James Turner
James Turner (Japanese: ジェイムス・ターナー; 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). Turner designed all the characters for Pokémon Battle Revolution and oversaw the designs of the different outfits.[2]
On June 9, 2022, Turner announced that he had left Game Freak to form his own game studio, All Possible Futures.[3][4][5]
Pokémon
The following is a list of Pokémon designed by James Turner.
![Gigantamax Gengar and its Shiny coloration[19][20]](https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/thumb/4/4a/0094Gengar-Gigantamax.png/100px-0094Gengar-Gigantamax.png)
Gigantamax Gengar and its Shiny coloration[19][20]
![Polteageist and its Shiny coloration[28][29]](https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/thumb/6/64/0855Polteageist.png/100px-0855Polteageist.png)
Polteageist and its Shiny coloration[28][29]
![Curly Form Tatsugiri and its Shiny coloration[35][36]](https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/thumb/3/34/0978Tatsugiri.png/100px-0978Tatsugiri.png)
Curly Form Tatsugiri and its Shiny coloration[35][36]
![Combat Breed Paldean Tauros[37]](https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/thumb/2/25/0128Tauros-Paldea_Combat.png/100px-0128Tauros-Paldea_Combat.png)
Combat Breed Paldean Tauros[37]
![Blaze Breed Paldean Tauros[37]](https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/thumb/f/f5/0128Tauros-Paldea_Blaze.png/100px-0128Tauros-Paldea_Blaze.png)
Blaze Breed Paldean Tauros[37]
![Aqua Breed Paldean Tauros[37]](https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/thumb/d/d9/0128Tauros-Paldea_Aqua.png/100px-0128Tauros-Paldea_Aqua.png)
Aqua Breed Paldean Tauros[37]
![Shadow Lugia[6][7]](/wiki/File:249Lugia-Shadow_XD.png)
![Vanillite[8][9][10]](/wiki/File:0582Vanillite.png)
![Vanillish[8][9]](/wiki/File:0583Vanillish.png)
![Vanilluxe[8][9]](/wiki/File:0584Vanilluxe.png)
![Golett[8][9]](/wiki/File:0622Golett.png)
![Golurk[8][9][11]](/wiki/File:0623Golurk.png)
![Vullaby[8][9]](/wiki/File:0629Vullaby.png)
![Mandibuzz[9]](/wiki/File:0630Mandibuzz.png)
![Phantump[10][12]](/wiki/File:0708Phantump.png)
![Trevenant[12]](/wiki/File:0709Trevenant.png)
![Buzzwole[10][13]](/wiki/File:0794Buzzwole.png)
![Guzzlord[10][13]](/wiki/File:0799Guzzlord.png)
![Poipole and its Shiny coloration[14][15][16]](/wiki/File:0803Poipole.png)
![Naganadel and its Shiny coloration[14][15][17]](/wiki/File:0804Naganadel.png)
![Gigantamax Pikachu[18]](/wiki/File:0025Pikachu-Gigantamax.png)
![Gigantamax Gengar and its Shiny coloration[19][20]](/wiki/File:0094Gengar-Gigantamax.png)
![Galarian Zigzagoon and its Shiny coloration[21][22]](/wiki/File:0263Zigzagoon-Galar.png)
![Galarian Linoone and its Shiny coloration[23][24]](/wiki/File:0264Linoone-Galar.png)
![Centiskorch[25]](/wiki/File:0851Centiskorch.png)
![Gigantamax Centiskorch[26]](/wiki/File:0851Centiskorch-Gigantamax.png)
![Sinistea[27]](/wiki/File:0854Sinistea.png)
![Polteageist and its Shiny coloration[28][29]](/wiki/File:0855Polteageist.png)
![Obstagoon and its Shiny coloration[30][31]](/wiki/File:0862Obstagoon.png)
![Paldean Tauros (Combat Breed)[32]](/wiki/File:0128Tauros-Paldea_Combat.png)
![Paldean Tauros (Blaze Breed)[32]](/wiki/File:0128Tauros-Paldea_Blaze.png)
![Paldean Tauros (Aqua Breed)[32]](/wiki/File:0128Tauros-Paldea_Aqua.png)
![Dondozo and its Shiny coloration[33][34]](/wiki/File:0977Dondozo.png)
![Curly Form Tatsugiri and its Shiny coloration[35][36]](/wiki/File:0978Tatsugiri.png)
![Droopy Form Tatsugiri and its Shiny coloration[35][36]](/wiki/File:0978Tatsugiri-Droopy.png)
![Stretchy Form Tatsugiri and its Shiny coloration[35][36]](/wiki/File:0978Tatsugiri-Stretchy.png)
Additionally, while Bruxish was designed by a different female designer, Turner finalized its design and drew its reference sheet.[38][39]
Reference sheet for Bruxish
Characters
The following is a list of characters designed by James Turner.
![Lucy Fleetfoot[40]](/wiki/File:Lucy_Fleetfoot_Trozei.png)
![Professor Sada[41]](/wiki/File:Scarlet_Sada.png)
![Professor Turo[41]](/wiki/File:Violet_Turo.png){kind=small}
He also designed human characters in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, Pokémon Battle Revolution, and Pokémon Trozei![42]
Cards illustrated
James Turner is an artist in the Pokémon Trading Card Game who made his debut in Next Destinies. He has only illustrated one card.
Other illustrations
Pokémon Sun and Moon
Pokémon Sword and Shield
Max Raid Battle artwork
- Player's House SWSH.jpg
Player's house concept art
Hometown concept art
Gym battle concept art
Other
Promotional artwork featuring characters from Pokémon and HarmoKnight
Works
Games
| 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 | Pokemon Designer, 3D Map Designer, Digital Movies |
| 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 Character 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 Character Design |
| Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon | Nintendo 3DS | 2017-11-17 | Pokémon Character 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 |
Trivia
- While Turner has several Pokémon among his favorites,[43] as of April 29, 2018, Salandit is his favorite Pokémon.[44]
References
- ↑ GAME FREAK Illustration Demonstration: Episode Two [James Turner x HarmoKnight] - YouTube
- ↑ 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 designing Shadow Lugia
- ↑ Tweet about finalizing the design of Shadow Lugia
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 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)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 Nintendo Dream Vol. 205, May 2011 (Shellspider's blog (Japanese), Translations (Part 1, Part 2) by Dr. Lava)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Interview with James Turner
- ↑ Tweet about designing Golurk
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Tweet about designing Phantump and Trevenant
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Tweet about designing Buzzwole and Guzzlord
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Tweet about designing Poipole and Naganadel
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Tweet about designing Shiny Poipole and Naganadel
- ↑ Tweet about designing Poipole
- ↑ 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 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 Galarian Obstagoon
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 Tweet about designing Paldean Tauros (Posted on March 26, 2023).
- ↑ Tweet about designing Dondozo
- ↑ Tweet about designing Shiny Dondozo
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 Tweet about designing Tatsugiri
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 Tweet about designing Shiny Tatsugiri
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 Tweet about designing all three Paldean Tauros forms
- ↑ Tweet about finalizing Bruxish's design
- ↑ Archive of deleted tweet by @JamesTurner_42 (Posted on January 29, 2018).
- ↑ Yeah! I designed Lucy ☀️
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 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.
- ↑ 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
- GameFreak interview with James Turner (in Japanese)
- Iwata Asks: HarmoKnight
