Who illustrated the original 151 Pokémon designs?

Ken Sugimori illustrated the original 151 Pokémon designs.

Sugimori is a Japanese artist, illustrator, and game designer who co-founded Game Freak with Satoshi Tajiri. He became the visual director of the first Pokémon games and produced the official artwork that established the appearance of the original roster.

Sugimori first met Tajiri through Game Freak, a video-game fanzine Tajiri created before the company became a development studio. His clean, recognizable illustrations helped translate the creatures from Game Boy sprites into artwork used in manuals, packaging, magazines, cards, and merchandise.

Sugimori is not credited as the sole creator of every individual Pokémon. Other artists contributed designs, including Atsuko Nishida, who designed Pikachu. Sugimori’s role was broader: he illustrated the original 151 and helped define the franchise’s overall visual language and presentation.