by ZombieMiki | Dec 5, 2015 | Pokemon, Pokemon Center Report
I woke up early to head over to the Pokemon Center for the slightly earlier than expected release of both the All-Star plush line and the related fluffy cushion plush, but the Center decided just those plush was not enough for a Saturday release, and gave us four surprise Pokemon Center exclusives as well!
Flareon
Jolteon
Vaporeon
and Arcanine! The three Eeveelutions are, as expected of Poke-Cen exclusive plush, very soft and adorable, but having Arcanine in the surprise line-up was the most exciting, especially considering his lack of merchandise. He is extra fluffy and fierce and all Arcanine collectors should look into adding him to their collections!
The All-Star plush came out great, maybe even better than I could have hoped for! All the plush are made of a soft minky fabric and are the perfect size to hold and cuddle. As opposed to the usual Poke-Cen plush, the All-Star collection plush have beans inside them, which makes them sit up easier. Also, Eevee is surprisingly dense! I have no idea what they stuffed him with, but wouldn’t be surprised if it was bricks.
My favorite plush from the line-up (in no particular order): Buneary! I’m very picky with my Bun plush, but this guy just seems like one of the most perfect of the Bunearies. I didn’t get one today, but there is a chance I might cave next time I visit the Center.
Psyduck! Another plush that is easy to derpify, but this one came out pretty much perfectly.
Altaria! Yet another Pokemon that is easy to mess up in plush form, and once again, this plush came out great, with just the right amount of fluff.
Poliwag! I’m not a huge fan or a collector, but the eyes looking up at you. You can’t resist!
Last but not least, Dedenne! Dedenne suffers from “all of my merchandise looks the same” and with so many Pokemon in the All-Stars collection, I wasn’t sure if I was going to get him or not, even though I am a collector. Seeing him in person changed my mind: this plush is perfect. Perfect Dedenne plush! On par with the Pokemon Center exclusive!
“But wait!” you might be saying. “The All-Star Collection had 15 plush, there’s only 14 here! What gives!”
Well, for reasons I will probably never understand, the Pokemon Center is not carrying Espurr. (LE GASP) I know. Why would they leave out one of the most popular Pokemon from the line-up?! He’s still available through general toy stores (although I checked Toys R Us in the same shopping mall as the Mega Tokyo Center and their selection of Pokemon toys was pitifully small) as well as Amazon, but the best part of new releases is being able to pick out your perfect plush by hand.
At any rate (grumble grumble)
I haven’t forgotten the cushions! There were three types of fluffy cushion plush in this release: Pikachu (the most cushion-like out of the three), Wailord, and Gulpin. They are all incredibly soft and incredibly huggable, so if you have the dough to drop, and you like hugging plush that’s as big as half of you, then I say go for it!
Get ready for next week’s big Pokemon Center update when the Mega Pikachu campaign starts. Until then!
by ZombieMiki | Dec 4, 2015 | Pokemon, Pokemon Merch News
A bunch of great announcements from the Pokeon site today, although most we already knew about.
First up: the All-Star Collection is finally coming out, and it’s coming out tomorrow instead of the original release date of December 12th (surprise!) The large cushions (Pikachu, Wailord, Gulpin) are also coming out tomorrow.
Adding excitement to more excitement, Sanei announced over their official Twitter account that there will be a part 2 to the All-Star Collection as well as the fluffy cushions line-up, which will include Pikachu, Charmander, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, Mew, Snorlax, and Ditto (among others?) with an estimated release date of February 2016.
As previously mentioned, these four large size sleeping plush will be available starting from December 12th at a retail price of 3,800 yen each, plus tax.
Also previously mentioned, a bunch of stationary related merchandise featuring Ash’s Greninja and a block-style Pokemon design will come out in Pokemon Centers and stationary / bookstores on December 19th.
4 new metal charms (Ash’s Greninja and the various Zygarde formes) will also be available for purchase from Pokemon Centers on December 26th.
Last but not least, the Steiff Pikachu plush is currently available for pre-orders, with an estimated release date starting in February.
There will only be 1,000 of this first edition Pikachu plush and it is a Japan exclusive, retailing at 45,000 yen.
Still no word about the New Years promotion, but hopefully next time!
—-
All-Star Collection
All-Star Collection 2
Steiff Pikachu
Stationary Merchandise + Metal Charms
Sleeping Plush
by ZombieMiki | Dec 3, 2015 | Pokemon, Pokemon Merch News, TCG
12.4
[Merchandise] Reservations start for Steiff Pikachu plush
12.5
[Pokemon Center] Zygarde Core Pokemon Center Exclusive Plush
[Pokemon All-Stars Plush] Altaria, Buneary, Dedenne, Eevee, Espurr, Gengar, Goomy, Gulpin, Jigglypuff, Lucario, Oddish, Poliwag, Psyduck, Skitty, Wailord, Wobbuffet
12.10
[Banpresto] Pokemon XY & Z Zygarde Core Plush
[Banpresto] Charizard Night Bath Towels (3 designs)
12.11
[TCG Card Sleeves] Mega Gyarados (Pokemon Center Exclusive) Mega Scizor, Slowpoke, Garbodor
[TCG] Mega MewTwo X / Y Jumbo Card Pack
[TCG] Rage of the Broken Sky expansion pack
[Pokemon Center Campaign] Rage of the Broken Sky campaign starts
12.12
[Pokemon Center] Monthly Pikachu – January
[Pokemon Center] Large Sleeping Plush (Bulbasaur, Ditto, Mudkip, Pikachu)
[Pokemon Center] Pikachu Mega Campaign
[Pokemon Center] Pikachu #025
[Ichiban Kuji] Pikachu and Friends: Japanese Modern Art
12.18
[Merchandise] Sepia Graffiti additions
[Collaboration] Its’Demo x Pokemon Part 3
12.19
[Pokemon Center] Block Style Art Promotion
[Pokemon Center] Ash’s Greninja Promotion
12.23
[Banpresto] Pokemon XY & Z Air Plush – Pikachu
[Banpresto] Pokemon XY & Z Air Plush – Pokeball
[Banpresto] Rolly-Polly (Korotto Manmaru) Plush: Partners Edition (Ash’s Greninja, Dedenne, Pancham, Pikachu, Zygarde Core)
12.26
[Pokemon Center] Steven Stone Promotion
[Pokemon Center Exclusive Plush] Ash’s Greninja, Zygarde 10%
[Pokemon Center] Metal Charms (Ash’s Greninja, Zygarde Core, Zygarde 10%, Zygarde Perfect Forme)
[Merchandise] Talky Pikachu Plush
[TCG Card Sleeves] (Premium + Pokemon Center Exclusive) Hypno
[TCG] Battle Sets: Grass/Fighting, Fire/Electric, Water/Psychic
[MonColle] Ash’s Greninja, Zygarde Special Pack, Zygarde 10% Forme, Pokemon World Map
[Takara Tomy] Zygarde Core Plush
[Pokemon Game] Pre-orders start for Pokemon 2DS Bundle
12.28
[Pokemon Merchandise] Fuzzy Dedenne, Fuzzy Eevee (Mascot Size), Fuzzy Pikachu Female (Mascot Size), Fuzzy Pikachu Male (Mascot Size)
by ZombieMiki | Nov 4, 2015 | gacha, Pokemon, Pokemon Merch News, TCG
11.7
[Pokemon Center] Pokemon Chiku-Chiku Sewing
[Pokemon Center] New Years 2016 Merchandise
[Pokemon Center] Pokemon Petit Figure Straps (Chandelure, Cyndaquil, Gardevoir, Lapras, Pichu, Wailord)
[Ichiban Kuji] Mini Kuji – PokeToru Stamps
11.10
[Banpresto] Large Eevee Face Cushion
11.14
[Pokemon Center] Monthly Pikachu – December
11.19
[Pokemon Game] Pokemon Rumble World (Cartridge Edition)
End of November
[Pokemon Merchandise] PokeMikke Round 3
[Gacha] Putito Pikachu Plus
[Gacha] Sleepy Friends XY & Z (Bulbasaur, Charmander, Pikachu, Squirtle, Zygarde Core)
11.20
[TCG] Double Mega Break Set – Mega Aerodactyl EX + Mega Mawile EX + Luxray Break
[Magazine] Pokemon Fan #45
11.21
[MonColle] Ho-Oh, Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y
11.25
[Banpresto] Lizardon Night | Large Plush (Charmander, Charizard)
11.28
[Pokemon Center] Fluffy Bathtime
11.30
[Candy] Candy Figures “The Start of a New Adventure”
by ZombieMiki | Apr 19, 2015 | Pokemon, Pokemon Center Report
The Pikachu Focus promotion was released in Pokemon Centers across Japan on Saturday, along with several surprises.
This display features some of the more popular items from each design style. Based on the requests I got, the Pikachu in the Farm series was the most popular out of the three. I personally loved both In the Farm and the black and white cartoony Pikachuuuuu!! style.
Two of the cutest items from the entire promotion: the In the Farm glasses set and plates set. Perfect for a snack with friends and super adorable!
Along with the main Pikachu Focus merchandise, the Pokemon Center also gave us a 28 inch tall Pikachu plush…
…and a 40 inch version!
In general, when it comes to giant plush, they tend not to sell out as quickly, but the 28 inch plush were selling like hot cakes. The crowd was full of girls carrying these Pikachus around that were half as tall as they were!
Each 28 inch plush came with this special Pikachu bag, but even if you didn’t buy a plush, you could still buy the bag just by itself (which I didn’t find out until I had already left the Center – oops).
As mentioned, we also got two unannounced pieces of merch. Number one is the Pikachu secret base doll. Not exactly a Pokedoll, but close enough? Maybe. Also, your eyes are not deceiving you; these plush do not have noses!
Second surprise: cosplay Pikachu charm sets! Buy a set and share the charms you don’t want with your friends, or buy a set and keep it all for yourself because all the chus are cute!
Just when you thought the surprises couldn’t end, the Center also brought back the previously released giant Wailord plush…
…and some of the more popular petits, including Wailords and Altarias. Not pictured but also available once again, the large sleeping Pikachu cushions.
This weekend was a great weekend for Pikachu collectors, but not for their wallets. Stay tuned for next week’s coverage of the Pikazard re-release!
