Ken Sugimori
Ken Sugimori | |
---|---|
杉森 建 | |
Born | Sugimori Ken January 27, 1966 |
Nationality | Japanese |
Known for | Video game design |
Notable work | Pokémon; Pulseman; Drill Dozer |
Ken Sugimori (杉森 建, Sugimori Ken) (born January 27, 1966 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese video game designer, illustrator, manga artist, and director.[1] He is most famous as the character designer and art director for the Pokémon franchise. Sugimori is also credited with the art direction for other titles, including Pulseman.[2] Sugimori drew all of the original 151 Pokémon himself, with the exception of Mew.[3] He has worked on the various Pokémon movies, trading cards, and other games like the Super Smash Bros. series.
Career
From early 1981 until 1986, Sugimori illustrated a gaming fanzine called Game Freak, which had been started by Satoshi Tajiri.[3] Sugimori discovered the magazine in a dōjinshi shop, and decided to get involved.[4] Eventually, the two decided to pitch an arcade game design idea to Namco; they reworked Game Freak into a development company and produced Mendel Palace.[5] Sugimori is most famous as the character designer and art director for the Pokémon franchise and drew all of the original 150 Pokémon himself.[3] He has worked on the various Pokémon movies, trading cards, and other games.
For Pokémon Black and White, Sugimori directed a team of 17 people in designing new characters for the games, though he always drew the final designs. He drew much of his inspiration from observing animals in aquariums and zoos.[6] Sugimori has also written and illustrated original manga, including one which was distributed with pre-orders of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness.[7] When he begins a new character, his process normally involves making a rough sketch, then tracing it on to film paper while polishing it and making the illustration more professional looking. After that, he draws the character many times, changing its proportions until he is satisfied.[8]
Works
Video games
- Pokémon series: art director and character designer
- Mendel Palace: character design
- Smart Ball: character design
- Jelly Boy 2 (canceled game): character designer
- Drill Dozer: director and game design
- Pulseman: character designer and artist
- BUSHI Seiryūden Futari no Yūsya:[citation needed] character design
- Tembo the Badass Elephant - advisor
Card Game
- Pokémon Trading Card Game: main card artist
Anime
- Pokémon (TV): character design
- Pokémon: The First Movie: original character design
- Pokémon: The Movie 2000: original character design
- Pokémon 3: The Movie: conceptual character artist
- Pokémon 4Ever: conceptual character artist
- Pokémon Heroes: conceptual character artist
Manga
- Quinty (Mendel Palace)
- Jerry Boy (Smart Ball)
- Valkyrie no Bōken Gaiden: Futari no Megami (The Adventure of Valkyrie Gaiden: Two Goddess)
- Screw Breaker Gōshin Dorirurero (Drill Dozer)
- Pokémon Fushigi no Danjon Toki no Tankentai Yami no Tankentai (Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness)
- Shin Maido Osawagaseshimasu
References
- ^ http://www.siliconera.com/2014/06/05/manga-artist-game-designer-ken-sugimoris-work-pokmon/
- ^ Thomas, Lucas (23 July 2009). "Pulseman Review". IGN. News Corporation. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
- ^ a b c Gifford, Kevin (7 April 2008). "'Game Mag Weaseling': Just Checking In". GameSetWatch. Think Services. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
- ^ Kohler, Chris (2004). Power-up: How Japanese Video Games Gave the World an Extra Life. BradyGames. p. 238. ISBN 0-7440-0424-1.
- ^ Barnholt, Ray (30 July 2008). "25 Sorta Significant Famicom Games: #19". 1UP.com. UGO Networks. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
- ^ Iwata, Satoru (2010). "DSで2作目の完全新作をつくること". Iwata Asks (in Japanese). Kyoto, Japan: Nintendo. p. 2. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
- ^ Staff (13 March 2008). "Pokemon Pre-Order Offer". IGN. News Corporation. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
- ^ "Game Freak on Pokemon!". Computer and Video Games. Future Publishing. 30 May 2003. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
External links
- Sugimori's blog Template:Ja icon
- Sugimori's Twitter account (mostly Japanese)