Who illustrated the original Pokémon species designs for the first games?

Ken Sugimori illustrated the original Pokémon species designs for the first games.

Sugimori was a founding member of Game Freak and worked closely with Satoshi Tajiri during Pokémon’s development. He created the official artwork that defined the look of the original Pokémon and served as the art director for the early games.

His illustrations helped translate Pokémon from game concepts into a consistent visual world. The designs had to remain recognizable in tiny Game Boy sprites while also working in manuals, promotional material, cards, and later animation.

Satoshi Tajiri is credited as the franchise’s creator, while individual Pokémon designs were also contributed by other artists. Atsuko Nishida, for example, designed Pikachu. Sugimori’s role is specifically associated with the original artwork, art direction, and the broader visual identity of Pokémon.