Its design is heavily inspired by Asian sea serpents or Ryu , which symbolize good luck. Some folklore also links it to the Korean Imugi , giant serpents that must find a jewel to become true dragons. The Banned Anime Episode
"The Legend of Dratini" refers both to the mythical status of the Dratini species and a famous, controversial episode of the original Pokémon anime. The "Mirage Pokémon" Lore The Legend of Dratini
In the Pokémon world, Dratini was long considered a complete myth. Its existence was only confirmed about a century ago when a fisherman reportedly spent 10 hours struggling to catch one. Its design is heavily inspired by Asian sea