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A talented Pokémon fan artist recently showcased their creative prowess by crafting a short animation featuring the Paradox Pokémon, Sandy Shocks, in the delightful style of the Paper Mario games. This imaginative work of art was shared on social media, garnering admiration from players of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. They commended how Sandy Shocks’ design seamlessly fits within the aesthetics of the Paper Mario universe.
As an exclusive Paradox Pokémon featured in Pokémon Scarlet, Sandy Shocks boasts the Electric and Ground dual-type, accompanied by impressive special attack and speed statistics. With a base stat total of 570, in line with other Paradox Pokémon, Sandy Shocks proves to be a formidable contender in the hands of a skilled Pokémon trainer. Thanks to its ability, Protosynthesis, which enhances its stats through the use of Booster Energy or the move Sunny Day, coupled with powerful moves like Thunderbolt and Earth Power, Sandy Shocks has risen to popularity among Paradox Pokémon enthusiasts in the ninth generation. This surge of popularity has even led fan artists to reimagine the Paradox Pokémon in various ways.
One Reddit user, going by the name TimDrawsStuff, took it upon themselves to transform Sandy Shocks into an enemy one might encounter in the Paper Mario games. Renowned for their previous creations such as Fidough and Dachsbun, TimDrawsStuff shared a captivating 16-second video of Sandy Shocks in action on the r/Pokemon subreddit. While Sandy Shocks typically features stony tufts across its three main segments, the animation ingeniously incorporated bouncing motions that reverberated throughout the Paradox Pokémon’s body. Although the animation itself lasted a mere second, it was seamlessly looped, creating a continuous, captivating effect. The artist also heightened Sandy Shocks’ three eyes and body markings with vibrant coloration, and added a white outline around its form, giving it the appearance of a charming paper cutout.
The remarkable work by TimDrawsStuff earned them praise from players of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Commenters pointed out how Sandy Shocks’ design seamlessly adapts to the Paper Mario style, applauding the artist for capturing the lively essence of the animation. One user even drew parallels between Sandy Shocks’ redesign and characters from the Patapon series, a comparison the artist acknowledged and appreciated. With the release of The Indigo Disk DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet slated for winter 2023, fans can only anticipate whether other Paradox Pokémon will receive similar imaginative treatment from fan artists in the future.
While the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remake is set to debut in 2024, artists are already hard at work recreating various characters in the series’ beloved art style. Only time will reveal the exciting creations and interpretations that gamers and fan artists alike will conjure to keep the enthusiasm alive.