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Ken Sugimori's 30th Celebration Pikachu Is a Love Letter to Where It All Began
The 30th Celebration set has 30 Pikachu cards by 30 different artists. The very first one belongs to the man who drew Pokémon's first look: Ken Sugimori.
A rounder, retro Pikachu
Sugimori's Pikachu (023/128) is chubbier and rounder than the sleek modern version. That's on purpose. It calls back to how Pikachu looked in the early days, when the TCG was brand new, like the classic Jungle-era Pikachu that Sugimori also illustrated. Pull it and you're holding a little bit of 1999.
Who is Ken Sugimori?
If you've played Pokémon, you've seen his work, even if you don't know his name.
- He co-founded Game Freak. Game Freak started in the '80s as Satoshi Tajiri's self-published gaming magazine. Sugimori found it in a shop, loved it, and joined as its illustrator. In 1989 the two of them turned Game Freak into the game studio that would go on to make Pokémon.
- He drew the official art for the original 151. Several people worked on the first sprites and designs. Pikachu itself was designed by Atsuko Nishida, who also has a Pikachu in this set! Sugimori redrew every one of the first 151 in his famous watercolour style. Those are the images that defined Gen 1 for a whole generation.
- He's the TCG's most prolific artist. Sugimori has illustrated more Pokémon cards than anyone else. There are nearly a thousand in his credits.
- Gengar is his favourite Pokémon, reportedly because it's such a simple design.
Why this card hits different
Thirty years in, having Sugimori open the Pikachu lineup feels just right. It's the original artist of the original Pokémon kicking off the party. And it's not a chase card, so you can grab this piece of history without selling a kidney.
Are you hunting all 30 Pikachu, or just the Sugimori? Let us know over on Instagram! (opens in a new tab)