Pokémon Crystal was the first Pokémon game to feature animated Pokémon sprites during battles.
The Game Boy Color title expanded Pokémon Gold and Silver with visual and gameplay refinements. When Pokémon entered battle, their sprites moved briefly rather than remaining completely static, giving encounters a more lively presentation.
Crystal also introduced the choice of a female player character, a storyline centered more strongly on the Legendary Pokémon Suicune, and other changes to the Johto adventure. It was released after Gold and Silver as the enhanced third version of the second generation.
Animated sprites in Crystal should not be confused with the full 3D models used in much later games or with Pokémon Stadium’s console presentation. Crystal’s animations were small, sprite-based movements constrained by Game Boy Color hardware. Even so, they marked an important step in making individual Pokémon feel more expressive on a handheld system.