View source for Ken Sugimori

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[[Image:Ken Sugimori.png|thumb|Ken Sugimori in September, 2010]]
'''Ken Sugimori''' (Japanese: '''杉森建''', born January 27, 1966) is a friend of [[Satoshi Tajiri]] and illustrator of the original artwork for [[Pokémon]] [[Pokémon games|games]]. He also has developed conceptual artwork for the {{pkmn|movie}}s, and illustrates {{Trading Card Game}} cards and merchandising.

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 {{wp|Akira Toriyama}}'s visual style, particularly that from 1989-onwards. 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.

The character in the [[Pokémon anime]], Kenji (called [[Tracey Sketchit]] in the dub), may be a homage to him, especially as both enjoy creating art. This is similar to the way Satoshi (called [[Ash Ketchum]] in the dub) is named after Satoshi Tajiri.

==Credits==
===Games===
* '''{{wp|Mendel Palace}}''' (1989) - Character Designer, Character Digitalizer
* '''{{wp|Smart Ball}}''' (1991) - Game Designer, Story, Character Designer
* '''{{smw|Yoshi (game)|Yoshi}}''' (1991) - Character Designer
* '''{{wp|Magical Taluluto|Magical Taluluto-kun}}''' (1992) - Direction, Game Design, Graphic Design
* '''{{smw|Mario & Wario}}''' (1993) - Character Designer
* '''{{wp|Pulseman}}''' (1994) - Direction & Game Design, Graphics
* '''{{game|Red and Green|s}}''' (1996) - Character Design, Monster Design
* '''{{jwp|バザールでござーる|Bazaru de Gozaru no Game de Gozaru}}''' (1996) - Graphics
* '''[[Pokémon Blue (Japanese)|Pokémon Blue]]''' (1996) - Character Design, Monster Design
* '''{{jwp|BUSHI青龍伝〜二人の勇者|Bushi Seiryūden: Futari no Yūsha}}''' (1997) - Graphics
* '''[[Game Boy Camera]]''' (1998) - Special Thanks
* '''[[Pokémon Stadium (Japanese)]]''' (1998) - Original Characters
* '''{{game|Yellow}}''' (1998) - Character Design, Monster Design
* '''[[Pokémon Trading Card Game (game)|Pokémon Trading Card Game]]''' (1998) - Card Illustrator
* '''[[Pokémon Stadium (English)|Pokémon Stadium]]''' (1999) - Original Characters
* '''{{game|Gold and Silver|s}}''' (1999) - Graphics Director, Monster Design
* '''[[Pokémon Puzzle Challenge]]''' (2000) - Pokémon Supervision
* '''{{game|Crystal}}''' (2000) - Graphics Director, Monster Design
* '''[[Pokémon Stadium 2]]''' (2000) - Original Character Design & Character Art
* '''[[Pokémon Card GB2: Here Comes 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
* '''{{game|Ruby and Sapphire|s}}''' (2002) - Art Director, Pokémon & Graphic Designer
* '''[[Pokémon Box: Ruby & Sapphire]]''' (2003) - Designer
* '''[[Pokémon Channel]]''' (2003) - Supervisor
* '''[[Pokémon Colosseum]]''' (2003) - Pokémon Games Designer
* '''{{game|FireRed and LeafGreen|s}}''' (2004) - Art Director, Graphic Designer, Pokémon Designer
* '''{{game|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
* '''{{wp|Drill Dozer}}''' (2005) - Director, Game Design
* '''[[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team]]''' (2005) - Package Illustration
* '''{{game|Diamond and Pearl|s}}''' (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)
* '''{{game|Platinum}}''' (2008) - Art Director, Pokémon Design & Graphic Design
* '''[[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky]]''' (2009) - Package Illustration
* '''[[Pokémon Rumble]]''' (2009) - Game-Design Advisor
* '''{{game|HeartGold and SoulSilver|s}}''' (2009) - Pokémon Design, Graphic Supervisor
* '''{{game|Black and White|s}}''' (2010) - 2D Art Director, Director of Pokémon Characters, Pokémon Character Design
* '''[[Pokémon Conquest]]''' (2012) - Game-Design Advisor
* '''{{game|Black 2 and White 2|s}}''' (2012) - Director of Pokémon Characters, Pokémon Character Design
* '''[[HarmoKnight]]''' (2012) - Adviser
* '''{{game|X and Y|s}}''' (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)
* '''{{game|Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire|s}}''' (2014) - Character Art Director, Pokémon Characters Design (Director)
* '''{{wp|Sega 3D Classics Collection|Sega 3D Fukkoku Archives}}''' (2014) - Package Illustration
* '''[[Pokkén Tournament]]''' (2015) - Very Special Thanks
* '''{{wp|Tembo the Badass Elephant}}''' (2015) - Advisor
* '''[[Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon]]''' (2015) - Package Illustration
* '''{{wp|Sega 3D Classics Collection}}''' (2015) - Package Illustration
* '''{{game|Sun and Moon|s}}''' (2016) - Pokémon Characters Design, Trainer Graphics Design (Lead)
* '''{{game|Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon|s}}''' (2017) - Pokémon Characters Design & Concept, Design Art

===TCG illustration===
For a list of cards illustrated by Ken Sugimori, go [[:Category:Illus. by Ken Sugimori|here]].

===Animation===
* 1998-07-18 ''[[PK01|Pikachu's Vacation]]'' (Character Concept Art)
* 1998-07-18 ''[[M01|Mewtwo Strikes Back]]'' (Character Concept Art)
* 1999-07-17 ''[[PK04|Pikachu's Rescue Adventure]]'' (Character Concept Art)
* 1999-07-17 ''[[M02|The Power of One]]'' (Character Concept Art)
* 2000-07-08 ''[[PK07|Pikachu & Pichu]]'' (Character Concept Art)
* 2000-07-08 ''[[M03|Spell of the Unown: Entei]]'' (Character Concept Art)
* 2001-07-07 ''[[PK10|Pikachu's PikaBoo]]'' (Character Concept Art)
* 2001-07-07 ''[[M04|Celebi: The Voice of the Forest]]'' (Character Concept Art)
* 2002-07-13 ''[[PK11|Camp Pikachu]]'' (Character Concept Art)
* 2002-07-13 ''[[M05|Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias]]'' (Character Concept Art)
* 2003-07-19 ''[[PK12|Gotta Dance!]]'' (Character Concept Art)
* 2003-07-19 ''[[M06|Jirachi: Wish Maker]]'' (Character Concept Art)
* 2004-07-17 ''[[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]'' (Character Concept Art)

===Manga===
* ''Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorer's Guide'' (Original Manga by Sugimori included with Guide)
* ''Jerry Girl'' (Original Manga by Sugimori)
* ''{{tt|Mendel Palace|Quinty}}'' - Artwork

==Trivia==
* Sugimori's favorite Pokémon is {{p|Gengar}} due to its simple design.<ref name=fav>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101230153442/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/interview/irbj/sp/index4.html What is your favourite Pokémon? - Pokémon Black and White interview] (archived)</ref>
** Another of Sugimori's favorite Pokémon is {{p|Venusaur}}, but he has also said its complexity makes it his least favorite to draw.<ref name=fav/>
** In a Nintendo Power interview in July 2000, he gave {{p|Hoothoot}} as his answer, citing a childhood pet bird that stood on one leg.<ref>[http://www.rigelatin.net/copycat/media/print/np134.php Nintendo Power Interview - July 2000, Vol. 134]</ref>
* His favorite Pokémon from {{game|Black and White|s}} is {{p|Zekrom}}.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20141011000532/http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/24213/what-is-ken-sugimoris-favourite-pokmon/ What is Ken Sugimori's favourite Pokémon?] (archived)</ref>
* Sugimori has designed more Pokémon cards than any other artist.
* Sugimori has a Nintendo 3DS LL with a Dreamcast logo engraved on the top.

==External links==
* [http://www.gamefreak.co.jp/blog/art/ Personal blog at Game Freak's official site] (Japanese)
* [http://twitter.com/SUPER_32X Ken Sugimori's Twitter page] (Japanese)

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Game cast and crew|Sugimori, Ken]]
[[Category:Anime cast and crew|Sugimori, Ken]]
[[Category:People|Sugimori, Ken]]
[[Category:TCG illustrators|Sugimori, Ken]]

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