Pokémon: Lapras Evolution Finally Surfaces After 30 Years

There are all sorts of interesting and unusual Pokémon that have released over the years, particularly as we head into more recent generations, where The Pokemon Company and Game Freak have to think of ever more outlandish designs. Of the original 151, however, it does feel like Lapras is one of the most interesting.

Everything we see of it in the early years suggests that it’s a very different proposition from other ‘mons, with exceptional intelligence and an emotional willingness to help humans. Not only that, it also doesn’t come with anything in the way of a normal evolutionary line, but it turns out that could all have easily been very different, if original plans for the creature had been adopted.

The Pokemon Company

Over on Twitter/X, the user Centro LEAKS, who has become known for confirming inside information from behind the Pokémon developer’s closed walls, shared a post featuring a scan of a sketch that seemingly shows a pre-evolution for Lapras.

As many of you will already know, many Pokémon have three stages to their evolutionary line, increasing in power each time they grow. Plenty of others from the original 151 have a two-stage evolution, like Vulpix or Ponyta, but there are very few that only come in one form, with ‘mons including Lapras, Pinsir and Tauros serving as the only forms available to date.

There have been plenty of calls for additions to Lapras’ evolutionary line over the years, but the developer has been reticent to make what were clearly internal designs a reality. As such, there were plenty of responses to the post demanding change, however unlikely that may be at this point.

“Oh wait, we needed that. I always thought Lapras needed a pre-evolution,” one response read.

While another added, “Lapras pre-evolution sounds like the cutest thing Pokémon never gave us. Fans would go crazy for this.”

“Guess we’ll have to settle for a surprise evolution when we finally see it,” a third said.

With the first game of Pokémon’s tenth generation on the way next year, it could be the perfect opportunity to revisit some older designs to add to them, or even bring in new regional forms. Whether that means we’ll get any additions to existing evolutionary lines remains unclear, but a new pre-evolutionary form of Lapras would be a very cool thing to behold. In the meantime, it’s just going to be a case of sitting tight and waiting to hear more from the developer about their plans.

TV Show(s)

Pokémon

Video Game(s)

Pokemon Red and Blue, Pokemon Yellow, Pokemon Gold and Silver, Pokémon Crystal, Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, Pokemon Sapphire, Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, Pokemon Platinum, Pokemon Black and White, Pokemon Black and White 2, Pokemon X and Y, Pokemon Sun and Moon, Pokemon Sword and Shield, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Pokemon Winds and Waves, Pokemon Legends Arceus, Pokemon Legends Z-A

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Pokemon: The First Movie

First TV Show

Pokémon

First Game

Pokemon Red and Blue

Genres

RPG

Pokémon is a Japanese multimedia franchise created by Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori, launched by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures in 1996. Centered on fictional creatures called Pokémon, the series spans video games, trading cards, animation, films, merchandise, and competitive events. Players assume the role of Trainers who capture, battle, and trade Pokémon. It is one of the highest-grossing entertainment franchises in history.