Want some nostalgic cuteness on your desk? It seems The Pokemon Company doesn't want you to have any. We can't think of a more perfect way to showcase your love for Pokemon than a "succulent monster" as they're called by their creator, Claudia Ng. Succulents are a wide variety of cactus-like plants that store water in their thick, fleshy leaves, which is why they are referred to as "fat plants." But at this time, the original design of this Shapeways planter has been taken down due to copyright issues. It seems Nintendo wasn't too happy with someone else profiting off their IP. Unsurprising, yet unfortunate. However, there's another low-poly version of Bulbasaur available on Thingiverse that you can still create!
The whole copyright issue seems reflective of a larger issue in the 3D printing ecosystem. While it's completely fair to expect some backlash when you're trying to profit from a very protected piece of intellectual property, should the creator and the community as a whole be chastised for creating things they enjoy - things that make them happy - just for the fun of it? If the bulbasaur planter were available free, does it really harm the Pokemon Company? What do you think? Sound off below!
There are many types of succulents you can buy for pretty cheap. We found these succulents on etsy, and a great blog on the subject called Succulents and Sunshine, if you're interested in making your own unique planters.Â
