It’s just a sushi fish. That’s what I thought when I first saw the Gen 9 leaks. But honestly, tatsugiri pokemon pixel art is way more complex than the average fan realizes. You’ve got three distinct forms—Curly, Droopy, and Stretchy—and each one carries a different silhouette that defies the standard 2D grid. Most people see a 1:1 ratio of a Mimikyu or a Pikachu and think they've got it figured out, but Tatsugiri is a masterclass in organic shapes shoved into a rigid, blocky medium.
If you’re trying to recreate this Mimicry Pokémon in a 32x32 or 64x64 canvas, you’re basically fighting against the "jaggies." Because Tatsugiri is so curved and fluid, making it look like a smooth piece of nigiri instead of a jagged staircase of pixels is a genuine skill.
Why Tatsugiri Breaks the Traditional Pixel Art Mold
Most Pokémon have a very clear "anchor" point. Snorlax is a circle. Magnemite is a sphere. But Tatsugiri? It’s a noodle. When you’re working on tatsugiri pokemon pixel art, the first thing you notice is the negative space. The Stretchy Form, specifically, has this elongated neck that makes the sprite feel unbalanced if you don’t center it perfectly.
Pixel art is all about the economy of detail. You have a limited number of "squares" to convey a character's essence. With Tatsugiri, you have to nail the texture of the rice. If the white pixels at the bottom look too flat, it doesn't look like food. If they’re too noisy, it looks like static. Expert pixel artists like those found on the Serebii or Smogon sprite projects often use a technique called "dithering" to give that rice base a slightly grainy, realistic texture without overcomplicating the palette.
It’s also worth mentioning the eyes. They’re basically just dots, right? Wrong. In the official Gen 5-style "de-makes" that the community loves, the placement of that single black pixel for the eye determines if the Tatsugiri looks smug, vacant, or alert. One pixel to the left and the whole personality shifts.
The Three Forms and Their Unique Challenges
You can't just draw one and call it a day. If you’re a perfectionist, you’re doing all three.
The Curly Form (Orange)
This is the one most people start with. It’s the "standard" look. The challenge here is the coil. Drawing a spiral in low-resolution pixel art is famously frustrating. You have to use "anti-aliasing"—placing mid-tone pixels along the edges—to trick the human eye into seeing a curve instead of a jagged edge. If you skip this, your orange sushi looks like a staircase.
The Droopy Form (Pink)
This one is all about gravity. The way the "tail" or the meat of the fish hangs off the side requires a lot of shading. You’re using darker pinks and purples to show depth. If you don't get the shadow right where the fish meets the rice, it looks like a flat sticker.
The Stretchy Form (Yellow)
This is the hardest. Period. The verticality is a nightmare for standard sprite boxes. Most Pokémon sprites are wider than they are tall, but Stretchy Tatsugiri flips the script. You often have to scale it down more than the other two forms just to fit it into a standard 64x64 frame, which means you lose detail in the face.
Color Palettes and Technical Constraints
Let's talk hex codes. You can't just pick a random orange. If you look at the official Pokémon Scarlet and Violet 3D models, the colors are vibrant but slightly matte. Translating that to tatsugiri pokemon pixel art requires a limited palette.
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Usually, a professional-grade sprite uses:
- 2 shades for the rice (a pure white and a light grey/blue for shadows).
- 3 shades for the primary body color (the base, a highlight, and a deep shadow).
- 1 accent color for the throat sac (that little bulb that glows when it talks).
If you’re going for a Game Boy Color aesthetic (Gen 2 style), you’re even more restricted. You only get four colors per sprite. Total. Trying to fit the orange, the white, the black for the eyes, and a shadow color into a four-color limit is the ultimate test for a pixel artist. Most people end up using the black for both the eyes and the deepest shadows to save space.
Common Mistakes in Fan-Made Sprites
I see this a lot on DeviantArt and Pinterest. People make the "fin" on the back too thick. In the actual design, Tatsugiri’s fins are almost translucent or very thin. When you make them three pixels wide, it starts looking like a different creature.
Another big one is the "pill" shape. Beginners tend to draw the rice base as a perfect rectangle with rounded corners. In reality, nigiri rice is hand-pressed. It’s slightly irregular. Giving the bottom of your tatsugiri pokemon pixel art a bit of an uneven silhouette makes it feel way more authentic.
How to Get Started with Your Own Design
Don't start with a blank canvas. That's a trap. Use a reference.
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- Find the official 3D model turnaround. You need to see what the back looks like.
- Pick a scale. 32x32 is "Icon" size (like the ones in the game menu). 64x64 is "Battle" size (like the DS games). 96x96 is "Modern/HD" pixel art.
- Start with the Rice. It’s the foundation. Get that oval shape down first.
- Layer the Fish. Draw the fish on a separate layer if your software (like Aseprite or Piskel) allows it. This lets you wiggle the "meat" around until it sits right on the rice.
- The Throat Sac. Don't forget the little bulge under the chin. It’s a key part of the silhouette.
Tatsugiri might be a small Pokémon, but it represents a huge shift in design philosophy. It's a "food" Pokémon that actually looks organic. Capturing that in pixels is a challenge, but when you hit that perfect balance of "cute" and "delicious-looking," it's incredibly satisfying.
Actionable Tips for Better Pixel Art
To take your work to the next level, focus on the "shimmer." Since Tatsugiri is often depicted as moist or "fresh," adding a single white pixel highlight on the highest point of its back can simulate a light source hitting the scales. This is a classic "Neo-Geo" style trick that makes the sprite pop off the screen.
Also, consider the background. If you’re placing your tatsugiri pokemon pixel art on a dark background, you’ll need a light outline (selective outlining or "selout") to keep the dark orange or pink parts from disappearing into the void. Conversely, on a light background, ensure your rice shadows are dark enough to maintain the shape.
Finally, study the work of artists like Pichu-kun or the DS Style 64x64 Project contributors. They have mastered the art of "sub-pixel animation," where they move colors within a shape to make it look like it's breathing, even if the outline doesn't move. Applying this to Tatsugiri’s throat sac can make your art feel alive.
Next Steps for Your Project:
- Download Aseprite or use Piskel (free) to set up a 64x64 grid with a 1:1 pixel ratio.
- Limit your palette to exactly 8 colors to ensure the piece looks cohesive and "retro."
- Focus on the "Stretchy" form first, as it forces you to learn how to manage vertical space and thin lines better than the more rounded forms.
- Export at 400% or 800% scale when sharing on social media so the pixels don't get blurred by compression algorithms.