Background
コンセプトパック ポケキュンコレクション - Concept PokéKyun Collection is a 2016 set of 32 cards that was marketed toward female collectors. It relies heavily on themes of cuteness and Pokemon interacting with each other or with humans.
One unique characteristic of this set is that each card has a set of “charms” associated with it, meant to better convey the emotion related to each illustration. While the meaning of each charm may not have an obvious answer, I have done my best below to try to make a connection with each of the artworks.
Charms
| Charm |
|
|
Meaning |
Description |
 |
Ribbon |
 |
Charming |
Fully cute! It’s a maximum girly ribbon charm★ Women are attracted by extremely cute illustrations, and ribbon charms are lucky. Pay attention to the little touches in the background♪ |
 |
Heart |
 |
Close friends |
The heart charm looks good and best given to friends♡ When you’re with that little one your heart is warmed. Heart charms have such happy illustrations. You can see there’s so much fun! |
 |
Clover |
 |
Pure |
You’re sure to find the most pure, immaculate heart with the clover charm. Oh my! Your expressions and behaviour, they’re so precious. This is such a blessing. These clover charm illustrations of purity are so soothing. |
 |
Droplet |
 |
Sorrow |
Sadness comes with the droplet charm; a small sadness, such as loneliness. The droplet charm illustrations make you feel that way. …Sadness prepares us for happiness. |
 |
Star |
 |
Magnificent battler |
The star charm sparkles like a brilliant fight! Believe in yourself and stand up against any opponent! These beautiful battle illustrations with the star charm — it’s hard to not admire them. |
 |
Book |
 |
Story |
The book charm guides us to the hidden story of Pokemon in the illustrations. When a book charm is attached to an illustration, that means another card follows it. Find the continuation and try to complete the story. |
Cards
Chikorita 1
Clover (Pure), 
Heart (Close friends)
The Pikachu chases Chikorita down the stairs. The clover represents the innocent play, the yellow heart representing the close friendship with Pikachu.
Shroomish 2
Droplet (Sorrow)
Shroomish sees it’s own frowning reflection in the pond. Clearly it’s sad about something. Maybe it’s lonely.
Charmander 3
Book (Story), Clover (Pure)
The teal colour of the book connects the story of the Charmander and the boy growing up together. The white clover could be pointing to the innocence/naivety of the boy as he is being bullied by a Charmander.
Charmeleon 4
Book (Story), 
Heart (Close friends)
The boy appears to have formed a relationship with the Charmeleon as they study together. The red and yellow could be a reference to the flame of the Charmeleon. The two could be a reference to the Charmeleon being in it’s second evolution.
Charizard 5
Book (Story), 
Heart (Close friends)
There are now three hearts. The white heart could be a reference to the snow being shielded by the Charizard, or more likely a reference back to the original white clover implying the Charizard has fully opened his heart to the boy.
Flareon EX 6
Ribbon (Charming) → Red, Blue, Yellow and White
It’s just a Flareon being cute. The colours are likely a reference to Flareon, Vaporeon, Jolteon and Eevee.
Flareon EX 7
Heart (Close friends), Clover (Pure)
Flareon and friends (one heart each). The clover is likely in reference to the puppy dog eyes and head tilt.
Snorunt 8
Clover (Pure)
Two Snorunt building a snow-pikachu (and tiny Pikachu cameo in the back! very wholesome).
Pikachu 10
Heart (Close friends), Clover (Pure) → Yellow and green
Four Pikachu in a pile, four charms. The yellow and green clovers match the overall colours on the card. The two hearts seem to match the colours of the flowers too.
Raichu 11
Book (Story), Clover (Pure)
Raichu takes a nap on some flowers. Very pure. The pink book colour matches the Flower Crown card #31 implying the flower here are the same ones.
Froslass 9
Droplet (Sorrow) → Purple, White, Purple
The Pokedex entry for Froslass: “Legends in snowy regions say that a woman who was lost on an icy mountain was reborn as Froslass.” The sadness in the card may reference that lore, the colours of the droplets matching the Froslass colours.
Dedenne 12
Clover (Pure), Ribbon (Charming) → Red and White
Sleepy card, similar to Raichu and both have the clover. The two ribbons may be in reference to the cute pattern of the fabric the Dedenne is sleeping on.
Wobbuffet 13
Ribbon (Charming)
Female Wobbuffet stands in front of a vanity table. The red ribbon probably a reference to the lipstick (which also shows up as a detail in the background)
Gulpin 14
Heart (Close friends)
A Gulpin and a boy playfully hold a fork on their lips. The charms indicate their close friendship, the reason for the chose red and yellow colours isn’t clear.
Jirachi 15
Ribbon (Charming)
Jirachi flies in the air above a carnival? The blue ribbon may once again be pointing to the background (the heart shaped trajectory, how charming). Or maybe just the blue accessories Jirachi wears by default.
Espurr 16
Ribbon (Charming) → Red, white and yellow, Heart (Close friends)
A girl puts accessories on her Espurr. The ribbons likely referencing to the various accessories worn by the Espurr and the red heart for the bond between the girl and her Pokemon.
Meowstic 17
Heart (Close friends)
A male and female Meowstic together in front of a fireplace. The theme of romantic love is apparent, which rarely shows up in Pokemon card illustrations.
Yveltal 18
Star (Magnificent battler) → Red and white
Perhaps the most aggressive card from the set with Yveltal in an attack position, so the stars are not surprising. The colours also match the Yveltal colour motifs.
Gardevoir EX 19
Heart (Close friends), Ribbon (Charming) → Red and blue
A Gardevoir, Kirlia and Ralts. The two hearts which use the colours of the evolution line indicate some kind of relationship between the Gardevoir and the other two. Friends? Mother-daughters? Is the the same Pokemon over time? Unclear. The ribbons are also unclear, unless they are just referencing the other two Pokemon making a cameo in the artwork.
M Gardevoir EX 20
Star (Magnificent battler) → Blue and red, Heart (Close friends)
This one is more obvious. The blue represents the shiny Gardevoir and the red is for the non-shiny (there’s no green heart). The charms indicate that they are both powerful and have a friendship.
Flabébé
Clover (Pure)
An annoyed looking Flabébé. I’m guessing they chose the pink clover because it resembled the flower the most.
Floette 22
Star (Magnificent battler), Ribbon (Charming)
This Floette is also in an aggressive battle pose. Perhaps the “charming” aspect are all the different poses and colours in the background.
Swirlix 23
Ribbon (Charming) → Red and blue
A Swirlix laying on a pile of desserts. I think the desserts are what make the card cute and charming.
Slurpuff 24
Ribbon (Charming), Heart (Close friends)
Again, similar to the Swirlix card, the pancakes are the charming element. The heart is because the Slurpuff has three Swirlix friends all eyeing the pancakes.
Sylveon EX 25
Ribbon (Charming) → Red, yellow, blue and white, Heart (Close friends), Book (Story)
This yellow “story” illustration is paired with the other Sylveon card. It looks like the Eevee is approaching the Sylveon, and waking it up. The ribbons are in reference to the Eevee (white) and the main elemental forms it could take. Maybe the red heart is hinting to the friendship from the Eevee to the Sylveon.
Sylveon EX 26
Heart (Close friends), Book (Story)
Presumably the same Eevee and Sylveon now playing together. Now the elements are shown as hearts, hinting to at the friendship from the Sylveon to the Eevee. The white ribbon shows up again, referring to the Eevee in the card again.
Diancie 27
Ribbon (Charming) → Red, white and yellow
Diancie in a field of flowers/Floette. The ribbons likely reference the Floette in the background. But they really should have used blue instead of yellow… Unrelated, the castle in the background is referenced in the holo design.
Swablu 28
Clover (Pure), Heart (Close friends)
Three adorable baby Swablu siblings in their yellow nest. Self-explanatory.
Altaria 29
Heart (Close friends), Ribbon (Charming)
An Altaria with it’s two friends, Dedenne and Sylveon. The two hearts for the two friends and matching the colours of the Altaria. The ribbon might hint to the cute abstract elements that make up the background details of the artwork.
Fletchling 30
Ribbon (Charming) → White and red, Heart (Close friends)
Two Fletchling (note, two ribbons with similar colour motif) help a girl put flowers and ribbons in her hair. The heart being the connection between the human and the Pokemon.
Flower Crown 31
Book (Story), Ribbon (Charming)
The story referenced is the Raichu being sleepy in the flower field. Did it make the crown? The yellow ribbon could be a reference to the Raichu.
Wally 32
Heart (Close friends)
Three hearts because Wally just really likes his Ralts ok.
Shaymin EX 212/XY-P
Clover (Pure) → Green, white and pink
This promo card came in the larger PokéKyun box set. I really think they just chose those charms because of the shape and colour coordination with the Shaymin.
Other cards
Two other promos have a PokéKyun connection. I’ll leave it as an exercise to the reader to figure out these ones.
Pikachu/Nicole Fujita XY-P
Ribbon (Charming), Heart (Close friends)
Psyduck/Junichi Masuda XY-P
(sorrow), Heart (Close friends)
