Do you know that a number of of the Mega Evolutions in Pokémon have some component of the letters “X” or “Y” of their designs? It’s true! Whereas they don’t actually appear like the letters usually, some elements of their designs resemble the names of the 3DS Pokémon video games they initially debuted in again in 2013. When one Pokémon pixel artist and commentator referred to as TAHK0 pointed this out on X, he was bombarded with hateful responses. The place some folks would retreat and attempt to ignore the harassment, TAHK0 as an alternative made a two-and-a-half-hour-long video breaking down how nearly each considered one of these superpowered transformations has some a part of their design that’s based mostly on “X” and “Y.” If that’s not dedication, then I don’t know what’s.
it has been over 15 years and pokemon followers and fakemon artists have but to catch on that just about all mega pokemon up so far have been formed like an x or a y
will this proceed to go unnoticed when new mega pokemon begin changing into z formed keep tuned
— TAHK0 ☕️ (@TAHK0) February 20, 2025
In an interview with Kotaku, TAHK0 says he didn’t count on this remark to be as controversial because it was, and that by the point he realized folks have been mad about it, he’d already spent a while joking with detractors.
“It was just like any other throwaway half-joking over-exaggerated tweet I wrote after waking up, and I only realized things were going wrong after about an hour afterward when things started taking off,” he says. “I had thought after pointing it out, it would be clear to everyone, so I was originally replying with jokey answers since I thought they’d be in on it like an upside-down Mega Camerupt— But everyone was taking it very seriously and were very angry. That’s when I knew it was out of control.”
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A number of of the arguments, as TAHK0 factors out in his video, appear to be rooted within the assumption that this design motif signifies that Pokémon should actually be formed like an X or Y–suppose a letter puppet from Sesame Avenue–whereas others pointed to particular photos of the Pokémon in query by which this high quality is de-emphasized in an effort to “debunk” the idea, slightly than trying on the Pokemon’s design as a complete. However TAHK0 is right. Typically it’s greatest seen when viewing a Pokémon from the entrance, slightly than the aspect as some art work depicts them. Within the video, TAHK0 factors to the Aphantasia Test, which illustrates how folks’s talents to think about objects of their thoughts range, and for some, a bit of artwork which, out of necessity, depicts an object (or, on this case, a Pokémon) from a specific angle could make it troublesome to examine the way it appears from all angles, leading to a number of the disagreements folks have had with this idea on-line. The important thing to a whole takedown is anticipating all of the bad-faith arguments somebody goes to make, in addition to the trustworthy misunderstandings some might have, and as somebody who has much less persistence than he used to for folks willfully misinterpreting the issues I say, I gotta hand it to TAHK0 for addressing nearly each argument in good spirits.
The video goes via all of the Mega Evolutions that have been revealed previous to Legends: Z-A’s launch, and likewise breaks down lore components like how Mega Evolution originates from X and Y mascots Xerneas and Yveltal, who’re distinctly and deliberately formed like their respective letters. Some monsters, like Metagross with its 4 arms or Absol with the wings on its again, are very clearly formed like an X or Y, whereas others, like Sableye, have a hidden component of their character design that references letters. Watching the video was fascinating for me, as somebody who was largely prepared to purchase the idea, however hadn’t stopped to have a look at each Mega Evolution to confirm. Some I hadn’t even thought-about caught me off guard.
TAHK0 says he felt “discouraged” after the preliminary pushback, however as new Megas from the then-unreleased Pokémon Legends: Z-A have been revealed, like Mega Dragonite and Mega Malamar, which each have fairly noticeable Y silhouettes, he felt extra emboldened that it wasn’t all, as some detractors stated, a “giant coincidence.”
“After the tweet left my audience, I remember addressing most arguments pretty early on, but it got such a viral reaction that I couldn’t keep up with answering everyone, and not everyone would see my responses to others, so then their responses started being about how I wasn’t responding to anything,” he says. “My own initial jokes were being taken seriously, so being light-hearted wasn’t the play, and any disagreement on my part was taken as me having my head up my own butt. So responding to every possible argument I could, while being light-hearted to make sure this time it was clear it’s not that serious, seemed like the only way I could ‘get out alive,’ so to speak. People were originally way more quick to believe a confident argument against me than anything I could respond with, which unfortunately is how the internet has worked for a long time now.”
Whereas TAHK0 was engaged on his feature-length response for his YouTube channel, maybe the largest piece of proof within the Pokedex was revealed: Mega Raichu X and Y. These long-overdue Mega kinds for the ultimate stage of Pikachu’s evolutionary line are set to affix Legends: Z-A within the RPG’s Mega Dimension DLC, and their very apparent “X” and “Y” silhouettes have basically been the silver bullet for the entire dialogue, and TAHK0 notes that the onslaught of jokes at his expense on unrelated posts and content material have “vanished” in a single day.
“When Mega Raichu X and Y were announced, I remember being so excited while simultaneously so relieved with how obvious and clear they made [the X and Y shapes],” TAHK0 says. “If you go back and watch my reaction, I actually couldn’t form a sentence. It was a lot all at once after dealing with a not-so-good time for eight months. Also, Pikachu is my favorite Pokémon, so it was pretty fitting.”
TAHK0 says his breakdown of each particular person Mega Evolution has modified some minds, and that he generally will get a pleasant remark from randos saying they’re now “a believer.” Now that Legends: Z-A is out and introduced with it a number of new Mega Evolutions, it appears like Recreation Freak isn’t holding as tightly to the design motif, although Dragonite, Raichu, and others do preserve that spirit alive. The sport even goes out of its option to present that Mega Zygarde, one of many final Mega kinds the participant receives in Legends: Z-A, has a definite X, Y, and Z on the cannon it holds after it transforms. So if X and Y set the stage for this design motif, Legends: Z-A is driving it dwelling. Will these apparent examples be sufficient for many who are nonetheless digging their heels into the bottom over it? Possibly not. However within the meantime, TAHK0 says he’s open to “non-threatening” dialogue and disagreements. Particularly with a minimum of a couple of extra Mega Evolutions nonetheless on the way in which when Mega Dimension launches.
“Obviously, now I would prefer they stick to the letter theming, but I’m pretty indifferent,” he says. “I’m a big fan of creator’s intent, so [new Megas] could be whatever-themed and I would still be excited. Learning about their design and lore decisions is the fun part for me.”
