Top Individual Pokémon Card Illustrators (Japanese)

Ken Sugimori

• Lead designer and illustrator of the original 151 Pokémon

• Credited with defining the visual style of early cards and game artwork

• Core figure at Game Freak and Creatures Inc.

Mitsuhiro Arita

• Legendary illustrator known for Base Set Charizard and many iconic Holos

• Work spans from Base Set through modern expansions

• Known for a painterly, dramatic style

Atsuko Nishida

• Designer of Pikachu, Bulbasaur, and many others

• Created beloved cute-style Pokémon artwork

• Worked on early card and game sprite art

Kagemaru Himeno

• Famous for graceful and soft, feminine Pokémon art (e.g. Eevee, Espeon)

• One of the most consistent artists from the Base Set to current expansions

Naoyo Kimura

• Illustrator and character designer

• Contributed to official Pokémon merchandise and promo card art

Tomokazu Komiya

• Known for surreal, abstract, childlike illustrations

• Created standout cards with a cult fanbase (e.g. Slowpoke, Magmar)

Yuka Morii

• Uses real clay models and photography for Pokémon card artwork

• One of the most unique and recognizable styles in the TCG

Aya Kusube

• Worked on cards with thick lines and stylized, cartoonish energy

• Active from the Neo era through EX Series

Akira Komayama

• Modern-era artist with dynamic shading and motion-heavy compositions

• Featured in recent Sword & Shield and Scarlet & Violet expansions

Kouki Saitou

• Focuses on naturalistic and battle-ready poses

• Also contributed to Pokémon video games and concept art

Sanosuke Sakuma

• Recent contributor known for detailed textures and bold line work

Shibuzoh.

• Modern artist with a bubbly, manga-like style used in CHR and SAR cards

Satoshi Nakai

• One of the original mechanical designers for Pokémon (e.g. Magnemite)

Midori Harada

• Known for soft, storybook-style cards often used in promos or lighter sets

5ban Graphics

• Not an individual, but a design studio working closely with TPC

• Specializes in digital rendering and V/EX/VMAX alt arts

SUI (Studio)

• Group studio producing digitally stylized artworks in collaboration with TPC

Notable English or International Contributors

CR CG gangs (Computer Graphics team)

• Group listed in international Pokémon cards for digitally-rendered card art

• Most often used in full-art trainers, energies, and VMAX cards

PLANETA Mochizuki, PLANETA Tsuji, PLANETA Igarashi

• PLANETA is a Japanese CG company, but often credited globally for alt arts

• Handles a large amount of EX/VSTAR/SAR digital artwork

Studio Bora Inc.

• Works on CGI cards used globally, often appearing in multi-region sets

CG Works

• Animation/design team credited in the TCG and some Pokémon anime material