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Draft:Ken Sugimori

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050Diglett.png This article is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Missing credits
Ken Sugimori 杉森建
Sugimori Ken
Ken Sugimori 2018.jpg
Sugimori in 2018[1]
Born
January 27 1966[citation needed]
(Age 58)
Company
GAME FREAK
Roles on Pokémon
Art Direction
Art Supervisor
Character Design
Key Art
Pokémon Design
First credit
Pokémon Red and Green
Latest Credit
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
External Links
Twitter.png Spotify.png Apple Music.png Tumblr.png Instagram.png Artstation.png Threads.png Facebook.png YouTube-logo.png Pixiv.png Niconico video.png Website Icon.png

Ken Sugimori 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.

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

050Diglett.png This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: All of the Pokémon moved up into this new format.

The following are a list of currently known designs for the Pokémon series by Ken Sugimori. Category: Designers


050Diglett.png This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: All of his anime only characters, movies etc. where he drew the settei.
Citations for the others

Character Designs

Generation III

Ruby Sapphire Brendan.png
 R  S 
Brendan[citation needed]
Ruby Sapphire May.png
 R  S 
May[citation needed]

Generation IV

Diamond Pearl Lucas.png
 D  P 
Lucas[citation needed]
Diamond Pearl Dawn.png
 D  P 
Dawn[citation needed]
Diamond Pearl Roark.png
 D  P 
Roark[citation needed]
Diamond Pearl Gardenia.png
 D  P 
Gardenia[citation needed]
Diamond Pearl Maylene.png
 D  P 
Maylene[citation needed]
Diamond Pearl Candice.png
 D  P 
Candice[citation needed]
Diamond Pearl Cynthia.png
 D  P 
Cynthia[citation needed]

Generation V

Black White Hilbert.png
 B  W 
Hilbert[citation needed]
Black White Hilda.png
 B  W 
Hilda[citation needed]
Black White Juniper.png
 B  W 
Professor Juniper[citation needed]

Generation VI

XY Shauna.png
 X  Y 
Shauna[citation needed]
XY Tierno.png
 X  Y 
Tierno[citation needed]
XY Trevor.png
 X  Y 
Trevor[citation needed]

Generation VII

Sun Moon Lillie.png
 S  M 
Lillie[citation needed]
Sun Moon Team Skull Grunt.png
 S  M 
Team Skull Grunt[citation needed]
Sun Moon Plumeria.png
 S  M 
Plumeria[citation needed]
Sun Moon Guzma.png
 S  M 
Guzma[citation needed]
Sun Moon Red.png
 S  M 
Red[citation needed]
Sun Moon Blue.png
 S  M 
Blue[citation needed]

Generation IX

Scarlet Violet Hassel.png
 S  V 
Hassel[citation needed]


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[9]

    Gyaōn from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet[9]

  • Clefairy from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet[9]

    Clefairy from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet[9]

  • Spearow from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet[9]

    Spearow from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet[9]

  • Venusaur from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet[9]

    Venusaur from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet[9]

  • Lapras from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet[9]

    Lapras from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet[9]

  • Omega from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet[9]

    Omega from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet[9]

  • Gyarados from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet[9]

    Gyarados from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet[9]

  • Scyther from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet[9]

    Scyther from the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet[9]

Artwork

Official artwork

050Diglett.png 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.

Pokémon Gallery Collection - Chance Encounter with a Shiny Pokémon.jpg
Pokémon Center
Pokémon Gallery Collection
(Chance Encounter with a Shiny Pokémon)[45]
Pokémon Gallery Collection - A Sky where Latias and Latios Roam.jpg
Pokémon Center
Pokémon Gallery Collection
(A Sky where Latias and Latios Roam)[45]
Pokémon Gallery Collection - Rayquaza's Imperial Wrath.jpg
Dialga-Palkia-Giratina.png
Pokémon Center
Pokémon Gallery Collection
(Confrontation at Spear Pillar)[45]
Pokémon Gallery Collection - Battle at the Secret HQ Xerneas.jpg
Pokémon Center
Pokémon Gallery Collection
(Battle at the Secret HQ — Xerneas)[45]
Pokémon Gallery Collection - Battle at the Secret HQ Yveltal.jpg
Pokémon Center
Pokémon Gallery Collection
(Battle at the Secret HQ — Yveltal)[45]
VS Complete Book Vol 13.jpg
TCG
VS Complete Book Vol. 13[citation needed]

Credits

Games

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.[46]
    • Another of Sugimori's favorite Pokémon is Venusaur, but he has also said its complexity makes it his least favorite to draw.[46]
    • 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.[16]
    • His favorite Pokémon from Pokémon Black and White is Zekrom.[47]
  • Sugimori has illustrated more Pokémon cards than any other artist.

References

  1. ↑ From the Cafe EVs Booklet.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Tweet about Sugimori's involvement on the 1990 Capsule Monsters sprite sheet, as well as all of the unchanged designs from that era.
  3. ↑ Sugimori confirming he designed Clefairy.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Sugimori confirming he designed Yujirou and Sabrina
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Sugimori confirming he designed Brock, Misty, Erika and Lt. Surge.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Sugimori confirming he designed Koga and Blaine
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Sugimori confirming he designed Jessie and James
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Sugimori's name is found in the filenames for Liko and Roy's settei.
  9. ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 9.15 9.16 9.17 9.18 9.19 9.20 9.21 9.22 9.23 9.24 9.25 9.26 9.27 https://web.archive.org/web/20230426182306/https://twitter.com/Lewchube/status/1651287332916428811
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 (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)
  11. ↑ Interview with Yomiuri about Pikachu's creation (page 5)
  12. ↑ Creator Profile: The Creators of Pikachu - Pokemon.com (archived)
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 (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.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "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
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Interview with Yomiuri about Pikachu's creation (page 1)
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Nintendo Power Vol. 134, July 2000, p.78-79 (excerpt)
  17. ↑ Harris, Craig (February 24, 2009). "Pokemon Creators on Platinum."[sic] IGN.
  18. ↑ (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.
  19. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20230516083008/https://lavacutcontent.com/ken-sugimori-eevee-origins/
  20. ↑ Nintendo Dream Volume 84, February/March 2003 (English translation written by Jacob Newcomb and commissioned by Dr. Lava)
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Go-Pokemon.com - Pokémon Creators, Artists at the World Championships
  22. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20071103203031/http://blog.pokemon-movie.jp/archives/2006/07/post_85.html
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Nintendo Dream Vol. 201, January 2011 (Translation by Dr. Lava)
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Nintendo Dream Vol. 204, April 2011 (Shellspider's blog (Japanese), Translation by Dr. Lava)
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 Archive of deleted tweet by Keiko Moritsugu, explaining which Generation V Pokémon she had designed
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Nintendo Dream Vol. 205, May 2011 (Shellspider's blog (Japanese), Translation by Dr. Lava)
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 How Pokemon Get Made, 1up.com (Archive)
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Ken Sugimori got 'artist's block' during Pokemon X and Y development. Official Nintendo Magazine (published on October 24, 2013) (archived)
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 29.6 All key art for RG, Blue, GS, RS, FRLG, and DP was drawn by Sugimori, credited on all TCG cards using that artwork.
  30. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Yujirou
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named YujirouSabrina
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named BrockMistySurgeErika
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named KogaBlaine
  34. ↑ Brock's Grit
  35. ↑ Misty's Determination
  36. ↑ Giovanni's Scheme
  37. ↑ Cheryl (Battle Styles)
  38. ↑ N Noble Victories
  39. ↑ Korrina (Furious Fists)
  40. ↑ Lysandre (Flashfire)
  41. ↑ AZ (Phantom Forces)
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 Ace Trainer
  43. ↑ YouTube video of the announcement
  44. ↑ Avery (Chilling Reign)
  45. ↑ 45.00 45.01 45.02 45.03 45.04 45.05 45.06 45.07 45.08 45.09 45.10 Each Pokémon Gallery Collection has Sugimori's signature.
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 What is your favourite Pokémon? - Pokémon Black and White interview (archived)
  47. ↑ What is Ken Sugimori's favourite Pokémon? (archived)
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