The Origins of 13 Bunny Pokemon & the Stories Behind Them

Pokemon gets its rabbits from the Moon. In the moon rabbit legend, people interpret the dark markings on the Moon as a rabbit, and the designs that borrow from it are among the oldest and strangest on this list. The newer ones skip the legend and take a job instead.

See all 13 bunny Pokemon in one list.

Here's every bunny Pokemon:

All 13 Bunny Pokemon

#032

Nidoran-M

Nidoran♂, the Poison Pin Pokemon, has the big ears of a rabbit and a horn full of poison. The Nidoran pair draw on lagomorphs (the rabbit family) and rodents, with aspects of venomous mammals, and on the Al-Mi'raj, a one-horned rabbit of Arabic legend. Both lines need a Moon Stone to reach their final form, which may reference the mythical Moon rabbit.

It is small but brave, and it will hold its ground and even risk its life in battle to protect the female it's friendly with. (We would accept a date from something that brave.) Its Poison Point ability has a 30% chance to poison a Pokemon that touches it (an ability is a passive effect that works on its own in battle).

#184

Azumarill

Azumarill, the Aqua Rabbit Pokemon, may combine a rabbit with a beach ball or a lifebuoy. It could also be based on swamp rabbits, which have a strong preference for wet areas and will take to the water and swim. It creates air-filled bubbles, and it covers Azurill with them when they play in rivers. We would trust a lifeguard that doubles as the pool toy with our nephews.

The rabbit in its design likely shaped its Fairy type and its Huge Power ability, whose name serves as a pun for "fortifying mochi". Both may draw on the moon rabbit legend, where people see a rabbit in the dark markings on the Moon.

#311

Plusle

Plusle, the Cheering Pokemon, is based on a cheerleading mouse, chipmunk or rabbit, and it could also be an incarnation of a positive electric charge, which explains the plus sign. It flashes with electric sparks from all over its body when it cheers on its partner, and it cries loudly if its partner loses. We also cry when our team loses, but we do not spark.

Its Plus ability raises its Special Attack to 1.5× when an ally has Plus or Minus, so it works best next to Minun in a double battle (Special Attack sets the damage of its special moves). It stands 0.4 m tall and weighs 4.2 kg.

#312

Minun

Minun is Plusle's partner, the other cheerleading mouse, chipmunk or rabbit, and it could be the incarnation of a negative electric charge. It loves to cheer on its partner in battle, giving off sparks as it does, and it gives off more and more sparks when its partner is in trouble. (Same energy as us yelling at a screen, with fewer sparks.)

Its hidden ability, Volt Absorb, heals it when an Electric move hits it (a hidden ability is a rarer second ability some Pokemon can have).

#327

Spinda

Spinda, the Spot Panda Pokemon, is based on a Qinling panda with traits of rabbits, and it also resembles a teddy bear. The swirls in its eyes are a cartoon sign of being dizzy, and its staggering steps resemble the drunken boxing style of martial arts. The dizziness may come from the Qinling mountains themselves, which suffer metal pollution that can cause dizziness and confusion in the animals living there.

The spot pattern of each Spinda is different, and it evades attacks brilliantly with its stumbling movements. We also stumble, though nobody calls it brilliant. All six of its stats are 60. Its Tangled Feet ability doubles its evasion while it is confused, which is the drunken boxing idea turned into a rule.

#427

Buneary

Buneary, the Rabbit Pokemon, is based on a rabbit, with cream fluff that may be a skirt and a rolled-up ear that may be a fashionable hat. It may also be based on The Velveteen Rabbit, the story of a toy rabbit that becomes real through love.

Buneary rolls up its ears because its hearing is far too keen, and it protects its hearing by limiting the sound that enters. (We would also like to roll up our ears, since the upstairs neighbors own a drum kit.)

#428

Lopunny

Lopunny, the Rabbit Pokemon, is based on a lop rabbit and a mountain hare, and it also resembles a fashion model in faux fur cuffs and winter boots. Its ears narrow sharply at the base like the sujimori hairstyle of the hime gyaru subculture, a Japanese street fashion with blonde hair and heavy faux fur. Mega Lopunny may be inspired by 1980s aerobics outfits, with leg warmers and scrunchies.

Its fur is warm yet remarkably light, and it kicks like a master of karate, driving back opponents with ease. The kicks may come from hare "boxing", where a female hare rises on her hind legs to fend off over-persistent males. We support her on that one.

#494

Victini

Victini, the Victory Pokemon, is based on usagi-ringo, a way of cutting apple slices so they look like rabbits. That may point to "The Big Apple", a nickname for New York City, which the Unova region is based on. It may also draw on Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, and its tail wings may be a reference to her wings.

When it shares the infinite energy it creates, the one receiving it overflows with power. We would like some of that for Mondays. Its Victory Star ability raises the accuracy of its side's moves to 1.1×.

#659

Bunnelby

Bunnelby, the Digging Pokemon, is based on a rabbit, and its ears work as digging tools, which may be a reference to trowels or shovels. Its Shiny form, a rare alternate color, has red eyes and white ear tips that may be based on albinism. It is very sensitive to danger, and the sound of a Corviknight flapping will have it digging a hole to hide underground in moments, the way we hide when the phone rings.

Its hidden ability is Huge Power, the same one Azumarill has, which doubles its Attack.

#660

Diggersby

Diggersby is based on a rabbit, but its ears work as powerful digging tools and it hangs out at construction sites, so it is probably based on an excavator as well. The brown fur on its ears looks like dug-up dirt. Its habit of lazing about after work may point to construction workers, and the fur around its waist resembles a haramaki, a belly band tied to middle-aged men in Japanese media.

The fur on its belly holds heat very well, and people used to make heavy winter clothing from fur this Pokemon shed. (We cannot even part with a sweater.) It weighs 42.4 kg in total. With Huge Power, its Attack is doubled in battle.

#813

Scorbunny

Scorbunny, the Rabbit Pokemon, is based on a white rabbit. Its Fire type may come from the fairly high body temperature of rabbits, or from tale 316 of the Jataka tales, in which a rabbit jumped into a fire as an offering and was not burnt. It has special pads on the backs of its feet and one on its nose, and these pads radiate tremendous heat once it is raring to fight, while our feet only turn cold before one.

It stands 0.3 m tall. Its hidden ability, Libero, changes its type to match the attack it used last.

#814

Raboot

Raboot is based on a rabbit dressed in an athlete's training outfit, with a tracksuit, a headband and a snood scarf. It kicks berries right off the branches of trees and juggles them with its feet to practice its footwork. We cannot juggle groceries with our hands.

Its Blaze ability makes its Fire moves deal 1.5× damage once its HP drops to a third or less.

#815

Cinderace

Cinderace, the Striker Pokemon, is based on a rabbit or hare with elements of a soccer player. Its hidden ability, Libero, may be a reference to the libero, a versatile position in football. Its place as a starter of Galar may refer to the fact that football started in England. It is skilled at both offense and defense and gets pumped up when cheered on, but that showboating can put it in a tough spot. We relate to the showboating part, minus the skill.

It stands 1.4 m tall.

Six of the 13 Bunny Pokemon Come With a Human Job

Six of the 13 bunny Pokemon come with a human role built in. Plusle and Minun are cheerleaders, Diggersby is a construction worker, Lopunny is a fashion model, and Raboot and Cinderace dress as athletes, down to Cinderace's hidden ability being named after a position in football.

Older rabbit stories still run underneath the jobs. Azumarill's Huge Power is a pun for "fortifying mochi" from the moon rabbit legend, and Scorbunny's Fire type may come from the Jataka tale of a rabbit that jumped into a fire and was not burnt.

Bunny Pokemon FAQ

How many bunny Pokemon are there?

There are 13 bunny Pokemon. Five of them have a rabbit word in their category, and the other eight have rabbit traits in their design.

What is the strongest bunny Pokemon?

Victini, with a base stat total of 600. Among the bunny Pokemon that are not legendary or mythical, Cinderace is the highest at 530.

Is Lopunny a rabbit?

Yes. Lopunny is the Rabbit Pokemon, based on a lop rabbit and a mountain hare.

Is Spinda a rabbit?

No. Spinda is the Spot Panda Pokemon, based on a Qinling panda with traits of rabbits.

Which starter Pokemon is a bunny?

Scorbunny, the Fire starter of Galar. It evolves into Raboot at level 16 and into Cinderace at level 35.