Sky Forme Shaymin (シェイミ)

Biology: Shaymin has two forms it can change between: Land Forme and Sky Forme.

In Sky Forme, it has a slender, canine-like appearance. The fur on its back becomes a mohawk, and it has a red flower petal on the left side of its neck, resembling a scarf or cape. It has flat, white ears resembling wings, a small tuft of fur on the front of its neck, and a stumpy tail.

The blooming of Gracidea flowers confers the power of flight upon Shaymin, transforming it into its Sky Forme. It reverts to Land Forme at night or if it is frozen. Sky Forme Shaymin has a courageous, energetic, and playful personality. It spreads feelings of gratitude when it takes flight. Sky Forme Shaymin has a deeper voice than Land Forme.

Land Forme: Shaymin is a small, white, hedgehog-like Pokémon. In Land Forme, it has green grass-like fur on its back and a pink flower with two leaves on each side of its head, which resembles the Gracidea flower. More flowers appear on its back whenever it feels comfortable, but when it senses danger, it rapidly hides them again. Its legs are short and its underside is plump. Shaymin is one of the shortest Grass-type Pokémon.

Shaymin can instantly purify any polluted area of all impurities in the air and transform it into a lush field of flowers. It takes in the polluted air, purifies it inside its body, breaks it down into water and light, and releases the purified substance in a violent, explosive burst. Its power varies based on the type of pollution absorbed. Shaymin can also communicate with telepathy and sense the gratitude of others.

Each season, Shaymin gathers with others in a flower field somewhere and migrates from there. This behavior is called Flower Carrying, because a new field of flowers grow wherever it lands. Shaymin is also attracted to areas where there is a lot of gratitude. Land Forme Shaymin has a shy personality and is easily scared. It also exhibits the behavior of scratching itself with its hind leg. Shaymin lives in fields of flowers. Since it camouflages by curling itself up, it can easily escape people's notice. It has been observed to like sweet food.

Shaymin is the only known Pokémon capable of learning the move Seed Flare.

Size: 1'4" tall, weighs 11.5 lbs. (Sky Forme only)

Origins: Shaymin's Land Forme is based on a hedgehog. However, its white body and the grass-like fur on its back make it somewhat resemble a Chia Pet as well. It may also be inspired by flower meadows or flower gardens. Moreover, when Land Forme Shaymin blooms with flowers, as seen in the movie Giratina and the Sky Warrior, Shaymin appears as a bouquet of flowers, which are commonly given as a sign of thankfulness, emphasizing Shaymin's role as the Gratitude Pokémon. The flower on its body resembles a Gracidea and could be based on a hydrangea, particularly the bigleaf hydrangea. It also shares, together with the leaves on its Sky Forme's neck, similarities with a poinsettia, a popular Christmas flower.

Shaymin's Sky Forme has a few aspects, like antlers, that resemble reindeer and the ability to fly could be based on Santa Claus's reindeer, but its sprightly behavior, an affinity for flowers, and the ability to fly bring to mind angels and fairies. Due to its healing abilities, it could also be based on a guardian angel. Given the appearance of the flower around its neck resembling the knot of a neckerchief, the resemblance to the green of its legs to boots or gloves, ability to fly, and more confident attitude seen in Pokémon the Series and related media, Sky Forme Shaymin may be inspired by superheroes, particularly those in the Japanese sentai genre.

Shaymin's ability to convert toxic gases into fresh air may be a reference to the environmentalist practice of removing pollution from nature for a healthier ecosystem. It could also be a reference to plants filtering non-breathable carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into breathable oxygen, or decomposer organisms converting decaying or waste materials into nutrient-rich soil for future plant growth. Its ability to transform land into a flower field in combination with its Flying-type could also be a reference to pollen and spores in the air or in the wind floating seeds.

Shaymin is from 謝謝 xièxie (Chinese for thanks). It may also be derived from 蝟 harinezumi (hedgehog) and םשמי Shamayim (Hebrew for heaven) with the latter correlating directly with Shaymin's Sky Forme.

In Animation: Shaymin debuted in Giratina and the Sky Warrior, where it was fleeing from Giratina. It thought that Giratina wanted to eat it, but in reality, the Renegade Pokémon wanted to use Shaymin's Seed Flare to open a portal from the Reverse World to the real world. It appeared in both of its Formes in the movie. This Shaymin had the ability to talk via telepathy.

In Memories in the Mist!, a Shaymin encountered Mallow after being drawn to her strong feelings of gratitude towards her late mother. Mallow took care of it until Thank You, Alola! The Journey Continues!, where Shaymin was exposed to some Gracideas, transforming into its Sky Forme, and then flew away. This Shaymin was unique in that, in its Sky Forme, its eyes resembled the eyes of Mallow's mother, instead of those of a regular Shaymin.

Shaymin made its regular animated series debut in Keeping In Top Forme!, where Marley was protecting it from Team Rocket. She, along with Ash and his friends, then spent the majority of the episode trying to take Shaymin to a flower field so it could reunite with its friends.