003. Venusaur

Something happens when you get a third evolution, apparently. You get a 3D render for better or for worse. Venusaur to me has always been this lethargic, slow-moving, beast of a creature. As opposed to Ivysaur's problems with looking too much like a Bulbasaur or Venusaur, everyone seems to understand it's flattened body type.

The first card I want to point out is Mitsuhiro Arita's Base Set one. While I don't think it reads "Venusaur" all too well, there is something special (perhaps it's just nostalgia) about that fat, grotesque blob there. It looks so animalistic. A lot of pokémon designs give them an inherent character (as I mentioned in the Ivysaur post), whereas this illustration just makes it look like a basic creature. It's too charming to me.

Some other I want to just touch on are Shin-Ichi Yoshikawa's Expedition Base Set card and it's goofy fern hair. Hajime Kusajima's EX Crystal Guardians card has some nice things going for it but I feel the head is just off place. Finally, Masakazu Fukuda's Dark Explorers card just flat out looks like a knock off pokémon. It's probably just the style of it where it stops looking like fan art and starts looking like it's trying to be something else.

This is a great way to show a third evolution. It means business and it's coming at you. Those first two stages loved battling and enjoyed it, this one here needs to battle because it thrives off it. The great lighting, the nice use of color from the green focused Venusaur to the brown landscape and foliage. Wow is this a great illustration. The plant isn't even in it too much but that body just screams Venusaur.

This one's got a nice overhead view going for it, although I wish we were looking into the top of the plant more than we are. The little indications of a razor leaf are nice and it just feels like it's planted firmly on the ground. Again, the only thing that really bothers me is that the plant and the actual body seem to be at two different perspectives.

What? What the heck is going on with this weird green color that's used for the vines, leaves, and background? What'chu know about contrast? Not much apparently, there are splotches of color just everywhere. Your eye doesn't really know what to do or where to go when looking at it. Also, don't look at that mouth too much or you'll realize it's a tad lop-sided to the left.

Comment on your favorite, least favorite, and anything in between in the discussions.