Latest news with #SIENANAHARA
Newsweek
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Pokémon TCG Pocket Gets New Artwork for Apparently Plagiarized Cards
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Pokémon TCG Pocket has started rolling out new artwork for the key cards in the newest expansion release, after an alleged plagiarism scandal saw The Pokémon Company abruptly removing artwork from the game. A new update for the popular mobile game Pokémon TCG Pocket has introduced brand-new artwork for two key cards in the Wisdom of Sea and Sky expansion pack, Lugia ex and Ho-Oh ex, both of which had their immersive rare – the second-highest rarity in the game – artworks stripped shortly before their release. Up until now, both cards had placeholder messages declaring that new artwork was coming soon, and it looks like The Pokémon Company has followed through. Placeholder artwork for the immersive rare Lugia ex card in Pokémon TCG Pocket, replaced today in a new update. Placeholder artwork for the immersive rare Lugia ex card in Pokémon TCG Pocket, replaced today in a new update. The Pokémon Company The new cards depict legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh and Lugia in epic poses, and upon receiving the card players will be treated to a unique animation exclusive to the rare cards. Players who previously pulled the rare cards from packs prior to today's update have had their placeholder cards swapped out with the changed versions, and can view the new animation by opening up the card in the My Cards screen. Serebii Update: Pokémon TCG Pocket has added new artwork to the immersive 3 Star Ho-Oh and Lugia cards for the Wisdom of Sea and Sky sethttps:// — (@SerebiiNet) August 8, 2025 The cards were originally stripped of their artwork after allegations of plagiarism surfaced shortly before the release of the Wisdom of Sea and Sky expansion. Chinese artist Lanjiujiu posted on X (formerly Twitter) at the time pointing out similarities between a fan artwork that had been commissioned from them in 2021 and the card in TCG Pocket, with a side-by-side comparison showing the artwork looked almost identical. Following the post, The Pokémon Company released a statement saying that TCG Pocket illustrator SIE NANAHARA was not to blame, and that the card production team had provided "incorrect reference materials as official documents" to the artist. The artwork was removed, and SIE NANAHARA was commissioned to provide new artwork for the cards in question, which is now live in the game.
Newsweek
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Pokémon TCG Pocket Pulls Rare Card Artwork After Plagiarism Allegations
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors The Pokémon Company launched a new expansion in Pokémon TCG Pocket today, but before it was even released, it was subject to major controversy, which has resulted in a surprising change to the game. Just prior to the launch of the Wisdom of Sea and Sky expansion in Pokémon TCG Pocket, a datamine for the update made its way onto the internet. Among the cards leaked was an immersive rare card – some of the rarest cards in the game – for a Ho-Oh ex that bears a striking resemblance to fan art produced in 2021 by Chinese artist Lanjiujiu. Three starter Pokémon cards from the Pokémon TCG Pocket Wisdom of Sea and Sky expansion. Three starter Pokémon cards from the Pokémon TCG Pocket Wisdom of Sea and Sky expansion. The Pokémon Company Lanjiujiu noticed the resemblance and posted on X (formerly Twitter) in confusion, showing a comparison of the card with their artwork that shows it looking effectively identical. Many were quick to blame Pokémon TCG artist SIE NANAHARA, who's produced dozens of artworks for the Pokémon TCG, Pokémon TCG Pocket, and Magic the Gathering, among others, accusing her of plagiarism — but a new statement from The Pokémon Company has cleared up the situation. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), The Pokémon Company through the official Pokémon TCG Pocket account shedding light on the situation and pledging to make things right. According to The Pokémon Company, illustrator SIE NANAHARA was provided with "incorrect reference materials" upon which to base her illustrations, resulting in the similarity to Lanjiujiu's artwork. After the discovery was made, The Pokémon Company quickly moved to remove the artwork from the affected cards – both Ho-Oh ex and Lugia ex, which features the Ho-Oh card in its immersive animation – and will be replacing it with new artwork in the future. The company says it will also be conducting an extensive review of artwork in the game to ensure no similar issues exist within prior works released in the game. We'd like to share an update about the upcoming expansion in #PokemonTCGPocket. — Pokémon TCG Pocket (@PokemonTCGP) July 30, 2025 As of the time of publishing, if players pull the card in a set, they're greeted with a blank, artwork-free card that simply says "New art coming soon." Attempting to play the immersive animation for the card sees players greeted with silence and a black screen for a few seconds, before the placeholder card is displayed again.
