Ken Sugimori

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Ken Sugimori (Japanese: 杉森建 Sugimori Ken; born January 27, 1966) is a friend of Satoshi Tajiri and illustrator of the original artwork for Pokémon games. He also has developed conceptual artwork for the movies, and illustrates TCG cards and merchandising. The original artwork for all 151 Generation I Pokémon was done by Sugimori.^[1]

Ken Sugimori in 2018

Sugimori's change of style over the years has been noticeable. Initially, he used a stiff, lightly shaded style using watercolors that was very reminiscent of Akira Toriyama's visual style, particularly that from 1989 onward. However, his now digitally-produced drawings of people and creatures have gradually gained more muscle definition, significantly rounder corners, heavier shading, and more natural and fluid poses.

Pokémon

The following is a list of Pokémon designed by Ken Sugimori.

Ivysaur^{[citation needed]}
Venusaur^{[citation needed]}
Nidoking^[2]
Clefairy^[3]^[4]^[5]
Magnemite^[6]
Magneton^{[citation needed]}
Gastly^{[citation needed]}
Haunter^{[citation needed]}
Gengar^{[citation needed]}
Exeggcute^{[citation needed]}
Exeggutor^{[citation needed]}
Rhydon^[2]^[5]
Gyarados^[7]
Lapras^[5]^[7]
Snorlax^[7]
Mewtwo^[7]
Hoothoot^[8]
Pichu^[9]
Sudowoodo^[10]
Unown^[2]
Torchic^{[citation needed]}
Combusken^{[citation needed]}
Blaziken^[11]
Latias^{[citation needed]}
Latios^{[citation needed]}
Kyogre^{[citation needed]}
Groudon^{[citation needed]}
Rotom^{[citation needed]}
Dialga^[12]
Palkia^[12]
Manaphy^[13]
Lillipup^{[citation needed]}
Stoutland^{[citation needed]}
Throh^[14]
Sawk^[14]
Heatmor^[15]
Durant^[15]
Reshiram^[16] (Initial draft by Keiko Moritsugu)^[17]
Zekrom^[16] (Initial draft by Keiko Moritsugu)^[17]
Xerneas (with Yusuke Ohmura)^[18]
Yveltal (with Yusuke Ohmura)^[18]
Alolan Exeggutor^[6]

Additionally, Sugimori came up with the idea for Klink's evolutionary line,^[19] although the designs themselves were done by Keiko Moritsugu.^[17]

Cards illustrated

Credits

Games

Mendel Palace (1989) - Character Designer, Character Digitalizer
Smart Ball (1991) - Game Designer, Story, Character Designer
Yoshi (1991) - Character Designer
Magical Taluluto-kun (1992) - Direction, Game Design, Graphic Design
Mario & Wario (1993) - Character Designer
Pulseman (1994) - Direction & Game Design, Graphics
Pokémon Red and Green (1996) - Character Design, Monster Design
Bazaru de Gozaru no Game de Gozaru (1996) - Graphics
Pokémon Blue (1996) - Character Design, Monster Design
Bushi Seiryūden: Futari no Yūsha (1997) - Graphics
Game Boy Camera (1998) - Special Thanks
Pokémon Stadium (Japanese) (1998) - Original Characters
Pokémon Yellow (1998) - Character Design, Monster Design
Pokémon Trading Card Game (1998) - Card Illustrator
Pokémon Stadium (1999) - Original Characters
Pokémon Gold and Silver (1999) - Graphics Director, Monster Design
Pokémon Puzzle Challenge (2000) - Pokémon Supervision
Pokémon Crystal (2000) - Graphics Director, Monster Design
Pokémon Stadium 2 (2000) - Original Character Design & Character Art
Pokémon Card GB2: Here Comes Team GR! (2001) - Card Illustrator
Pokémon Party mini (2001) - Supervisor
Pokémon Pinball mini (2001) - Supervisor
Pokémon Zany Cards (2001) - Supervisor
Pokémon Puzzle Collection (2001) - Illustrator, Supervisor
Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001) - Original Game Staff (Graphic Director: Pokémon)
Pokémon Tetris (2002) - Supervisor
Pokémon Race mini (2002) - Supervisor
Pichu Bros. mini (2002) - Supervisor
Machop at Work (2002) - Very Special Thanks
Kingler's Day (2002) - Very Special Thanks
Togepi's Great Adventure (2002) - Supervisor
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire (2002) - Art Director, Pokémon & Graphic Designer
Pokémon Box: Ruby & Sapphire (2003) - Designer
Pokémon Channel (2003) - Supervisor
Pokémon Colosseum (2003) - Pokémon Games Designer
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen (2004) - Art Director, Graphic Designer, Pokémon Designer
Pokémon Emerald (2004) - Art Director, Graphic Designer, Pokémon Designer, Package & Manual Illustration
Pokémon Dash (2004) - Package Illustration, Special Thanks
Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness (2005) - Pokémon Characters Designer
Drill Dozer (2005) - Director, Game Design
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team (2005) - Package Illustration
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (2006) - Art Director, Pokémon Designer & Graphic Designer
Pokémon Battle Revolution (2006) - Pokémon Characters Designer
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Darkness (2007) - Package Illustration
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008) - Supervisor (Original Games)
My Pokémon Ranch (2008) - Character Design (Hayley)
Pokémon Platinum (2008) - Art Director, Pokémon Design & Graphic Design
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky (2009) - Package Illustration
Pokémon Rumble (2009) - Game-Design Advisor
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver (2009) - Pokémon Design, Graphic Supervisor
Pokémon Black and White (2010) - 2D Art Director, Director of Pokémon Characters, Pokémon Character Design
Pokémon Conquest (2012) - Game-Design Advisor
Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 (2012) - Director of Pokémon Characters, Pokémon Character Design
HarmoKnight (2012) - Adviser
Pokémon X and Y (2013) - Character Art Director, Pokémon Characters Design (Director), Pokémon Design Coordination
The Thieves and the 1000 Pokémon (2014) - Very Special Thanks
Pokémon Art Academy (2014) - Very Special Thanks
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U (2014) - Supervisor (Original Games)
Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire (2014) - Character Art Director, Pokémon Characters Design (Director)
Sega 3D Fukkoku Archives (2014) - Package Illustration
Pokkén Tournament (2015) - Very Special Thanks
Tembo the Badass Elephant (2015) - Advisor
Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon (2015) - Package Illustration
Sega 3D Classics Collection (2015) - Package Illustration
Pokémon Sun and Moon (2016) - Pokémon Characters Design, Trainer Graphics Design (Lead)
Giga Wrecker (2017) - Adviser
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (2017) - Pokémon Characters Design & Concept, Design Art
Pokémon Quest (2018) - Supervisor
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! (2018) - Creative Supervisor
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018) - Original Game Supervisor
Giga Wrecker Alt. (2019) - Adviser
Little Town Hero (2019) - Supervisor
Pokémon Sword and Shield (2019) - Supervisor
New Pokémon Snap (2020) - Very Special Thanks
Pokémon Legends: Arceus (2022) - Supervisor
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (2022) - Concept & Visual Studio Supervisor

TCG illustration

For a list of cards illustrated by Ken Sugimori, go here.

Animation

1998-07-18 Pikachu's Vacation (Character Concept Art)
1998-07-18 Mewtwo Strikes Back (Character Concept Art)
1999-07-17 Pikachu's Rescue Adventure (Character Concept Art)
1999-07-17 The Power of One (Character Concept Art)
2000-07-08 Pikachu & Pichu (Character Concept Art)
2000-07-08 Spell of the Unown: Entei (Character Concept Art)
2001-07-07 Pikachu's PikaBoo (Character Concept Art)
2001-07-07 Celebi: The Voice of the Forest (Character Concept Art)
2002-07-13 Camp Pikachu (Character Concept Art)
2002-07-13 Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias (Character Concept Art)
2003-07-19 Gotta Dance! (Character Concept Art)
2003-07-19 Jirachi: Wish Maker (Character Concept Art)
2004-07-17 Destiny Deoxys (Character Concept Art)

Manga

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorer's Guide (Original Manga by Sugimori included with Guide)
Jerry Girl (Original Manga by Sugimori)
Mendel Palace - Artwork

Trivia

The character in the Pokémon anime, Kenji, or Tracey Sketchit in the English dub, may be a homage to him, especially as both enjoy creating art. This is similar to the way Satoshi, known as Ash Ketchum in the English dub, is named after Satoshi Tajiri.
Sugimori's favorite Pokémon is Gengar due to its simple design.^[20]
- Another of Sugimori's favorite Pokémon is Venusaur, but he has also said its complexity makes it his least favorite to draw.^[20]
- In a Nintendo Power interview in July 2000, he gave Hoothoot as his answer, citing a childhood pet bird that stood on one leg.^[8]
- His favorite Pokémon from Pokémon Black and White is Zekrom.^[21]
Sugimori has designed more Pokémon cards than any other artist.

References

↑ Gifford, Kevin (April 7, 2008). "COLUMN: 'Game Mag Weaseling': Just Checking In" (archive). GameSetWatch.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 (2001). ゲーム・マエストロ〈VOL.4〉デザイナー/イラストレーター編 (English translation by Shmuplations)
↑ Interview with Yomiuri about Pikachu's creation (page 5)
↑ Creator Profile: The Creators of Pikachu - Pokemon.com (archived)
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 (July 2000). 『ポケットモンスター』開発スタッフインタビュー (ページｂ)。 Nintendo Online Magazine (N.O.M). No.23.
↑ ^6.0 ^6.1 "What It Takes to Create a Pokémon." Interview with Ken Sugimori in Pokémon Ultra Sun & Pokémon Ultra Moon Edition: The Official National Pokédex, p. xiii-xxi
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 ^7.2 ^7.3 Interview with Yomiuri about Pikachu's creation (page 1)
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1 Nintendo Power Vol. 134, July 2000, p.78-79 (excerpt)
↑ Harris, Craig (February 24, 2009). "Pokemon Creators on Platinum [sic]." IGN.
↑ (July 2000). 『ポケットモンスター』開発スタッフインタビュー (ページｆ)。 Nintendo Online Magazine (N.O.M). No.23.
↑ Nintendo Dream Volume 84, February/March 2003 (English translation written by Jacob Newcomb and commissioned by Dr. Lava)
↑ ^12.0 ^12.1 Go-Pokemon.com - Pokémon Creators, Artists at the World Championships
↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20071103203031/http://blog.pokemon-movie.jp/archives/2006/07/post_85.html
↑ ^14.0 ^14.1 Nintendo Dream Vol. 201, January 2011 (Translation by Dr. Lava)
↑ ^15.0 ^15.1 Nintendo Dream Vol. 205, May 2011 (Shellspider's blog (Japanese), Translation by Dr. Lava)
↑ ^16.0 ^16.1 How Pokemon Get Made, 1up.com (Archive)
↑ ^17.0 ^17.1 ^17.2 Archive of deleted tweet by Keiko Moritsugu, explaining which Generation V Pokémon she had designed
↑ ^18.0 ^18.1 Ken Sugimori got 'artist's block' during Pokemon X and Y development. Official Nintendo Magazine (published on October 24, 2013) (archived)
↑ Nintendo Dream Vol. 204, April 2011 (Shellspider's blog (Japanese), Translation by Dr. Lava)
↑ ^20.0 ^20.1 What is your favourite Pokémon? - Pokémon Black and White interview (archived)
↑ What is Ken Sugimori's favourite Pokémon? (archived)

External links

Personal blog at Game Freak's official site (Japanese)
Ken Sugimori's Twitter page (Japanese)

Pokémon designers

Emi Ando • Hitoshi Ariga • Kanako Eo • Hiroki Fuchino • Motofumi Fujiwara
Misaki Hashimoto • Mana Ibe • Asuka Iwashita • Tomohiro Kitakaze • Fumie Kittaka
Yusuke Kozaki • Kazuyuki Kurashima • Lee HyunJung • Megumi Mizutani • Shigeki Morimoto
Keiko Moritsugu • Kensaku Nabana • Atsuko Nishida • Yusuke Ohmura • Tomohiko Ohkubo
Muneo Saitō • Ken Sugimori • take • Reiko Tanoue • Aimi Tomita • Kenkichi Toyama
Saya Tsuruta • James Turner • Takao Unno • Emi Yoshida • Hironobu Yoshida

[1] Gifford, Kevin (April 7, 2008). "COLUMN: 'Game Mag Weaseling': Just Checking In" (archive). GameSetWatch.

[Shmuplations-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 (2001). ゲーム・マエストロ〈VOL.4〉デザイナー/イラストレーター編 (English translation by Shmuplations)

[Yomiuri-5-3] Interview with Yomiuri about Pikachu's creation (page 5)

[Pokemon.com-4] Creator Profile: The Creators of Pikachu - Pokemon.com (archived)

[NOM_2000-07_b-5] 5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 (July 2000). 『ポケットモンスター』開発スタッフインタビュー (ページｂ)。 Nintendo Online Magazine (N.O.M). No.23.

[USUMPokedex-6] 6.0 ^6.1 "What It Takes to Create a Pokémon." Interview with Ken Sugimori in Pokémon Ultra Sun & Pokémon Ultra Moon Edition: The Official National Pokédex, p. xiii-xxi

[Yomiuri-7] 7.0 ^7.1 ^7.2 ^7.3 Interview with Yomiuri about Pikachu's creation (page 1)

[NintendoPower134-8] 8.0 ^8.1 Nintendo Power Vol. 134, July 2000, p.78-79 (excerpt)

[IGN-9] Harris, Craig (February 24, 2009). "Pokemon Creators on Platinum [sic]." IGN.

[10] (July 2000). 『ポケットモンスター』開発スタッフインタビュー (ページｆ)。 Nintendo Online Magazine (N.O.M). No.23.

[ND84-11] Nintendo Dream Volume 84, February/March 2003 (English translation written by Jacob Newcomb and commissioned by Dr. Lava)

[WCS-12] 12.0 ^12.1 Go-Pokemon.com - Pokémon Creators, Artists at the World Championships

[13] ttp://web.archive.org/web/20071103203031/http://blog.pokemon-movie.jp/archives/2006/07/post_85.html

[ND201-14] 14.0 ^14.1 Nintendo Dream Vol. 201, January 2011 (Translation by Dr. Lava)

[ND205-15] 15.0 ^15.1 Nintendo Dream Vol. 205, May 2011 (Shellspider's blog (Japanese), Translation by Dr. Lava)

[Reshiram-16] 16.0 ^16.1 How Pokemon Get Made, 1up.com (Archive)

[Moritsugu-17] 17.0 ^17.1 ^17.2 Archive of deleted tweet by Keiko Moritsugu, explaining which Generation V Pokémon she had designed

[Xerneas-18] 18.0 ^18.1 Ken Sugimori got 'artist's block' during Pokemon X and Y development. Official Nintendo Magazine (published on October 24, 2013) (archived)

[ND204-19] Nintendo Dream Vol. 204, April 2011 (Shellspider's blog (Japanese), Translation by Dr. Lava)

[fav-20] 20.0 ^20.1 What is your favourite Pokémon? - Pokémon Black and White interview (archived)

[21] What is Ken Sugimori's favourite Pokémon? (archived)

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