James Turner, a former artist for the Pokémon brand and the first Westerner to design a Pokémon, has returned to the franchise after a four-year hiatus. He will be rejoining The Pokémon Company as the new Creative Director of Pokémon Art and Design and will oversee development of pretty much everything art related when it comes to the mega franchise. Turner made the announcement on Twitter, stating, “It feels great to be working in the world of Pokémon again.”
Big news! I’ve started a new role as Creative Director of Pokémon Art and Design at The Pokémon Company International.
It feels great to be working in the world of Pokémon again, with a lovely group of people.
I’m very excited about what comes next!
🎨⚡#IWorkForPokemon pic.twitter.com/HHugqAxpZv— James Turner (@JamesTurner_42) August 24, 2026
His history with the brand dates all the way back to Pokémon Colosseum, where he helped design battle effects, cutscenes, and worked on the game’s camera. This would start a fruitful relationship with Pokémon developer Game Freak, where Turner eventually worked his way up to designing new Pokémon for Black and White, becoming the first Westerner to lay claim to the feat. He left Game Freak in 2022 to start his own studio, All Possible Futures, which released The Plucky Squire in 2024 to critical acclaim.
There doesn’t seem to have been bad blood between Turner and Game Freak, so this return feels less like falling back on bad habits and more like a genuine evolution of his passion for the Pokémon brand. Turner has left a tremendous impression on the brand over the years, so it only makes sense that he would be drawn back to it over time. It’s unclear if he’ll be providing designs for the upcoming Pokémon Winds and Waves, though he likely will be more focused on promotional material than any game development going forward.
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Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
