Narrative illustration (TCG)

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A narrative illustration is a card illustration that features one part of a story, and continues the story onto other related cards. Cards that form narrative illustrations are generally drawn by the same artist and released together in the same expansion, but there are instances of narratives that are collaborations between several artists or released decades apart.

In the Scarlet & Violet series, special illustration rare cards of Pokémon ex often form a narrative illustration with illustration rare cards of their pre-evolutions.

List of narrative illustrations

Team Rocket and Unified Minds

	Abra		Elgyem
The first card depicts an Abra sitting atop a castle. The second card depicts an Elgyem sitting in the same spot.

Southern Islands

	Mew		Pidgeot		Onix
The illustrations can be put side-by-side to make one cohesive image.

	Togepi		Ivysaur		Raticate
The illustrations can be put side-by-side to make one cohesive image.

	Ledyba		Jigglypuff		Butterfree

	Tentacruel		Marill		Lapras

	Exeggutor		Slowking		Wartortle
The illustrations can be put side-by-side to make one cohesive image.

	Lickitung		Vileplume		Primeape

Neo Discovery

	Espeon		Eevee		Umbreon

Neo Revelation

	Lugia		Ho-Oh		Skarmory

Aquapolis and Unified Minds

	Umbreon		Umbreon		Umbreon & Darkrai-GX
The first two cards are both prints of Umbreon from Aquapolis. These show Umbreon on rooftops in a city with a clock tower, with one depicting Umbreon awake at night while the other depicts Umbreon sleeping during the day. The artist, Mitsuhiro Arita, stated that cat lovers enjoyed these illustrations.^[1] Arita drew the third card years later, which shows Umbreon standing alongside Darkrai on a similar rooftop with the same clock tower in the background.^[2]

Aquapolis and Crown Zenith

	Gloom		Gloom
The first card depicts a Gloom sleeping on a tree branch. On the second card, the branch has snapped, and the Gloom has woken up in shock.

EX Hidden Legends

	Minun		Plusle
The illustrations can be put side-by-side to make one cohesive image.

EX Team Rocket Returns

	Houndour		Swinub

EX Deoxys

	Plusle		Minun
The two cards depict the same scene from two different "camera angles". On the first card, a Plusle is seen posing with a Minun in the background, while the second card depicts vice vera.

POP Series 3

	File:Plusle3POPSeries5.jpg Plusle		Minun
The illustrations can be put side-by-side to make one cohesive image.

Platinum

	Dialga		Giratina

Dark Explorers

	Plusle		Minun
The two cards depict the same scene from two different "camera angles". In the scene, a Plusle is running on an airport runway in front of an airplane while a Minun sits on one of said airplane's wings. The first card is focused on the Plusle, while the second is focused on the Minun.

Plasma Blast

	Sawk		Throh
The two cards depict the same scene from two different "camera angles". On the first card, a Sawk is seen kicking while a Throh readies a punch in the background, while the second card depicts vice vera.

Legendary Treasures

	Charmeleon		Swablu
The first card shows a Charmeleon accidentally burning a Swablu's wing with the flame on its tail. On the next card, the Swablu with its singed wing angrily flies away, while the surprised Charmeleon looks on.

	Tepig		Pignite		Emboar
The first card shows a husband and wife depicted with their young son holding the family Tepig. On the next card, the family Tepig has evolved into Pignite, and the husband and wife appear to have had a daughter. On the last card, the family Tepig has fully evolved. On the left, the son has started a family of his own, while the aging husband and wife sit beside their daughter on the right.

	Minun		Plusle
The illustrations can be put side-by-side to make one cohesive image.

	Trubbish		Phione		Empoleon
The first card shows a Trubbish left at a landfill site. On the next card, the abandoned Trubbish meets a Phione upon reaching a waterfront. On the last card, the Phione appears to have introduced the abandoned Trubbish to an Empoleon. The Trubbish appears to be enjoying itself riding on the Empoleon's back as it travels through the water.

	Natu		Bouffalant
The first card shows two Natu huddled together in a blizzard, while a Bouffalant approaches in the distance. On the next card, the blizzard has abated, and the two Natu appear contently snug in Bouffalant's afro.

Furious Fists

	Plusle		Minun
The illustrations can be put side-by-side to make one cohesive image.

	Mountain Ring		Slaking		Magmortar		Electivire

Roaring Skies

	File:ExeggcuteEmeraldBreak1.jpg Exeggcute		File:ExeggutorEmeraldBreak2.jpg Exeggutor
The first card shows an Exeggcute that is being harassed by a Spearow. On the next card, the Exeggcute has evolved into Exeggutor and takes its revenge on a flock of Spearow.

	File:MeowthXYPromo106.jpg Meowth		File:InkayXYPromo105.jpg Inkay
The first card shows a Meowth overjoyed at finding a Berry, while an Inkay watches from a distance. On the next card, the Inkay has ambushed the Meowth with a spray of ink and made off with its Berry.

BREAKthrough

	Chespin		Snorlax
The first card shows a Chespin climbing a tree in an attempt to reach some Razz Berries, while a Snorlax sleeps below. On the next card, the Snorlax has awoken and is readily dashing to catch the Chespin that is falling from the tree.

	Froakie		Frogadier
The first card depicts a Froakie trying to run on water, presumably being coached by a Frogadier. On the second card, the Frogadier is demonstrating his technique to the Froakie, who watches in awe.

BREAKpoint

	Chikorita		Fennekin
The first card shows a Chikorita seeing a Fennekin in the rift hole torn between the twin worlds. On the second card, the twin worlds are unified and remade, with both Fennekin and Chikorita playing together in the unified world.

	Hypno		Clefairy
The two cards depict the same scene from two different "camera angles". On the first card, a Hypno is seen waving its pendulum while a confused Cleffa stumbles in the background, while the second card depicts vice versa.

Generations

	File:CharmanderPokéKyunCollection3.jpg Charmander		File:CharmeleonPokéKyunCollection4.jpg Charmeleon		File:CharizardPokéKyunCollection5.jpg Charizard
The first card shows a young boy being teased by his mischievous Charmander. On the next card, the boy is now older, and his Charmander has evolved into Charmeleon. The two have forged a close friendship and are engrossed in discussion. On the last card, the boy is now a young man, and his Charmeleon has evolved into Charizard. Their tale of friendship continues, with Charizard shielding the young man from snow.

Shining Legends and Unified Minds

	Mewtwo-GX		Mewtwo & Mew-GX
The first card shows a Mewtwo confined within a laboratory enclosure. On the next card, Mewtwo and Mew appear together, in front of the shattered glass of the now-destroyed enclosure. Both cards were illustrated by Mitsuhiro Arita, who suggested that Mew has helped Mewtwo escape the enclosure.^[2]

Unified Minds and Hidden Fates

	Dwebble		Ekans		Hoothoot
The three cards depict a Dwebble, Ekans, and Hoothoot each catching whitness of the Legendary birds.

Cosmic Eclipse

	Mawile		Mega Lopunny & Jigglypuff-GX
The first card depicts a Mawile with a Lopunny and a Jigglypuff in the background. The second card depicts the same Lopunny and Jigglypuff hugging.

	Teddiursa		Nosepass		Skrelp
The three cards depict a Teddyursa, Nosepass, and Skrelp finding ancient statues of Arceus, Dialga, and Palkia, respectively.

SM-P Promotional cards

	Litten		Chespin		Inkay

	Psyduck		Eevee		Pikachu		Mimikyu		Rowlet
All five cards are parodies of "The Scream" by Edvard Munch.

Vivid Voltage

	Arrokuda		Cramorant
The first card depicts an Arrokuda swimming underwater with a Cramorant diving in the background. On the second card, the Cramorant has caught the Arrokuda in its beak, and is presumably preparing to eat it.

Battle Styles

	Tepig		Tepig

Chilling Reign and SWSH Black Star Promos

	Passimian		Passimian

	Blitzle		Blitzle
The first card shows a Blitzle standing on an iceberg. On the second card, the iceberg is starting to melt, with the Blitzle looking down worryingly.

Evolving Skies and Fusion Strike

	Smeargle		Meowth		Eldegoss		Mawile

Celebrations

	Cosmog		Cosmoem		Solgaleo		Lunala
The first card shows Lillie playing with Nebby, her Cosmog. On the second card, Nebby has evolved into a Cosmoem, and is shown sleeping next to Lillie. The next two cards seem to split into two different timelines. In the first timeline, Cosmoem has evolved into Solgaleo, and is accompanying Lillie in a field. In the second timeline, it has evolved into Lunala, and is flying next to Lillie, who is standing on a rock near the seaside.

Fusion Strike

	Araquanid		Mudkip		Sandygast

Fusion Strike and Brilliant Stars

	Basculin		Octillery

Brilliant Stars

	Magmortar		Electivire

	Charizard V		Charizard V
The first card depicts a Pokémon battle between a Charizard, and a Venusaur. The second card takes place afterwards, with the both of them resting in the forest destroyed by them battling.

Crown Zenith

	Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR		Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR		Giratina VSTAR		Arceus VSTAR

Crown Zenith and SWSH Black Star Promos

	Charizard VSTAR		Mewtwo VSTAR

SWSH Black Star Promos

	Scorbunny		Grookey		Sobble
In the first card, a Scorbunny finds a pile of Berries, while a Grookey and a Sobble take notice from a bush. In the second card, the Scorbunny has made off with a handful of Berries, while the Grookey inspects of what's left. The last card shows the Sobble crying because the Grookey took the entire pile.

	Eevee		Umbreon
The first card depicts an Eevee playing with a puddle of water at nighttime. On the second card, the Eevee has evolved into an Umbreon, and is running across the puddle.

	Eevee		Espeon
The first card depicts an Eevee about to fall asleep on a bench surrounded by flowers. On the second card, it has evolved into an Espeon, and has woken up.

	Eevee		Leafeon		Glaceon
The first card depicts an Eevee observing a budding flower in the Winter. The second card shows that the flower has bloomed in Spring, and a Leafeon runs towards it. On the third card, it's Winter again, and a Glaceon is seen standing near the flower, which is still alive, but is starting to shrivel up.

	Eevee		Sylveon
The first depicts an Eevee running around a playroom. On the second card, the Eevee has evolved into a Sylveon, and is sitting on a cushion.

Throughout the Sword & Shield series

Wooloo (Sword & Shield 152)	Grubbin (Rebel Clash 16)	Vullaby (Rebel Clash 119)	Larvitar (Darkness Ablaze 86)	Gothita (Darkness Ablaze 73)
Kakuna (Vivid Voltage 2)	Tynamo (Vivid Voltage 57)	Snom (Shining Fates 29)	Spoink (Battle Styles 55)	Galarian Mr. Mime (Battle Styles 34)
Rufflet (Evolving Skies 136)	Ralts (Chilling Reign 59)	Ribombee (Evolving Skies 79)	Marshtomp (Fusion Strike 63)	Lotad (Evolving Skies 32)
Stufful (Fusion Strike 150)	Bunnelby (Fusion Strike 214)	Milcery (Brilliant Stars 70)	Shroomish (Brilliant Stars 3)	Litleo (Lost Origin 28)
Dewott (Astral Radiance 42)	Komala (Lost Origin 149)	Golbat (Silver Tempest 104)	Unfezant (Pokémon GO 63)	Emolga (Silver Tempest 54)
Fennekin (Silver Tempest 25)	Solosis (Silver Tempest 76)	Kricketune (Crown Zenith GG2)	Peaceful Park (S-P Promo 316)

Scarlet & Violet

	Ralts		Kirlia		Gardevoir ex
The first card shows a young woman moving into a house with her pet Ralts. On the second card, the Ralts has evolved into a Kirlia, and the woman appears to have since given birth to a baby. On the final card, the Ralts has fully evolved, and the woman and presumably her husband are now elderly, with Gardevoir caring for them.

Paldea Evolved

	Sprigatito		Floragato		Meowscarada ex

	Fuecoco		Crocalor		Skeledirge ex

	Quaxly		Quaxwell		Quaquaval ex
The first card depicts a Quaxly looking at itself in the mirror with many haircare products sitting on the sink. On the second card, the Quaxly has evolved into a Quaxwell, and is busy styling its pompadour. On the third card, the Quaxly is fully evolved, and is looking at itself proudly in the mirror.