The Pokémon Trading Card Game’s 30th anniversary collection is shaping up to be a showcase of Pikachu artwork, ranging from playful and unusual to unexpectedly sad. Among the early reveals is a new interpretation of the character’s famously round original design by illustrator Ken Sugimori.
A new take on the classic Fat Pikachu
Ken Sugimori’s chubby Pikachu helped define the mascot’s early look 30 years ago. Later designs gradually gave Pikachu a slimmer silhouette, but the anniversary card revisits that plumper style with a modern update.
Viewed alone, the new artwork seems perfectly recognisable. The unusual claw seen in the original 1990s design has even been refined. The strange effect becomes clearer when the two versions are placed side by side: the new Pikachu keeps a rounded appearance, yet its body is relatively narrow beneath an oversized head. The original has a more balanced, cherubic shape. Fans can compare both designs for themselves.
That slightly uncanny proportion has prompted some online commenters to describe the new illustration as having an AI-like quality. The reaction is not an accusation that Sugimori used shortcuts; rather, the label appears to express how familiar features can still look subtly wrong.
Thirty Pikachu cards for the anniversary set
The collection will include 30 Pikachu designs and is scheduled to arrive on September 16. More artwork is being revealed as the release approaches, with each card taking a different approach to the iconic Electric-type mascot.
Shimari Yukichi’s contribution channels the spirit of the classic chubby Pikachu through pure appetite. The yellow Pokémon is shown eating a selection of berries, and the card’s position as number 28 in the Pikachu collection is matched by its move, Satisfied Spark.
The Pikachu card that pulls at the heartstrings
The most affecting design comes from sowsow. It shows Pikachu frowning while hugging a pillow resembling a Friend Ball. Behind it is a picture of Pichu holding the hand of a young trainer who remains outside the frame.
One ear droops as Pikachu uses its only move, Lonely Gaze, which deals just 20 damage. The card’s ability also reduces incoming attacks by 20 damage, as though the game itself is reluctant to be too harsh on such a miserable-looking character.
For collectors following the anniversary reveal, the official Pokémon card preview offers a look at more artwork from the set. The mix of comedy, odd proportions and genuine melancholy gives the 30-card lineup a broader personality than a standard anniversary collection.
Why this matters to arcade fans
Pokémon’s visual identity has always translated well beyond cards and games, making character design an important part of the wider arcade and home-gaming landscape. RETROCADE readers can follow more arcade news and gaming features, browse arcade machines, or explore compact bartop arcades for a dedicated games-room setup.
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