Atsuko Nishida

Atsuko Nishida (Japanese: 西田敦子) is a graphic artist who has been involved with several aspects of the Pokémon franchise since it began. She was part of the graphics team on Pulseman, one of Game Freak's most successful early titles, working alongside Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri and artist Ken Sugimori. During the development of the first Pokémon games, she helped design key characters and several Pokémon, also contributing to the conceptual design of characters that appeared in the first few Pokémon movies. Nishida has continued to work within many areas of the franchise, credited on the majority of the main series games, movies, and produced an array of original illustrations for the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Works

Games

Title	Platform	Date	Position
Pulseman	Mega Drive	1994	Graphics
Pokémon Red and Green Versions	Game Boy	1996	Character Design/Pokémon Design
Pokémon Blue	Game Boy	1996	Character Design/Pokémon Design
Pokémon Stadium (Japanese)	Nintendo 64	1998	Pokémon Design
Pokémon Yellow Version	Game Boy	1998	Character Design/Pokémon Design
Pokémon Stadium (English)	Nintendo 64	1999	Pokémon Design
Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions	Game Boy Color	1999	Pokémon Design
Pokémon Crystal Version	Game Boy Color	2000	Pokémon Design
Pokémon Stadium 2	Nintendo 64	2000	Pokémon Design
Grandia II	Dreamcast	2000	"Carro" Design
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Versions	Game Boy Advance	2002	Pokémon Design
Pokémon Channel	Nintendo GameCube	2003	Pokémon Design
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Versions	Game Boy Advance	2004	Pokémon Design
Pokémon Emerald Version	Game Boy Advance	2004	Pokémon Design
Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness	Nintendo GameCube	2005	Pokémon Design
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Versions	Nintendo DS	2006	Pokémon Design
Culdecept Saga	Xbox 360	2006	Illustration Artist
Pokémon Platinum Version	Nintendo DS	2008	Pokémon Design

Animation

Title	Date	Position
Mewtwo Strikes Back	1998	Original Character Design
The Power of One	1999	Original Character Design
Mewtwo Returns	1999	Character Conceptual Design
Pikachu & Pichu	2001	Conceptual Character Artist
Spell of the Unown	2001	Conceptual Character Artist
Pikachu's PikaBoo	2001	Conceptual Character Artist
Pokémon Heroes	2002	Conceptual Character Artist
Jirachi: Wish Maker	2003	Conceptual Character Artist
Destiny Deoxys	2004	Conceptual Character Artist
The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon	2006	Conceptual Character Artist
The Rise of Darkrai	2007	Original Character Design
Giratina and the Sky Warrior	2008	Original Character Design
Arceus and the Jewel of Life	2009	Conceptual Character Artist

Work for the TCG

Nishida has produced illustrations for the TCG since the some of the earliest Japanese promotional cards, though her first in regular expansions was in the Team Rocket set. Nishida's style is distinctive, using an airbrush technique with a soft palette of colors that is easy on the eyes and convey the feeling that the portrayed Pokémon is at one with their environment. Light is also a large factor, using it to highlight key areas of the overall image to maintain the "soft" aspect. For a list of cards she has illustrated, go here.