Which artist is credited with designing Pikachu for the Pokémon video games?

Atsuko Nishida is credited with designing Pikachu for the Pokémon video games. She created the character during development of the first-generation Pokémon titles, while Ken Sugimori handled the final official artwork.

Pikachu was not originally conceived as the franchise's worldwide mascot. The Electric-type Pokémon was one of many creatures in the first games, but its distinctive shape, bright color, and role in the anime made it especially memorable.

The anime then placed Pikachu beside Ash Ketchum, turning the character into Pokémon's most recognizable symbol. Pikachu's popularity helped it appear prominently in merchandise, films, promotional art, and later games. The design is often attributed only to Sugimori because his artwork became the public-facing version, but Nishida is credited with creating the original character design.