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Pokémon Woodblock Prints Debut on Pokémon Center!

Woodblock
Get ready to see some really impressive crafted art for you to own!

PokemonCenter.com has debuted a limited edition woodblock prints in the ukiyo-e Japanese art style. These prints are created in the traditional ukiyo-e style dating back to the 17th century by a team of artist. Usually they depict samurai or kabuki actors, or landscapes taking part in dramatic action poses. An artist draws the image, which a sculptor painstakingly carves into a series of wooden boards (one for each color of ink used), and is finished with a printer using those boards to create a layered print matching the original art. The result is a remarkable woodblock print in full color.

Now Pokemon Center in Japan has commissioned two different prints based on two iconic locations in Pokemon to be produced in this unique style. Below are the results and a description of each one.

Vermillion City

Port of Vermilion City Traditional Ukiyo-e Woodblock Print
Vermillion City from Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue is presented as a classic Japanese ukiyo-e landscape with a variety of Pokémon living and playing in it. Fans will find more than two dozen Pokémon pictured including Slowpoke, Pikachu, Meowth, Charizard, Lapras, and Gyarados. The Pokémon are all enjoying the waterfront port, as travelers in a landscape from Hiroshige Utagawa’s 53 Stations of the Tōkaidō.

Snorlax

Silence Bridge Traditional Ukiyo-e Woodblock Print
Silence Bridge is a scene that depicts the exciting start of a battle, starring Pikachu, Red holding a Poké flute and an awoken Snorlax. Its composition and background are closely based on Yoshitoshi Tsukioka’s masterpiece Gojo Bridge, an Episode from the Life of Yoshitsune, an homage to the famous battle between two 12th century samurai, Ushikawa and Benkei.

There are only fifty prints could be made of each piece. They come at a price of $450 but look amazing and worth having in any Pokemon collection. You can place your order at PokemonCenter.com.


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