The Pokémon Company has announced the Illustration Contest 2024 for the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG). Read on below to learn more:

Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest 2024 Tips

Two experts give advice on how to submit high-quality art for the Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest 2024.

The Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest 2024 is under way, and talented artists are preparing their incredible artwork for submission. This latest competition is yet another opportunity for artists to showcase their love of Pokémon and their amazing talents. Previous contests have also been memorable, as you can see in this gallery of former winners.

To talk a little bit about the contest, two special members from Creatures Inc. sat down for a conversation. Pokémon TCG art director Satoru Nagaya and illustration director Haru Saito shared their tips on how to create magical Pokémon art.

Haru Saito (left) and Satoru Nagaya of Creatures Inc. know what it takes to make amazing Pokémon TCG illustrations.

Ms. Saito notes that there are two divisions for this competition—standard card illustrations and ex card illustrations. For the ex division, it’s really important to capture the Pokémon’s “ex-ness” with art springing forth from the art box. But that can be a little tricky. Here’s an example using Lucario ex comparing two approaches, one preferred over the other.

The card on the left is the one that made it into stores. The one on the right was specially prepared to show what not to do. The art covers the attack name, making the card hard to read. The art is clearly dynamic, but it’s important that the visuals don’t interfere with gameplay!

Artists should also keep in mind the theme of this year’s competition, “Magical Pokémon Moments.” The goal is not simply to put together a piece depicting one of the 10 potential Pokémon, but to think about what that Pokémon is doing at a special moment in time.

Mr. Nagaya also notes that submissions shouldn’t include Shiny Pokémon. Plus, the art shouldn’t include text or numbers in the background. If artists want to include other Pokémon in their creation, it should remain clear who the main subject is. And there are plenty more guidelines available on the official site to keep in mind as artists start laying out their work.

Thanks to Ms. Saito and Mr. Nagaya for their guidance as artists prepare their amazing illustrations. If you’re interested in submitting your artwork, be sure to visit the Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest 2024 official website. Remember that you can submit up to three pieces of art total for consideration.

Good luck to all competitors!

Source: Pokemon.com

The Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest 2024 Is Now Open to Entries

Artists have a little over three months to submit their work capturing “Magical Pokémon Moments.”

The Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest 2024 is officially underway. Artists from Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand can submit artwork that embodies the theme “Magical Pokémon Moments.” The artwork entry period will continue through January 31, 2024, at 5:59 a.m. PST.

Artists can feature the following Pokémon in their card: Charizard, Pikachu, Eevee, Feraligatr, Flygon, Absol, Bidoof, Melmetal, Amped Form Toxtricity, or Koraidon. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top artists in a handful of categories, and each of the top winning cards will be made into a promo card. Promo card distribution will vary by country.

For additional information about the contest, visit the article “On Illustration for the Pokémon TCG as Told by Directors” featuring Satoru Nagaya, Senior Art Director at Creatures Inc.; Haru Saito, Illustration Director at Creatures Inc.; and Kevin Lalli, Director of Design at TPCi.

Learn more about the contest and submit your artwork here.

Good luck to all participants in the Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest 2024!

Source: Pokemon.com

Returning Pokémon Trading Card Game Illustration Contest Expands to Additional Markets

2024 Contest Available to Trainers in the U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand for the First Time

Bellevue, Wash. — Sept. 14, 2023 — Today, The Pokémon Company International and Creatures Inc. announced the Pokémon Trading Card Game Illustration Contest 2024, a fan art contest inviting Trainers to spotlight their artistic talents through the lens of the globally popular Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG).

Following the success of the Pokémon Trading Card Game Illustration Contest 2022, fans are encouraged to submit their creative artwork capturing “Magical Pokémon Moments,” the official contest theme for 2024. With the option to illustrate a standard card or a Pokémon ex card, Trainers can select one of the following Pokémon to feature in their submission: Charizard, Pikachu, Eevee, Feraligatr, Flygon, Absol, Bidoof, Melmetal, Amped Form Toxtricity or Koraidon.

“We were astounded to see the sheer talent and passion of the Pokémon fan community from contest submissions in 2022,” says Barry Sams, vice president of the Pokémon TCG at The Pokémon Company International. “With the contest expanding to additional markets in 2024, we’re eager to see what our dedicated fans have in store for us and how they envision ‘Magical Pokémon Moments’ in their creative minds.”

The Pokémon Trading Card Game Illustration Contest 2024 will be open to applicants in the U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand for the first time, in addition to those in the U.S. and Japan. An informational video about the upcoming contest can be viewed here.

Entries for the upcoming contest will be accepted from October 12, 2023, through January 31, 2024, and winners will be announced in September 2024.

For full contest details, including eligibility and prizing, please visit https://www.ptcgic-cr.com/2024/en/.

Make Art, Compete in the Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest 2024 Pokémon

Illustrate a Pokémon’s most magical moments for a chance to wish cash prizes.

The artwork of the Pokémon TCG continually inspires fans to imagine and portray Pokémon in their own unique style. Now, more artists than ever before will be able to showcase their talents! The Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest 2024 is expanding to offer artists residing in Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand an opportunity to share their skills and their passion for Pokémon by portraying “Magical Pokémon Moments.”

To participate, choose from 10 different Pokémon, capture your chosen Pokémon enjoying a moment in its day or looking cool or dynamic, and submit your artwork between October 12, 2023, at 6 a.m. PDT and January 31, 2024, at 5:59 a.m. PST. See below for a list of the 10 eligible Pokémon.

Charizard
Pikachu
Eevee
Feraligatr
Flygon
Absol
Bidoof
Melmetal
Toxtricity (Amped Form)
Koraidon

Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest Prizes

One overall artist will be chosen from the entire field. The final results will be announced in September of 2024.

One Grand Prize Winner: $5,000 cash prize
One Best Standard Card Illustration: $3,000 cash prize
One Best ex Card Illustration: $3,000 cash prize
Six First Place Runner Ups: $1,000 cash prize
15 Judge’s Awards: $500 cash prize

To be eligible to compete, artists must reside in Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, be the age of majority in their residing country, and they must be capable of communicating in English or Japanese. Please review all contest rules and conditions before submitting artwork.

Good luck to all participants in the Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest 2024!