Which artist created the original design of Pikachu?

Atsuko Nishida created the original design of Pikachu.

Nishida worked at Game Freak and designed several Pokémon species. Pikachu’s early concept was influenced by a squirrel, including the cheek pouches that suggested storing electricity. The character was later classified within the game’s world as a mouse Pokémon.

Ken Sugimori, Pokémon’s art director, finalized the design and produced the polished artwork used for the franchise. This division of labor explains why Sugimori is sometimes incorrectly named as Pikachu’s sole creator.

Pikachu was not initially guaranteed to become the franchise mascot. The anime’s production team selected Pikachu because its yellow color, expressive face and approachable appearance could appeal broadly, while choosing one of the three game starters might have favored only part of the audience.