Size discrepancies in the animated series
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Aside from giant Pokémon, many Pokémon in the Pokémon animated series suffer from large size discrepancies between the information given in the Pokémon games' Pokédex and their actual animated presentation. These Pokémon are apparently "normal-sized" as far as the animated series universe is concerned. Many of Ash's Pokémon are often subject to size discrepancies, often appearing smaller than other Pokémon of the same species.
This may be a style or aesthetic decision, a depiction of juvenile Pokémon, a case of the writers not checking the information in detail, or for story purposes.
Some of the most notable size discrepancies will be noted below. This list is distinct from giant Pokémon.
List of Pokémon with size discrepancies
Pokémon | Animated series | Note |
---|---|---|
Bulbasaur 2'04" (0.7 m) |
Ash's Bulbasaur |
In the animated series, it appears closer to 1'04" (0.4 m). This could be because the Pokédex's measurement of Bulbasaur includes its back bulb. |
Venusaur 6'07" (2.0 m) |
Venusaur in Grass Hysteria! |
Venusaur's height varies appreciably in Grass Hysteria!, reaching 9'00" on one occasion. |
Charizard 5'07" (1.7 m) |
Ash's Charizard Calem's Charizard |
Ash's Charizard is taller, at about 7'00" (2.13 m) tall. Oddly enough, it is shown in Charizard's Burning Ambitions that Ash's Charizard is rather small when compared with the Charizard living in Charicific Valley.
In Pokémon Generations however, Calem's Charizard is shorter than Professor Sycamore. This aligns more closely with its official height in the games. |
Squirtle 1'08" (0.5 m) |
May's Squirtle |
May's Squirtle was shown to be unusually small, at about 1'00" (0.3 m). This may be due to Squirtle canonically being young in age. |
Wartortle 3'03" (1.0 m) |
Wartortle in The Pokémon Water War |
Wartortle are generally shown to be less than their Pokédex height and slightly taller than Squirtle. |
Blastoise 5'03" (1.6 m) |
Cissy's Blastoise |
In the animated series, they appear closer to 6'03" (1.9 m) tall. The one in Judgement Day! was nearly 7'02" tall. |
Pidgeotto 3'07" (1.1 m) |
Ash's Pidgeotto |
In the series it appears to be only 2'04" (0.7 m). |
Pidgeot 4'11" (1.5 m) |
Most Pidgeot were half as tall as their usual height in A Staravia is Born!. | |
Clefairy 2'00" (0.6 m) |
Whitney's Clefairy |
In the animated series, Clefairy are shown to be roughly the same height as Pikachu, about 1'04" (0.4 m). |
Wigglytuff 3'03" (1 m) |
Harley's Wigglytuff Nurse Joy's Wigglytuff |
Since their debut all of Nurse Joy's Wigglytuff are rather large, at about 4'03" (1.3 m), similarly to Chansey. |
Golbat 5'03" (1.6 m) |
Brock's Golbat |
Brock's Golbat is about 3'06" tall. Its wingspan varies throughout the series, peaking at 8'00" in A Hot Water Battle. |
Vileplume 3'11" (1.2 m) |
Vileplume are shorter than their normal height in Grass Hysteria! and Hi Ho Silver Wind!. | |
Meowth 1'04" (0.4 m) |
Meowth (anime) |
In the animated series, they are seen to be roughly 2'07" (0.8 m). |
Golduck 5'07" (1.7 m) |
Golduck in The Fire-ing Squad! |
In Like It or Lup It! when it was standing near Ludicolo, it was shown to be about 3'03" (1.0 m). |
Machamp 5'03" (1.6 m) |
Expert stonecutter's Machamp |
In the animated series, Machamp are more commonly shown to be roughly 6'03" (1.9 m). |
Weepinbell 3'03" (1.0 m) |
Weepinbell in Grass Hysteria! |
In Grass Hysteria!, an aggressive Weepinbell is as short as Gloom and shorter than Sunflora. Later, many Weepinbell escaping from Team Rocket are as short as 1'03" (0.4 m). |
Golem 4'07" (1.4 m) |
They are often shown to be shorter, at about 3'04" (1.0 m). | |
Ponyta 3'03" (1.0 m) |
Lara Laramie's Ponyta |
In The Flame Pokémon-athon! Ponyta was shown to be as tall as Lara which is more like size of Rapidash. |
Rapidash 5'07" (1.7 m) |
Lara Laramie's Rapidash Rapidash from Strategy Begins at Home! |
In The Flame Pokémon-athon! Rapidash was shown to be much taller, almost twice its regular size. |
Magnemite 1'00" (0.3 m) |
Magnemite's size varies somewhat over time. Brock's temporary Magnemite in Camping It Up! is longer than usual Magnemite in the animated series. | |
Gastly 4'03" (1.3 m) |
Gastly from PK15 |
Gastly is often portrayed really small. This may be due to counting gas around its round body. |
Haunter 5'03" (1.6 m) |
Haunter (anime) |
Haunter in the animated series is always portrayed half its size, smaller than Gengar. |
Gengar 4'11" (1.5 m) |
Ash's Gengar Ash's Gengar |
Sometimes Gengar appears to be larger. Even Ash's Gengar's size is inconsistent. |
Exeggutor 6'07" (2 m) |
They are usually seen as larger, at about 10'10" (3.3 m) | |
Rhyhorn 3'03" (1 m) |
Rhyhorn from Giving Chase at the Rhyhorn Race! |
In the animated series, Rhyhorn are shown to be roughly 4'07" (1.4 m). |
Rhydon 6'03 (1.9 m) |
They are often shown to be a bit smaller, at about 5'05" (1.65m). | |
Tangela 3'03" (1 m) |
Tangela are often shorter, such as in Pokémon Scent-sation! and From Cradle to Save. | |
Goldeen 2'00" (0.6 m) |
They are often shown to be larger, at like 3'10" (1.2 m) | |
Electabuzz 3'07 (1.1 m) |
They are often shown to be taller, at about 4'08" (1.40 m) | |
Snorlax 6'11" (2.1 m) |
Ash's Snorlax |
Snorlax in the animated series are shown to be much bigger, at about 9'06" (2.9 m). |
Articuno 5'07" (1.7 m) |
Noland's Articuno |
In The Symbol Life, it appears to be closer to 6'07" (2.0 m). |
Bayleef 3'11" (1.2 m) |
In the animated series, they are shown to be roughly 4'3" (1.3 m) | |
Sentret 2'7" (0.8 m) |
Sentret from A Battle by Any Other Name! |
Its size varies, sometimes measured when it's standing on its feet or on its tail. |
Noctowl 5'03" (1.6 m) |
Noctowl in Fowl Play! Ornithol's Noctowl |
Noctowl is often half its supposed size. It appeared for the first time along with Ash's shiny Noctowl which is said to by slightly smaller. Later in the series it's portrayed much bigger, size of a human. |
Ledian 4'07" (1.4 m) |
Benji's Ledian |
One Ledian was closer to 3'06" and the other was even shorter in Mountain Time. |
Quagsire 4'07" (1.4 m) |
Quagsire from The Fire-ing Squad! |
The animated series depicts them much smaller, roughly 3'03" (1 m). The Quagsire shown in Sticking With Who You Know! was as tall as Brock. |
Forretress 3'11" (1.2 m) |
Forretress from Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture |
It is sometimes shown in the animated series to be 1'08" (0.5 m), including Brock's Forretress. |
Dunsparce 4'11" (1.5 m) |
Dunsparce in The Dunsparce Deception |
In Following a Maiden's Voyage!, they appear to be shorter than a Pidgey, which is 1'00" (0.3 m). However, this may also be due to the measurement being from head to tail instead, making the mistake slightly less drastic. |
Ursaring 5'11" (1.8 m) |
Ursaring from Butterfree and Me! |
In the animated series, Ursaring are often shown to be about 6'11" (2.1 m). |
Skarmory 5'07" (1.7 m) |
Skarmory in Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture |
Skarmory is sometimes much larger. |
Smeargle 3'11" (1.2 m) |
Ilima's Smeargle |
In The Art of Pokémon, it is shown to be 2'04" (0.7 m) |
Blissey 4'11" (1.5 m) |
Nurse Joy's Blissey |
Blissey was shown to be shorter, at roughly 4'3" (1.3 m). |
Tyranitar 6'07" (2.0 m) |
Tyranitar in A Poached Ego! |
Tyranitar are clearly more than 7'00 in most of their animated series appearances. |
Grovyle 2'11" (0.9 m) |
Ash's Grovyle |
Grovyle appear to be much larger, being almost as tall as Ash. |
Combusken 2'11" (0.9 m) |
May's Combusken |
Combusken appear to be much larger, being almost as tall as May. This can be explained by its measurement excluding the feathers on top of its head. |
Lotad 1'08" (0.5 m) |
Brock's Lotad appears much smaller even when measured by length in Gone Corphishin. This, however, may have been done for comical purposes of its dish. | |
Whismur 2'00" (0.6 m) |
Matt's Whismur Whismur in Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture |
In A Poké-BLOCK Party!, a Whismur was around the size of 1'00" (0.3 m), and was notably not much larger than Max's head. A second Whismur appeared in Pinch Healing! and, while standing, came up to Max's neck. |
Hariyama 7'07" (2.3 m) |
Brawly's Hariyama |
Brawly's Hariyama is extremely small for its species. In Brave The Wave!, it appears to only be around 4'11" (1.5 m). |
Nosepass 3'03" (1.0 m) |
Roxanne's Nosepass |
In the episode Nosepass debuted in, Nosepass is far bigger than it is supposed to be, at about 5'06" (1.68 m) compared to the normal Nosepass. |
Roselia 1'00" (0.3 m) |
Drew's Roselia Mr. Shaw's Roselia |
One of the more renowned changes in size is in Roselia, which are extremely small. However, the Roselia in the animated series come up to a 10-year old's waist. An estimate would put the animated series incarnation of them at about 3'00" (0.91 m) tall. This caused much confusion when Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon Adventures both featured the Pokémon at its actual smaller size. |
Wailmer 6'07" (2.0 m) |
Poké Ride Wailmer |
Juan's Wailmer was about the same size as his Seadra in The Great Eight Fate!. The one in Leading a Stray! was shown to be more than twice the size of Ash. |
Numel 2'04" (0.7 m) |
Numel from Game Winning Assist |
In Game Winning Assist, Numel is far larger, approximately as tall as Ash and May. |
Torkoal 1'08" (0.5 m) |
Ash's Torkoal |
Ash's Torkoal was shown to be much larger, at roughly 2'07" (0.8 m). |
Grumpig 2'11" (0.9 m) |
Grumpig form Professor Oak's Pokémon Holo Caster |
In An Oasis of Hope!, it is shown to be almost twice Wobbuffet's height of 4'03" (1.3 m), and around Jessie and James's height. |
Corphish 2'00" (0.6 m) |
When eating Pokéblocks in Berry Berry Interesting, Ash's Corphish was as tall as Max. | |
Cradily 4'11" (1.5 m) Armaldo 4'11" (1.5 m) |
Byron's Cradily and Armaldo |
Both appeared to be closer to 7'5" in Byron's Gym in Dealing With Defensive Types!. |
Snorunt 2'04" (0.7 m) |
Ash's Snorunt |
Ash's Snorunt appears much smaller when locked inside a box by Team Rocket. The same discrepancy occurs in Mean with Envy. |
Glalie 4'11" (1.5 m) |
Ash's Glalie |
Ash's Glalie is extremely small compared to others of its species, appearing to be closer to 2'00" (0.6 m). |
Clamperl '1'04" (0.4 m) |
In the animated series, Clamperl are often shown to be a little bit smaller, like 0'10" (0.25 m). | |
Salamence 4'11" (1.5 m) |
J's Salamence |
J's Salamence was much taller, at about 9', as shown in Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! (Part 1). |
Metagross 5'03" (1.6 m) |
Tyson's Metagross |
Tyson's seems shorter than this in Choose It or Lose It!, at 2'11" (0.9 m). Another Metagross appeared in Noodles! Roamin' Off! and shown to be taller even than James, about 6'03" (1.9 m). |
Groudon 11'06" (3.5 m) |
Groudon in Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire |
Just Groudon's face was five times as tall as Ash's Pikachu in The Scuffle of Legends. That makes its total height exceed 20'. |
Staravia 2'00" (0.6 m) |
Ash's Staravia |
Ash's Staravia was shown to be much taller, roughly 2'11" (0.9 m). |
Staraptor 3'11" (1.2 m) |
Ash's Staraptor |
Ash's Staraptor is shown to be much taller than Ash, at about 5'03" (1.6 m). |
Buizel 2'04" (0.7 m) |
Ash's Buizel |
Ash's Buizel is shown to be a lot taller than that, about 3'03" (1 m). |
Honchkrow 2'11" (0.9 m) |
Honchkrow fom Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture |
Paul's Honchkrow was shown to be much larger, at roughly 3'11" (1.2 m). Honchkrow from Professor Oak's Lecture is even bigger. |
Happiny 2'00" (0.6 m) |
Brock's Happiny |
Brock's Happiny was much smaller, at about 1'00" (0.3 m). This may be due to her hair being counted and making her taller. |
Munchlax 2'00" (0.6 m) |
May's Munchlax |
May's Munchlax was shown to be much taller, almost as tall as Max. |
Drapion 4'03" (1.3 m) |
J's Drapion |
In the animated series, they are about twice that height, at about 8'06" (2.6 m). |
Electivire 5'11" (1.8 m) |
Mr Electric's Electivire |
In the animated series, they are closer to 6'11" (2.1 m). |
Togekiss 4'11" (1.5 m) |
Dawn's Togekiss |
Dawn's Togekiss, in her episode debut, was shown to be slightly taller than Dawn. In all episodes since, she has been shown to approach close to her hip. |
Gliscor 6'07" (2.0 m) |
Ash's Gliscor Ash's Gliscor |
Ash's Gliscor in A Breed Stampede! is shown to be half that height, around 3'03" (1.0 m). This could be because the Pokédex measures Gliscor with its tail included. |
Dialga 17'09" (5.4 m) Palkia 13'09" (4.2 m) |
Dialga and Palkia in The Battle Finale of Legend! |
Dialga and Palkia were more than 25' in The Battle Finale of Legend! and The Rise of Darkrai. |
Regigigas 12'02" (3.7 m) |
Regigigas from Pillars of Friendship! |
The awakened Regigigas in Pillars of Friendship was more than 20' tall when it revived the immobilized Titans. |
Emboar 5'03" (1.6 m) |
Bianca's Emboar |
Bianca's Emboar is shown to stand several heads above her, making it appear closer to 7'02" (2.18 m). |
Galvantula 2'07" (0.8 m) |
Galvantula appeared closer to 4'0" in Emolga the Irresistible!. | |
Beartic 8'06" (2.6 m) |
Brycen's Beartic |
In the animated series, Beartic are smaller, at about 6'07" (2 m). This is difficult to tell in the picture due to Brycen standing on his toes and Beartic's hunched, bow-legged stance |
Braixen 3'03" (1 m) |
Serena's Braixen |
Serena's Braixen is shown to be much larger, almost as tall as Serena. |
Froakie 1'00" (0.3 m) |
Ash's Froakie |
Ash's Froakie was roughly 1'08" (0.5 m). |
Fletchling 1'00" (0.3 m) |
Grace's Fletchling |
Grace's Fletchling is shown to be far smaller, at about 0'04" (0.1 m). |
Tyrunt 2'07" (0.8 m) |
Tyrunt from Professor Oak's Pokémon Holo Caster |
In the animated series, Tyrunt are depicted as being far larger than Pikachu, a species that according to the game is 1'04" (0.4 m). Tyrunt are shown in the animated series to be roughly 4'03" (1.3 m). |
Brionne 2'00" (0.6 m) |
In the animated series, a Brionne was shown to be significantly larger, like 3'07" (1.1 m). | |
Pawmi 1'00" (0.3 m). |
In the animated series, Pawmi is considerably larger, at about 1'04" (0.4 m). | |
Wattrel 1'04" (0.4 m) |
Roy's Wattrel |
In the animated series, Roy's Wattrel was shown to be significantly smaller than the ones around it's flock. |
Related articles
This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation. |