Home › Artists › Ken Sugimori ← Illustrators Ken Sugimori 1996–present · Known for Original Pokémon character designs, WOTC-era art · 1109 cards across 101 sets
The designer of the original 151 — and the look every other illustrator builds from.
Style: Clean, definitive, watercolor-influenced Base Set Jungle Expedition Celebrations Generations
The look that started it all Sugimori designed the original 151 Pokémon and has served as the franchise's art director ever since. His clean, watercolor-influenced renders are the reference sheet every other illustrator works from — when you picture a Pokémon, you're usually picturing his version.
Why his cards anchor a binder Sugimori art reads as the ‘official’ portrait of a Pokémon. Collectors building a themed or generational display often open with his cards because they set the tone before more stylized art takes over later in the page.
Quiet authority There's no drama or flash to a Sugimori card — just confident, definitive linework. That restraint is the point: his cards are the calm baseline that makes bolder illustration rares pop when you place them nearby.
Build a binder page
A Sugimori page is the ‘canonical’ look — perfect as the opening spread of a generation-themed display binder.
Collector tip
His Expedition-era and anniversary cards (Celebrations, Generations) put the classic Sugimori look in a modern, affordable shell — a clean way to anchor a vintage-style page.
Every card by Ken Sugimori · 1109 Tap any card to view it larger and jump to its set or Pokémon.
+ Barry
Brilliant Stars · 2022
+ Gloria
Brilliant Stars · 2022
+ Riley
Lost Origin · 2022
+ Brandon
Silver Tempest · 2022
+ Candice
Silver Tempest · 2022
+ Lance
Silver Tempest · 2022
+ Professor Laventon
Silver Tempest · 2022
+ Serena
Silver Tempest · 2022
+ Bruno
Battle Styles · 2021
+ Cheryl
Battle Styles · 2021
+ Professor's Research (Professor Oak)
Celebrations · 2021
+ Blastoise
Celebrations: Classic Collection · 2021
+ Here Comes Team Rocket!
Celebrations: Classic Collection · 2021
+ Shining Magikarp
Celebrations: Classic Collection · 2021
+ Imposter Professor Oak
Celebrations: Classic Collection · 2021
+ Rocket's Admin.
Celebrations: Classic Collection · 2021
+ Agatha
Chilling Reign · 2021
+ Avery
Chilling Reign · 2021
+ Karen's Conviction
Chilling Reign · 2021
+ Klara
Chilling Reign · 2021
+ Peony
Chilling Reign · 2021
+ Siebold
Chilling Reign · 2021
+ Snivy
McDonald's Collection 2021 · 2021
+ Tepig
McDonald's Collection 2021 · 2021
+ Oshawott
McDonald's Collection 2021 · 2021
+ Hop
Sword & Shield · 2020
+ Leon
Vivid Voltage · 2020
+ Kricketot
Cosmic Eclipse · 2019
+ Slugma
Cosmic Eclipse · 2019
+ Palpitoad
Cosmic Eclipse · 2019
+ Throh
Cosmic Eclipse · 2019
+ Pawniard
Cosmic Eclipse · 2019
+ Rufflet
Cosmic Eclipse · 2019
+ Guzma & Hala
Cosmic Eclipse · 2019
+ Mallow & Lana
Cosmic Eclipse · 2019
+ Will
Cosmic Eclipse · 2019
+ Staryu
Hidden Fates · 2019
+ Geodude
Hidden Fates · 2019
+ Graveler
Hidden Fates · 2019
+ Golem
Hidden Fates · 2019
+ Blaine's Last Stand
Hidden Fates · 2019
+ Exeggcute
Team Up · 2019
+ Vulpix
Team Up · 2019
+ Staryu
Team Up · 2019
+ Lapras
Team Up · 2019
+ Voltorb
Team Up · 2019
+ Helioptile
Team Up · 2019
+ Tentacool
Team Up · 2019
+ Grimer
Team Up · 2019
+ Larvitar
Team Up · 2019
+ Poochyena
Team Up · 2019
+ Bronzor
Team Up · 2019
+ Meowth
Team Up · 2019
+ Jasmine
Team Up · 2019
+ Nanu
Team Up · 2019
+ Bellsprout
Unbroken Bonds · 2019
+ Slowbro
Unbroken Bonds · 2019
+ Gligar
Unbroken Bonds · 2019
+ Aron
Unbroken Bonds · 2019
+ Cottonee
Unbroken Bonds · 2019
+ Janine
Unbroken Bonds · 2019
+ Molayne
Unbroken Bonds · 2019
+ Shroomish
Unified Minds · 2019
+ Karrablast
Unified Minds · 2019
+ Foongus
Unified Minds · 2019
+ Cryogonal
Unified Minds · 2019
+ Skorupi
Unified Minds · 2019
+ Drilbur
Unified Minds · 2019
+ Hapu
Unified Minds · 2019
+ Nuzleaf
Celestial Storm · 2018
+ Surskit
Celestial Storm · 2018
+ Torkoal
Celestial Storm · 2018
+ Marshtomp
Celestial Storm · 2018
+ Voltorb
Celestial Storm · 2018
+ Grumpig
Celestial Storm · 2018
+ Phanpy
Celestial Storm · 2018
+ Donphan
Celestial Storm · 2018
+ Larvitar
Celestial Storm · 2018
+ Baltoy
Celestial Storm · 2018
+ Sneasel
Celestial Storm · 2018
+ Steelix
Celestial Storm · 2018
+ Wingull
Celestial Storm · 2018
+ Slaking
Celestial Storm · 2018
+ Skitty
Celestial Storm · 2018
+ Bill's Maintenance
Celestial Storm · 2018
+ Copycat
Celestial Storm · 2018
+ The Masked Royal
Celestial Storm · 2018
+ TV Reporter
Celestial Storm · 2018
+ Combusken
Dragon Majesty · 2018
+ Heatmor
Dragon Majesty · 2018
+ Croconaw
Dragon Majesty · 2018
+ Feraligatr
Dragon Majesty · 2018
+ Quagsire
Dragon Majesty · 2018
+ Vibrava
Dragon Majesty · 2018
+ Blaine's Last Stand
Dragon Majesty · 2018
+ Scatterbug
Forbidden Light · 2018
+ Fennekin
Forbidden Light · 2018
+ Froakie
Forbidden Light · 2018
+ Honedge
Forbidden Light · 2018
+ Flabébé
Forbidden Light · 2018
+ Goomy
Forbidden Light · 2018
+ Crasher Wake
Forbidden Light · 2018
+ Diantha
Forbidden Light · 2018
+ Tangela
Lost Thunder · 2018
+ Heracross
Lost Thunder · 2018
+ Skiddo
Lost Thunder · 2018
+ Houndour
Lost Thunder · 2018
+ Delibird
Lost Thunder · 2018
+ Lanturn
Lost Thunder · 2018
+ Stunfisk
Lost Thunder · 2018
+ Xatu
Lost Thunder · 2018
+ Yamask
Lost Thunder · 2018
+ Sudowoodo
Lost Thunder · 2018
+ Durant
Lost Thunder · 2018
+ Jigglypuff
Lost Thunder · 2018
+ Marill
Lost Thunder · 2018
+ Carbink
Lost Thunder · 2018
+ Smeargle
Lost Thunder · 2018
+ Kahili
Lost Thunder · 2018
+ Mina
Lost Thunder · 2018
Show all 1109 cards Card images © The Pokémon Company / the illustrators — shown for identification.
