Who illustrated the original 151 Pokémon for the first games?

Ken Sugimori illustrated the original 151 Pokémon for the first games.

Sugimori was a founding member of Game Freak and worked closely with Satoshi Tajiri, the franchise’s creator. He created the official artwork that gave the first-generation Pokémon a consistent visual identity, including the illustrations used in promotional material and reference products.

The phrase “illustrated the original 151” does not mean Sugimori personally invented every design. Several other artists contributed to the creature designs, including Atsuko Nishida, who designed Pikachu and other Pokémon. Sugimori’s important role was bringing the species together visually and finalizing artwork for the original games.

Sugimori’s style became strongly associated with Pokémon during its earliest years. His artwork appeared in game packaging, guidebooks, cards, and animation-related material. Later generations added new artists and designers, but the original 151 remain especially linked with Sugimori because they established the franchise’s visual language.