Gardevoir<\/a>\u201c Illustrator: Yuu Nishida \nPromo card from the first Pok\u00e9mon Card Game Illustration Grand Prix (only released in Japan)<\/p>\n\n\n\nQ<\/strong>: Please tell us what you think of each other\u2019s winning illustrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSasumo<\/strong>: The first thing I notice when looking at Nishida’s Gardevoir is how beautiful the colors are. Nishida’s personality shines right through the artwork, making it that much more charming. I love how you can almost feel the light’s warmth.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNishida<\/strong>: Thank you. What strikes me in Sasumo\u2019s illustration is how cool and imposing Charizard looks. I also love how you can see the air moving in the arena through the clouds of dust at Charizard\u2019s feet and the flame on its tail. This illustration makes me excited for the battle that is about to begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\nQ<\/strong>: Your contest-winning illustrations were made into promo cards. Tell us about how you felt when you first held those cards in your own hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNishida<\/strong>: In order to get the card, my family and I went all the way to Sendai, the only city in the Tohoku region to have a Pok\u00e9mon Center. Once I was there and saw a sign saying that they were handing out promo cards, I was so excited I can\u2019t even describe it (laughs). The store clerk gave me the card and explained that the illustration on it had won the Pok\u00e9mon Card Game Illustration Grand Prix. I was too shy to say that I was the one who drew it, so I just thanked the clerk and accepted the card. The clerk\u2019s enthusiasm really resonated with me. I got emotional when I saw my name on the bottom left of the card. I always loved trading card games; drawing for one had always been one of my goals, so I couldn\u2019t be happier.<\/p>\n\n\n\nQ<\/strong>: Seeing your name on a card must be really fulfilling.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNishida<\/strong>: I always check the illustrator\u2019s name when I get a new card. Knowing that this time, the card had mine on it was very moving.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSasumo<\/strong>: I also went to a Pok\u00e9mon Center to get my card (laughs). And receiving my own Charizard card deeply moved me as well. Since the Pok\u00e9mon TCG is so popular, my friends were very happy for me too.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDrawing for the Pok\u00e9mon TCG: Sword & Shield\u2014Brilliant Stars expansion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Q<\/strong>: Now, let\u2019s talk about the cards you illustrated for the Pok\u00e9mon TCG: Sword & Shield\u2014Brilliant Stars expansion, which features Pok\u00e9mon together with their Trainers. Nishida, tell us about Single Strike Urshifu V.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNishida<\/strong>: I was tasked with illustrating a CSR (\u201cCharacter Super Rare\u201d) card, and it was a great honor for me. I drew Urshifu and Gloria training together. I wanted it to look as if Urshifu were showing her a fighting technique, so I had to make sure that it didn\u2019t look as intense as a real fight. It\u2019s like the two of them are trying to act in sync.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cSingle Strike Urshifu V\u201c Illustrator: Yuu Nishida \nIncluded in the Trainer Gallery subset of Pok\u00e9mon TCG: Sword & Shield\u2014Brilliant Stars<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q<\/strong>: Sasumo, please tell us about the CHR (\u201cCharacter Rare\u201d) \u201cVaporeon\u201d card.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSasumo<\/strong>: Creatures gave me the theme of Vaporeon and Blue traveling together near the water, so I tried to capture a specific moment of their adventure. Since water was one of the main themes, I focused on making it look as beautiful as possible. As for the composition, my goal with it was to show a lively, energetic Vaporeon.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI wanted the connection between Blue and Vaporeon, as well as the connection between them and the background, to look as natural as possible. After some trial and error, this is what I came up with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cVaporeon\u201c Illustrator: Jiro Sasumo \nIncluded in the Trainer Gallery subset of Pok\u00e9mon TCG: Sword & Shield\u2014Brilliant Stars<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q<\/strong>: How do each other’s illustrations make you feel?<\/p>\n\n\n\nNishida<\/strong>: The water looks stunning, and there is an incredible variety of water plants. Vaporeon looks so happy as it swims that it’s just wonderful.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSasumo<\/strong>: Nishida’s Single Strike Urshifu V illustration makes the scene appear cool and cute at the same time, and I find that extremely charming. It’s endearing to see Urshifu and Gloria striking the same pose, and I particularly like how you can see Urshifu being such a good teacher to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\nQ<\/strong>: Starting with the VMAX Climax<\/i> set (released in the US as part of the Sword & Shield\u2014Brilliant Stars<\/i> expansion), some of your illustrations will be adopted in Pok\u00e9mon TCG products, meaning that more players will be able to see them than with promo cards. What kind of expectation do you have for this, Sasumo?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sasumo<\/strong>: As a long-term goal, I would love for a lot of people to remember my name and to want to collect cards illustrated by me. Of course, to achieve that, I need to make illustrations that impress users.<\/p>\n\n\n\nQ<\/strong>: And you, Nishida, illustrated a card package for the first time in VMAX Climax<\/i>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nishida<\/strong>: I was so surprised when I read the email asking me to do it. I really didn\u2019t expect to receive an opportunity like that.<\/p>\n\n\n\nQ<\/strong>: So, you were happy but also felt the pressure about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNishida<\/strong>: I was excited that my illustration would go on the package, but at the same time, I felt the pressure of having to draw something good enough for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nQ<\/strong>: Is drawing an illustration for the package different from drawing one for a card?<\/p>\n\n\n\nNishida<\/strong>: When creating a package illustration, you have to keep in mind that the logo and title will go on it, and you have to incorporate that into the composition while also depicting the subject Pok\u00e9mon or characters according to their characteristics. That is what makes it different from illustrating cards, and it was quite hard for me since it was my first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\nQ<\/strong>: How did you overcome the pressure and nervousness of this responsibility?<\/p>\n\n\n\nNishida<\/strong>: In the end, I remained nervous all the way through (laughs). While I was working on that illustration, I replayed The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra from the Pok\u00e9mon Sword Expansion Pass and Pok\u00e9mon Shield Expansion Pass, paying a lot of attention to how the characters were introduced in scenes. This helped me learn more about these characters and have more fun while drawing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThoughts on Contributing to Pikachu V-UNION<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Q<\/strong>: Both of you contributed to the illustration of the Pikachu V-UNION cards. Tell us about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSasumo<\/strong>: Pikachu V-UNION was the first time one of my illustrations was used for a non-promo card. I recently became an official illustrator and because of this, I worried about whether it was OK for me to participate to begin with.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ve drawn Pikachu more times than I can count, so I was thrilled that I could do it professionally this time. During the process, I realized that up until that point I had always drawn Pikachu from the image of it I had in my memory. I thought that I didn\u2019t need a reference, but the materials that I had been given covered a lot of details that I had never noticed before. I understand what Pikachu is supposed to look like much better now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nishida<\/strong>: I was very happy to be able to contribute to the Pikachu V-UNION illustrations, and drawing for it was a lot of fun. I gave it my all to draw the best Pikachu I could, hoping to get the chance to do it again in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter joining the four cards, you can see Sasumo\u2019s Pikachu on the top-left card and Nishida’s Pikachu on the bottom-left one.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cPikachu V-UNION<\/a>\u201c \nIncluded in the Pok\u00e9mon TCG: Celebrations Special Collection\u2014Pikachu V-UNION<\/p>\n\n\n\nYour Goal in Drawing Pok\u00e9mon TCG Illustrations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Q<\/strong>: What goals do you keep in mind when drawing an illustration for the Pok\u00e9mon TCG?<\/p>\n\n\n\nSasumo<\/strong>: My goal is to draw illustrations that look like portrayals of a world where Pok\u00e9mon really exist. I believe that Pok\u00e9mon fans enjoy imagining how Pok\u00e9mon would go about their lives if they existed in our world, and I\u2019d be happy if my illustrations could help them imagine this scenario.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNishida<\/strong>: I like playing the TCG, so my goal, or rather my dream, is to illustrate enough cards to be able to build a whole deck.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI often carefully examine cards made by other Pok\u00e9mon TCG official illustrators, and I sometimes make it a goal to reach their level. For example, I was fascinated and influenced by how well Naoki Saito can show the cool and cute side of a variety of subjects, including both Pok\u00e9mon and Trainers. Another artist whose works I deeply enjoy is Mitsuhiro Arita. His detailed illustrations make you believe you are looking at a living creature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Conclusion: Tips on Drawing Pok\u00e9mon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Q<\/strong>: As a last question, do you have a message or piece of advice for the contest participants or for those who became interested in drawing Pok\u00e9mon by reading this article?<\/p>\n\n\n\nSasumo<\/strong>: Nowadays, the world is full of good art. There are a lot of amateurs who can draw just as well as professionals. This can make someone question whether making art is even worth the attempt, but I would like aspiring artists to keep drawing without getting discouraged. I have also dealt with this type of self-doubt, but I kept drawing anyway. If I hadn\u2019t taken the chance, I would never have gotten such an incredible opportunity as drawing illustrations for the Pok\u00e9mon TCG. If you want to draw, rise to the challenge and do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMy tip for drawing Pok\u00e9mon is to study your subject very carefully. This step is absolutely crucial. Pok\u00e9mon are so familiar to us fans that we tend to draw them straight from memory. However, if you want to portray them even better, observe how they appear in the games and anime, focusing on their anatomy and proportions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nishida<\/strong>: I agree that understanding your subject Pok\u00e9mon is very important. There are a lot of materials that you can use as reference, such as the games, the anime, the toys, and the TCG cards. I suggest that you analyze these materials and draw that Pok\u00e9mon from a place of affection.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPersonally, I like looking at Pok\u00e9dex entries in the games. This leads to some interesting discoveries. For instance, a Pok\u00e9mon being larger or heavier than I expected. Doing this research will also help you come up with a lot of ideas about your subject, its habitat, the way it moves, and so much more. Most of all, you should have fun while you draw and learn to love Pok\u00e9mon even more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Composition and text: Shusuke Motomiya (One-up) Photos: Kayoko Yamamoto<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Jiro Sasumo Jiro Sasumo is an office-worker and part-time illustrator who won the second Pok\u00e9mon Card Game Illustration Grand Prix. The creative goal for Sasumo is to draw illustrations that can make the viewer feel the atmosphere and story of a particular scene as if they were there. Sasumo\u2019s favorite Pok\u00e9mon generation is Pok\u00e9mon Gold […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":4924,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
A Conversation with the Winners of the Pok\u00e9mon Card Game Illustration Grand Prix - Column - Pok\u00e9mon Trading Card Game Illustration Contest 2024 - PTCGIC2024<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n