Our Favorite New Pokemon Artist: Akagi

Any fan of the Pokémon Trading Card Game knows that Pokémon cards are more than just cardboard rectangles to use for gameplay. Every Pokémon card is also a charming and elaborate piece of artwork, which is a major reason why collecting and trading these cards is so gosh darn addictive. 

The work of classic artists like Ken Sugimori (Pokémon’s original character designer), Mitsuhiro Arita (who did the artwork for the base set’s Charizard card), and modern favorites like Tomokazu Komiya have done a lot to make Pokémon such a cultural icon. And a new illustrator has recently joined these illustrious ranks: an artist who simply goes by Akagi. 

Not much is known about Akagi, but they’ve been contributing artwork to the Pokémon TCG since 2024’s Paldean Fates expansion set. This artist brings a distinct, dynamic flair to the cards they illustrate, and we love how they use bold colors, dynamic posing, and sometimes even threatening motifs to make their Pokémon cards pop.

And we’re clearly not alone in loving this artist! Many of Akagi’s Pokémon cards have become very popular, and have thus racked up immense resale values. To learn more about Akagi and see some of the best artwork they’ve lent to the Pokémon TCG so far, keep reading! 

Palafin: Akagi’s First Card Art for Pokémon TCG 

Akagi’s bold artwork for the superhero-themed Pokémon, Palafin.
Image source: Serebii.net

Akagi entered the Pokémon world with a bang. For their first card illustration, they drew a dark and foreboding version of the superhero-themed Pokémon, Palafin. In most official artwork of Palafin, the character is depicted as cute, heroic, and even a little goofy. Think Superman or Dragon Ball Z’s Great Saiyaman. 

Akagi took a different spin on Palafin, though. They used heavy shadows and a menacing pose to give the character an ominous aura. This made the Palafin seem like a more intimidating and morally ambiguous hero, such as Batman. This was a bold choice, and it made Akagi’s Palafin card fairly controversial—and popular—upon release. 

As a bonus for reading this far, here’s a fun side note: most Pokémon have different names in Japanese than they do in English, and the Japanese name for Palafin is イルカマン, or Irukaman. イルカ, or “Iruka,” is the Japanese word for dolphin. This means that, in Japanese, Palafin’s name is more like a classic superhero, a la Batman or Spiderman.

Other Cards Akagi Has Illustrated

Akagi’s gorgeous, full-card illustration for Ceruledge ex has made it incredibly expensive on the resale market. Image source: Serebii.net

Since their explosive debut in 2024, Akagi has contributed many illustrations to the Pokémon TCG, and we’ve been happy to see that the artist has consistently displayed the same bold creativity that they utilized for Palafin. From their aggressively posed Iron Crown card to their vividly colored rendition of Skeledirge, Akagi has continued to bring their A game. 

One of Akagi’s most popular (and expensive) Pokémon cards is their rendition of Greninja ex for the Twilight Masquerade expansion set. This card depicts the ninja frog Pokémon in its Terastallized form. Terastal designs can sometimes lean a little absurd (even for Pokémon), but Akagi makes the design so effective and eye-catching with their use of jewel tones and energetic foreshortening.

Akagi’s body of work for the Pokémon TCG is only continuing to grow, and we look forward to seeing their beautiful treatments of other fan favorite Pokémon. 

Akagi’s Art in Pokémon TCG Pocket

Akagi’s energetic illustration of Origin Forme Dialga for Pokémon TCG Pocket. Image source: Serebii.net

Akagi’s collaboration with Pokémon extends beyond just the physical card game. They have also illustrated a few exclusive cards for the immensely popular mobile game, Pokémon TCG Pocket. So far, Akagi has mostly illustrated trainer cards, though they did a gorgeous iteration of Dialga’s Origin Forme for the game’s Space-Time Smackdown expansion.

And while Akagi’s work for Pokémon TCG Pocket is certainly every bit as artistic and dynamic as their work for the traditional game, this artist’s work really needs to be seen in print to be properly appreciated. That’s part of the reason why, despite how fun Pokémon TCG Pocket may be, we’re physical media purists where Pokémon is concerned. 

Use Goat Armor to Protect Your Beautifully Illustrated Pokémon Cards

As shown by many of the cards that Akagi has illustrated, Pokémon cards can command incredible prices on the resale market. This makes every Pokémon TCG booster pack, deck, and booster box you buy a significant investment. 

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t play with your cards, though. Enjoying your Pokémon cards by building unique decks and battling your friends is still what the game is all about.

With Goat Armor, you can get the best of both worlds! Our toploaders and binders will keep your cards in perfect condition when you take them to competitions and game nights, allowing you to enjoy your cards for years to come without entirely compromising their resale value.