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Ken Sugimori — signature work
KS Professor’s Research (Professor Oak) · Celebrations · 2021
Illustrator 1999 – 2022

Ken Sugimori

Ken Sugimori is credited on more than 1,100 Pokémon TCG cards from 1999 to 2022, spanning sets such as Base, Gym Heroes, and Neo Genesis. The work favors clear, character-forward staging, playful moods, and vibrant-to-pastel color palettes with balanced, simple compositions.

View external profile View all 1,109 cards
Main period
1999 – 2022
Cards illustrated
1,109
Most represented era
Gym
Most valuable card
$700.00
Shining Tyranitar · 2002
§ I

About the artist

Ken Sugimori’s Pokémon TCG credits run from 1999 through 2022, totaling more than 1,100 cards. The breadth of work appears across cornerstone releases including Base, Gym Heroes, and Gym Challenge, with additional presence in Neo Genesis and beyond. Across Pokémon and Trainer cards, the illustrations consistently prioritize readability and direct presentation.

Visually, Sugimori’s cards lean toward traditional and anime-inflected illustration with a cartoon-forward clarity. Compositions are often simple and focused—frequently centered or character-focused—supporting clean silhouettes and straightforward action cues when movement is present. Color handling tends toward vibrant and bright palettes, with soft and pastel options used to keep the mood lighthearted, cheerful, and playful. A representative card is Mewtwo (Base Set).

§ II

Best cards by Ken Sugimori

Curated reading of the corpus — composition, atmosphere, and lasting standing.

View all 1,109 cards →
Professor’s Research (Professor Oak)

Celebrations

Professor’s Research (Professor Oak) 2021
Shauna

Fates Collide

Shauna 2016
Jirachi

XY Black Star Promos

Jirachi 2013
Pikachu

XY Black Star Promos

Pikachu 2013
Shaymin

XY Black Star Promos

Shaymin 2013
Victini

XY Black Star Promos

Victini 2013
§ III

Signature Pokémon

Creatures most associated with Ken Sugimori’s body of work.

All Pokémon →
§ IV

Defining sets

The sets where Ken Sugimori’s work appears most often.

All sets →
§ V

Visual affinities

Recurring elemental and thematic threads across the work.

  1. Grass
    165
  2. Water
    132
  3. Colorless
    127
  4. Fighting
    111
  5. Psychic
    109
§ VI

Iconic cards

Cards that travel beyond the archive — defining works, frequently cited.

Shining Tyranitar

Shining Tyranitar

Neo Destiny 2002
Pikachu

Pikachu

Legendary Collection 2002
Shining Noctowl

Shining Noctowl

Neo Destiny 2002
Shining Gyarados

Shining Gyarados

Neo Revelation 2001
§ VII

The full archive

12 of 500 cards · every credit, every era.

Brandon

Silver Tempest

Brandon 2022
Candice

Silver Tempest

Candice 2022
Lance

Silver Tempest

Lance 2022
Professor Laventon

Silver Tempest

Professor Laventon 2022
Serena

Silver Tempest

Serena 2022
Riley

Lost Origin

Riley 2022
Barry

Brilliant Stars

Barry 2022
Gloria

Brilliant Stars

Gloria 2022
Blastoise

Celebrations: Classic Collection

Blastoise 2021
Here Comes Team Rocket!

Celebrations: Classic Collection

Here Comes Team Rocket! 2021
Imposter Professor Oak

Celebrations: Classic Collection

Imposter Professor Oak 2021
Professor’s Research (Professor Oak)

Celebrations

Professor’s Research (Professor Oak) 2021