Pokemon TCG Illustration Contest Announced for the U.S. and Japan!
For the first time since 2015, The Pokemon Company has announced a TCG illustration contest open to residents from the United States! Three artists from the U.S. or Japan will get their artwork turned into promo cards.
Entries will be taken from October 12th through January 31st. The theme of the contest is to draw a Pokemon in its daily life. Artists can only draw from a list of eight Pokemon: Bulbasaur, Charizard, Pikachu, Arcanine, Galarian Rapidash, Scizor, Greninja, and Cramorant.
Each artist can submit up to three illustrations depicting the same Pokemon or different Pokemon from the approved list. Three winning artists will be announced in June 2022.
The full application and rules can be viewed here.
Artists who have dreamed of illustrating their very own Pokémon TCG card can now compete for the opportunity to make it happen. The Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest 2022 offers artists residing in Japan and the United States an opportunity to share their talent and passion for Pokémon by exploring the daily life of a Pokémon in art.
To participate, choose from eight different Pokémon, capture your chosen Pokémon living out a normal day in its life, and submit your artwork between October 12, 2021, at 8 p.m. and January 31, 2022, at 6:59 p.m. Each artist can submit up to three illustrations, either depicting the same Pokémon or different Pokémon from the approved list for each image. Winning artists will be announced in June 2022.
Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest Prizes
One overall artist will be chosen from the entire field. Winning artists will be announced in June 2022.
- One Grand Prize Winner (JP or US contestant): $5,000 cash prize and TCG promo card
- Two 1st Runner-Up selections (1 winner from JP, 1 winner from US): $3,000 cash prize and TCG promo card
- Two 2nd Runner-Up selections (JP or US contestant) : $1,000 cash prize
- 15 Judges Award selections (JP or US contestants): $500 cash prize
To be eligible to compete, artists must reside in Japan or the United States, be 18 years old or older, and be capable of communicating in English or Japanese. Review all contest rules and conditions before submitting artwork.
Good luck to all participants in the Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest 2022!
There have only been two major illustrator contests open to American residents.
In 2004, Pokemon USA (now TPCi) held a contest in partnership with Kids’ WB. Artists between five and fifteen submitted their art of Treecko, Torchic, Mudkip, Wurmple, and Pikachu. 50 promo booster packs were distributed to each of the five grand prize winners and one pack to 5,000 first prize winners.
2015’s Pokemon Art Academy contest was held in North America, Japan, and Europe/Oceania. Each winner received 100 copies of a card featuring their illustration.
Japan has held around 10 illustrator contests over the years. 2019 and 2020 each saw a contest where one winner was crowned:
