Following AI Cheating Allegations, The Pokemon Company Announces New TCG Illustration Contest Winners

For several years, The Pokemon Company has held an annual illustration contest for the Pokemon Trading Card Game. The grand prize for this year’s competition was $5,000 and the opportunity for the winner to have their art featured as an official Pokemon TCG card, but the 2024 event was mired by allegations of an entrant submitting AI-generated images and using multiple identities.

In a statement in June, The Pokemon Company acknowledged that it had disqualified “entrants in violation of the rules” and that it would fill those spaces with deserving artists. The top 300 finalists in the Pokemon Illustration Contest have been announced, with the grand prize going to first-time entrant Kazuki Minami for their Pikachu illustration.

“I wasn’t sure what to draw and how to draw it. That’s when my dog came into my sight being cute–I was inspired to draw Pikachu in such a way that reminds me of my dog,” Minami said on the Pokemon TCG website. “So the prize belongs to my dog as much as it does to me, and we’re both extremely happy and honored.”

While Minami won the grand prize, The Pokemon Company also highlighted winners from several other categories. Illustrator Acorviart won “Best Standard Card Illustration” for their calm Feraligatr and Anderson won “Best ex Card Illustration” for their energetic Toxtricity. The rest of the runner-ups highlighted by the judges include several elegant and charming designs, from an Absol having a big stretch to a Melmetal enjoying a quick nap.

Fans of the Pokemon Trading Card Game–and beautiful art–can look forward to a mobile version of the game next month. Pokemon Trading Card Game pocket is coming to mobile devices on October 30, and developer DeNA is aiming to replicate the feel of card-collecting with “immersive” cards that will let players explore the illustrations in all their artistic glory.