Here's the source for Sugimori liking Venusaur and Gengar.
https://web.archive.org/web/20101230153442/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/interview/irbj/sp/index4.htmlKiritani: By the way, which Pokemon you like, Sugimori-san?
Sugimori: I do like this game's Pokemon, but I like Venusaur because it has a very Pokemon-like form, being a creature with a flower growing on it. It's a pain to draw through. (laughs)
K: That's true, it's intricate.
S: And so... If we include being able to draw it easily, I like Gengar.
K: Gengar (laughs)
S: Gengar is a Ghost-type with scary Pokedex entries, but it's lovable and has the elements necessary for a Pokemon within a simple shape, so I like it quite a bit.
K: Gengar is always grinning. Like it's planning something...
S: Yeah, that expression is good (laughs). Isn't is a bit charming?
K: Yeah. It's round and cute. Actually... I'm a little curious. What is Venusaur? (laughs) Before you called it a creature?
S: What is it... (laughs) Ah, what animal it is. It's like a frog.
K: A frog? A frog with a flower sprouting off it?
S: Yes. So its pre-evolution Bulbasaur is a frog-like creature with a bulb attached to it.
