Earlier this week, the Pokémon Company released new trailer for the upcoming Pokémon Sword and Shield games, revealing more details about the game’s new characters, human and Pokémon alike. Region-based variant forms will apparently be making a comeback after first debuting in Pokémon Sun and Moon, as some classic Pokémon received new Galarian forms. Zigzagoon is one such Pokémon getting a new look, along with its evolved form Linoone, which is receiving an evolution itself: Obstagoon.
The Galarian Zigzagoon line is both Normal and Dark Type and now dons a black and white colored pelt to go with it. Soon after the new designs were revealed, many Pokémon fans saw a striking resemblance between them and the 1970s American rock band KISS. Aside from their rock-n-roll music, KISS is well-known for their rock-n-roll looks. The band members often appear with their faces painted over in black and white, which is what the new Zigzagoon, Linoone, and Obstagoon designs brought to mind for many.
Some found Obstagoon to specifically resemble Gene Simmons, the bassist and co-lead singer of KISS.
The Pokémon Company and Gamefreak have yet to make any official statement confirming or denying the Pokémon’s resemblance to KISS, but Simmons has taken notice.
Outside of Twitter, Simmons has elaborated on his amusement with the possible resemblance. In a statement to Newsweek, he noted that “Pokémon has been a part of [his] household for decades, ever since [his] kids first discovered them…To see Pokémon pay homage to KISS is flattering.”
It’s not the first time Pokémon fans have noticed a resemblance between Pokémon and real-life people. Back in 2016 when Sun and Moon were released, many speculated that the Pokémon Yungoos and its evolved form Gumshoos resembled the then-U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump because of the blond fur on the tops of their heads. Pokémon series producer, director, and composer Junichi Masuda dispelled the speculation in an interview with Game Informer, confirming The Pokémon Company and Gamefreak had no intention to make Yungoos or Gumshoos look like Trump.
While the world may never find out if the new Zigzagoon line was intended to look like KISS, at least both KISS and fans alike are having fun with the resemblance.