Pokémon has been consistently popular for nearly thirty years, and a new piece of art redesigning Ash, Misty, Brock, and Team Rocket from a Disney animation director shows just how far that fan community has reached. Although the cast of the new Pokémon Horizons series has been replaced, the characters from the original series remain one of the most iconic casts in anime history.
Some new fan art from Disney character designer and story artist Kiana Mai combines the styles of the original Pokémon cast with the iconic styles seen in the TV shows modern Disney movies like The Ghost and Molly McGee. The fan art balances reinterpretation of the iconic Pokémon cast while remaining instantly recognizable.
Pokémon Heroes Get a Fresh Redesign from Disney Artist Kiana Mai
Disney Television animation director, story artist and character designer Kiana Mai posted a Disney-style redesign of the characters from the original Pokémon series on Twitter. Ash, Misty, Brock, James and Jessie have been recreated in a new artistic way. Combining iconic characters with the instantly recognizable classic style of Disney animation uses two iconic Pop Culture touchstones to create something fresh yet true with the spirit and design of the original. The artwork is very fresh but ultimately still has a strong Pokémon and Disney feel.
Kiana Mai’s Disney-style redesign honors the most iconic elements of the original Pokémon characters. Although every character’s costume has been re-imagined, each retains the original character’s recognizable color scheme: Ash in red, white and blue, Misty in yellow and orange, Brock in orange and blue leaves, Team Rocket in white, red, and black. Likewise, each character’s design retains its most iconic aspect: Ash’s hat, Brock’s permanently closed eyes, the swirl at the ends of Jessie’s hair. Bold new direction for Pokémon characters based on their original designs.
This piece of fan art is a triumph of imaginative redesigns of beloved characters. By combining the best aspects of two distinct but instantly recognizable styles, the art blends the new and fresh with the iconic. Kiana Mai’s new work will definitely appeal to both Disney and animation fans Pokémon.
Source: @kianamaiart/Twitter
