An Unassuming Ghost Pokémon Has Creepy, Real-Life Origins

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Sableye, the unassuming Ghost-Dark hybrid, is actually based on a real-life monster encounter. Introduced in, this Gen-3 Pokémon quickly became a fan favorite for its unique design and adaptability in battle, thanks to its hybrid nature and prankster abilities. Its anime debut came in, where it was wielded by Cassidy of Team Rocket. While portrayed Sableye as harmless, that perception would change with its main-series debut. The episode “Ready, Willing, & Sableye” is where it would be more accurately depicted as the real-world creatures its design is based on.

It's true that concepts for some of the most well-loved and adorable Pokémon were inspired by real legends from around the globe, some of which are the kind that induce nightmares. While Sableye's appearance may be cute and unassuming, the creatures that inspired its creation are the kind one would find in horror movies and spooky campfire tales. Adding to the creep factor is the possibility that they might have been real or, at the very least, truly feared. Sableye, in particular, pays homage to the Kelly-Hopkinsville Goblins case,one of the eeriest and best-known paranormal events in American history.

The fateful encounter that would inspire Sableye happened on the night of August 21, 1955. The family of a widow named Glennie Mae Sutton Lankford gathered in her small home in the town of Kelly, Kentucky. The party of 11 people consisted of Lankford’s children, their spouses, and a few family friends. When Elmer Sutton and friend Billy Ray Taylor went out to fetch some water, their night of horror was soon to begin. Taylor saw a light that seemed to be descending from the sky, landing somewhere not far from the house. He was certain it was a UFO.

Back inside, Taylor was met with skepticism from the rest of the group. However, their doubt quickly turned to dread when the dogs outside began to bark frantically. When Taylor and Sutton went back outside to investigate, they encountered the creature that would