Masakazu Fukuda is one of the defining illustrators of the Pokémon TCG's EX era and a long-running contributor beyond it. Before becoming a freelance illustrator, public sources describe him as having worked in character and graphic design for game companies during the 1990s. The Art of Pokémon notes an 11-year background in game-production design before his freelance career, while Bulbapedia places his Pokémon TCG work from 2003 onward.
Color, motion and the complete Pokémon Star legacy
For collectors, Fukuda's name is inseparable from Pokémon Star. Bulbapedia credits him with illustrating every Pokémon ☆ card in the TCG, a remarkable through-line across one of the most collectible mechanics of the EX period. In PKMN Collectors records, that run includes Mudkip Star, Torchic Star, Treecko Star, Latias Star, Latios Star, Rayquaza Star, Entei Star, Raikou Star, Suicune Star, Groudon Star, Kyogre Star, Metagross Star, Mewtwo Star, Pikachu Star, Charizard Star δ, Mew Star δ and the Eeveelution Stars from Power Keepers.
Those cards explain much of Fukuda's reputation. Pokémon Star artwork needed to feel rare before a collector even read the card text, and Fukuda leaned into strong angles, energetic poses and amplified color. The shiny palettes are not treated quietly; they are pushed forward so the Pokémon look unusual, dramatic and immediately distinct from regular versions. That sense of visual event is one reason many Gold Star cards remain centerpieces for advanced EX-era collections.
His range is broader than that single mechanic. Early credits include Meowth, Persian and Tauros from EX FireRed & LeafGreen, followed by work on Pokémon, Trainers, promotional cards and packaging. Later examples in PKMN Collectors include Guzma from Burning Shadows, Rayquaza promos, Shiftry and Gigalith from Evolving Skies, and modern Scarlet & Violet-era cards such as Heatmor, Spinda, Charcadet and shiny Pokémon from Paldean Fates.
Stylistically, Fukuda often favors saturated color, crisp shape language and a sense of motion. His cards can be cute or intense, but they rarely feel flat. Details are used to give Pokémon weight and personality, whether the subject is a small basic Pokémon or a legendary built for spectacle.
For Pokémon TCG collectors, Masakazu Fukuda is important because he connects visual style with collecting history. His work helped make Pokémon Star feel special, and his continuing card credits show an artist able to move from EX-era rarity icons into modern set design without losing the color and punch that made his cards memorable.
