The Origins of 4 Penguin Pokemon & the Real Birds Behind Them

Penguins look like they are wearing a tuxedo. These Pokemon go one better and dress like royalty.

Here are the origins of the 4 penguin Pokemon:

All 4 Penguin Pokemon

#393

Piplup

Piplup, the Penguin Pokemon, is likely based on a young penguin, possibly an emperor penguin chick. The light blue crown-shaped marking above its beak may allude to emperor penguins, or to emperors and kings in general, and its body looks like it is clothed in a tailcoat, the outfit people often compare to a penguin's black and white plumage.

It prefers cold climes and appears along coasts, and it is as cute as any child but also prideful, unwilling to accept handouts from people. We have never once had the problem of refusing free food.

Its Torrent ability (an ability is a passive effect that works on its own in battle) makes its Water moves deal 1.5× damage once it is down to 1/3 of its max HP or less. It stands 0.4 m tall and weighs 5.2 kg.

#394

Prinplup

Prinplup, the Penguin Pokemon, is based on a penguin, and the crests on its head suggest a species of crested penguin. Its body looks like it is clothed in a tailcoat adorned with buttons, which keeps the formal look Piplup started.

It swims gracefully through the frigid sea and sings with a voice like the roaring tide, and it has powerful, sturdy wings and dignity to match. We have neither dignity nor a singing voice before noon.

Its hidden ability (a rarer ability some of its species have), Competitive, raises its Special Attack by two stages whenever any of its stats is lowered.

#395

Empoleon

Empoleon, the Emperor Pokemon, is based on an emperor penguin and on an emperor, for its royal appearance. Based on its names in various languages, it may take inspiration from Napoleon Bonaparte, an emperor of France. Its beak looks like both a crown and a trident, the weapon of the Greek sea god Poseidon. It also bears some resemblance to the royal penguin, and its ability to cut through ice with its sharp wings could be a reference to an icebreaker.

The people of Hisui have revered it since ancient times and call it the Master of the Waves, and its wings are a match for even master-crafted blades. On a good day we get a nod from the neighbor, which is the closest we come to being revered. It stands 1.7 m tall and weighs 84.5 kg.

#875

Eiscue

Eiscue, the Penguin Pokemon, is based on a penguin with an ice cube for a head. It may also draw on the great auk, a flightless bird that lived on the coasts of the North Atlantic, the British Isles included, before it went extinct. Many of its behaviors match the great auk's history: the birds floated with their heads above water, their heads turned whiter in winter, and they were hunted for fish bait. It may also take inspiration from cue sticks and the chalk cubes used on them.

It keeps its heat-sensitive head cool with ice, and it fishes by dangling its single hair into the sea to lure in prey. (We cannot even keep our own hair, let alone fish with it.)

Its Ice Face ability lets its ice head take one physical attack in its place, which changes its look, and the ice comes back when it snows. It stands 1.4 m tall and weighs 89 kg.

Egg groups decide which Pokemon can breed together. Piplup, Prinplup, Empoleon and Eiscue are all in Water 1 and Ground, a pair that only Psyduck, Golduck and Delibird also have among the bird Pokemon.