Macabra was originally designed to resemble Flaaffy.
For a short while, it was a proposed evolution of Dreamdery.
Design origin[]
Early concepts and designs for Macabra.
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Macabra originally drew inspiration from the mythical creature Ao Ao, a "sheep-like creature that eats humans". The current design and concept has grown to be more inspired by the common idiom of a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Though initially designed to hunt and wear the wool of Flaaffy, the design was quickly reworked to bear a more generic woolly appearance, and the rivalry between Macabra and Dreamdery was soon established.
Though not part of the initial concept, some similarities to the more commonly known folkloric creature Chupacabra (specifically its preying on sheep) influenced elements of the Pokémon, such as its name.
Name origin[]
Macabra's name is a combination of macabre and chupacabra.