@MagnificentTrixie  
Yeah but i’d expect a quadruped to evolve into something similar but bigger, cooler and better.
 
This was the case of all G1-G3 (that’s the extent i played pokemon so i’m out of the loop when it comes to newer gens) starters evolved by adding new bits to the existing form.
 
Now Fennekin looks like something that would evolve into something more akin to Ninetales than a blazing twig equipped wizard.

@Sonlirain
 
It’s a baby fox that wants to learn magic. It becomes a fox in a wizard robe. That’s pretty clear cut, dude. I’ll agree that I don’t really like its ingame model, but the official art looks really good. It’s one of the better looking fire starters.

I must say i don’t really dig this design… but hten again i don’t really like designs that radically change the pokemon in general.
 
In Gen1 you could guess that a Chalizard was a Evolved Charmander because they had similar features and the “evolutionary” dimorphisms weren’t that huge.
 
Now? Look at that cute fennekin… and would you guess it evolves into this thing?
 
Sure older gens also had pokemon that had somewhat redical evolutions like Magikarp but in gens past 3 it’s like EVERYTHING evolves like this.