With maybe a select few exceptions, Charizard is one of the most well-recognized pokémon in the franchise. With that recognition also comes renown, and Pokémon fans both new and veteran alike know that having a Charizard in any form - be that as a holographic trading card, a high-level ace on a team of six, or anything else in between - means that they are a trainer that knows what they are doing.
In honor of this Pokémon series icon, let’s explore how fans have shown their love by taking a look at 10 amazing pieces of Charizard fan art.
10 Heat Wave
Charizard’s appearance just screams power, and it’s definitely not a pokémon to send more middling team members up against. Artist Ishmam reminds us of this with their rendition of Charizard. Their use of vibrant colors captures Charizard’s mastery over fire and really conveys the simple fact that a trainer doesn’t want to be on the receiving side of Charizard’s Heat Wave attack.
This art piece is such an accurate take on Charizard in the midst of battle, which is probably where most Pokémon fans are used to imagining it. No surprise, either; when it comes to fire-types, Charizard reliably brings the heat.
9 絶対王者 (Absolute King)
Charizard’s presence in Sword and Shield was wrapped in controversy, and understandably so; it was a classic example of what fans want versus what game devs want to do. After everything was said and done, Charizard still stuck around and made an impressive appearance as none other than the Champion Leon’s ace.
This was interesting on its own, as very rarely is it the case that a region champion’s ace isn’t a pokémon that’s native to the respective region. Of course, Leon’s Charizard makes up for breaking this rule by being able to take on a Gigantamx form. As if Charizard wasn’t intimidating enough, artist 白森 gives fans a sense of just what it would be like to step to Leon at Wyndon Stadium.
8 Flare Blitz
As iconic as it is, it’s no surprise that Charizard is often selected as a candidate for special forms. When X and Y revealed Mega Evolution, Charizard was one of the lucky pokémon to be graced with two Mega Evolution forms.
This piece by artist Siplick pays homage to Mega Charizard X, who gets a complete design overhaul that makes it look even more dangerous than it already did. Blue flames, a black color scheme, jagged wings, and a shift in typing from fire-flying to fire-dragon all highlight the evolution, and are captured excellently in this piece.
7 Charizard
Despite this piece’s rather plain title, the work itself is the exact opposite. A common theme in the genre that is pokémon fan art is a sort of reimagining of classic pokémon designs. With a Pokédex that includes a total of 890 ahead of the upcoming expansion to Sword and Shield, Charizard has of course seen its fair share of reimaginings.
Take this piece by el-grimlock, for example, which gives Charizard a more dragon-esque twist. While Charizard isn’t actually a dragon type, when it’s drawn like this, that can be hard to believe.
6 Ukiyo-e Charizard
This piece by @thejedhenry gives Charizard the Ukiyo-e makeover and it looks fantastic. The exaggerated features and perspective make it look like a ‘mon that nobody would want to cross, which is impressive considering Charizard already looks like that.
The history behind this style also has some interesting implications: Imagine Charizard being the subject of a historical retelling. The Ukiyo-e style just enhances the idea and really gets the imagination going in a great way. What other secrets might Charizard hold?
5 Inktober Day 13
Sometimes Charizard’s appeal can be purely nostalgic. Take, for example, this awesome piece by @sketchmole. While Inktober 2019’s 13th prompt was “Ash,” the inclusion of Charizard harkens back to the days of the original Pokémon anime.
Charizard looks great in this style, and this throwback will remind fans of the fun they had sitting in front of the TV watching Ash struggle to reign in Charizard’s rebellious behavior. Finally getting to see Ash scolding Charizard is funny enough, but @sketchmole also gives the piece another comedic twist that fans of the anime will appreciate with her caption, “Dude, I told you all those donuts would make you sick.”
Yeah, those jelly donuts take us back, too.
4 Breaking Through
We’d be remiss to mention Mega Charizard X and not bring up the alternative form: Mega Charizard Y. This piece by rajewel also adds that twist of realism that makes Charizard look impressive in a different kind of way.
While the perspective may take away from the particular design aspects of this mega evolution, there’s something to be said about the idea of looking up in the sky and seeing something like this flying overhead? Talk about scary.
3 Charizard Doodle
This piece is another reminder that Charizard doesn’t have to be all scary. The reimagining done by sketchinthoughts takes the fan-favorite Gen I fire starter and gives it a twist that makes it even more family-friendly.
This Charizard looks more like one that might be found in a Pokémon Center to make visitors feel safe and welcome, and that’s not a bad thing. It speaks to the artist’s talent to be able to take a pokémon that is normally tough-looking and put a twist on it to make it seem more welcoming, and we’re definitely impressed.
2 Shiny Charizard
Okay, okay, one more “version” of Charizard for the road, this one paying homage to the hard-core collectors of the Pokémon fandom. Players probably remember the first time they encountered a shiny pokémon in the world and became overcame with the desire to catch it, regardless of whether it had a spot on their team or not. A shiny Charizard in one’s arsenal is easily worth showing off.
AshKay’s piece shows shiny Charizard looking majestic and mysterious. The drawing’s black and red coloring, illuminated by the fire of Charizard’s tail, is a sight to behold, and it is great to see shiny Charizard getting a chance to…well, shine.
1 Charizard!
With its seemingly endless forms and variations, it can be easy to forget the original Charizard in all its glory. Therefore, let’s finish this list with Charizard doing what it does best - looking like a pokémon you don’t want to mess with.
SplatterParrot’s creation serves as a reminder of that feeling of sending a Charizard out into battle for the first time or the hundredth time. It is empowering, exciting, and whether someone is a new Pokémon fan or a series veteran, one thing remains certain: Charizard will never fail to be awesome.
NEXT: Pokémon: The 10 Best Gen I Pokémon In Sword & Shield
