James Turner
James Turner, born 1978[1] is a British graphic designer who worked at Game Freak. In 2010, he became the first Westerner to officially design Pokémon.
Turner designed Pokémon for Pokémon Black and White, Pokémon X and Y, Pokémon Sun and Moon, Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, and Pokémon Sword and Shield; he was also the Art Director for the latter. Additionally, he directed the 2012 Nintendo 3DS eShop title HarmoKnight and the 2015 video game published by Sega, Tembo the Badass Elephant.
Before joining Game Freak, James Turner worked for eight years at Genius Sonority, and was credited under the name Jamie Turner (Japanese: ジェイミー・ターナー). The first game he worked on at this company was Pokémon Colosseum, for which Turner was responsible for the game's battle effects, battle camera, and cutscenes.[2] For Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, Turner finalized Shadow Lugia based on various initial sketches of the design drawn by Hiromoto SIN-Ichi, which began after the conceptualization of the core game.[3] Turner designed all the characters for Pokémon Battle Revolution and oversaw the designs of the different outfits.[4] He would then leave Genius Sonority to apply for another job, landing a position at GAME FREAK before the release of Pokémon Black and White.[3] During his interview, Turner claimed that he was required to design a Pokémon on the spot as part of the interview process. Although the moment was too fleeting to come up with a fully-fledged Pokémon with a backstory, Turner has mentioned that this design was originally a ghostly tree, which would later go on to spark the idea for the Phantump family in Pokémon X and Y.[3]
On June 9, 2022, Turner announced that he had left Game Freak to form his own game studio, All Possible Futures.[5][6][7] This was a change that he had decided upon during the pre-production phase of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, shortly following the end of Sword and Shield's development.[3]
Designs
Pokémon
The following is a list of Pokémon designed by Turner.
Generation III | ||||||||||||||
Shadow Lugia[8] (Finalized) | ||||||||||||||
Generation V | ||||||||||||||
Vanillite[9][10][11] | Vanillish[9][10] | Vanilluxe[9][10] | Golett[9][10] | Golurk[9][10][12] | Vullaby[9][10] | Mandibuzz[10] | ||||||||
Generation VI | ||||||||||||||
Phantump[11][13] | Trevenant[13] | |||||||||||||
Generation VII | ||||||||||||||
Bruxish[14] (Finalized) |
Buzzwole[11][15] | Guzzlord[11][15] | Poipole[16][17] (and Shiny)[18] |
Naganadel[16][18][19] | ||||||||||
Generation VIII | ||||||||||||||
Gigantamax Pikachu[20] |
Gigantamax Gengar[21] (and Shiny)[22] |
Galarian Zigzagoon[23] (and Shiny)[24] |
Galarian Linoone[25] (and Shiny)[26] |
Sizzlipede[27] | Centiskorch[28] | Gigantamax Centiskorch[29] |
Sinistea[30] | Polteageist[31] (and Shiny)[32] |
Obstagoon[33] (and Shiny)[34] | |||||
Generation IX | ||||||||||||||
Paldean Tauros Combat Breed[35] |
Paldean Tauros Blaze Breed[35] |
Paldean Tauros Aqua Breed[35] |
Dondozo[36] (and Shiny)[37] |
Tatsugiri Curly Form[38] (and Shiny)[39] |
Tatsugiri Droopy Form[38] (and Shiny)[39] |
Tatsugiri Stretchy Form[38] (and Shiny)[39] |
Characters
This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Needs images of Aquarella and Boolum |
The following is a list of characters designed by Turner.
He also designed unknown human characters in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness.[47]
Official artwork
This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Harmoknight x Pokémon art GAME FREAK Postcard art SWSH key art Hello Ponyta merch |
This is a collection of official Pokémon artwork drawn by Turner.
Bruxish concept art from Sun & Moon[14]
Buzzwole concept art from Sun & Moon
Guzzlord concept art from Sun & Moon
Poipole concept art from Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon[17]
Naganadel concept art from Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon[48]
Max Raid Battle artwork from Sword & Shield
Player's house concept art from Sword & Shield
Hometown concept art from Sword & Shield[49]
Gym battle concept art from Sword & Shield[49]
Lucy Fleetfoot artwork from Trozei![42]
Lucy Fleetfoot, Aipom, and Manectric artwork from Trozei![42]
Trozei Beamer artwork from Trozei![42]
Phobos Battalion artwork from Trozei![42]
Phobos Mobile No.1: Phobos Train artwork from Trozei![42]
Phobos Mobile No.2: Phobos Jet artwork from Trozei![42]
Phobos Mobile No.4: Phobos Sub artwork from Trozei![42]
Phobos Mobile No.5: Phobos Walker artwork from Trozei![42]
Phobos Secret Fort: Phobosphere artwork from Trozei![42]
GAME FREAK New Year's artwork featuring Pokémon & HarmoKnight
TCG artwork
Thus far, James Turner has illustrated 4 cards, the first of which was Pansear from Next Destinies. A full list of cards illustrated by James Turner can be found here.
Back of the Gigantamax Gengar Deck Case, featuring Hawlucha[50]
Works
Pokémon & GAME FREAK releases
Title | Platform | Release date | Position |
---|---|---|---|
Pokémon Colosseum | Nintendo GameCube | 2003-11-21 | Camera Animation Special Effects Art |
Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness | Nintendo GameCube | 2005-08-04 | Art Chief |
Pokémon Trozei! | Nintendo DS | 2005-10-20 | Art Director |
Pokémon Battle Revolution | Wii | 2006-12-14 | Art Director |
Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors | Wii | 2007-07-12 | Art Director |
Pokémon Black and White | Nintendo DS | 2010-09-18 | Digital Movie--Main Design Pokémon Character Design 3-D Map Graphics |
Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 | Nintendo DS | 2012-06-23 | Pokémon Character Design Pokémon Black Version and White Version Graphics Design |
HarmoKnight | Nintendo 3DS | 2012-09-05 | Director |
Pokémon X and Y | Nintendo 3DS | 2013-10-12 | Digital Movie Design Lead Pokémon Characters Design |
Tembo the Badass Elephant | Microsoft Windows PlayStation 4 Xbox One |
2015-05-21 | Director |
Pokémon Sun and Moon | Nintendo 3DS | 2016-11-18 | Digital Movie Design/Effect Design Section Director Pokémon Characters Design |
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon | Nintendo 3DS | 2017-11-17 | Pokémon Characters Design |
Pokémon Sword and Shield | Nintendo Switch | 2019-11-15 | Art Director Pokémon Design |
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet | Nintendo Switch | 2022-11-18 | Pokémon Design Character Design |
Other games
Title | Platform | Release date | Position |
---|---|---|---|
GRAPPIN | Microsoft Windows | 2023-03-24 | Main Key-Art Design |
The Plucky Squire | Microsoft Windows PlayStation 5 Xbox Series X Nintendo Switch |
2024 |
Trivia
References
- ↑ GAME FREAK Illustration Demonstration: Episode Two [James Turner x HarmoKnight] - YouTube
- ↑ Tweet about Turner's responsibilities on Colosseum
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Pokémon’s Art Director On Leaving Game Freak For The Plucky Squire - MinnMax Interview
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 Tweet about designing all characters for Pokémon Battle Revolution
- ↑ Tweet by James Turner (@JamesTurner_42). Posted on June 9, 2022.
- ↑ Tweet by James Turner (@JamesTurner_42). Posted on June 9, 2022.
- ↑ All Possible Futures Official Account
- ↑ Tweet about finalizing the design of Shadow Lugia
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 GAME FREAK: 「ポケットモンスターブラック・ホワイト」のつくりかた 4 (archive)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 Nintendo Dream Vol. 205, May 2011 (Shellspider's blog (Japanese), Translations (Part 1, Part 2) by Dr. Lava)
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Interview with James Turner
- ↑ Tweet about designing Golurk
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Tweet about designing Phantump and Trevenant
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Archive of deleted tweet by @JamesTurner_42 (Posted on January 29, 2018).
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Tweet about designing Buzzwole and Guzzlord
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Tweet about designing Poipole and Naganadel
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Tweet about designing Poipole
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Tweet about designing Shiny Poipole and Naganadel
- ↑ Tweet about designing Naganadel and the origin of Naganadel's Japanese name
- ↑ Tweet about designing Gigantamax Pikachu
- ↑ Tweet about designing Gigantamax Gengar
- ↑ Tweet about designing Shiny Gigantamax Gengar
- ↑ Tweet about designing Galarian Zigzagoon
- ↑ Tweet about designing Shiny Galarian Zigzagoon
- ↑ Tweet about designing Galarian Linoone
- ↑ Tweet about designing Shiny Galarian Linoone
- ↑ Tweet about designing Sizzlipede
- ↑ Tweet about designing Centiskorch
- ↑ Tweet about designing Gigantamax Centiskorch
- ↑ Tweet about designing Sinistea
- ↑ Tweet about designing Polteageist
- ↑ Tweet about designing Shiny Polteageist (Japanese, archive)
- ↑ Tweet about designing Obstagoon
- ↑ Tweet about designing Shiny Obstagoon
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 Tweet about designing Paldean Tauros.
- ↑ Tweet about designing Dondozo
- ↑ Tweet about designing Shiny Dondozo
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 Tweet about designing Tatsugiri
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 Tweet about designing Shiny Tatsugiri
- ↑ Tweet about designing Zook
- ↑ Yeah! I designed Lucy ☀️
- ↑ 42.00 42.01 42.02 42.03 42.04 42.05 42.06 42.07 42.08 42.09 42.10 42.11 42.12 42.13 42.14 42.15 42.16 42.17 42.18 42.19 [1]
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 Tweet about designing Nate and Cyndy
- ↑ Tweet about designing Sashay
- ↑ [2]
- ↑ 46.0 46.1 Tweet about designing Professor Sada and Professor Turo
- ↑ My pleasure to serve These are the first humans I designed for the mainline games! Before this I designed humans for XD, Battle Revolution, and Trozei.
- ↑ Tweet about designing Naganadel
- ↑ 49.0 49.1 Pokémon — James Turner
- ↑ 50.0 50.1 https://twitter.com/JamesTurner_42/status/1399259424498372612
- ↑ Post about the various favorite Pokémon of James Turner.
- ↑ Post about James Turner's favorite Pokémon
External links
- Pokémon — James Turner
- James Turner on Twitter
- James Turner on LinkedIn
- Game Freak interview with James Turner (in Japanese)
- Iwata Asks: HarmoKnight