Atsuko Nishida

Atsuko Nishida (Japanese: 西田敦子 / にしだあつこ Nishida Atsuko) is a graphic artist who has been involved with several aspects of the Pokémon franchise since it began. She was part of the graphics team on , one of Game Freak's most successful early titles, working alongside Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri and artist Ken Sugimori. During the development of the first Pokémon games, she helped design key characters and several Pokémon, notably the cuter ones as opposed to the tougher ones.
Nishida is a character designer for the mascot of the Pokémon franchise, . She stated that first design of Pikachu looked like a vertically long rice confection with ears.Pikachu was a squirrel at first - Yomiuri newspaper (Japanese, images by Hinopika, overview by The Japan News) She also modeled Pikachu's cheeks, which are used to store electricity, after squirrels storing food in their cheeks.Pikachu is a daifuku? - Yomiuri Shimbun (Page 1) (Japanese, translation by Siliconera, excerpts by Dogasu) Nishida is also a fan of and the Eeveelutions, having personally designed almost all of the Eeveelutions, with the exception of and .
She also contributed to the conceptual design of characters that appeared in the first few Pokémon movies, as well as several of the main cast members of the Pokémon anime itself, including Ash Ketchum, , and .Press release of "Hometown Story" Nishida has continued to work within many areas of the franchise, credited on the majority of the main series games and movies, and has produced an array of original illustrations for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. She is also the illustrator for the mini-comic series titled Together with Pokémon! (Japanese: ポケモンといっしょ！) for a monthly children's magazine, Chara Pafe (Japanese: キャラぱふぇ).
==Design==
===Pokémon===
The following is a list of Pokémon designed by Nishida.
 	 	 						 	 	 				
 	 	 						 	 	 				
Creator Profile: The Creators of Pikachu - Pokemon.com (archived) 	Interview with Atsuko Nishida on Game Freak's website 	 						 	 	"What It Takes to Create a Pokémon." Interview with Ken Sugimori in Pokémon Ultra Sun & Pokémon Ultra Moon Edition: The Official National Pokédex, p. xxi				
 	 	 						 	 	 				
 	 	 						 	(2018) EVs. (English translation written by Anthony Madry and commissioned by Dr. Lava)AtsukoNishida's Tweet	 				
 	 	 						 	 	 				
 	 	 						 	 	 				
 	 	 						 	 	 				
 	 	 						 	 	 				
 	 	 						 	 	 				
 	 	 						 	 	 				
 	 	 						 	 	 				
 	 	 						 	 	 				
Nintendo Dream Vol. 201, January 2011 (Translation by Dr. Lava) 	 	Nintendo Dream Vol. 204, April 2011 (Shellspider's blog, Translation by Dr. Lava)						Fun's Project interview with Atsuko Nishida (Page 1)	 	(Idea) 				
 	 	 						 	 	 				
 	 	 						 	 	 				
XFun's Project interview with Atsuko Nishida (Page 2) 	Pokémon designer interview with Famitsu, translated by the UK's Official Nintendo Magazine.	 						 	 	 				
 	 	 						 	 	 				
 	 	 						 	 	 				
 	 	 						 	 	 				
 	 	 						 	 	 				
 	 	 						 	 	 				
Comment on an Instagram post by Atsuko Nishida (@coloatsu). Posted on November 20, 2019. 	Instagram post by Atsuko Nishida 	 						 	 	 				
 	 	 						 	 	 				
 	 	 						 	 	 				
Instagram post by Atsuko Nishida (@coloatsu) on the Paldean Pokémon designed by her. Posted on December 1, 2024.	 	 						 	 	 				
==Artwork==
===Official Artwork===
Pikachu Ceramic Decoration 2023 Key Art.jpg| ceramic doll merchandiseThe Pokémon Center confirming Nishida drew the Ceramic Doll key art.
===Staff Artwork===
This is a collection of unofficial Pokémon artwork drawn by Nishida.
NishidaHisuianZoruaZoroark.png|Hisuian and Design Announcement
==Works==
===Games===
Title 	Platform 	Release date	Position
 	 	1994-07-22 	Graphics
Pokémon Red and Green Versions 	Game Boy 	1996-02-27 	Character Design/Pokémon Design
 	 	1996-07-26 	Graphics
Pokémon Blue (Japanese) 	Game Boy 	1996-10-10 	Character Design/Pokémon Design
(Japanese) 	Nintendo 64 	1998-08-01 	Pokémon Design
Pokémon Yellow Version 	Game Boy 	1998-09-12 	Character Design/Pokémon Design
Pokémon Stadium (English) 	Nintendo 64 	1999-04-30 	Pokémon Design
Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions 	Game Boy Color 	1999-11-21 	Pokémon Design
 	 	2000-08-03 	"Carro" Design
Pokémon Crystal Version 	Game Boy Color 	2000-12-14 	Pokémon Design
Pokémon Stadium 2 	Nintendo 64 	2000-12-14 	Pokémon Design
 	Game Boy Color 	2000-12-22 	Pinky Design
 	 	2002-01-31 	"Carro" Design
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Versions 	Game Boy Advance 	2002-11-21 	Pokémon Design
Pokémon Channel 	Nintendo GameCube 	2003-07-18 	Pokémon Design
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Versions 	Game Boy Advance 	2004-01-29 	Pokémon Design
Pokémon Emerald Version 	Game Boy Advance 	2004-11-16 	Pokémon Design
Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness 	Nintendo GameCube 	2005-08-04 	Pokémon Design
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Versions 	Nintendo DS 	2006-09-28 	Pokémon Design
 	 	2006-11-22 	Illustration Artist
Pokémon Battle Revolution 	Wii 	2006-12-14 	Pokémon Characters Designed By
Pokémon Platinum Version 	Nintendo DS 	2008-09-13 	Pokémon Design
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions	Nintendo DS 	2009-09-12 	Pokémon Design
Pokémon Black and White Versions 	Nintendo DS 	2010-09-18 	Pokémon Character Design
Pokémon Black and White Versions 2 	Nintendo DS 	2012-06-23 	Pokémon Character Design
Pokémon X and Y 	Nintendo 3DS 	2013-10-12 	Pokémon Character Design
 	Nintendo 3DS 	2013-12-12 	Character Design
 	, , 	2014-10-16 	Card Illustration
 	, 	2026-07-21 	Guest Designer (Okune Panda)
Pokémon Sun and Moon 	Nintendo 3DS 	2016-11-18 	Pokémon Characters Design
Pokémon Sword and Shield 	Nintendo Switch 	2019-11-15 	Pokémon Design
Pokémon Legends: Arceus 	Nintendo Switch 	2022-01-28 	Pokémon Character Design
 	, ,, Nintendo Switch	2022-09-22 	Trigger Designer
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet 	Nintendo Switch 	2022-11-18 	Pokémon Design
===Animation===
Title 	Release date	Position
Mewtwo Strikes Back 	1998-07-18 	Original Character Design
The Power of One 	1999-07-17 	Original Character Design
Pikachu & Pichu 	2000-07-08 	Conceptual Character Artist
Spell of the Unown: Entei 	2000-07-08 	Conceptual Character Artist
Mewtwo Returns 	2000-12-30 	Character Conceptual Design
Pikachu's PikaBoo 	2001-07-07 	Conceptual Character Artist
Celebi: The Voice of the Forest 	2001-07-07 	Conceptual Character Artist
The Legend of Thunder! 	2001-12-30 	Conceptual Character Artist
Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias 	2002-07-13 	Conceptual Character Artist
Gotta Dance!! 	2003-07-19 	Conceptual Character Artist
Jirachi: Wish Maker 	2003-07-19 	Conceptual Character Artist
Destiny Deoxys 	2004-07-17 	Conceptual Character Artist
Lucario and the Mystery of Mew 	2005-07-16 	Conceptual Character Artist
Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea 	2006-07-15 	Conceptual Character Artist
The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon 	2006-10-13 	Conceptual Character Artist
The Rise of Darkrai 	2007-07-14 	Original Character Design
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time & Darkness	2007-09-09 	Conceptual Character Artist
Giratina and the Sky Warrior 	2008-07-19 	Original Character Design
Arceus and the Jewel of Life 	2009-07-18 	Conceptual Character Artist
Zoroark: Master of Illusions 	2010-07-10 	Conceptual Character Artist
White—Victini and Zekrom/Black—Victini and Reshiram 	2011-07-16 	Conceptual Character Artist
Kyurem VS. The Sword of Justice 	2012-07-14 	Conceptual Character Artist
Genesect and the Legend Awakened 	2013-07-13 	Conceptual Character Artist
Hoopa and the Clash of Ages 	2015-07-18 	Conceptual Character Artist
Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel 	2016-07-16 	Conceptual Character Artist
I Choose You! 	2017-07-15 	Conceptual Character Artist
The Power of Us 	2018-07-13 	Conceptual Character Artist
Best Wishes series 	2010-09-23 	Conceptual Character Artist
XY series 	2013-10-17 	Conceptual Character Artist
Sun and Moon series 	2016-11-17 	Conceptual Character Artist
===TCG illustrations===
Nishida has produced illustrations for the TCG since the some of the earliest Japanese promotional cards, though her first in regular expansions was in the set. Nishida's style is distinctive, using an airbrush technique with a soft palette of colors that is easy on the eyes and convey the feeling that the portrayed Pokémon is at one with their environment. Light is also a large factor, using it to highlight key areas of the overall image to maintain the "soft" aspect.
There are cards illustrated by Nishida. For a list of cards she has illustrated, see here.
==In-game appearances==
===Generations I, III, and VII===
Sara (Japanese: アツコ Atsuko) may be a reference to Atsuko Nishida. She appears in all Generation I games, as well as their Generation III and VII remakes.
She and Erik (Japanese: コージ Kōji) mention each other in their dialogue. He may be a reference to Kōji Nishino.
==Trivia==
* Atsuko Nishida is the only person who has been credited as a Pokémon designer in every generation.
* In an interview with the character designers of Pokémon in 2018, Nishida said that was supposed to have a third evolution stage after , which was named "Gorochu" (Japanese: ゴロチュウ). Ken Sugimori stated that it was scrapped for game balance reasons.
* Nishida's favorite Pokémon is .
==References==
==External links==
* Atsuko Nishida's Twitter
* Atsuko Nishida's Instagram
* Creator Profile: The Creators of Pikachu | Pokemon.com (archived)
Category:People
Category:Game staff
Category:TCG illustrators
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