Ken Sugimori - Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokmon encyclopedia

April 25, 2024

From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.

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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
Clefairy from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet
Spearow from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet
Venusaur from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet
Lapras from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet
Omega from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet
Gyarados from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet
Scyther from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet

Characters

The following is a list of characters designed by Sugimori.

Artwork

Official artwork

This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Character art
Anime settei
Game settei
Capsule Monsters
A Man Who Created Pokémon cover
GAME FREAK New Years cards
GAME FREAK web art
Core series key art
Dash Box art
Badge 151
I Choose You anime art
Mystery Dungeon Box arts
Nintendo Dream, Pia, and MicroGroup Game covers
XY Paris Exhibition art
TCG Booster art

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

Merchandise

This is a collection of official Pokémon merchandise that Sugimori has contributed artwork to.

There are 969 cards illustrated by Sugimori, though most of them include re-used artwork from various games. For a list of cards he has illustrated, see here.

Credits

Games

Mendel Palace (1989) - Character Designer, Character Digitalizer
Smart Ball (1991) - Game Designer, Story, Character Designer
Yoshi (1991) - Character Designer
Magical Tarurūto-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
Click Medic (1999) - Graphic Support
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 Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of 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
Pokémon Sleep (2023) - Pokémon Settings Supervision (GAME FREAK inc.)
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero (2023) - Design & World Concept Supervisor

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.[41]
- Another of Sugimori's favorite Pokémon is Venusaur, but he has also said its complexity makes it his least favorite to draw.[41]
- 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.[42]
Sugimori has illustrated more Pokémon cards than any other artist.

References

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

↑ 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)

↑ Interview with Yomiuri about Pikachu's creation (page 5)

↑ Creator Profile: The Creators of Pikachu - Pokemon.com (archived)

↑ 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.

↑ 7.0 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

↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Interview with Yomiuri about Pikachu's creation (page 1)

↑ 9.0 9.1 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.

↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20230516083008/https://lavacutcontent.com/ken-sugimori-eevee-origins/

↑ Nintendo Dream Volume 84, February/March 2003 (English translation written by Jacob Newcomb and commissioned by Dr. Lava)

↑ 14.0 14.1 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

↑ 16.0 16.1 Nintendo Dream Vol. 201, January 2011 (Translation by Dr. Lava)

↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Nintendo Dream Vol. 204, April 2011 (Shellspider's blog (Japanese), Translation by Dr. Lava)

↑ 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

↑ 19.0 19.1 Nintendo Dream Vol. 205, May 2011 (Shellspider's blog (Japanese), Translation by Dr. Lava)

↑ 20.0 20.1 How Pokemon Get Made, 1up.com (Archive)

↑ 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)

↑ 22.0 22.1 Yujirou, the original Viridian City Gym Leader

↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 Tweet posted by Sugimori confirming he designed Yujirou & Sabrina

↑ 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

↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 Tweet posted by Sugimori confirming he designed Koga & Blaine

↑ Tweet posted by Sugimori confirming he designed Jessie and James

↑ 27.0 27.1 From the filenames of the original settei

↑ 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.

↑ Brock's Grit

↑ Misty's Determination

↑ Giovanni's Scheme

↑ Cheryl (Battle Styles)

↑ N Noble Victories

↑ Korrina (Furious Fists)

↑ Lysandre (Flashfire)

↑ AZ (Phantom Forces)

↑ 37.0 37.1 Ace Trainer

↑ YouTube video of the announcement

↑ Avery (Chilling Reign)