View source for Mitsuhiro Arita

[[File:Mitsuhiro Arita.png|thumb|right|Mitsuhiro Arita, c. 1997]]
'''Mitsuhiro Arita''' (Japanese: '''有田満弘'''), born January 12, 1970 in Fukuoka Prefecture, is a freelance illustrator who has been providing artwork for the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]] since its inception. In addition to Pokémon, he has also provided artwork for several other trading or collectible card games based on franchises such as ''{{wp|Shin Megami Tensei}}'', ''{{wp|Monster Hunter}}'', and ''{{wp|Super Sentai}}''. He has provided many illustrations for ''{{wp|Final Fantasy XI}}'' online content, as well as producing written articles, featured works, and cover art across numerous publications. He likes to paint pictures while he travels, a hobby he calls "Mobile Painting", which he has also written about in a few publications. He is completely self-taught in his artistry.{{fact}}
<!--
==Works==
{| align="center" class="sortable" style="background: #A0A0C4; {{roundy|10px}}; border: 5px solid #BBBBE8"
|-
! style="background: #CCCCFF; {{roundytl|5px}}" | Title
! style="background: #CCCCFF" | Date
! style="background: #CCCCFF; {{roundytr|5px}}" | Publisher
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| ''Pokémon'' Trading Card Game illustration
| 1996-10&mdash;
| Media Factory
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| ''Shinkigensha Fujimi Shobo Magazine'' illustrations
| 1999
| Fujimi Shobo
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| Sony VAIO booklet for Tablet LCD Series. Illustrations for catalogue, website and store.
| 2000-09
| Sony
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| ''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children'' Card Game illustration
| 2001-01-15&mdash;<br>2004-11-19
| Media Factory
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| Created mini-movies for NHK-BS2
| 2002-07
| {{tt|NHK|Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai - Japan Broadcasting Corporation}}
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| ''First Character Painting Lessons'' illustrations
| 2003-10-09
| MdN Interactive
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| ''ARMS & ARMORS Weapons and Armor Encyclopedia'' illustrations
| 2004-08-27
| Shinkigensha
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| ''Final Fantasy XI'' online content: "Vana'dial Tribune Edition II" illustrations
| 2004-11-13&mdash;<br>2006-02-28
| Square Enix
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| ''Pokémon'' Trading Figure Game package art
| 2005-10-14
| Pokémon USA
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| ''Ranger Strike'' Card Game illustrations
| 2006-02-06&mdash;
| Carddas
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| ''Guardians of Ga'Hoole'' series cover illustrations (Japanese release)
| 2006-08&mdash;
| Media Factory
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| ''Culdcept Saga'' illustrations
| 2006-11-22
| Bandai
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| ''Culdcept Saga (Title Update Version)'' illustrations
| 2007-04-05
| Bandai
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| ''Monster Hunter'' Trading Card Game illustrations
| 2007-04-06&mdash;<br>2008-01-25
| Capcom
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| ''The Knights'' Truth in Fantasy 78 cover illustration
| 2007-09-27
| Shinkigensha
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| ''Recommended Meditation for a Larger Heart'' illustrations
| 2007-09-20
| Mikasa Shobo
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| ''Final Fantasy XI'' website content illustrations
| 2008-04-05&mdash;
| Square Enix
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| MdN Volume 172 Product Review: SketchBook Pro 2008 sample images
| 2008-07-06
| MdN Interactive
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| ''Healthy Living to 100: "Zen Hygiene"'' illustrations
| 2008-08-20
| Mikasa Shobo
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| ''Monster Hunter Hunting Card'' illustrations
| 2008-10-25&mdash;
| Capcom
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| ''Kamen Rider Battle: Ganbaride'' illustrations
| 2008-12-26&mdash;
| Carddass
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| ''BERSERK: The Dolden Age Arc'' illustrations
| 2012&mdash;2014
| Warner Bros.
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| ''Hirune Hime: Shiranai Watashi no Monogatari'' illustrations
| 2017
| Warner Bros.
|}-->

==Work for the TCG==
Arita has continued to produce illustrations since the very beginning of the TCG, and as a result, he is among the TCG's most prolific artists. Arita started doing art for the cards in their prototype stages, even before [[Pokémon Red and Green Versions]] had been released.<ref>[https://www.gameinformer.com/2018/09/09/trade-secrets-the-making-of-a-pokemon-card Trade Secrets: The Making Of A Pokémon Card | GameInformer]</ref> Not knowing if they would be a success, he did not know how long the job would last. He said of the experience, "I was honestly worried about finding another project before the end of my contract." He was invited to the project by [[Keiji Kinebuchi]], and also designed the symbols for the first six {{TCG|Energy}} types.<ref>[https://twitter.com/MitsuhiroArita/status/1466208683558260741 @MitsuhiroArita]</ref> Arita has credited his work on the {{tcg|Base Set}}'s {{TCG ID|Base Set|Pikachu|58}} and {{TCG ID|Base Set|Charizard|4}} for having a "big effect" on his career.<ref>[https://www.gamesradar.com/pokemon-tcg-mitsuhiro-arita-interview/ "People come up to me and say that's still their favourite Pokemon card": Mitsuhiro Arita reflects on 20 years of Pokemon's strangest and most iconic designs | GamesRadar+]</ref>

Arita’s coloring style has changed over the years. His earlier illustrations were often a mix of watercolor or pastel with distinct outlines, but he has developed a more fluid style that emphasizes the use of vibrant colors, as well as light and shadow to create dynamic and realistic looking images. Many of his images also use high and low angles or tilt to help achieve this. Thus far, Arita has illustrated {{PAGESINCATEGORY:Illus. by Mitsuhiro Arita}} cards. For a complete list of cards he has illustrated, go [[:Category:Illus. by Mitsuhiro Arita|here]].

==Trivia==
* Arita has a degree in Electrical and Software engineering.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://mitsuhiroarita.com/ Arita's personal website]

[[Category:TCG illustrators]]

[[de:Mitsuhiro Arita]]
[[es:Mitsuhiro Arita]]
[[fr:Mitsuhiro Arita]]
[[it:Mitsuhiro Arita]]
[[ja:有田満弘]]
[[zh:有田滿弘]]