Pokémon Pocket’s New Serena Card Was Illustrated by Evangelion’s Creator!
The mobile game Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket (better known as PokéPoke) has barely released its latest expansion, and it’s already taking Japanese social media by storm thanks to a certain waifu card.
With the arrival of the Dual Fusion expansion, one particular Supporter card caught absolutely everyone off guard: the new artwork of Serena was illustrated by none other than Yoshiyuki Sadamoto!
Yes, you read that right! The legendary character designer behind Neon Genesis Evangelion, FLCL, and several Mamoru Hosoda films (including Summer Wars and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time) has officially illustrated a Pokémon card!
The Visual Impact: Why Did Serena’s Card Go Viral So Quickly?
First things first, take a look at the brand-new card available in the Pikachu pack from the Dual Fusion expansion:
Isn’t it BEAUTIFUL?
As soon as the card preview went live, Japanese fans on X (formerly Twitter) started noticing some unmistakable details in Serena’s illustration. Eventually, someone decided to check the illustrator’s name in the corner, and well… there it was: Yoshiyuki Sadamoto!
Fans were basically screaming, “OH MY GOD! HE ILLUSTRATED A POKÉMON POCKET CARD?” Just look at Sadamoto’s artwork in the Evangelion manga:
Japanese fans had the following things to say about Serena’s card:
The Shine and Finish: The lighting effects and vinyl/leather-like reflections on Serena’s boots and skirt immediately bring to mind the iconic plugsuits worn by Rei Ayanami and Asuka Langley.
Distinctive Facial Features: The lines around the nose and mouth, along with the expressive eyes, carry the unmistakable signature of the classic 1990s and 2000s character designs that made Sadamoto a legend in the anime industry.
Nostalgia for Pokémon Adventures: Veteran fans on Japanese forums also pointed out that the artwork resembles the style of the early volumes of the Pokémon Special manga (illustrated by Mato, an artist who openly cited Sadamoto as an influence back in the 1990s).
As mentioned earlier, you can get Serena’s new card from the Pikachu pack in the Dual Fusion expansion:
Seeing a living legend like Yoshiyuki Sadamoto contribute to the Pokémon TCG universe makes me feel like I HAVE to get this card now! I’ll be honest: I knew there was a new Serena card, but I had no idea who illustrated it. I only found out today…
And what about you? Could you recognize Evangelion’s iconic art style just by looking at Serena’s outfit and face? Are you planning to try your luck and open some packs to pull this rare card?