New Pokémon Grafaiai’s paintings based off Basque’s Oma Forest

A new Pokémon was revealed this morning, Grafaiai — a playful Pokémon iteration on the long-figured lemurs called Aye-ayes. Grafaiai is another Pokémon that’ll show up in Pokémon Scarlet Violet, a unique creature that’s made its home in the games’ Paldea region.

The colors that the “moody” Grafaiai paints depends on the berries it eats, the secretions of which come out of its … long fingers, one of which is extra long? That sounds about right.

Not only is Grafaiai Pokémon’s take on a real-life lemur, but the Pokémon Company appears to be pulling inspiration from a real-life forest found in Basque Country in Spain. You see, Grafaiai paints on trees in a way that’s strikingly similar to Oma Forest. We’ve reached out to The Pokémon Company to confirm the connection, but haven’t heard back. The Spanish influence has been evident throughout the entire article. Pokémon ScarletAnd Violet, it’s probably not a coincidence.

Photo by Luis Davilla/Cover/Getty images

Artist Agustin Ibarrola painted the forest’s pine trees in 1984, according to Basque Country’s tourism website. Ibarrola made all sorts of marks on the trees — together, and from different angles and perspectives, the marks create different pictures.

After the original forest suffered from disease, it was shut down to the public for a while. Nearby, the colorful forest has been reconstructed on trees using original paintings by conservators, restoration specialists, artists and conservators. The new forest is open to visitors on guided tours now, but will close again to paint more trees — 700 in total, 200 more than the 500 that stood in the original Oma Forest. It is anticipated that the process will end in 2023. Until then perhaps you can get a glimpse at it in In Pokémon Scarlet Violet’s recreation.