail indicates that Fidough is essentially the raw or unfinished form, but much like cookie dough, a large demographic of people may prefer one form over another. Fidough is the softest, cutest new Fairy-type Pokémon introduced in Paldea with rising popularity, though popular wisdom about its biology suggests it will only rise further with time.

20 Mareep – #179

Gold & Silver

Mareep is an electrifying addition to the Pokémon universe, originally introduced during the second generation games in Pokémon Gold and Silver. With puffy tufts of wool and a lightbulb-like tail, Mareep is undeniably cute.

A small little curly wave of wooly fur rests on the center of its forehead, making Mareep appropriately fluffy. As cute as this Pokémon might appear to be though, static electricity continuously builds up inside its body. As tempting as it might be to touch, Mareep’s fleece only amps up the volume of its static charge, and touching it will deliver a powerful electric blast. Though Mareep’s final evolution, Ampharos, removes the fluff that makes Mareep and Flaffy so iconic, its draconic Mega Evolution brings the fleece back with a glorious head of hair.

19 Lillipup – #506

Black & White

For any Pokémon trainer who is also a dog person, Lillipup is a dream come true. With face full of puffy fur, Lillipup resembles a sweet terrier puppy. With big brown eyes, a teeny tail, and fuzzy fur, the pup is undeniably cute. Lillipup’s fur is known for being used as a type of radar detection, and helps give the canine Pokémon additional information about its environment.

When viewed on the Pokédex 3D Pro, Lillipup has three toes per paw, and the bottom of its pads are actually blue. Lillipup looks cute in its naturally unevolved state, and continues to look adorable even when it starts to evolve. Trainers can evolve the Pokemon into Herdier, which resembles a tiny Miniature Schnauzer or Terrier, and later into Stoutland.

18 Sobble – #81

Sword & Shield

The Water-type starter from Galar may have some awkward evolutions until its suave, collected Inteleon form, but Sobble is a uniquely cute Pokémon from Generation VIII. Sobble is a small lizard similar to a chameleon, with a round, squishable face, but getting too close will intimidate it, setting off Sobble’s most endearing, cute, yet upsetting features; it will bawl uncontrollably if feeling threatened. Trainers who wish to bond with Sobble won’t see this as much of an issue, making it feel safe and secure while quietly dreading its awkward later phase as Drizzile.

As a defense mechanism, Sobble can disguise itself like a chameleon when touching water, appearing almost invisible to the naked eye. Despite being cute as a button, this Pokémon is an innately skilled sniper, able to shoot jets of water like bullets. This, combined with Sobble’s tears being significantly more potent than cutting onions, means trainers don’t want to mess with Sobble, but will also recognize how much of an asset it can be as a special attacker on their team.

17 Emolga – #589

Black & White

In the anime, fans were first introduced to the Pokémon in “Emolga the Irresistible!” when Iris caught a female Emolga. With round black eyes and bright yellow dots on its cheeks, Emolga is just one those Pokémon that was destined to rank among the cutest.

Trainers first got to add Emolga to the squad while playing the fifth generation games like Pokémon Black and White and Black and White 2.Classified as a Sky Squirrel Pokémon, Emolgas dwell in treetops and collect energy stores of electricity inside of their big cheeks. When they glide or attack, they can release a burst of electricity against an opponent. Some believe that Emolga is based on an actual Japanese dwarf flying squirrel.

16 Growlithe – #58

Red & Blue

With bold stripes and orange/cream colored fur, Growlithe is an adorable Fire-type Pokémon. At first glance, Growlithe might seem to be some sort of tiger, but the Pokémon is more reminiscent of a wolf-like puppy. Originally introduced in the first generation Pokémon games, Growlithe can evolve into Arcanine with the use of a Fire Stone. Growlithe might look tough right off the bat, but the Pokémon is actually friendly and extremely loyal to its trainer. Don’t mistake its kindness for weakness, as Growlithe Pokémon are strongly protective of its territory.

Fans of the anime might recall that James of Team Rocket had a pet Growlithe in the series. Affectionately know as Growlie, James had the Pokémon as a pet when he was a child, but it remained behind when he ran away from home. Officer Jenny also worked with Growlithe and Arcanine Pokémon, which acted as police dogs in the series.

15 Piplup – #393

Diamond & Pearl

There’s something in the Water-type starters because Piplup is one of the cutest Pokémon ever created, an unsurprising development, given that it resembles a tiny baby penguin. Piplup is the Water-type starter for trainers in the Sinnoh region, with its majestic final form being Empoleon, allowing trainers to experience a similar cute-to-tough ratio to other mainstays like Charmander to Charizard, or Froakie to Greninja. Piplup’s round head, short beak, and curious blue eyes are impossible to resist.

However, Piplup has a fierce sense of pride, and nobody can blame it, with its final evolution being an emperor penguin. Unlike its flightless real-life inspiration, Piplup is capable of limited flight and even key Flying-type moves like Roost or Aerial Ace, yet it’s still a clumsy creature, often stumbling while it struggles to walk. But if trainers can stroke the ego of this adorable little penguin Pokémon, they’ll find Piplup to be a great partner in their travels.

14 Clefairy – #35

Red & Blue

A Fairy-type of Pokémon from the original Red and Blue games, Clefairy is known for being extremely shy. Whimsical and charming, Clefairy often dance together beneath the light of a full moon. When the sun comes up, Clefairy head back to bed and sleep in the mountains. The precursor form to Clefairy is Cleffa, a baby Fairy-type Pokémon that was introduced in the second generation series.

Fans were given a look at the Fairy-type Pokémon during the episode “Clefairy and the Moon Stone” from the anime series. That episode actually hinted that Clefairy might be an alien, making for a stark contrast with its adorable appearance. In the first episode of the anime series, Clefairy was even going to be Ash’s starter Pokémon instead of Pikachu.

13 Wooper – #194

Gold & Silver

Introduced in Generation II, dating back to 2000 in Ash’s journeys across Johto with “No Big Woop!” Wooper typically evolves into Quagsire, although Paldean Wooper evolves into Clodsire – their bulkier, battle-ready relatives. Wooper and its Paldean variant bring an adorable axolotl-inspired look to the Pokémon franchise. The Wooper, first introduced in Johto, is a Water-Ground type for trainers wishing to catch one. Still, in Paldea, it is Poison-Ground, with a unique evolution, Clodsire, offering strategic advantages and adorable advantages.

With an oval-shaped head and face sporting as many delightful facial expressions as its real-world counterpart, Wooper is a certified cutie. Seen as somewhat oblivious to their surroundings, Water-Type Wooper lives in the muddy beds of bodies of cold water. At the same time, Poison-Type Woopers have hardened gills and tougher bodies capable of surviving on land. With Wooper having no arms, they leave the hugging to their trainers.

12 Jirachi – #385

Ruby & Sapphire

Jirachi made its first debut during the third generation of Pokémon games, introduced in Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald. With an appearance almost like a star-themed clown, Jirachi instantly looks like a friend. The name “Jirachi” is a combination of the Russian word for “wish” and the Japanese word for wish, happiness, or fortune. Jirachi is a Steel and Psychic mythical type, and will not evolve into other forms of Pokémon.

Jirachi was prominently featured in the anime entitled Jirachi: Wish Maker. Jirachi awakened during the time of a thousand-year-old comet, and Butler controlled it to create a destructive Groudon Pokémon. Butler, Max, and Ash worked together to help Jirachi destroy the devious Groudon Pokémon by using Jirachi’s signature move, Doom Desire.

11 Snorlax – #143

Red & Blue

Introduced in the original Red and Blue games, Snorlax might be big, but it’s still adorable. Living up to its name, Snorlax is infamously sleepy and hungry in equal measure. In the generation IV games, Munchlax was introduced through the main games of Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. Unlike its evolved form, Munchlax is more of a hyperactive Pokémon with a severe appetite, often running around looking for food. Fans of the first generation games can instantly recall times when a wild Snorlax could be found inconveniently blocking one’s path.

In the anime, Snorlax was heavily featured in the episode “Snack Attack!” and Ash finally was able to capture it in the Grapefruit Islands. A long-time favorite, Snorlax also made appearances in several of the Super Smash Bros games.

10 Bulbasaur – #1

Red & Blue

A classic starter from the original Red and Blue series, Bulbasaur is a beloved favorite of many Pokémon fans. Bulbasaur is a Grass and Poison type Pokémon, with wide-set eyes, pointed teeth, and a large bulb-like seed on its back. The bulb gives Bulbasaur energy through the process of photosynthesis; as Bulbasaur soaks up more energy from sunlight, the seed will grow in size.

This cute Pokémon can evolve into Ivysaur, and later Venusaur, but its cutest form by far is Bulbasaur. Fans of the anime first saw Bulbasaur in the episode “Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village”, where Ash caught Bulbasaur by using Pikachu in a battle. Bulbasaur is known for being loyal and can help rock young Pokémon to sleep by using its vines.

9 Teddiursa – #216

Gold & Silver

A Normal type Pokémon, Teddiursa was originally introduced in the Gold and Silver Pokémon games. In the animated series, fans were delighted to see Teddiursa in the episode titled “UnBEARable”. Teddiursa relied on its sweet and innocent appearance as a ruse, distracting humans in order to steal their food.

With small rounded eyes, rounded ears, and a marking of a crescent shape on its forehead, the furry Pokémon is totally adorable. When the Pokémon is not being mischievous, Teddiursa creates honey using Beedrill pollen. When out hunting for honey, the crescent-moon-shaped marker will glow as soon as Teddiursa discovers some. Teddiursa also had an appearance in two Pokémon movies, Celebi: a Timeless Encounter and The Rise of Darkrai. Teddiursa can evolve into Ursaring, a formidable Pokémon that’s certainly more tough-looking than the sweet Teddiursa.

8 Skitty – #300

Ruby & Sapphire

With pink and cream-colored fur, Skitty is an adorable feline Pokémon. Originally appearing during the third generation Pokémon games, Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, Skitty is classified as Normal-type Pokémon. Given its rounded face, oversized ears, and a puffy, balloon-like tail, Skitty certainly meets much of the cute criteria. When used in battle, Skitty’s tail can become deadly, puffing out and intimidating opponents.

Skitty is known for being obsessed with moving objects, often chasing its own tail until it becomes dizzy. In the anime, a super cute Skitty appeared in the episode “I Feel Skitty!”, and it was captured by May. Fans were also given a look at Skitty in the episode “Big Meowth, Little Dreams”, where Meowth fell madly in love with a Skitty.

7 Vulpix – #37

Red & Blue

Originally introduced in the first generation games, Vulpix is a Fire-type Pokémon. With a fox-like design, Vulpix has a reddish-brown color, large eyes, pointy ears, and six curled tails. Vulpix are born with one colorless tail, which eventually splits into other tails and changes color as the Pokémon ages.

The fire Pokémon is known for having a flame deep within its body, which leads to the its ability to control fire in a precise manner. In the animated series, Brock had a Vulpix in the episode “Pokémon Fashion Flash”, but later returned it to Suzie in the episode Beauty and the Breeder. Much like Growlithe, Vulpix can evolve into Ninetails via a Fire Stone.

6 Squirtle – #7

Red & Blue

One of the three original starter Pokémon from the first generation games, Squirtle is an adorable tortoise-like Pokémon. With light blue skin, a rounded shell, and oval shaped eyes, this Water-type Pokémon is incredibly cute. In Super Smash Bros. Squirtle is shown running on all fours, but in the animated series, fans will also spot the Pokémon walking around on two legs. Just like a real-life turtle, Squirtle’s shell is super important.

In the anime, Squirtle’s appearance dates back to the first episode of the anime, “Pokémon – I Choose You!”. Although Squirtle was Ash’s first choice for his starter Pokémon, his rival Gary Oak had taken it. Squirtle fans can’t possibly forget the episode “Here Comes The Squirtle Squad”, where a team of Squirtles banded together after becoming abandoned by their Trainers. Ash helped out the squad, and eventually became friends with the leader of the Squirtle Squad, who joined him on his adventures. The rest of the Squirtle Squad turned into a firefighting group.