The recent installment of the Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket has added an intriguing twist by introducing shiny Pokémon. Yet, it seems the community’s focus has shifted predominantly to a new Wigglytuff card that has caught the spotlight. This popular mobile game simulates the experience of expanding one’s collection through virtual booster packs and constant new set releases. The most current set, titled Shining Revelry, features shiny versions of select Pokémon; however, it is the full-art Wigglytuff card that has truly captivated the community’s attention.
On paper, the Wigglytuff card appears quite ordinary, featuring 100 HP and an attack called Gentle Slap, which inflicts 50 damage for two energy cards of any type. Additionally, it possesses the Comforting Song ability, enabling players to heal 20 damage each turn. Despite its seemingly standard stats, it’s the striking illustration of the card that has sparked intense reactions from players.
Wigglytuff’s Striking Illustration: A Bold New Look
Comforting Song or Creepy Gaze?
The artistic depiction on this TCGP card portrays Wigglytuff, the evolved form of Jigglypuff, with a decidedly realistic flair that some find unsettling, placing it in the realm of the Uncanny Valley. Its calm expression, characterized by a mere indentation in the fur, contrasts sharply with the overwhelming clarity of its large blue eyes, which seem to gaze deeply into the viewer.
Notably, the description on the card refers to Wigglytuff as having “very fine fur,”a detail that is vividly captured in the soft fuzz covering the Pokémon. This detail creates a notable juxtaposition against its shiny, doll-like eyes. Additionally, the surreal absence of a conventional background adds to the overall strange aesthetic of the card.
Community Reactions to the Wigglytuff Artwork
“Comforting Song? Nah, Perish Song”
This Wigglytuff card was crafted by 5ban-Graphics, a renowned studio well-known for producing over 1600 cards since the Black & White expansion in 2011, usually celebrated for their dynamic styles. However, this particular rendition of Wigglytuff has not resonated well, prompting a wave of polarized reactions from players.
For example, Reddit user SmithyLK humorously remarked, “Comforting Song? Nah, Perish Song.” Others have likened its style to the aesthetics of Detective Pikachu, with another user, Accomplished_Rope699, simply exclaiming, “I hate it, I hate it, I hate it.”
Another Redditor, bafael, took a clever approach by creating a joke deck focused on making opponents view Wigglytuff for extended durations during gameplay. Suggestions from fellow players have included ideas such as lowering opponents’ Pokémon to low HP with a “gentle slap”before ceasing attacks, as proposed by naiets.
Since the launch of the Shining Revelry set, the Wigglytuff card has ignited comparisons to 90s Furby toys and generative AI imagery, earning the title “blursed”(a blend of blessed and cursed) among a vocal segment of the community. While some do find the card art charming — an opinion held by a minority — it has undoubtedly sparked vivid discussions and heightened excitement surrounding the game.
Source references: SmithyLK/Reddit, Accomplished_Rope699/Reddit, bafael/Reddit, naiets/Reddit