On 27th February 2009, Pokemon announced a new illustration contest in conjunction with Shogakukan, a major Japanese magazine publisher. Shogakukan had run previous Pokemon illustration contests before, but this would be the first new one with Pokemon card prizes they would run since 1999’s Pokemon Snap Photo Contest.
Officially, the contest was called “Shogakukan Children’s Magazine 12 Magazine Alliance Pokemon Card Game Design Contest”, or 小学館児童誌12誌連合 ポケモンカードゲーム デザインコンテストin Japanese.
This contest would create 13 unique cards, with only 100 copies of each printed. As a result, each of these cards is exceedingly rare.
Introduction
Shogakukan is the publisher of Pokémon Adventures, CoroCoro Comics, and other Pokémon media. The publisher has deep ties to the Pokemon franchise, and has featured the anime, TCG, and manga in much of its media.
The Pokemon TCG had already collaborated with Shogakukan to distribute promo cards in its CoroCoro Comics, the University Magikarp campaign in its grade-level magazines, and most relevantly every single Japanese Pokemon TCG illustration contest.
The contest was run to promote the upcoming 12th Pokemon movie: Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life (劇場版ポケットモンスター ダイヤモンド&パールアルセウス 超克の時空へ). Thus 12 of Shogakukan’s magazines would participate in the contest.
Featured in the movie were a Spiky-eared Pichu and the legendary Pokemon, Arceus. The contest would center around these two Pokemon.
Participating Magazines
Though the official website announcement cited 12 magazines participating in the contest, a 13th Shogakukan magazine would also be included. Shogakukan’s Weekly Shōnen Sunday (週刊少年サンデー) also took part in the contest. Unlike the other magazines, this one was published weekly instead of monthly.
Weekly Shōnen Sunday was not part of the initial contest announcement, but likely held its contest with the May 20, 2009 issue (No. 23) of the magazine. This is the only issue of the magazine that mentions the new Pokemon movie until its release date later in July 2009.
In total, the following magazines participated in the contest:
- Shogakukan Kindergarten (幼稚園), March 2009 issue
- Shogakukan Televi-kun (てれびくん), April 2009 issue
- Shogakukan Elementary School 1st Grade (小学一年生), April 2009 issue
- Shogakukan Elementary School 2nd Grade (小学二年生), April 2009 issue
- Shogakukan Elementary School 3rd Grade (小学三年生), April 2009 issue
- Shogakukan Elementary School 4th Grade (小学四年生), April 2009 issue
- Shogakukan Elementary School 5th Grade (小学五年生), April 2009 issue
- Shogakukan Elementary School 6th Grade (小学六年生), April 2009 issue
- CoroCoro Comic (コロコロコミック), April 2009 issue
- Pucchigumi (ぷっちぐみ), April 2009 issue
- Pokémon Fan (ポケモンファン), May 2009 issue (Vol. 7)
- CoroCoro Ichiban! (コロコロイチバン！), May 2009 issue
- Weekly Shōnen Sunday (週刊少年サンデー), May 20 2009 issue (Vol. 23)
Contest Structure
Each participating magazine would announce the contest in one issue, then give participants about a month to mail in their drawing submissions. The submission periods for each magazine are as follows:
- Shogakukan Kindergarten (幼稚園), open from February 28 – March 31, 2009
- Shogakukan Televi-kun (てれびくん), open from February 28 – March 31, 2009
- Shogakukan Elementary School 1st Grade (小学一年生), open from February 28 – March 31, 2009
- Shogakukan Elementary School 2nd Grade (小学二年生), open from March 3 – April 2, 2009
- Shogakukan Elementary School 3rd Grade (小学三年生), open from March 3 – April 2, 2009
- Shogakukan Elementary School 4th Grade (小学四年生), open from March 3 – April 2, 2009
- Shogakukan Elementary School 5th Grade (小学五年生), open from March 3 – April 2, 2009
- Shogakukan Elementary School 6th Grade (小学六年生), open from March 3 – April 2, 2009
- CoroCoro Comic (コロコロコミック), open from March 14 – April 14, 2009
- Pucchigumi (ぷっちぐみ), open from March 14 – April 14, 2009
- Pokémon Fan (ポケモンファン), open from March 18 – April 20, 2009
- CoroCoro Ichiban! (コロコロイチバン！), open from March 25 – April 24, 2009
- Weekly Shōnen Sunday (週刊少年サンデー), open from May 20 – June 20~, 2009 (estimated)
Submission instructions
Each magazine would announce the contest in a similar way, with instructions on how to enter along with the prizes that could be won.
Each magazine would have a blank stencil in the appendix of the magazine for children to color and subsequently mail in.
This stencil would differ depending on the magazine, with multiple magazines sharing the same stencils. Each stencil was created by a Pokemon mangaka (professional manga author & artist) for a card in the Movie Commemoration Random Pack set.
“Jumping” Pichu
This stencil was created by Takahiro Yamashita, a mangaka for several Pokemon mangas. Yamashita also worked on multiple video game manga adaptions, including Fatal Fury, Star Fox 64, and Saturn Bomberman.
It was used in the following magazines:
- Shogakukan Kindergarten
- Shogakukan Televi-kun
- Shogakukan Elementary School 1st Grade
- Pucchigumi
- Pokémon Fan
“Sitting” Pichu
This stencil was created by Miho Asada, a mangaka for several Pokemon mangas. Yamashita also worked on multiple video game manga adaptions, including Mega Man Battle Network and Yo-kai Watch.
It was used in only one magazine: Shogakukan Elementary School 2nd Grade
“Running” Arceus
This stencil was also created by Takahiro Yamashita. Yamashita would be the only artist who created multiple stencils.
It was used in the following magazines:
- Shogakukan Elementary School 3rd Grade
- CoroCoro Ichiban!
“Prancing” Arceus
This stencil was also created by Satoshi Yamamoto. He was the illustrator for various Pokemon Manga, in particular the well-known Pokemon Adventures.
It was used in the following magazines:
- Shogakukan Elementary School 4th Grade
- Shogakukan Elementary School 5th Grade
- Shogakukan Elementary School 6th Grade
“Bowing” Arceus
This stencil was created by Makoto Mizobuchi, a mangaka for several Pokemon mangas. Mizobuchi also worked on several other manga series, including Zoids.
It was used in only one magazine: CoroCoro Comic
“Sunday” Arceus
The 13th magazine that was not in the initial contest announcement does not have a corresponding stencil that was made for a card in the Movie Commemoration Random Pack set. It is thus the most “unique” art from the contest as the pose is not shared with any other card.
Winner Announcement
The winners would be announced in the July / August summer issues of all 13 magazines. This would display the name of each winner as well as the designs for the top prize winners.
Prizes
The prizes for each magazine were the same across all 13 magazines.
Grand Prize (1 per magazine)
The grand prize winner would receive 100 copies of their winning design as a real Pokemon TCG card. They would also receive a Nintendo DS Lite Giratina Edition, which was an exclusive reward from the Pokemon Daisuke Club.
Each magazine would highlight the winning design along with the winner’s prefecture in Japan.
Excellence / Outstanding Performance Prize (5 per magazine)
5 “runner up” winners would each receive their winning designs on a jumbo card. To date, none of these jumbo cards have surfaced or been seen.
They also received a DX Pokeball DP, an electronic toy made by Takaratomy.
The Excellence prize winners would have their designs displayed in the winning announcement magazine alongside the Grand Prize and Special Prize winners.
Special Prize (10 per magazine)
10 Special Prize winners would also each get their winning designs displayed in the winner announcement magazine. However, they would not receive any cards with their designs, and instead would just receive a DVD of the short film Pikachu Ice Adventure.
Lucky Prize (30 winners per magazine)
30 entrants for each magazine be selected as Lucky Prize winners. Their names would be published in the winning announcement, but their designs would not be.
Each Lucky Prize winner received a Pokemon TCG Starter Deck “Garchomp vs. Charizard”.
Winners
Winners were announced in each magazine. Unfortunately due to the age of the material, exact scans of each magazine’s entry pages and later winning announcements are not available. If you have the material please contact us.
Kindergarten
Shogakukan Kindergarten is a magazine aimed at children ages 3-6. It is mostly filled with learning and game activities. Its grand prize winner was Shunsuke Takemori.
Televi-kun
Shogakukan Televi-kun is a monthly TV guide magazine for kids. It features toys and games that align with children TV programs. Its grand prize winner was Keita Mizuno.
Winners were announced in the August 2009 issue of Televi-kun.
Shogakukan Elementary School 1st Grade
Shogakukan Elementary School 1st Grade is a monthly magazine for 1st grade children. Shogakukan publishes one magazine per month for each grade. Its grand prize winner was Haruka Uekura.
Shogakukan Elementary School 2nd Grade
The 2nd – 6th grade magazines had their April 2009 issues published on March 3, 2009. This was the start of the entry period for these 5 higher-grade magazines. The 2nd grade winner was Taisei Fujita.
Shogakukan Elementary School 3rd Grade
Beginning with 3rd grade and all the way through 6th grade, the contest Pokemon would be Arceus. The 3rd grade winner was Shoki Nakamura.
Shogakukan Elementary School 4th Grade
The 4th-6th grade magazines would all utilize the same “Prancing” Arceus stencil. The 4th grade winner was Arisa Sugino.
Shogakukan Elementary School 5th Grade
The 5th grade winner was Meiko Akiba.
Shogakukan Elementary School 6th Grade
The 6th grade winner was Mikako Nishizaki.
CoroCoro Comic
CoroCoro Comic is a monthly manga magazine that Shogakukan has been publishing since 1977. It is also the magazine where the Pokemon manga series are published. The CoroCoro Comic winner was Hikaru Okawa.
The winners would be later announced in the August 2009 issue of the magazine.
Pucchigumi
Pucchigumi is a monthly manga magazine aimed at young female readers. The Pucchigumi winner was Mahiro Shinozaki.
Pokemon Fan
Pokemon Fan is a dedicated magazine for the Pokemon franchise published once every 2 months. It covers, toys, shows, movies, games, and more. This magazine’s contested started slightly later than the others, with the May 1, 2009 (Vol. 7) issue announcing the contest. The Pokemon Fan winner was Shizuka Kusakabe.
Since the magazine is published bi-monthly, the next issue (July 8, 2009 Vol. 8) would announce the winners
CoroCoro Ichiban!
CoroCoro Ichiban! is a magazine magazine that Shogakukan publishes once every 2 months. In this case, the contest was announced with its May issue (published March 25, 2009). Its winner was Ryoga Kawai.
Weekly Shonen Sunday
The 13th magazine to run the contest had a weekly publication cycle, unlike the other magazines which were all published monthly or bimonthly. Weekly Shonen Sunday was not included in the initial line up of 12 Shogakukan magazines, but it would announce its contest in May 2009. The winner of this magazine was Natsumi Nishiyama.
Weekly Shonen Sunday Promo
The July 29, 2009 issue of Weekly Shonen Sunday contained an insert with promo Pichu card designed in a similar fashion to the contest entries from the 2009 contest. This Pichu was illustrated by Gōshō Aoyama (青山 剛昌), the creator of Detective Conan, one of the longest-running manga and media franchises in the world.
This Pichu card is often confused for being part of the Movie Commemoration Random Pack set or one of the winning designs. However it is a part of the DPt-P promo set and isn’t part of either.
Legacy
The success of the 2009 Pokemon Card Game Design Contest would inspire another illustration contest in 2010, also hosted by Shogakukan through the same magazines as the 2009 contest, though without the 13th Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine.
Similar to 2009’s prize cards, the prize cards for 2010 would feature the new Pokemon movie’s logo and golden foil text. 200 copies of each of these cards would be printed, twice as many as 2009’s 100 copies per winning design.
Sources
- https://pichu.blog/2009-design-contest#part-2
- https://pichu.blog/042-dpt-p
- https://web.archive.org/web/20090302062932/http://www.pokemon.co.jp/info/card/cg090227_01.html
- https://pokeboon.com/jp/promo_event/shogakukan-pokemon-card-game-design-contest-2009/
- https://asami-1120.hatenablog.com/entry/20090718/p7
- https://retogenofu.hatenadiary.jp/entry/2018/08/16/%E3%83%9D%E3%82%B1%E3%83%A2%E3%83%B3%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%83%B3%E3%81%A8%E3%81%84%E3%81%86%E3%82%A2%E3%83%8B%E3%83%A1%E9%9B%91%E8%AA%8C%E3%81%AE%E4%B8%AD%E3%81%A7_%E3%81%A9%E3%81%AE%E5%8F%B7%E3%81%AB
- https://blog.goo.ne.jp/pika-025/e/361cb80a2b022fdcff69b1a74f666ae6
- https://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/hareruya0324/diary/200903090000/
- Shogakukan Kindergarten (幼稚園), March 2009 issue
- Shogakukan Televi-kun (てれびくん), April 2009 issue
- Shogakukan Elementary School 1st Grade (小学一年生), April 2009 issue
- Shogakukan Elementary School 2nd Grade (小学二年生), April 2009 issue
- Shogakukan Elementary School 3rd Grade (小学三年生), April 2009 issue
- Shogakukan Elementary School 4th Grade (小学四年生), April 2009 issue
- Shogakukan Elementary School 5th Grade (小学五年生), April 2009 issue
- Shogakukan Elementary School 6th Grade (小学六年生), April 2009 issue
- CoroCoro Comic (コロコロコミック), April 2009 issue
- Pucchigumi (ぷっちぐみ), April 2009 issue
- Pokémon Fan (ポケモンファン), May 2009 issue (Vol. 7)
- CoroCoro Ichiban! (コロコロイチバン！), May 2009 issue
- Weekly Shōnen Sunday (週刊少年サンデー), May 20 2009 issue (Vol. 23)
