The core creator of Pokémon is Japanese game designer Satoshi Tajiri , who came up with the original concept and world in the early 1990s. He co‑founded the studio Game Freak, which developed the first games Pokémon Red and Green for Nintendo.

A few key people were also crucial in “making” Pokémon:

  • Ken Sugimori – main character and monster artist who designed the original Pokémon artwork.
  • Shigeru Miyamoto – legendary Nintendo designer who mentored Tajiri and helped shape the project.
  • Game Freak – development studio that built the original games based on Tajiri’s idea.
  • Nintendo & Creatures Inc. – companies that funded, published, and later co-manage the wider Pokémon franchise through The Pokémon Company.

So if you’re answering “who made Pokémon?” in one name: Satoshi Tajiri is credited as the creator, supported by Ken Sugimori, Game Freak, and Nintendo.