Ken Sugimori

Ken Sugimori
杉森 建
Born (1966-01-27) January 27, 1966
Fukuoka, Japan
OccupationsVideo game artist, director, game designer, illustrator
EmployerGame Freak (1989–present)
Known forPokémon series
Pulseman
Drill Dozer

Ken Sugimori (Japanese: 杉森 建, Hepburn: Sugimori Ken; born January 27, 1966[1]) is a Japanese video game designer, illustrator, manga artist, director[2], and co-founder of Game Freak alongside Satoshi Tajiri. He is best known as the primary character designer and art director for the Pokémon franchise. Sugimori is also credited with the art direction for other titles, including Pulseman.[3] Sugimori drew and finalized most of the original 151 Pokémon.[4] He also co-directed Ruby and Sapphire, Diamond and Pearl and Black and White,[5] as well as worked on various Pokémon films, trading cards, and other games like the Super Smash Bros. series.[6][7][8]

Career

From early 1981 until 1986, Sugimori illustrated a gaming fanzine called Game Freak, which had been started by Satoshi Tajiri.[4] Sugimori discovered the magazine in a dōjinshi shop, and decided to get involved.[9] Eventually, the two decided to pitch an arcade game design idea to Namco; they reworked Game Freak into a development company and produced Mendel Palace.[10] Sugimori is best known as the character designer and art director for the Pokémon franchise and designed a large majority of the first 151 Pokémon with Atsuko Nishida, Motofumi Fujiwara, Shigeki Morimoto, and Satoshi Ota. He has worked on the various Pokémon movies, trading cards, and other games.

For Pokémon Black and White, Sugimori directed a team of 17 people in designing new characters for the games, though he always drew the final designs. He drew much of his inspiration from observing animals in aquariums and zoos.[11] Sugimori has also written and illustrated original manga, including one which was distributed with pre-orders of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness.[12] When he begins a new character, his process normally involves making a rough sketch, then tracing it onto film paper while polishing it and making the illustration more professional looking. After that, he draws the character many times, changing its proportions until he is satisfied.[13] When designing a new Pokémon, Sugimori stated that "I do feel that I always want to show new Pokémon that people have never seen before. To do that, I think of ways that I can surprise the players."[14]

Works

Video games

YearGame titleRole
1989Mendel PalaceCharacter designer
1991Smart BallGame designer, character designer
YoshiGraphic designer
1992Magical★Taruruto-kunDirector, game designer, graphic designer
1993Mario & WarioCharacter designer
1994PulsemanDirector, game designer, graphic designer
1996Pokémon Red, Green and BlueCharacter designer, Pokémon designer
Bazaar de Gosāru no Game de GosāruGraphic designer
1997Bushi Seiryūden: Futari no Yūsha
1998Pokémon YellowCharacter designer, Pokémon designer
1999Click MedicGraphics support
Pokémon Gold and SilverGraphics director, Pokémon designer
2000Pokémon Crystal
2002Pokémon Ruby and SapphireArt director, Pokémon designer, graphic designer
2004Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
Pokémon Emerald
Pokémon Dash Package illustration
2005Drill DozerDirector, game designer
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red and Blue Rescue Team Package illustration
2006Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Art director, Pokémon designer, graphic designer
2007Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Darkness Package illustration
2008 My Pokémon Ranch Hayley character designer
Pokémon Platinum Art director, Pokémon designer, graphic designer
2009 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky Package illustration
Pokémon Rumble Game design advisor
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilverPokémon designer, graphic supervisor
2010Pokémon Black and White2D art director, Pokémon designer
2012 Pokémon Conquest Game design advisor
Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 Pokémon designer
HarmoKnight Advisor
2013Pocket Card Jockey
Pokémon X and YCharacter art director, Pokémon design director
2014Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Sega 3D Reprint Archives Package illustration
2015Tembo the Badass ElephantAdvisor
Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon Package illustration
Sega 3D Classics Collection
2016Pokémon Sun and MoonPokémon designer, lead trainer graphic designer
2017Giga WreckerAdvisor
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra MoonPokémon designer, design art
2018Pokémon QuestSupervisor
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!Creative supervisor
2019Little Town HeroSupervisor
Pokémon Sword and Shield Concept Design & Planning, Supervisor
Sakura WarsPeanut character designer
2022Pokémon Legends: ArceusSupervisor
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
2023 Pokémon Sleep Pokémon Settings Supervision
Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On! Senior Advisor
2025 Pokémon Legends: Z-A Supervisor
2026 Pokémon Champions
Pokémon Pokopia
Beast of Reincarnation

Card games

Anime

Manga

References

  1. ↑ ゲームマエストロ VOL. 4 デザイナー/イラストレーター編 [Game Maestro Volume #4 Designer/Illustrator Edition]. 毎日コミュニケーションズ. May 20, 2001. ISBN 978-4839903879.
  2. ↑ SATO (June 6, 2014). "From Manga Artist To Game Designer: Ken Sugimori's Work Before Pokémon". Siliconera. Archived from the original on July 6, 2018. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  3. ↑ Thomas, Lucas (July 23, 2009). "Pulseman Review". IGN. News Corporation. Archived from the original on August 12, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  4. 1 2 Gifford, Kevin (April 7, 2008). "'Game Mag Weaseling': Just Checking In". GameSetWatch. Think Services. Archived from the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Iwata Asks".
  6. ↑ "Ken Sugimori - Video Game Credits". MobyGames. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Ken SUGIMORI / 杉森建 – VGDensetsu" (in French). Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Ken Sugimori's list of works". www.arcade-history.com. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  9. ↑ Kohler, Chris (2004). Power-up: How Japanese Video Games Gave the World an Extra Life. BradyGames. p. 238. ISBN 0-7440-0424-1.
  10. ↑ Barnholt, Ray (July 30, 2008). "25 Sorta Significant Famicom Games: #19". 1UP.com. UGO Networks. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  11. ↑ Iwata, Satoru (2010). "DSで２作目の完全新作をつくること". Iwata Asks (in Japanese). Kyoto, Japan: Nintendo. p. 2. Archived from the original on March 12, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  12. ↑ Staff (March 13, 2008). "Pokemon Pre-Order Offer". IGN. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  13. ↑ Bishop, Stuart (May 30, 2003). "Nintendo Interview: Game Freak on Pokemon!". Computer and Video Games. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
  14. ↑ Shepperd, Chris (May 2017). "Pearls of Wisdom". Nintendo Power. No. 215. Nintendo.
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