226: Mantine

Another Gen 2 design that felt like it was covering animal gaps left behind by Gen 1, introducing a simple little manta ray Pokemon that looks cute enough. We like the puffy face, especially since it's not too far detached from real rays. It's got a peculiar Water/Flying typing that only really makes sense in the abstract. Like, MAYBE it has a plane or kite thing going on, maybe it's simply operating on the logic of "mantas kinda look like flying creatures." It's sadly otherwise not that strange. Just yet another "what you see is what you get" kind of design Gen 2 seems fond of.

An oddity though is with Mantine's little friend there. It seems initially cute enough to include a Remoraid to give reference to the symbiotic relationship rays and remoras have, with them clinging to mantas for protection and easy transportation. But ever since Gen 4 Remorade's gone missing from ingame sprites and models! Why'd they take their friend away?!?! Give them back!!!!