This scientist uses Pokémon to teach biology and it’s a hit on YouTube and TikTok

A YouTuber uses the characters from this video game to explain scientific topics.

Social media is a great place to learn about many topics, you just have to look for the right content creators and you can discover different cases where a common topic becomes the catalyst for new learning. Like the case of Anna Morales, known as SizeMatters, an influencer who uses Pokémon as the ideal excuse to teach about biology.

In his videos, both on YouTube and TikTok, She takes one of the video game creatures and begins to unravel its real biological inspiration, since the design of these characters, although they are monsters, are based on real animals and that has allowed him to gain nearly 300 thousand followers on both platforms.

Anna Morales works as a researcher at the University of Basel, Switzerland, and is a Master’s student in Materials Science and Engineering at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). He has put all this knowledge into a YouTube channel, mainly, where he uses geeky topics, such as anime, manga and video games, to explain scientific and technological topics.

The content creator uses her social media to talk about science, comparing it to geeky topics like anime and video games. (SizeMatters)

However, One of the contents that has made it viral is the biological and scientific explanation behind Pokémon. This approach has been particularly successful on his TikTok profile, where he has uploaded videos explaining the biology of creatures such as tadpoles, cicadas and animals thought to be extinct, such as coelacanths. An idea that arose from a video on his YouTube channel that has already amassed more than 25,000 likes.

In these videos, Anna compares Pokémon creatures to their real-life counterparts, using illustrations she made herself. For example, explains why a Poliwrath has a coil in its stomach, where the design of a Relicant comes from, and what the scientific principle behind a Corsola is.

In other content, she discusses various Pokémon that are inspired by extinct animals that are only found in fossil form today. Omanyte, Kabuto and Anorith are some of the specimens that have been included.

The content creator uses her social media to talk about science, comparing it to geeky topics like anime and video games. (SizeMatters)

Although her Pokémon videos have received a lot of attention, Anna doesn’t limit herself to this topic. On her YouTube channel, you can find videos on a variety of scientific topics. From the explanation of nanotechnology concepts, theories, artificial intelligence to simple scientific experiments that can be done at home. Many of them compared to everyday issues.

Since its first generation, the Nintendo franchise has shown its inspiration in animals. Its game concept is based on themes such as bird watching and biological exploration of exploring different ecosystems to find species. Ideas that put them in a playable space where we have to train and make them evolve.

Most Pokémon have a real-life counterpart or at least a basic inspiration. Here are five examples:

Pokémon is a way to learn about animals and biology, and one content creator proves it. (Pokémon Sleep)

• Charmander: Based on a salamander, this small fire Pokémon has a flaming tail and a reptile-like appearance. Its evolution, Charmeleon, resembles a dragon, but retains lizard-like features.
• Caterpie y Metapod: These two Pokémon are the clear representation of a caterpillar and a chrysalis, respectively. Their evolution, Butterfree, transforms into a beautiful butterfly.
• Ekans and Arbok: Their names are “Snake” spelled backwards, a clear indication of their inspiration. Ekans is a basic snake, while Arbok has a more complex and menacing design.
• Pidgey and Pidgeotto: These birds are the most direct representation of urban pigeons. Their evolution, Pidgeot, is a larger and more powerful bird of prey.
• Squirtle: Based on a turtle, this aquatic Pokémon has the ability to retract its head and limbs into its shell.