Top 10 Pokémon TCG Illustrators of All Time and Their Greatest Hits
Without the Pokémon TCG's illustrators, it would've never seen the level of success that it has today. We've selected who we believe to be the top 10 Pokémon TCG illustrators ever and showcased cards which best highlight their distinctive art styles.
Illustrators are the people who make the aesthetic magic of the Pokémon TCG happen. In most cases, a card’s illustration is the primary determinant of its market value—especially where the set’s rarest and most expensive cards are concerned. A truly spectacular illustration can take a card’s status—and subsequently, price tag—to a level far beyond what might ordinarily be expected.
Over the almost three decades the Pokémon TCG has been around, dozens of skilled illustrators have contributed their talents to the phenomenon that is the Pokémon TCG. Without them, the TCG would not be anywhere near what it is today.
That being said, certain Pokémon card illustrators have elevated their names beyond the rest of the pack and established themselves as bona fide Pokémon TCG legends after creating the artwork for some of the most epic cards to ever see the light of day.
Here is our list of who we deem to be the 10 greatest Pokémon card illustrators of all time—featuring some of their greatest hits. We’ve selected three cards for each, representing different eras and encapsulating their respective art styles.
10 Best Pokémon Card Artists (Featuring Three Cards Which Highlight Their Trademark Art Styles)
10) Pokémon Card Artist Kagemaru Himeno

Years Active: 1997-2024
Total Cards: 633
One of Creatures Inc.’s longest-serving illustrators, Himeno’s illustrations are often characterized by an interplay of softer shades with brighter and more vivid colors to bring out light and shadow. Her newer card illustrations often include more detailed backgrounds—something which in her younger years she seldom incorporated into her card illustrations.
Among Himeno’s former trademark inclusions in her illustrations—one which she has largely phased out by now—is the addition of several soft white spots, especially when the Pokémon depicted is in a natural outdoor setting.

Ninetales :1ED [e3 023/087](Expansion Pack Vol.3 “Wind from the Sea”)

Iris SR :1ED [BW9 082/076](Expansion Pack “Megalo Cannon”)

Vileplume GX SR: SA[SM11b 062/049](Enhanced Expansion”Dream League”)
Himeno has produced material for the Pokémon franchise beyond the TCG itself; her art was featured in the Pokémon Tales picture books as well as, aptly enough, her own manga series titled “How I Became a Pokémon Card”.
9) Pokémon Card Artist Ken Sugimori

Years Active: 1996-2022
Total Cards: 969
If this article had been about who the most influential illustrators are, Sugimori would easily have been #1. The illustrator of much of the original artwork of the Pokémon video games, Sugimori is also the most prolific Pokémon TCG illustrator of all time, with almost 1,000 cards to his name.
Sugimori’s card illustrations can be divided into two distinct eras. Early Sugimori illustrations tended to use lighter shades and make heavy use of watercolor. More recent Sugimori illustrations, however, tend to feature heavier shading, fluid-looking poses, and rounder corners.

Typhlosion : Old Back [PRMF-1 No.157](Pokemon Card neo “Premium File”)

N SR :1ED [BW2 071/066](Expansion Pack “Red Collection”)

Shauna[XY-BEST 185/171](High Class Pack “The Best of XY”)
Sugimori designed or co-designed 48 Pokémon, including some highly popular ones, including Gengar, Snorlax, Mewtwo, Reshiram, Zekrom, Dialga, and Palkia, just to name a few. His most recent role was as the Design & World Concept Supervisor of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, the DLC of the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet video games.
8) Pokémon Card Artist TOKIYA
Years Active: 2009-2020
Total Cards: 91
Despite her relative lack of output compared to some of the other names on this list, Tokiya Sakuba—known simply as “TOKIYA”—is responsible for some of the most impressive Pokémon TCG illustrations ever. Her signature art style involves the use of a graphic tablet in image editing software for her illustrations’ shapes, outlines, and final details.
TOKIYA’s card backgrounds tend to be highly complex, detailed, and atmospheric—almost otherworldly at times. The surreal, avant-garde nature of TOKIYA’s illustrations has been said to push the envelope. Many of her illustrations also depict Pokémon in combat.

Ninetales (SoulSilver Collection [L1] 013/070)

Gyarados: PROMO[XY-P](XY-P Promotional cards)

Channeler SR[SM11 105/094](Expansion Pack”Miracle Twin”)
In addition to her TCG work, TOKIYA also designed the Swimmers and Ace Trainers in Gen 7 Pokémon video games Pokémon Sun and Moon.
7) Pokémon Card Artist Atsuko Nishida

Years Active: 1997-2024
Total Cards: 446
Nishida is a true legend of the Pokémon franchise. Many of the most iconic ‘mons of all time were her concepts, such as Zoroark, six of the eight Eeveelutions, all three Gen 1 starters, including the entire Charizard evolutionary line, and even Pikachu—the face of Pokémon.
Nishida’s art style is one of the most recognizable of any belonging to a Pokémon TCG illustrator. Her illustrations are notable for their use of soft color palettes and the use of light to highlight elements of the image that emphasize this softness. Nishida’s illustrations can generally be characterized as gentle and easy on the eyes.

Furret :1ED [e3 066/087](Expansion Pack Vol.3 “Wind from the Sea”)

Emolga SR :1ED [SC 023/020](Concept Pack “Shiny Collection”)

Gardevoir & Sylveon GX SR: SA[SM9a 061/055](Enhanced Expansion Pack “Night Unison”)
With Nishida, her involvement with Pokémon goes well beyond the TCG; in addition to conceptualizing many fan-favorite Pokémon, she has been involved with Pokémon design in all nine generations of the video games and has also contributed many character concepts to the Pokémon anime.
6) Pokémon Card Artist AKIRA EGAWA

Years Active: 2019-2025
Total Cards: 77
Despite having far less longevity thus far than every other name on this list, EGAWA—whose name is stylized in all-caps—has already put together such a stunning track record that she deserves her spot on it. If we were to redo this list in 2030, EGAWA could easily be #1 by then if she carries on as she’s already been doing since her debut in 2019.
Aptly for someone who has stylized her name in all-caps, many of EGAWA’s illustrations are visually stunning, usually larger-than-life images. Often created via the use of Photoshop, EGAWA’s illustrations tend to have rich textural detail and typically depict the featured Pokémon at the peak of its powers.

Lucario V (V Starter Decks [SD] 050/127)

Giratina VSTAR UR[s12a 261/172](High Class Pack “VSTAR Universe”)

Hydreigon ex SAR [SV8 133/106](Expansion Pack “Supercharged Breaker / Super Electric Breaker”)
EGAWA’s TCG work isn’t limited to cards alone: she was the illustrator of the booster pack artwork for four English Gen 8 sets: Chilling Reign, Fusion Strike, Battle Styles, and Evolving Skies. She was also among the judges of the Pokémon Trading Card Game Illustration Contest 2022.
5) Pokémon Card Artist Yuka Morii

Years Active: 2000-2025
Total Cards: 207
Morii’s illustrations are almost certainly the most recognizable of any illustrator simply because all her illustrations are clay figures that she sculpted; they’re then photographed in front of either a digitally rendered or on-location background.
Much of the appeal of Morii’s illustrations stems from the novelty factor. No other Pokémon TCG illustrators have done any that are even remotely close to hers, with the possible exception of Sachiko Adachi. Though she’s nowhere near as prolific as most of her peers, the labor-intensive nature of her illustrations makes this more than an understandable trade-off.

Pikachu :1ED [e4 033/088](Expansion Pack Vol.4 “Split Earth”)

Plusle :1ED [Pt3 036/100](Expansion Pack “The Beat of the Frontier”)

Venusaur & Snivy GX SR: SA[SM11a 066/064](Enhanced Expansion Pack “Remix Bout”)
Interestingly, apart from her TCG work, Morii has only made one other contribution to the Pokémon franchise. Her clay figures were used in a Pokémon Tales picture book published in 1997.
4) Pokémon Card Artist Ryo Ueda
Years Active: 2003-2022
Total Cards: 381
Ueda was brought into the Pokémon TCG fold to replace the late Keiji Kinebuchi, who died at the age of 46 in 2002. A 3D illustrator just like Kinebuchi, Ueda has since not only honored his predecessor’s legacy; he has surpassed it without any doubt.
A specialist in Pokémon-ex and Pokémon LV.X illustrations, Ueda tends to make use of elemental image effects and specific lighting angles to bring out the power of the Pokémon in question since those Pokémon are more powerful versions of the OGs. He has also illustrated many Ultra Rare (UR) cards that make use of gold-colored holofoil, backgrounds, and borders.

Team Rocket’s Suicune ex :1ED [PCG3 069/084](Expansion Pack “Rocket’s Counterattack”)

Latios EX SR :1ED [BW8 054/051](Expansion Pack “Spiral Force”)

Machamp V SR[s10D 072/067](Expansion Pack “Time Gazer”)
TCG illustration has, to date, been Ueda’s only involvement with the Pokémon franchise; however, that doesn’t take anything away from how impressive his TCG illustrations have been.
3) Pokémon Card Artist Masakazu Fukuda
Years Active: 2004-2024
Total Cards: 472
Since making his Pokémon TCG debut in 2004, Fukuda has been a constant presence through the ensuing sets and generations. Among all the cards he’s ever worked on, one particular group of card illustrations made Fukuda a Pokémon TCG immortal: his Pokémon ☆ illustrations.
Every Pokémon ☆ card, all of which depict a Shiny Pokémon, was illustrated by Fukuda. By exaggerating the Pokémon’s Shiny color palette as well as certain angles, Fukuda made just about every Pokémon ☆ illustration stand out. Fittingly, even after cards depicting Shinies were no longer classed as Pokémon ☆, Fukuda continued to illustrate many of these Shiny cards.

Gyarados Delta Species: 1ED[PCG7 008/052](Expansion Pack “Holon Phantom”)

Guzma SR[SM3N 056/051](Expansion Pack “Darkness that Consumes Light”))

Muk & Alolan Muk GX SR: SA[SM10 099/095](Expansion Pack “Double Blaze”)
The artwork for many Pokémon TCG deck kits, theme decks, special packs, and booster packs and boxes is Fukuda’s. He has also provided illustrations for products sold in Pokémon Centers, as well as one of the interactive audio picture books from the Pokémon Daisuki Tales series.
2) Pokémon Card Artist Mitsuhiro Arita

Years Active: 1996-2025
Total Cards: 635
The longest-serving illustrator in Pokémon TCG history, Arita’s resume speaks for itself. The evolution of Arita’s art style over all these years clearly shows how he has been able to remain relevant with the changing times. It’s thus no surprise that he’s probably the best-known TCG illustrator other than Sugimori.
In his earlier years, Arita tended to create illustrations using watercolor or pastel; these illustrations would usually feature distinct outlines. More recently, however, he has pivoted to using light and shadow as well as vibrant colors to add dynamism and realism to his images. Further realism is often introduced via Arita’s realistic-looking backgrounds and expressions.

Charmander [ADV 001/018](Pokemon Card Game ADV “Gift Box Latias Deck”)

Alakazam EX UR :1ED [XY10 088/078](Expansion Pack “Awakening Psychic King”)

Mewtwo GX ☆ [SM3+ 082/072](Enhanced Expansion Pack “Shining Legends”)
Although Arita’s only involvement with the Pokémon franchise is with the Pokémon TCG, he has also supplied illustrations for several other TCG franchises. These include the Sentai TCG, Monster Hunter Hunting Card Game, and Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Story Card Game.
1) Pokémon Card Artist Kouki Saitou

Years Active: 2002-2024
Total Cards: 688
Among all Pokémon TCG illustrators, Saitou’s versatility is unparalleled. Just one look at his cards from different eras shows uses of radically different art styles and techniques—yet at the same time, the cards remain unmistakably his. Add in the fact that he’s also one of the most prolific illustrators ever, and it should become clear why we’ve picked him as the GOAT.
Saitou’s illustrations are typified by realism and dynamism; their imagery often calls to mind the art style of the Pokémon anime—albeit usually with additional depth. His illustrations also frequently make use of high and low angles to convey motion.

Mew :1ED [PCG 005/016](Pre-Built Starters “Phantom Mew”)

Charizard EX SR :1ED [CP6 090/087](Concept Pack “Pokemon Card Game Expansion Pack 20th Anniversary”)

Espeon VMAX: SA/PROMO[S-P 189](S-P Promotional cards))
Saitou was also behind several of the illustrations at Pokémon Centers as well as many of the illustrations on TCG deck kits, booster packs, and booster boxes. In addition, he has contributed artwork to spin-off Pokémon video games such as Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky, Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs, and Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia.
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