Image courtesy of TCGdex.net
Collaborative Art in the Pokémon TCG: Elevating Eelektrik Through Teamwork
In the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the artwork is more than pretty pictures—it’s a living part of the card’s personality, informing how players read, plan, and execute their strategies. When illustrators partner with TCG teams, the result is a cohesive package where art direction, gameplay cues, and lore intertwine. The Eelektrik from the Obsidian Flames set serves as a vivid case study: a Stage 1 Lightning-type Pokémon whose charging silhouette and electric glow feel like a snapshot of a storm captured on cardboard. The collaboration showcases how an artist’s instincts for motion and atmosphere can translate directly into the tactile rhythm of a match. ⚡🔥
Souichirou Gunjima, the illustrator behind this Eelektrik, brings a sinuous sense of motion to the card, turning the eel’s electric current into visible energy that seems to arc off the surface. This is not just character design; it’s a narrative cue. The twists of the body, the jagged highlights, and the neon glow all work in concert with the card’s mechanical identity to guide a player’s imagination—whether they’re strategizing around Vol Wave’s paralyzing potential or lining up Electric Ball for a calculated blow. The dynamic composition mirrors how the team shapes balance, pacing, and flavor, ensuring that the art remains legible in the heat of play. 🎨🎴
Card in Focus: Eelektrik (sv03-068)
From the Obsidian Flames family (sv03), this Common rarity, Stage 1 Lightning-type Pokémon carries 90 HP and a two-attack toolkit that rewards timing and coin-flip luck alike. The card’s baseline is simple, but the timing is everything on the table:
- Illustrator: Souichirou Gunjima
- Rarity: Common
- Stage: Stage 1
- HP: 90
- Attacks: Volt Wave (cost: Lightning) — Flip a coin. If heads, your opponent's Active Pokémon is Paralyzed. Electric Ball (cost: Lightning, Colorless, Colorless) — 60 damage
- Retreat: 2
- Regulation: Mark G; Standard and Expanded legal
- Set: Obsidian Flames (sv03)
What does this mean for artistry and play? The Volt Wave mechanic—a single Lightning energy with a coin flip outcome—encourages risk assessment and timing. The possibility of paralysis alters how opponents approach this Eelektrik, nudging them to respect the threat even when the numbers aren’t overwhelming. The Electric Ball finish is a clean, solid option for momentum swings, giving the deck a reliable method to pressure the opponent when the situation lines up. In the art, Gunjima’s electric corridors and glow reinforce that sense of imminent spark, which helps players feel the card’s power even before the dice hit the table. ⚡🎯
Beyond the mechanics, the collaboration reflects a broader dynamic in the Pokémon TCG: illustrators translate flavor into function. The Obsidian Flames era invited a bold palette and kinetic compositions that push the eyes toward the action, while the TCG team tightens that energy into readable turns and balanced stats. Gunjima’s work on Eelektrik provides a prime example of how an artist’s style can inform a card’s tempo—making a common, Stage 1 Pokémon feel like a pivotal piece of a longer narrative arc within a player’s evolving deck. 🔥💎
Collaboration in Practice: How Artists and Teams Shape the Card
Behind every featured card image lies a collaborative journey that blends concept art, game design, and flavor text into a cohesive product. The Eelektrik collaboration likely started with a shared vision: capture the electric menace of a water-daring eel while ensuring the depiction remains legible at quick glance. The art direction then leans into the set’s motif—obsidian darkness punctuated by electric flourishes—to reinforce the creature’s natural habitat and abilities. The result is a card that feels true to the character while fitting snugly into the strategic framework of both Standard and Expanded play. 🧩🎨
From a collector’s lens, this partnership matters. The set’s common rarity means many players will encounter Eelektrik on the table, making Gunjima’s distinctive style widely admired and recognized. The illustration breathes personality into a card that otherwise relies on a straightforward two-attack kit, reminding fans that the Pokémon TCG thrives on storytelling as much as on math. Even for casual players, seeing the artwork’s energy sparks a stronger emotional connection to the game’s world, which is exactly what artists and teams aim for when they cook up these collaborations. 🎮💬
For those curious about the market side of things, even common cards contribute to the broader ecosystem. As of late 2025, the CardMarket data for standard versions of similar sv03 commons sits around a few eurocents on average, with holo variants enjoying higher demand and price. The dynamic shows how art, rarity, and playability intertwine: a visually striking non-holo can still hold value for its aesthetic and nostalgic appeal, while foil versions buoy interest for collectors chasing a complete Obsidian Flames experience. The balance of art, play, and value is a delicate art in itself—one that illustrators like Gunjima help navigate with each new collaboration. 💎⚡
For players who want to celebrate this collaboration beyond the game, consider the lifestyle gear that keeps gaming rituals stylish. A high-quality mouse pad, like a 9x7 neoprene pad with stitched edges, can elevate long practice nights and tournament prep—tying the tactile joy of play to a practical desk setup. If you’re curious, you can explore gear options here: Gaming Mouse Pad 9x7 Custom Neoprene with Stitched Edges. ⚡🎁
Overall, Eelektrik’s artwork stands as a testament to how collaboration fuels both strategy and story in the Pokémon TCG. The fusion of Souichirou Gunjima’s kinetic rendering with Obsidian Flames’ electric mood produces a card that plays as boldly as it looks. It’s a reminder that the strongest cards aren’t just about numbers; they’re about the shared imagination of artists, designers, and players coming together on the same battlefield—whether that battlefield is a coffee-streaked kitchen table or a high-stakes tournament hall. ⚡🎨
Gaming Mouse Pad 9x7 Custom Neoprene with Stitched Edges