AceShowbiz - Over 100 scrapped Pokémon designs—including alternate versions of Arceus, Dialga, and Palkia—have been revealed for the first time in a newly surfaced documentary chronicling the development of Pokémon Diamond & Pearl.

The previously lost documentary, created shortly after the games’ 2006 release, offers an unprecedented look at Game Freak’s creative process over the two-year development cycle that began in January 2004. The footage showcases prototype maps, early 3D field tests, and alternate iterations of Sinnoh locations like Jubilife City. It also features interviews with key developers and explores the mythology behind the Sinnoh region. Among the highlights are more than 100 Pokémon designs that never made the final cut, including unused starter candidates, regional bird concepts, and entirely original creatures such as a sandcastle family and a saber-toothed jackal with icicle fangs.

The documentary was originally produced for internal use at Game Freak and was only publicly known through a 2007 mention by director Junichi Masuda. After a copy appeared on a Japanese auction site and a second was obtained by collector Neos, archivists led by Pokémon historian Lewtwo legally purchased and preserved the footage. They uploaded it online after carefully analyzing frame-by-frame details to clarify obscured artwork and design sheets scattered in Game Freak’s offices.

This documentary illuminates the challenges Game Freak faced in transitioning the Pokémon series into its first fully 3D environment, revealing the extensive experimentation behind the Sinnoh region’s final form. The archival release offers fans and researchers a rare glimpse into the evolution of one of the franchise’s most beloved entries and the meticulous craftsmanship behind its world-building and creature design.

This article is based on reporting originally published by Gamefragger.