ABOUT
Born 14 February 1956, died around 2002, Keiji Kinebuchi was the Pokémon TCG's original 3D artist — and the person who invited Mitsuhiro Arita onto the project.
He worked in LightWave 3D from the game's first release. The hardware and software of the period kept his work to simple forms, plain textures and straightforward lighting, which is exactly why it is instantly recognisable now: nothing else on those early sheets looks like it.
His footprint is larger than his card count suggests. He drew the majority of the early Trainer cards and designed all of the Basic Energy cards, plus several Special Energy cards, through Expedition Base Set — artwork that sat in every deck built in that era.
His last illustrations appeared in Aquapolis. Ryo Ueda became the game's principal 3D artist after his death.
Reviewed 2026-08-25 · Sources: Bulbapedia — Keiji Kinebuchi, Bulbapedia — Ryo Ueda
MOST DRAWN
120 OF 213 CARDS
Magneton
#9
Dugtrio
#19
Electrode
#21
Haunter
#29
Kakuna
#33
Diglett
#47
Gastly
#50
Magnemite
#53
Starmie
#64
Staryu
#65
Voltorb
#67
Clefairy Doll
#70
Computer Search
#71
Devolution Spray
#72
Item Finder
#74
Scoop Up
#78
Super Energy Removal
#79
Defender
#80
Energy Retrieval
#81
Full Heal
#82
Maintenance
#83
PlusPower
#84
Pokémon Center
#85
Pokémon Flute
#86
Pokédex
#87
Revive
#89
Super Potion
#90
Energy Removal
#92
Gust of Wind
#93
Potion
#94
Switch
#95
Double Colorless Energy
#96
Fighting Energy
#97
Fire Energy
#98
Grass Energy
#99
Lightning Energy
#100
Psychic Energy
#101
Water Energy
#102
Vileplume
#15
Vileplume
#31
Gloom
#37
Oddish
#58
Poké Ball
#64
Pikachu
#1
Jigglypuff
#7
Pokémon Tower
#42
Ditto
#3
Gengar
#5
Ditto
#18
Gengar
#20
Energy Search
#59
Gambler
#60
Recycle
#61
Mysterious Fossil
#62
Magneton
#9
Dugtrio
#23
Electrode
#25
Haunter
#43
Kakuna
#47
Diglett
#71
Gastly
#75
Magnemite
#79
Starmie
#94
Staryu
#95
Voltorb
#98
Computer Search
#101
Item Finder
#103
Scoop Up
#107
Super Energy Removal
#108
Defender
#109
Energy Retrieval
#110
Full Heal
#111
Maintenance
#112
PlusPower
#113
Pokémon Center
#114
Pokédex
#115
Super Potion
#117
Energy Removal
#119
Gust of Wind
#120
Poké Ball
#121
Potion
#122
Switch
#123
Double Colorless Energy
#124
Fighting Energy
#125
Fire Energy
#126
Grass Energy
#127
Lightning Energy
#128
Psychic Energy
#129
Water Energy
#130
Porygon
#48
Full Heal Energy
#81
Potion Energy
#82
No Removal Gym
#103
The Rocket's Training Gym
#104
Celadon City Gym
#107
Cerulean City Gym
#108
Pewter City Gym
#115
Vermilion City Gym
#120
Energy Flow
#122
Narrow Gym
#124
Trash Exchange
#126
Fighting Energy
#127
Fire Energy
#128
Grass Energy
#129
Lightning Energy
#130
Psychic Energy
#131
Water Energy
#132
Chaos Gym
#102
Resistance Gym
#109
Cinnabar City Gym
#113
Fuchsia City Gym
#114
Master Ball
#116
Rocket's Minefield Gym
#119
Saffron City Gym
#122
Viridian City Gym
#123
Transparent Walls
#125
Warp Point
#126
Fighting Energy
#127
Fire Energy
#128
Grass Energy
#129