Mew

A forest canopy. A curious gaze. A fleeting encounter.

Released in English on 13 February 2006, EX Legend Maker brought collectors into the world of Mirage Forest, the Japanese expansion released the year before: a setting of rare Pokémon and hidden discoveries, with Mew at the heart of its mystery.

Kouki Saitou’s illustration turns that mystery into an intimate encounter. Mew leans towards the viewer, its bright blue eyes framed by a softly shaded pink silhouette. Its long tail loops through the composition while dark foliage opens onto the sky. As the card catches the light, the holo adds shimmering points around the figure.

Saitou began illustrating for the Pokémon TCG in 2002 and also painted the iconic Crystal Charizard from Skyridge. In an official interview he explained that his approach centres on showing Pokémon as living creatures in their natural habitats, with particular attention to light and atmosphere.

That philosophy offers a fitting way to read this artwork: not simply a portrait of a mythical Pokémon, but the feeling of briefly sharing its world.