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Which dudes designed which Pokemon?

Neiteio

Member
If I'm not mistaken, multiple dudes (and dudettes?) designed the Pokemon in Gen V. Then good ol' Sugimori came in and did a final render to keep them all looking cohesive. Maybe it's always been this way, going back to Gen I, but I don't know. What I wanna ask PokeGAF is this:

+ Who are the individual Pokemon designers?
+ Which Pokemon did each of them design?
+ Any other trivia you know about them, their inspirations, etc?

I ask this now because Boss Doggie in another thread seemed to identify a piece of HarmoKnight artwork as done by the guy who designed the Vanilluxe line, the Golurk line, the Mandibuzz line, etc. Got me thinking!
 

brinstar

Member
Yes, they divvied up the Pokemon designs this time. I'm not sure who drew the others but James Turner did design the Pokemon you mentioned.

Also, the human characters' art in B/W and 2 is by Yusuke Ohmura instead of Sugimori like usual
 

Neiteio

Member
James Turner -- the creator of the Pokemon I mentioned -- is apparently the first Western designer to join Game Freak.

James_Turner.jpg
 

Neiteio

Member
Wow, still searching for information on this, and it amazes me that despite Pokemon's staggering fanbase, there seems to be little information on who the hell actually makes the Pokemon themselves....
 

Boss Doggie

all my loli wolf companions are so moe
Aww I thought this thread was going to be about the origins of Pokemon designs based on their themes (i.e. we discuss Jynx's ganguro origins and how it is meld with the viking princess motif)
 

Neiteio

Member
Aww I thought this thread was going to be about the origins of Pokemon designs based on their themes (i.e. we discuss Jynx's ganguro origins and how it is meld with the viking princess motif)
Well it could be that, as well! But I'm really curious as to -who- makes Pokemon. That would be a dream career!
 

Watch Da Birdie

I buy cakes for myself on my birthday it's not weird lots of people do it I bet
Pikachu actually wasn't made by Sugimori, a BW interview confirmed it was someone else...I forgot who though.

People who think Sugimori was responsible for the original 151 are dumb...and people who think he doesn't design any Pokemon now are dumb too. I know Sawk and Throh were designed by him.

Here's one of the many Black/White interviews...

http://pokebeach.com/2010/09/pokemon-peer-interview-translations

Between the 4 of you are everything from veterans to newcomers, but how many designers worked on Pocket Monsters Black and White in total?

Sugimori: There were 17 people total. Each person designed about 10 Pokemon.
 

Watch Da Birdie

I buy cakes for myself on my birthday it's not weird lots of people do it I bet
W-what's Mr. Mime based on???

A mime, with his whole "moveset theme" being the ability of Mimes who do the thing where they act like they're touching a wall, thus Mr. Mime learns Barrier (and his Japanese name is Barrierd) and other defensive moves.

Here's something weird, Mr. Mime was actually edited from Fire-Red and Leaf-Green on and given five-fingers instead of four. I've heard the reason is that Japan has some weird thing about drawing cartoon characters with four fingers...I think it has to do with some old caste-system where lower class people had four fingers, but I'm not sure.
 

Rubius

Member
A mime, with his whole "moveset theme" being the ability of Mimes who do the thing where they act like they're touching a wall, thus Mr. Mime learns Barrier (and his Japanese name is Barrierd) and other defensive moves.

Here's something weird, Mr. Mime was actually edited from Fire-Red and Leaf-Green on and given five-fingers instead of four. I've heard the reason is that Japan has some weird thing about drawing cartoon characters with four fingers...I think it has to do with some old caste-system where lower class people had four fingers, but I'm not sure.

Weird, Mickey Mouse also have 4 fingers.
hands2.gif
 

DonMigs85

Member
A mime, with his whole "moveset theme" being the ability of Mimes who do the thing where they act like they're touching a wall, thus Mr. Mime learns Barrier (and his Japanese name is Barrierd) and other defensive moves.

Here's something weird, Mr. Mime was actually edited from Fire-Red and Leaf-Green on and given five-fingers instead of four. I've heard the reason is that Japan has some weird thing about drawing cartoon characters with four fingers...I think it has to do with some old caste-system where lower class people had four fingers, but I'm not sure.

Aww, thought there was something deeper about his clownish look
 
I did translations on the Serebii forums that had some of this in it, but I can't find it any more.

I can't find it, but I remember that the Korean staff member designed Pokabu's line and the same woman who designed Pikachu designed Chillarmy.

Here's all I can find, regarding Pokemon designs that I wrote:

Apart from that we also know some of the original concepts for B/W Pokemon like (off the top of my head):

-Dwebble being a Bug/Fire Type that fired it's own shell out of clay
-The Deino line originally having an army tank motif (remnants of that can be seen in the pattern on their stomachs)
-Stunfisk originally being Water/Ground and blue.
-The Jellicent line not originally being Ghost-Type.
-The Litwik line's earliest concept was to go Flame-Candle-Lamp.
-Basculin only having one form originally.

I think there was more, but I forget now.

I think either Throw or Sawk (the red one, iirc) were Sugimori's design, but originally designed during 4th Gen and they added the other in the 5th Gen.

Axew's line was designed by a new commer to the company at the time and one of the 1st 5th Gen Pokemon decided on.
 
Well, if it helps, here's the list of people credited under Pokemon/graphic design, by gen and first game pair (updated for Sun/Moon):
Code:
Name					G1	G2	G3	G4	G5	G6	G7
Shigeki Morimoto (森本茂樹)		Y	Y	Y	-	-	-	-
Ken Sugimori (杉森健)			Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Atsuko Nishida (西田敦子)		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Motofumi Fujiwara (藤原基史)		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	-
Rena Yoshikawa (吉川玲奈)		-	Y	Y	-	-	-	-
Muneo Saitō (斉藤むねお)			-	Y	Y	-	-	-	-
Satoshi Ōta (太田敏)			-	Y	Y	Y	-	-	-
Hironobu Yoshida (吉田宏信)		-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Jun Okutani (奥谷順)			-	-	Y	-	-	-	-
Asuka Iwashita (岩下明日香)		-	-	Y	-	-	-	-
Aimi Tomita (富田愛美)			-	-	Y	-	-	-	-
Kanako Eo (江尾可奈子)			-	-	Y	Y	-	Y	Y
Takao Unno (海野隆雄)			-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Hiroyuki Yagi (八木裕之)			-	-	-	Y	-	-	-
Emi Yoshida (吉田絵美)			-	-	-	Y	-	-	-
Hiroyuki Gotō (後藤浩之)			-	-	-	Y	-	-	-
Kenkichi Toyama (外山健吉)		-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	-
Hiroki Fuchino (渕野大樹)		-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y
Yūsuke Ōmura (大村祐介)			-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y
Keiko Moritsugu (森次慶子)		-	-	-	-	Y	-	-
Maiko Fujiwara (藤原麻衣子)		-	-	-	-	Y	-	-
Tomohiko Ōkubo (大久保智彦)		-	-	-	-	Y	-	-
Saya Tsuruta (鶴田沙綾)			-	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y
Lee HyunJung (李ヒョンジョン)		-	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y
Mana Ibe (井部真那)			-	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y
Reiko Tanoue (田上怜子)			-	-	-	-	Y	Y	-
Tomohiro Kitakaze (北風友裕)		-	-	-	-	Y	Y	-
Megumi Mizutani (水谷恵)			-	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y
James Turner (ジェイムス・ターナー)	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y
Yuki Kawamoto (河本幸)			-	-	-	-	-	Y	-
Mayo Ōtani (大谷真代)			-	-	-	-	-	Y	-
Hitoshi Ariga (ありがひとし)		-	-	-	-	-	Y	Y
Emi Ando				-	-	-	-	-	-	Y
Sakiko Maeda				-	-	-	-	-	-	Y
Kensaku Nabana				-	-	-	-	-	-	Y
Haruka Tochigi				-	-	-	-	-	-	Y
Mayuka Yoshikawa			-	-	-	-	-	-	Y
Yuki Yamamoto				-	-	-	-	-	-	Y
Haruko Ichikawa				-	-	-	-	-	-	Y
take (竹)				-	-	-	-	-	-	Y

And of the ones known (sources at end):

Shigeki Morimoto
  • Diglett [25]
  • Mankey [25]
  • Tauros [25]
  • Mew [3]
  • Shuckle [9]

Ken Sugimori
  • Sudowoodo [1]
  • Manaphy [4]
  • Dialga [5]
  • Palkia [5]
  • Heatmor [20]
  • Durant [20]
  • Sawk [22]
  • Throh [22]
  • Reshiram [21]
  • Zekrom [21]
  • Xerneas (w/ Yūsuke Ōmura) [13]
  • Yveltal (w/ Yūsuke Ōmura) [13]

Atsuko Nishida (only female member of core team)
  • Pikachu [14]
  • Vaporeon [16]
  • Espeon [16]
  • Umbreon [16]
  • Leafeon [16]
  • Glaceon [16]
  • Sylveon [13] [16]
  • Cottonee [19]
  • Whimsicott [19]
  • Petilil [19]
  • Lilligant [19]
  • Minccino [22]
  • Cinccino [22]
  • Munna [22]
  • Musharna [22]
  • Karrablast [22]
  • Lillipup (or Ibe?)
  • Herdier
  • Stoutland (her favorite)

Motofumi Fujiwara
  • Eevee [16]
  • Flareon [16]
  • Jolteon [16]

Muneo Saitō
  • Raikou [2]
  • Entei [2]
  • Suicune [2]

Hironobu Yoshida
  • Wobbufett [15]
  • Deoxys [5] [10]
  • Celebi [10] [15]
  • Dunsparce [15]
  • Rayquaza [10]
  • Magmortar [5]
  • Darkrai [10]

Takao Unno
  • Cobalion [19]
  • Terrakion [19]
  • Virizion [19]
  • Pansage [22]
  • Simisage [22]
  • Pansear [22]
  • Simisear [22]
  • Panpour [22]
  • Simipour [22]
  • Rufflet [20]
  • Braviary [20]
  • Chimchar [23]

Yūsuke Ōmura
  • Piplup
  • Oshawott [8]
  • Dewott [21]
  • Samurott [21]
  • Tynamo [20]
  • Eelektrik [20]
  • Eelektross [20]

Lee HyunJung (presumably the Korean designer)
  • Tepig [21]
  • Pignite [21]
  • Emboar [21]

Mana Ibe
  • Axew [19]
  • Fraxure [19]
  • Haxorus [19]
  • Darumaka [19]
  • Darmanitan [19]
  • Frillish [19]
  • Victini [6]
  • Klefki [17]
  • Stunfisk [7] [19]

Reiko Tanoue
  • Snivy [8]
  • Pidove [8]
  • Swadloon [8]

James Turner
  • Vullaby [18] [20]
  • Mandibuzz [18] [20]
  • Golett [18]
  • Golurk [18]
  • Vanillite [18]
  • Vanillish [18]
  • Vanilluxe [18]

Hitoshi Ariga
  • Pangoro [11]
  • Inkay [11]
  • Malamar [11]
  • Honedge [11]
  • Doublade [11]
  • Aegislash [11]
  • Tyrunt [11]
  • Tyrantrum [11]
  • Amaura [11]
  • Aurorus [11]
  • Mega Beedrill [12]
  • Alolan Geodude [24]
  • Alolan Graveler [24]
  • Alolan Golem [24]
  • Alolan Grimer [24]
  • Alolan Muk [24]
  • Grubbin [24]
  • Charjabug [24]
  • Vikavolt [24]
  • Minior [24]
  • Drampa [24]

[unknown person]
  • Foonguss
  • Amoonguss
  • Ferroseed
  • Ferrothorn

Sources:
[1] https://www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/0007/gfreak/page06.html
[2] http://kai-you.net/article/5034
[3] http://www.nintendo.co.uk/Iwata-Ask...rain/1-Just-Making-The-Last-Train-225842.html
[4] http://web.archive.org/web/20071103203031/http://blog.pokemon-movie.jp/archives/2006/07/post_85.html
[5] http://www.pokemonworldchampionships.com/2007/day2/bios/
[6] http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2...hind-pokemon-black-and-white-interview?page=2
[7] https://twitter.com/Junichi_Masuda/status/300020609323261954
[8] http://www.pokebeach.com/2010/09/pokemon-peer-interview-translations
[9] Nintendo Dream vol. 187 interview (http://www.nindori.com/books/backnumber/187.html)
[10] http://www.pokemon.com/us/play-pokemon/worlds/2014/info/vips/
[11] http://hitoshiariga.deviantart.com/art/Pocket-Monsters-XY-413536751
[12] https://twitter.com/ariga_megamix/status/548085137955508224
[13] http://web.archive.org/web/20140803...sts-block-during-pokemon-x-and-y-development/
[14] http://www.mcvuk.com/press-releases...metown-story-available-for-play-at-e3/0116309
[15] http://web.archive.org/web/20080704081535/http://www.gpara.com/contents/creator/bn_225.htm
[16] https://twitter.com/atsuko_nishida/status/783643367523557376
[17] http://www.gameinformer.com/b/featu...abridged-pokemon-x-and-y.aspx?PostPageIndex=3
[18] http://web.archive.org/web/20130115083652/http://www.gamefreak.co.jp/blog/staff/?p=204
[19] http://web.archive.org/web/20110704155314/http://shellspider.blog101.fc2.com/blog-entry-502.html
[19] http://blog.livedoor.jp/shellspider/archives/696157.html
[19] http://www.serebiiforums.com/showth...mon-Discussion-Thread&p=11993403#post11993403
[20] http://web.archive.org/web/20110402003550/http://shellspider.blog101.fc2.com/blog-entry-562.html
[20] http://blog.livedoor.jp/shellspider/archives/696210.html
[20] http://www.serebiiforums.com/showth...mon-Discussion-Thread&p=12163722#post12163722
[21] http://www.1up.com/news/how-pokemon-get-made
[21] Weekly Famitsu 2010/11/11 interview: "報道特集『ポケモン』ヒットの理由"
[22] http://rpgland.com/2010/11/30/pokemon-black-and-white-scans-interview-in-nintendo-dream/
[23] http://chibarei.blog.jp/gsl/words2/pokemondiaperl/pokemondiamond.html
[24] https://twitter.com/ariga_megamix/status/804500572967555072
[25] http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=229120672
 

Watch Da Birdie

I buy cakes for myself on my birthday it's not weird lots of people do it I bet
James Turner seems to be the most innovative member of the team from what I've read, so I really like the dude...X/Y will probably be the first game where he has a big role, so it's interesting to see what a western perspective will bring to the table.

And of the ones known (going by Bulbapedia, and some other posts):
Hironobu Yoshida
--Wobbufett
--Deoxys
--Celebi
--Dunsparce
--Magmortar

The best.
 
Well, if it helps, here's the list of people credited under Pokemon/graphic design, by gen and first game pair:
Code:
Name			G1	G2	G3	G4	G5
Ken Sugimori		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Atsuko Nishida		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Motofumi Fujiwara	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Hironobu Yoshida	-	Y	Y	Y	Y
Tetsuya Watanabe	-	Y	-	-	-
Satoshi Ōta		-	Y	Y	Y	-
Shigeki Morimoto	Y	Y	Y	-	-
Jun Okutani		-	Y	Y	-	-
Asuka Iwashita		-	Y	Y	-	-
Muneo Saitō		-	Y	Y	-	-
Rena Yoshikawa		-	Y	Y	-	-
Aimi Tomita		-	-	Y	-	-
Kanako Eo		-	-	Y	Y	-
Takao Unno		-	-	Y	Y	Y
Kenkichi Toyama		-	-	-	Y	Y
Hiroki Fuchino		-	-	-	Y	Y
Yūsuke Ōmura		-	-	-	Y	Y
Hiroyuki Yagi		-	-	-	Y	-
Emi Yoshida		-	-	-	Y	-
Hiroyuki Gotō		-	-	-	Y	-
Yasuo Kamakura		-	-	-	Y	-
Saya Tsuruta		-	-	-	-	Y
Lee HyunJung		-	-	-	-	Y
Mana Ibe		-	-	-	-	Y
Reiko Tanoue		-	-	-	-	Y
Tomohiro Kitakaze	-	-	-	-	Y
Maiko Fujiwara		-	-	-	-	Y
Megumi Mizutani		-	-	-	-	Y
Tomohiko Ōkubo		-	-	-	-	Y
James Turner		-	-	-	-	Y
Keiko Moritsugu		-	-	-	-	Y

And of the ones known (going by Bulbapedia, and some other posts):
Hironobu Yoshida
--Wobbufett
--Deoxys
--Celebi
--Dunsparce
--Magmortar

James Turner
--Vullaby
--Mandibuzz
--Golett
--Golurk
--Vanillite
--Vanillish
--Vanilluxe

Lee HyunJung (presumably the Korean designer)
--Tepig
--Pignite
--Emboar

Atsuko Nishida (only female member of core team)
--Pikachu
--Minccino

OOh, that's great. I think Atsuko may have also done the Lillipup line now that I think about it.
 
I'll work on editing that initial post with what I can find elsewhere and here -I spent lots of time on it, lol

Another thing to note - a lot of these people seem to have started off or are currently TCG artists. Of the team, Sugimori and Nishida seem to have worked together the longest, from Pulseman (with Tajiri).
 

Watch Da Birdie

I buy cakes for myself on my birthday it's not weird lots of people do it I bet
The article I posted had some more...

Sugimori:
Mentions a Fire-type involving metal-work, so I think he did Heatmor.

Oumura:
Piplup
Oshawott

Ibe:
Victini
A "Dog-like Pokemon" (Lillipup?)

Tagami:
Snivy
Pidove
Sewaddle
 

Kokonoe

Banned
James Turner is bleck, but who designed Garbodor? (Mandibuzz is good, though)

And more importantly, who designed Bulbasaur, Mewtwo, and Rayquaza?
 
Hmm, I can't seem to find a Tagami - it would help to see the name in the original interview, if I can find it o_O

edit: Ah, made a mistake - Yasuo Kamakura was on HeartGold/SoulSilver, wasn't one of the originals in DP.
 
Ah, I think I found who that Tagami was (I think): Reiko Tagami (田上玲子), one of the 'conceptual character design' team for Best Wishes.

Also, I'll get back to the James Turner bit after I follow up on this...
 

fisheyes

Member
FYI James Turner only did Vullaby, Mandibuzz is apparently Sugimori's.

I wonder how many evolution lines have multiple designers working on different pokemon, particularly the ones that originate in the same gen, not cross gen stuff like Magby > Magmar > Magmortar. Does one designer design a particular Pokemon, and another has to work to fill out its line, or were they originally planned as seperate Pokes until they realised they were similar enough to become related, and tweaked until they worked?
 

Boss Doggie

all my loli wolf companions are so moe
Yeah James Turner should be fired because he did one terrible Pokemon (in their eyes) with actually a good theme going for it. Forget him being the one who "conceptualized" HarmoKnight, and having a distinct "cartoon" artstyle which is also found in the game as well as his other stuff. No he should be fired.

49nrd.jpg


froakie looks like a western design, wouldn't be surprised if he did it.

I disagree - he mimics the Japanese "thief" cartoon.
 
Yeah James Turner should be fired because he did one terrible Pokemon (in their eyes) with actually a good theme going for it. Forget him being the one who "conceptualized" HarmoKnight, and having a distinct "cartoon" artstyle which is also found in the game as well as his other stuff. No he should be fired.

49nrd.jpg




I disagree - he mimics the Japanese "thief" cartoon.

An alarming amount of segregation going on in the lower half of that pic.
 

Watch Da Birdie

I buy cakes for myself on my birthday it's not weird lots of people do it I bet
Huh, I see what you're talking about now Doggie about the "thief" design of Froakie, the white fluff is like the little bag you see Japanese-style thieves holding...I could see them expanding that in evolutions.
 
About the Mandibuzz issue, I'm having trouble finding any source on the Nintendo Dream interview which this quote is sourced from:

According to interviews with Ken Sugimori in Nintendo Dream, Vullaby and Mandibuzz were added late into the development of Black and White. When Mandibuzz was originally created by James Turner, it was unrelated to Braviary, but it was later decided to use its design as a counterpart to Braviary.

I found the character concept stuff, but not anything else yet.
 
About the Mandibuzz issue, I'm having trouble finding any source on the Nintendo Dream interview which this quote is sourced from:



I found the character concept stuff, but not anything else yet.

I think the Game Freak staff blog from around the time of BW's release had an interview with Mr. Turner about this.
 

Boss Doggie

all my loli wolf companions are so moe
Huh, I see what you're talking about now Doggie about the "thief" design of Froakie, the white fluff is like the little bag you see Japanese-style thieves holding...I could see them expanding that in evolutions.

Yup.

thief.jpg


His "white spots" could be adjusted to make it look like the thief's "knot".

About the Mandibuzz issue, I'm having trouble finding any source on the Nintendo Dream interview which this quote is sourced from:

I found the character concept stuff, but not anything else yet.

Ah wait, I'm confused - is Mandibuzz Turner's or Sugimori's?

An alarming amount of segregation going on in the lower half of that pic.

I'd stay away from Pokemon during concerts too.
 

Darryl

Banned
His "white spots" could be adjusted to make it look like the thief's "knot".

i see the small resemblance but it is not really enough to convince me. Froakie has nothing in it's name that would give off a similarity, which is pretty unlike Pokemon. the evidence is just a nose and some foam growing on it's back - nothing crazy at all. it wouldn't disprove the Ice Cream Man as a culprit anyways. frog designs give off a western vibe to me, and the dude could've mixed it up with some Japanese themes.
 
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