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Ken Sugimori

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0050Diglett.png This article is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Missing credits
Ken Sugimori in 2018

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]

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.

Designs

Pokémon

The following is a list of Pokémon designed by Sugimori.

Capsule Monsters

The following are a list of Pokémon designed by Sugimori that were eventually redesigned, either by him, or another designer.

  • Gyaōn from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet[2]

  • Clefairy from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet[2]

  • Spearow from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet[2]

  • Venusaur from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet[2]

  • Lapras from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet[2]

  • Omega from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet[2]

  • Gyarados from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet[2]

  • Scyther from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet[2]

Characters

The following is a list of characters designed by Sugimori.

Artwork

Official artwork

0050Diglett.png This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Missing most of his character art, all of his special illustrations. Basically everything.

This is a collection of official Pokémon artwork drawn by Sugimori.

TCG Artwork

0050Diglett.png This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: All of his unique TCG artwork.

This is a collection of exclusive TCG artwork drawn by Sugimori.

There are 968 cards illustrated by Sugimori, however, most of them include re-used artwork from various games. For a list of every card he has illustrated, see here.

Credits

Games

TCG illustration

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

Animation

Manga

Trivia

  • The character Kenji from the Pokémon anime (known as Tracey Sketchit in the English dub) may be a homage to Ken Sugimori, 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.[40]
    • Another of Sugimori's favorite Pokémon is Venusaur, but he has also said its complexity makes it his least favorite to draw.[40]
    • In a Nintendo Power interview in July 2000, he gave Hoothoot as his answer, citing a childhood pet bird of his that had a habit of standing on one leg.[9]
    • His favorite Pokémon from Pokémon Black and White is Zekrom.[41]
  • Sugimori has illustrated more Pokémon cards than any other artist.

References

  1. ↑ Gifford, Kevin (April 7, 2008). "COLUMN: 'Game Mag Weaseling': Just Checking In" (archive). GameSetWatch.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 https://web.archive.org/web/20230426182306/https://twitter.com/Lewchube/status/1651287332916428811
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 (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)
  4. ↑ Interview with Yomiuri about Pikachu's creation (page 5)
  5. ↑ Creator Profile: The Creators of Pikachu - Pokemon.com (archived)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 (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.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "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
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Interview with Yomiuri about Pikachu's creation (page 1)
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Nintendo Power Vol. 134, July 2000, p.78-79 (excerpt)
  10. ↑ Harris, Craig (February 24, 2009). "Pokemon Creators on Platinum."[sic] IGN.
  11. ↑ (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.
  12. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20230516083008/https://lavacutcontent.com/ken-sugimori-eevee-origins/
  13. ↑ Nintendo Dream Volume 84, February/March 2003 (English translation written by Jacob Newcomb and commissioned by Dr. Lava)
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Go-Pokemon.com - Pokémon Creators, Artists at the World Championships
  15. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20071103203031/http://blog.pokemon-movie.jp/archives/2006/07/post_85.html
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Nintendo Dream Vol. 201, January 2011 (Translation by Dr. Lava)
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Nintendo Dream Vol. 204, April 2011 (Shellspider's blog (Japanese), Translation by Dr. Lava)
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 Archive of deleted tweet by Keiko Moritsugu, explaining which Generation V Pokémon she had designed
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Nintendo Dream Vol. 205, May 2011 (Shellspider's blog (Japanese), Translation by Dr. Lava)
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 How Pokemon Get Made, 1up.com (Archive)
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Ken Sugimori got 'artist's block' during Pokemon X and Y development. Official Nintendo Magazine (published on October 24, 2013) (archived)
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Yujirou, the original Viridian City Gym leader.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 Tweet posted by Sugimori confirming he designed Yujirou & Sabrina
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 24.6 24.7 Tweet posted by Sugimori confirming he designed Brock, Misty, Surge & Erika
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 Tweet posted by Sugimori confirming he designed Koga & Blaine
  26. ↑ Tweet posted by Sugimori confirming he designed Jessie & James
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 From the filenames of the original settei
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 28.5 28.6 All key art for RG, Blue, GS, RS, FRLG and DP was drawn by Sugimori, credited on all TCG cards using that artwork.
  29. ↑ Brock's Grit
  30. ↑ Misty's Determination
  31. ↑ Giovanni's Scheme
  32. ↑ Cheryl (Battle Styles)
  33. ↑ N Noble Victories
  34. ↑ Korrina (Furious Fists)
  35. ↑ Lysandre (Flashfire)
  36. ↑ AZ (Phantom Forces)
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 Ace Trainer
  38. ↑ YouTube video of the announcement
  39. ↑ https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Avery_(Chilling_Reign_130) Avery (Chilling Reign)
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 What is your favourite Pokémon? - Pokémon Black and White interview (archived)
  41. ↑ What is Ken Sugimori's favourite Pokémon? (archived)

External links


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

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