Pokémon Reveals First Look Inside Massive 1,500-Page 30th Anniversary Art Book Collection
Image by James RichardsonPokémon fans have been given their first proper look inside a massive new art book collection celebrating 30 years of the beloved video game series.
Publisher Overlap has released sample pages from “Pokémon Visual Art Book: 30th Anniversary Art Book of Pokémon Video Games developed by GAME FREAK,” showcasing hundreds of illustrations, character designs, original pixel art and behind-the-scenes development materials from across the franchise’s history.
The three-volume collection was previously revealed in September, when its colorful cover designs were unveiled alongside details of the enormous project, which brings together approximately 1,500 pages of artwork from the original Pokémon Red and Green through to Pokémon Legends: Z-A and its Mega Dimension DLC.
Supervised by The Pokémon Company and Game Freak, the books aim to document how the series’ artwork has evolved over three decades, from the original Game Boy’s limited pixel graphics to the detailed 3D models and elaborate character illustrations of modern Pokémon games.
The newly released sample pages provide a much closer look at the contents of each volume, including character concept art, Pokémon design sheets, original promotional illustrations and extensive galleries of artwork that helped bring the games to life.
Let’s take a closer look at what each book has to offer!
- BOOK 1: Pokémon Red and Green to HeartGold and SoulSilver
The first volume focuses on the franchise’s earliest generations, beginning with the original Game Boy games and continuing through the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS eras.
Its preview pages include enormous galleries of the original black-and-white Pokémon sprites from Red and Green, allowing readers to revisit the designs that introduced the original 151 Pokémon.
Other pages showcase the more colorful illustrations from Pokémon Blue, including artwork of Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle and their evolutions, alongside early character design sheets featuring Gym Leaders and other characters from Gold and Silver.
The book also includes material from Ruby and Sapphire, FireRed and LeafGreen, Diamond and Pearl, Platinum and HeartGold and SoulSilver, providing an extensive look at the visual changes made across the franchise’s first four generations.
- BOOK 2: Pokémon Black and White to Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
The second volume moves into the Nintendo DS and 3DS generations, with its newly shared pages featuring original artwork and detailed concept illustrations of Reshiram and Zekrom from Pokémon Black and White.
These include multiple views of the two Legendary Pokémon, offering a closer look at their designs alongside the artwork used for the original games’ packaging.
Other samples feature extensive character galleries from Pokémon X and Y, including Gym Leaders, supporting characters and other trainers, while Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire receives colorful illustrations of Wally with Mega Gallade and Steven Stone with Mega Metagross.
The volume also includes artwork from Black 2 and White 2, Sun and Moon and Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, with additional pages showcasing Pokémon from the Alola region and their evolutionary families.
- BOOK 3: Pokémon Let’s Go to Pokémon Legends: Z-A
The final volume covers the Nintendo Switch era, beginning with Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! before moving through Sword and Shield, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Scarlet and Violet and Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
The preview pages feature detailed illustrations of Pokémon introduced throughout these games, including several Hisuian forms from Legends: Arceus and character artwork from the Kalos region’s return in Legends: Z-A.
One of the most interesting sections showcases early design sheets for Sprigatito and Meowscarada from Scarlet and Violet, including multiple facial expressions, different viewing angles and handwritten development notes.
Other samples include character illustrations from Legends: Z-A and a gallery of Mega-Evolved Pokémon introduced through its Mega Dimension DLC, bringing the collection right up to the most recent additions to the franchise.
Alongside the extensive artwork, each volume will include previously unpublished development materials and a special long-form interview with Game Freak creators, offering additional insight into the design process behind the games.
The books also follow Overlap’s recent release of the Pokémon Official National Pokédex 1996–2026, which brought together all 1,025 Pokémon in a single illustrated reference book, while this collection focuses more closely on the games themselves and the creative work behind them.
All three volumes of “Pokémon Visual Art Book: 30th Anniversary Art Book of Pokémon Video Games developed by GAME FREAK” will be released on December 18, 2026, with each book containing approximately 500 full-color B5 pages and priced at ¥5,500 (approximately $34 USD / £26 GBP).
The books will be sold separately rather than as a complete set, with pre-orders already available through participating booksellers and retailers including Pokémon Center Online.
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