Rival from Yo-kai Watch also starts packing on muscle to keep up with the pumped-up Pokémon.

Recently, a super-buff Pikachu appeared, as Pokémon fans gawked at the amazingly detailed artwork Japanese Twitter user @bankokukun created by applying shading to a children’s coloring book filled with ordinarily cute Pocket Monsters. Now, @bankokukun has posted a follow-up, in which Pikachu and some of his apparently intensely dedicated weightlifting buddies show off their bulging biceps and other muscles in full color.

▼ Are Dedenne and Zygarde are hanging out on top of Pikachu’s head because they’re buddies, or because the Pokémon franchise mascot needs a heavier squat workout?

Starting from a black and white sketch of Pikachu, Dedenne, and Zygarde, @bankokukun set to work reshaping their physiques and expressions into intense expressions of their love of muscle hypertrophy.

▼ The coloring’s intermediate stage

And it’s not just the cast of Pokémon who pump iron in @bankokukun’s artistic visions. For example, here’s Komashura (known in Japan as Shurakoma) of rival series Yo-kai Watch.

We don’t know what sparked Pikachu’s sudden penchant for bodybuilding, but one thing we’re sure of is that whatever Pokémon gym he trains at next better have a good weight room.

Source: IT Media, Twitter/@bankokukun

Follow Casey on Twitter, where he really feels like it’s time to do some ab work.