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Ken Sugimori
杉森 建
Born (1966-01-27) January 27, 1966 (age 58)
Nationality Japanese
Occupation Video game artist, director, game designer, illustrator
Years active 1989–present
Employer Game Freak
Notable work
Pokémon
Pulseman
Drill Dozer

Ken Sugimori (Japanese: 杉森 建, Hepburn: Sugimori Ken, born January 27, 1966 in Fukuoka, Japan) is a Japanese video game designer, illustrator, manga artist, and director. 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. Sugimori drew and finalized all of the original 151 Pokémon. He has also worked on the various Pokémon films, trading cards, and other games like the Super Smash Bros. series.

Career

From early 1981 until 1986, Sugimori illustrated a gaming fanzine called Game Freak, which had been started by Satoshi Tajiri. Sugimori discovered the magazine in a dōjinshi shop, and decided to get involved. 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. 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, Rena Yoshikawa, 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. 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. 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. 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."

Works

Video games

Year Game title Role
1989 Mendel Palace Character designer
1991 Smart Ball Game designer, character designer
Yoshi Graphic designer
1992 Magical Tarurūto-kun Director, game designer, graphic designer
1993 Mario & Wario Character designer
1994 Pulseman Director, game designer, graphic designer
1996 Pokémon Red, Green and Blue Character designer, pokemon designer
Bazaar de Gosāru no Game de Gosāru Graphic designer
1997 Bushi Seiryūden: Futari no Yūsha
1998 Pokémon Yellow Character designer, pokemon designer
1999 Click Medic Graphics support
Pokémon Gold and Silver Graphics director, pokemon designer
2000 Pokémon Crystal
2002 Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Art director, pokemon designer, graphic designer
2004 Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
Pokémon Emerald
2005 Drill Dozer Director, game designer
2006 Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Art director, pokemon designer, graphic designer
2008 Pokémon Platinum
2009 Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Pokemon designer, graphic supervisor
2010 Pokémon Black and White 2D art director, pokemon designer
2012 Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 Pokemon designer
HarmoKnight Advisor
2013 Pocket Card Jockey
Pokémon X and Y Character art director, pokemon design director
2014 Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
2015 Tembo the ... Elephant Advisor
2016 Pokémon Sun and Moon Pokemon designer, lead trainer graphic designer
2017 Giga Wrecker Advisor
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon Pokemon designer, design art
2018 Pokémon Quest Supervisor
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! Creative supervisor
2019 Little Town Hero Supervisor
Pokémon Sword and Shield
Sakura Wars Peanut character designer
2022 Pokémon Legends: Arceus Supervisor
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Card games

Anime

Manga

  • Quinty (Mendel Palace)
  • Jerry Boy (Smart Ball)
  • Valkyrie no Bōken Gaiden: Futari no Megami (The Adventure of Valkyrie Gaiden: Two Goddess)
  • Screw Breaker Gōshin Dorirurero (Drill Dozer)
  • Pokémon Fushigi no Danjon Toki no Tankentai Yami no Tankentai (Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness)
  • Shin Maido Osawagaseshimasu

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Ken Sugimori para niños

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