It was confirmed by the Pokemon art director Ken Sugimori that they used their Pokemon game designer Kōji Nishino as a model for Snorlax.
“[Nishino], with this [huge] appearance, was the model for the Snorlax Pokémon,” Sugimori said. “Though, he’s abnormally fussy about cute things.”
According to ComicBook.com, the designer has been with the company since the creation of Pokemon Red and Green in 1996. He has more than 24 Pokemon-related credits, which include Red and Green, Blue, Yellow, Gold and Silver, Ruby and Sapphire, Black and White, and Sun and Moon.
Nishino has also appeared in-game in Pokemon Black and White and Pokemon Black and White 2 in the Game Freak building in Castelia City.
Sugimori has also stated that the Pokemon’s Chinese name, Kabigon, is based on a nickname Nishino has. According to Kotaku, “Kabi” means “mold” in Chinese, and Nishino got this nickname because he was a habit of eating food that has gone moldy. This habit is transferred in Snorlax, whose stomach “enables the Pokemon to eat moldy food without feeling any ill effects.”
Here is how they look side by side:
Did you know Snorlax shoots his hyper beams out of his eyes?
- Is that why its eyes are always closed?
Plot Twist: Is that why Brock’s eyes are always closed?!
