For all the real-world influences that have gone into the creation of each Pokemon region, lack of Australia-inspired worlds and areas has been a bit surprising.
Since this is obviously a travesty, Twitter user VivinkArt decided to remedy that by making some cheeky logos of what a hypothetical Pokemon Australia game would look like.
But the best was saved for last as they also drew up the perfect champion for Pokemon Australia: the one and only Steve Irwin.
It wouldn't be the perfect Pokemon Champion for the Australian region if it wasn't Steve Irwin! ? pic.twitter.com/eN0FVsIqQa
— VivinkArt (@VivinkArt) March 8, 2019
Trainer Irwin’s messy hair and trademark khaki outfit are completely on point, as was the choice to have Totodile and Krokorok, two crocodile Pokemon, as his chosen creatures.
VivinkArt wasn’t done there as they also drew up sprites of Trainer Irwin in the style of those old-school Pokemon games.
Some sprites were requested so I drew some up. Feel free to use them! pic.twitter.com/6sGoffiSZs
— VivinkArt (@VivinkArt) March 10, 2019
These Trainer Irwin drawings dropped a couple of weeks after what would’ve been Steve’s 57th birthday and sort of became an unexpected wholesome tribute to the beloved wildlife conservationist.
As much as we want a much-long overdue Pokemon Australia game, it won’t be happening anytime soon as the next games in the series, Pokemon Sword and Shield, will be set in the UK-inspired region of Galar.
But hey, if Nintendo were to make a Pokemon Australia or something – and it’ll happen one day considering how the games continue to sell like crazy – they’ll already have some ideas on how to pay tribute to Steve thanks to VivinkArt’s great work.