One fan of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet has animated the evolution line for Smoliv with spellbinding results. Fan animations are no stranger to Pokemon, and this one absolutely sticks out due to the elegance in its simplicity while capturing one of the mechanics that made it as iconic as it is today.
With an audience as longstanding and fervent as Pokemon, it is no surprise that many talented members of the community use their gifts to express their love for the franchise and the treasured companions they meet and capture. Smoliv is one of the newest, having been introduced in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet as a Grass/Normal-type of Pokemon, and slots in perfectly with an evolutionary line consisting of three tiers.
Reddit user chocoholicmonkey17 captures each member of the line in a short piece of animation that paints them in a graceful light. As of the time of writing, the piece has generated roughly 350 upvotes on Reddit with only a handful of comments, meaning that while Smoliv is not blowing up in popularity like its contemporary Tinkaton with Pokemon fan art, that does make its depiction here a hidden gem unless it gains traction later on. The style does not deviate significantly from the game's depiction of the Olive Pokemon, but it still sticks out because they are framed with a background resembling a card. There's also a cleanness to the animation because of this contrast and helps to make the details in each of the evolutionary forms stand out.
There is something to be said about the Pokemon community with the love it gives to Pokemon that do not stick out as much as others do. Something like Smoliv is less likely to receive a hand-knit crochet like Sylveon, but that doesn't mean it is without fans wishing to express adoration while flexing creative talents at the same time. One of the most admirable things about Pokemon and franchises like it is the works of fan art that vary from mainstays like Eevee and Pikachu to new additions like Sprigatito and Tinkaton, which are all created with the same love and passion.
Smoliv is no exception to this, as there were pieces of adorable fan art before Pokemon Scarlet and Violet launched. Although it might not be the fastest Pokemon in the game's lineup, its Special Attack and Special Defense more than make up for that shortcoming. It will likely be the last to go in any given turn, but Smoliv still has the potential to be a valuable companion to any trainer adventuring in the Paldea region, and clearly, it has become that for a subset of the community.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now for Nintendo Switch.
