When we reflect on the inception of the Pokémon universe, it's crucial to note that the universe was not as expansive as the present. The original series had a limited number of Pokémon, each with distinctive characteristics and sizes. Nonetheless, what's intriguing is the dynamic scale of these creatures—ranging from diminutive bugs to behemoths that could easily dwarf an average human.
Parsing through the Pokédex — the official encyclopedia of Pokémon — offers us unimaginable statistics about the average size of these creatures. For instance, one could actually encounter Pokémon so small in size that they could rest in the palm of your hand. Conversely, you could also stumble upon creatures so gigantic that they find skyscrapers akin to playground slides.
The Pokémon franchise—through its animation, games, and cards—has exhibited considerable restraint in not always portraying their creatures exactly to their scale. However, we have taken upon ourselves to visualize them according to the metrics provided in the Pokédex.
To materialize this comparative analysis, Pokémon's inherent capabilities have been ignored for now. Here, we prioritize Pokémon sizes to accentuate the difference between them and understand this universe a tad bit more clearly.
Pokémon Size: Most Noteworthy EntitiesLet's start with the starters – Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle. The bulbous Bulbasaur measures close to an average microwave in size, a much larger entity than most people perceive. Next is Charmander, a little shorter than Bulbasaur but still significantly taller than an average housecat. Similarly, Squirtle stands taller than the average turtle by about double.
Then comes Eevee, whose fluffy charm oftentimes distracts individuals from its true height which is close to an average dog. Quite unexpectedly, Pikachu stays hidden in this lineup because of its slightly reduced height, coming in at a lower scale compared to Bulbasaur or Charmander.
Next, we have the three evolutionary birds – Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. Towering above the rest, these are much larger than an average human. Such is their height that even their sketches won't fit into a standard doorframe.
Then Mew and Mewtwo, legendary Pokémons possessing psychic abilities, have an average height. You could picture a basketball player standing next to them easily, without a noticeable height disparity.
In our minds, Jigglypuff was a tiny, floating balloon Pokémon. But in reality, it might be a bit larger than expected. A better comparison would be a medium-sized dog. Similarly, Chansey, another first generation Pokémon, is definitely taller than an adult human.
Now, we enter the eccentric side of dimensions featuring pokemons like Ekans and Onix. Ekans, although appearing as a small serpent, is actually as tall as a fully grown man. Onix, a colossal rock-snake, is accurately depicted in the series as it reaches an astounding forty feet.
Also, let's discuss the creepy yet popular, Gengar. Gengar appears to hover over the ground, contributing to its perceived height. Yet, in reality, it's shorter than an average adult. Gengar would probably reach your chest if it stood straight, definitely a surprising revelation.
Apart from the heights, let's not forget the Pokémon weights. Snorlax, despite its robust size, weighs less than most cars do, whereas Geodude is shockingly light for being a pokemon made of rock.
Measuring Legendary PokémonA few other Pokémon deserve a mention purely for their gargantuan size. Firstly, Gyarados— a serpent that can circle around the Statue of Liberty. However, it isn't big enough to outsize Dragonite, which stands tall at 7'03”.
The evolved form of Magikarp, Gyarados, has an enormous length of 21 feet. In contrast, Dragonite, despite being shorter, appears larger because of its physical width.
Lapras deserves a place of its own in the Pokédex's size chart too. Being sea-dwelling, this Pokémon is massive enough to carry humans across bodies of water in the Pokémon universe. It's, therefore, noteworthy that Lapras is as significant as some small boats.
Rhydon, another first-gen entrant, is a formidable sight at 6 feet tall, making it considerably larger than the average adult human. Its evolved form, Rhyperior, further expands to a towering 7 feet.
Juxtaposing Common Pokémon and Their SizesAmong the first generation Pokémon that have unusual sizes, Onyx and Gyarados stand tall. These two are incredibly long, longer than most people would guess. Onyx is presented as this insurmountable rocky serpent, an interpretation that's quite accurate given its remarkable length of 28 feet and 10 inches.
Gyarados is another lengthy creature. However, rather than being tall like a skyscraper, it's long like a limousine. Molting from the innocuous Magikarp, Gyarados emerges as a 21 feet, 4-inch long behemoth of the sea.
Interestingly, Charizard is a mere 5'7” according to the Pokédex. This might upset some fans since it's far from the terrifying, towering figure often conjured up in one's mind when thinking of the fire-breathing dragon. A human standing 6 feet tall would decidedly dwarf Charizard.
It's intriguing to note that Nidoking and Kangaskhan, too, were significantly taller than fans would have imagined. They both stand at the height of an average NBA player.