

POP Series 9 presents a tightly edited 17-card lineup with no Trainer or Energy cards, keeping the focus entirely on Pokémon. Its rarity profile is evenly paced across Common, Uncommon, and Rare, and the art direction stays consistent: vibrant color, approachable drawing, and straightforward staging. Most illustrations favor simple backgrounds and clear silhouettes, giving the set a light, uncluttered rhythm from card to card.
Midori Harada anchors the set with the majority of illustrations, shaping its playful, lighthearted tone. The visual highlights include Garchomp (pop9-1), which pairs a more intense note with the set’s otherwise cheerful palette, alongside Lopunny (pop9-9) and Manaphy (pop9-2) as bright, character-centric showcases. Supporting work from Kagemaru Himeno and Masakazu Fukuda adds subtle variation in line and finish while staying within the same clean, readable compositional language.
Midori Harada is the defining hand in POP Series 9, contributing the majority of the set’s illustrations and establishing its lighthearted, approachable look. Kagemaru Himeno and Masakazu Fukuda appear in smaller numbers, providing complementary takes that remain consistent with the set’s clean, character-forward presentation.