Why, so glad you asked! I had been thinking about making a thread about this one day, maybe a bit more comprehensive, but this will do.
In no particular order. I will present a favorite card from each that to me represents everything they bring to the world of Pokemon. Sugi is like the Beatles, it goes without saying he’s the og.
KinebuchiHimenoKomiyaBabaKusubeKusajimaKimuraImakuni
Masago
Keiji Kinebuchi. If Sugi is the father, Keiji is the godfather. The legend, the mystery. The most nostalgic, the most original in his day. Visionary man. The tranquility of his renderings, the jazz. The most tangible of a realized fantastical world within the frame. He was a demigod. So good, he needs 2:
Kagemaru Himeno. And she would be the godmother. Her work is mindblowingly diverse, expansive, virtuoso, and above all, incredibly charming and loaded with passion. Her work is nothing short of divine. She has belonged here since the beginning, and is a true light in the world of Pokemon. I don’t think it ever would have been what it was without the original big 3 after Sugi, of which she was a member. Her often airbrush, soft look is so warm and cozy, very inviting, and she’s a master of detail and ambience. She’s actually the one artist where it is not only impossible to pick a favorite, but impossible to even go top 5. So here’s just a random top 10 card.
Oh, Komiya. Tomokazu Komiya. The wizard of Pokemon. He is the artsy one, crazy l’artiste. Cosmic creativity, phenomenal ideas. Brought the possibilities far out and wide, stretching the mold, bold to go where no man had gone before. His work evokes such emotion, such fun, such adoration and feeling! Luckily for me his magnum opus is unanimously Light Slowbro. Trust me, I have talked to everyone. This is something everyone agrees with.
Yukiko Baba. She is like the more grounded sister of Komiya. She’s got the jazz, she’s got the jazz. She loves using the striking color that he does, she loves giving the pokemon such simplicity and charm. But she represents the inner child of the pokemon like none else. She’s all of our inner child. Her work is as unique as anyone’s in this list. None do it like her.
Aya Kusube. She’s the underbelly of Pokemon. Her works feature the darkest of the world, and I love it. Grit. Shadows. Evanescence. Her style is murky and milky. It looks like graffiti. But she can do it all, happy, sad, fiery, icy. There isn’t a piece by her that doesn’t strike permanent marks upon the memory of the viewer.
Hajime Kusajima. Intensity and energy bursting at the seams is the motto of this great man. The David Bowie of the pokeverse. He just can’t settle on a consistent style, and we just love him for that. He is just too good and has too much range. But he works like a photographer. Always composed extraordinarily well, always incredible use of light and color.
Naoyo Kimura. The naturalist. The pencil man. Incredible world building and depth. Extremely mature, bright, and over-worldly. Similar to Masago in this aspect, he is the master realist. You might think some of this artwork is photorealistic. Wonderfully fine.
And of course, Tomoaki Imakuni. The jester, the performer, the magician, the musician. The wonder of pokemon. He’s as versatile as you can get, and he’s the pinnacle of mystery and presentation. The wonder behind these legendary arts. So legendary, he’s a Pokemon himself, and is featured thusly amongst the Pokemon. He’s done infinite things for Pokemon, and his legacy is secured. There’s one simple choice for his card, as it’s the best pokemon card ever made.
Kimiya Masago. I only regret that he hasn’t done more. Colossal monsters, larger than life representations of the mons. Dark and edgy, spirited and whimsical. Creative as all hell, perfect art. Out of this world bangers, and frankly, I find myself speechless of his work.
