A newly surfaced behind-the-scenes documentary shows Game Freak using Lego bricks to plan the overworld map for Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, the 2007 Nintendo DS games. The footage offers a rare view of the studio’s early design process and illustrates how physical models helped developers shape the block-based Sinnoh region before finalising it digitally.

The documentary also shows hand-drawn route and dungeon plans, with some early layouts differing from the released game: Jubilife City appeared earlier in development, while Eterna Forest was initially smaller. Test footage indicates the games were built with full 3D elements and a controllable camera, while the documentary notes that the Underground’s mining theme was influenced by director Junichi Masuda’s father’s experience as a coal miner.