‘Similar Art Styles Make the Comparisons Inevitable’ — Palworld and Pokémon Fans Are Arguing Over Whether New Whale Pal Panthalus Copies Kyogre
Fans of Palworld and Pokémon are debating whether the new Palworld creature Panthalus, a massive legendary blue-green whale, copies the design of Pokémon’s Kyogre. Both creatures share several notable visual similarities: they are legendary blue whales with white bellies and flared fins, and both feature tribal-like markings across their bodies.
The main difference between the two designs is that Panthalus includes a large bronze decoration, while Kyogre does not. Some fans on social media argue that Panthalus is “clearly inspired” by Kyogre and describe the design as “brazen.” However, others contend that the design is sufficiently “legally distinct” from Kyogre and point out that the concept of a mythical whale is not unique to Pokémon.
The comparison highlights ongoing fan discourse around design similarities between Palworld and established franchises. Similar artistic styles and conceptual overlap make such comparisons inevitable when creating creature designs within similar game genres. While the visual parallels are notable, the debate reflects broader discussions about creative inspiration versus direct copying in the gaming industry, with fans divided on whether Panthalus represents homage, coincidence, or design infringement.