Puberty seems like a good analogy. It's jarring because it's instantaneous, but it's not like their brain gets wiped clean in the process. Other people have mentioned the show's charmander turning into an increasingly rebellious shithead, and the games describe some evolutions as having drastic behavior changes.
And Caterpie, who was a real sweetie, seemed to be consistent when he evolved to Butterfree. Of course in between when he was a Metapod he didn't have much of a personality at all
Wait what do you mean mentally? Do they forget their memories and are reborn?
Their personality changes
Like when kids become angsty teenagers or totally a different personality?
Puberty seems like a good analogy. It's jarring because it's instantaneous, but it's not like their brain gets wiped clean in the process. Other people have mentioned the show's charmander turning into an increasingly rebellious shithead, and the games describe some evolutions as having drastic behavior changes.
They become totally different pokemon. It's basically the death of the former pokemon.
Ash's Treecko/Sceptile had a pretty consistent personality.
And Caterpie, who was a real sweetie, seemed to be consistent when he evolved to Butterfree. Of course in between when he was a Metapod he didn't have much of a personality at all