Pokémon TCG Pocket: Immersive Ho-Oh Art Sparks Tracing Controversy Ahead of Wisdom of Sea and Sky Expansion

The Pokémon Company is once again in the spotlight as accusations surface regarding the traced origins of artwork used in the upcoming Pokémon TCG Pocket expansion, Wisdom of Sea and Sky.

The expansion, set to enrich the collectible card game with new immersive art styles and coveted Legendary Pokémon, has come under scrutiny as fans identify striking resemblances between the newly revealed Ho-oh card and an existing piece of fan-made art. Wisdom of Sea and Sky is the latest addition to the Pokémon TCG Pocket lineup, announced for Nintendo Switch and other platforms via the Nintendo eShop.

The expansion features a visually stunning immersive art card of the Legendary Pokémon Ho-oh.

However, on July 29, 2025, community members and noted Pokémon TCG observers pointed out on social media that this particular card's design appears nearly identical to a fan artwork posted in 2021 by the artist known as lanjiujiu, initially created for a modeling company commission. Analysis shared online highlights that the perspective, wing structure, and overall feather details between the official Pokémon TCG Pocket Ho-oh card and lanjiujiu’s original piece are closely aligned—a comparison that has led many fans to question whether the similarities go beyond coincidence.

"The whole composition, from wing angle to body posture, matches almost exactly," a prominent commentator summarized, echoing the growing concern throughout the fanbase. In response to ongoing debates about the use of fan-created content, The Pokémon Company’s official legal guidelines offer some clarification.

As outlined on their website, while the company generally does not pursue legal action against fan artists for non-commercial use of Pokémon intellectual property, they reserve the right to use, modify, and distribute those same fan works within their own media and merchandise without obligation to provide credit or compensation.

The legal policy explicitly states: "Distribution in any form and any channels [...] of derivative works based on the copyrighted property [...] constitutes a royalty-free, non-exclusive, irrevocable, transferable, sub-licensable, worldwide license from the Fan Art’s creator to Pokémon to use, transmit, copy, modify, and display Fan Art (and its derivatives) for any purpose." As of this writing, The Pokémon Company has not issued an official statement addressing the Ho-oh artwork tracing allegations for the Pokémon TCG Pocket: Wisdom of Sea and Sky expansion.

The situation continues to spark discussion among artists and long-time fans regarding intellectual property rights, credit for creative contributions, and the evolving relationship between official Pokémon releases and the wider fan art community. The controversy underscores ongoing debates within the industry about fair use, copyright, and the digital preservation of creative expression.

As the release of Pokémon TCG Pocket: Wisdom of Sea and Sky approaches, both fans and artists await further clarification from The Pokémon Company on their policies concerning fan art and official adaptation. For more updates on Pokémon news, Nintendo Direct announcements, and the latest Pokémon TCG Pocket expansions, continue to follow this story on our site.

Pokémon The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Pocket TCG Pocket Sky Ho-Oh Wisdom of Sea and Sky Nintendo Switch Ho-oh lanjiujiu Nintendo Direct