Hitoshi Ariga
Hitoshi Ariga (Japanese: 有賀 ヒトシ; born August 23, 1972) is a professional artist who primarily illustrates manga and picture books, and has assumed the position of graphic designer for several Japanese titles in the game industry. He first began providing illustrations for the Pokémon Trading Card Game in 2011, though has been a fan of the franchise for many years. His main passion, however, lies with the Mega Man franchise, known as Rockman in Japan, where he has illustrated numerous manga and artwork for affiliated products since the mid 90’s. He likes to engage the community when he has the opportunity, appearing at exhibitions, and maintaining an online presence across several sites.
His illustrations within the Pokémon franchise often feature an ensemble, usually with one or two Pokémon in the foreground and many in the background, but all portrayed with a sense of motion or action. He also illustrated the cover of Find the Strongest Pokémon! Extremely Strong Deck Recipe Book, which features Team Plasma and Genesect facing off against the Unova Elite Four, Iris, and one each of their Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 party Pokémon, as well as the Sawk•Throh and Red•Green illustrations, which were used on various pieces of TCG merchandise sold in Japan. For a list of cards he has illustrated, go here.
Ken Sugimori recognized Ariga's design work and invited him to work on Pokémon X and Y, where he became involved with the design of several Pokémon, as well as the protagonists of Pokemon Black and White 1 and 2.
Pokémon
The following is a list of Pokémon designed by Hitoshi Ariga.[1][2]
- Mega Beedrill
- Alolan Geodude
- Alolan Graveler
- Alolan Golem
- Alolan Grimer
- Alolan Muk
- Pangoro
- Inkay
- Malamar
- Honedge
- Doublade
- Aegislash
- Tyrunt
- Tyrantrum
- Amaura
- Aurorus
- Grubbin
- Charjabug
- Vikavolt
- Minior
- Drampa
- Ultra Necrozma (Helper)
- Rookidee
- Corvisquire
- Corviknight
- Dracozolt
- Arctozolt
- Dracovish
- Arctovish
Works
Manga and light novels
| Title | Date | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Rockman's Soccer (In Comic BonBon) | 1994-12-20—1995 | Kodansha |
| Rockman Remix | 1996-04-05 | Kodansha |
| Rockman Megamix Vol. 1 | 1997-04-04 | Kodansha |
| Rockman Maniax (In Comic BonBon) | 1997—1998 | Kodansha |
| Rockman 10 Years History Book | 1998-03 | Kodansha |
| Rockman Megamix Vol. 2 | 1998-04-08 | Kodansha |
| The Big O Vol. 1 | 1999-12-16 | Kodansha |
| The Big O Vol. 2 | 2000-03-23 | Kodansha |
| The Big O Vol. 3 | 2000-10-23 | Kodansha |
| The Big O Vol. 4 | 2001-03-23 | Kodansha |
| The Big O Vol. 5 | 2001-08-23 | Kodansha |
| The Big O Vol. 6 | 2001-12-21 | Kodansha |
| Mimimi ~The Tale of a Cat and a Robot~ | 2002-06 | Kodansha |
| Rockman Megamix Vol. 1 (2003 re-release) | 2003-02-06 | Enterbrain |
| Rockman Megamix Vol. 2 (2003 re-release) | 2003-03-07 | Enterbrain |
| The Big O -Lost Memory- Vol. 1 | 2003-03-20 | Kodansha |
| Rockman Megamix Vol. 3 (2003 re-release) | 2003-04-04 | Enterbrain |
| The Big O -Lost Memory- Vol. 2 | 2003-10-23 | Kodansha |
| Iron Jokers (In Weekly Shōnen Champion 2004 issues 20-38) | 2004 | Akita Shoten |
| Chi Moji GJ – Neko Shishaku Bōkentan | 2005-02 | Shodensha |
| Fukushū Suru Kaseki – Neko Shishaku Bōkentan | 2005-08 | Shodensha |
| Teppan Girl Akane!! (In Young King 2005 issue 10 to Young King 2006 issue 19) | 2005—2006 | Shōnen Gahosha |
| Star Wars Manga: Silver, Oh!! Jawajawa | 2005-12-22 | Tokyopop |
| Teiritsu Gurentai | 2006-03-18 | Takeshobo |
| Aka-chan☆Baby Marine-chan (Hontō ni Atta Yukai na Hanashi Ai no Itonami Special April 2006 issue to June 2006 issue, Hontō ni Atta Yukai na Hanashi DX October 2006 issue onwards) |
2006— | Takeshobo |
| TRIO de PINCH!! (In Monthly Comic Alive November 2006 issue to April 2007 issue) | 2006—2007 | Media Factory |
| Dinosaur Kingdom D-1 Maze Book | 2008-02 | Kin no Hoshi |
| Specter Heaven Spirit World Maze Book | 2009-02-23 | Kin no Hoshi |
| Rockman Megamix Vol. 1 (2009 re-release) | 2009-05-26 | BN Comics |
| Rockman Megamix Vol. 2 (2009 re-release) | 2009-05-26 | BN Comics |
| Rockman Gigamix Vol. 1 | 2009-09-30 | BN Comics |
| Rockman Gigamix Vol. 2 | 2010-04-27 | BN Comics |
| Monster Legend Maze Book | 2010-08 | Kin no Hoshi |
| Rockman Gigamix Vol. 3 | 2010-09-27 | BN Comics |
| Rockman Maniax compilation | 2011-07-11 | BN Comics |
| Klonoa: Dream Traveller of Noctis Sol | 2012-09— | ShiftyLook |
Games
| Title | Platform | Release date | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Egg! | TurboGrafx-16 | 1991-09-27 | Opening Graphics |
| Kaizō Chōjin Shubibinman 3: Ikai no Princess | TurboGrafx-16 | 1992-02-28 | Graphics |
| Ranma ½: Neighborhood Combat | SNES | 1992-03-27 | Character Graphics |
| Streets of Rage 2 | Mega Drive | 1992-12-20 | Character Graphics |
| Ranma ½: Hard Battle | SNES | 1992-12-25 | Character Graphics |
| ActRaiser 2 | SNES | 1993-10-23 | Object Design |
| Illusion of Gaia | SNES | 1993-11-27 | Character Graphics |
| GötzenDiener | TurboGrafx-16 | 1994-11-25 | Monster Graphics |
| The Story of Thor: A Successor of The Light | Mega Drive | 1994-12-12 | Character Design/Character Graphics |
| The Story of Thor 2 | Sega Saturn | 1996-04-26 | Character Design/Character Graphics |
| Vatlva | Sega Saturn | 1996-12-06 | Character Design |
| Rockman & Forte | SNES | 1998-04-24 | Box art illustration/Dynamo Man Design/Burner Man Design |
| Animetic Story Game 1: Cardcaptor Sakura | PlayStation | 1999-08-05 | Character Graphics |
| Car Battler Joe | Game Boy Advance | 2001-11-30 | Character Design/Character Graphics |
| Metalgun Slinger | Game Boy Advance | 2002-09-27 | Character illustration |
| Katekyō Hitman Reborn! Battle Arena | PSP | 2008-09-18 | Character Illustration |
| Katekyō Hitman Reborn! Battle Arena 2 - Spirit Burst | PSP | 2009-09-17 | Character Illustration |
| Pokémon X and Y | Nintendo 3DS | 2013-10-12 | Character Design |
| Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire | Nintendo 3DS | 2014-11-21 | Character Design |
| Pokémon Sun and Moon | Nintendo 3DS | 2016-11-18 | Character Design |
| Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon | Nintendo 3DS | 2017-11-17 | Pokémon Characters Design |
| Pokémon Sword and Shield | Nintendo Switch | 2019-11-15 | Pokémon Design |
| Pokémon Legends: Arceus | Nintendo Switch | 2022-01-28 | Pokémon Character Design |
Other illustrations
| Title | Date | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Legend 80's: The Scheme Soundtrack cover illustration | 2002-08-21 | Scitron |
| Famicom Music Complete Works Rockman 1~6 cover and booklet illustrations | 2002-09-20 | Capcom |
| Remastered Tracks Rockman Zero booklet illustrations | 2004-05-28 | Inti Creates |
| Rockman ZX Soundtrack: ZX Tunes variant cover illustration | 2006-10-27 | Inti Creates |
| R20 Rockman & Rockman X Official Complete Works illustrations | 2008-03-25 | Capcom |
| Rockman ZX Soundsketch - ZX GIGAMIX booklet illustrations | 2008-08-01 | Inti Creates |
| Rockman 9 Arrange Soundtrack cover and booklet illustrations | 2008-10-10 | Inti Creates |
| Chiptuned Rockman illustrations | 2009-10-15 | Inti Creates |
| Pokémon Trading Card Game illustrations | 2011-07— | The Pokémon Company |
| Mega Man Tribute limited edition cover illustration | 2011-07-19 | Udon Entertainment |
| R20+5 Rockman & Rockman X Official Complete Works illustrations | 2012-12-17 | Capcom |
Trivia
- Hitoshi Ariga's favorite Pokémon is Misdreavus.[citation needed]
