Merchandise

There’s plenty of news this week for those interested in Pokémon merchandise, especially in Japan, where The Pokémon Company is showing off two news product lines: Pokémon Trainers - Memories of Paldea and Paldea Spooky Halloween. Fans in other countries can find the most recent plushie to join Build-A-Bear's Pokémon lineup, Mimikyu and all its accessories.

The Pokémon Company International has announced their position as a Vision Sponsor for the 2023 Toy of the Year® Awards, contributing $90,000 USD and more than $3.7 million dollars worth of cards and other merchandise to charitable organization The Toy Foundation. These donations are a part of The Pokémon Company International’s five-year plan to donate at least $25 million to long-term partner organizations that are “dedicated to improving the lives of children and supporting social equity.”

While there is an almost endless amount of Pokémon merchandise available for any kind of fan, Japanese design studio Nendo is again partnering with the Pokémon Company to offer a subtle homewares collection aimed at adult fans of the franchise. Nendo, the design firm which earlier this year helped create the high-end Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic, utilizes the color palette from each featured Pokémon to create a geometric pattern, which it applies to totes, wall clocks, mugs, plates, and more.

The Scarlet & Violet: Obsidian Flames expansion launches around the world today, August 11th. Alongside this launch, select stores across the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand will be distributing free Espeon and Umbreon promotional cards for the Pokémon Trading Card Game with a certain minimum purchase of Pokémon TCG products.

The folks over at GameChops have released the latest album in their Poké Tape series, which spotlights individual artists and their unique perspectives on their favourite Pokémon music. Poké Tape 3 features the work of Italian lofi and synthwave producer Helynt, utilizing a blend of guitar and smooth lofi beats. The album comprises remixes of a variety of songs from the 2nd to 5th generations of Pokémon main series games, including music originally composed by Junichi Masuda, Gō Ichinose, Hitomi Satō, and Shota Kageyama.

Following its launch in Japan earlier this year, JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles, under the supervision of the National Crafts Museum, has brought the Pokémon × Kogei art exhibit to the United States, for a run that is scheduled to last until January 7th, 2024. JAPAN HOUSE, an international gallery which “seeks to foster awareness and appreciation for Japan around the world by showcasing the emerging art of the very best,” reports that the exhibit will feature more than seventy pieces by a variety of Japanese artists, such as metal artist Morihito Katsura. Twenty acclaimed artists’ work is on display now, and pieces will be rotated during the duration of the exhibit. Admission to the gallery is free and can be reserved online, or guests can walk in as space allows.

Following the debut of its Pikachu-themed Boeing 787-9 in June, All Nippon Airways (ANA) revealed late last month that it is launching a second plane in Pokémon livery, which will be decorated with Eevee and its eight evolutions. The new Boeing 777-300ER, which is scheduled to take to the skies on August 31st, is the latest in a series of collaborations between Pokémon Air Adventures and various airlines, bringing a total of seven planes with larger-than-life Pokémon designs to passengers all over the world.

The Pokémon Company has launched a new Theme for the LINE app called Pokémon Seasons Mint, featuring Squirtle and a plethora of water Pokémon ready for some fun in the sun.

On July 10th, NAKANO Seiyaku, a Tokyo-based corporation specializing in beauty supplies, announced a collaboration with The Pokémon Company's Pokémon Trading Card Game and their haircare brand TANTO. The collaboration, which will begin starting August 1st, features eight varied originally-designed haircare items that have taken inspiration from the eight types of Basic Energy cards present in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Beginning today, Pokémon fans in the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom can now purchase two new collections of Pokémon GO-inspired apparel and accessories which are being released exclusively through the Pokémon Center Online. Acording to the press release from The Pokémon Company International, this is the largest Pokémon Go-inspired merchandise launch ever released on Pokémon Center.

Amazon’s annual Prime Day sale is offering a range of special discounts for Prime members, including deals on a selection of various Pokémon games and products. Here’s a quick roundup of some of the best deals we've spotted included in the sales this year on Amazon's US store.

The Pokémon Company has announced a set of six new plushes, which will be coming to Japanese Pokémon Center stores, the Pokémon Center Online, and their online storefront on Amazon Japan. These include plushes for the three Paldean starter Pokémon's middle evolutions, Floragato, Crocalor, and Quaxwell, as well as Tatsugiri's Curly, Droopy, and Stretch forms. The starter evolutions will retail for 2,970円 (roughly $21.10 USD), while the three Tatsugiri forms will sell for 2,200円 (~$15.65 USD).

A press release from The Pokémon Company International earlier today has announced a collection of Pokémon panels and activities that will be taking place at the upcoming Comic-Con International 2023, which is being held later this month from July 20th-23rd. These include a panel on the past and future of the Pokémon franchise, as well as a variety of attractions on the show floor from various manufacturers of licensed Pokémon merchandise.

The Pokémon Company International has announced that its special Pokémon tour bus will be touring a selection of Smyths Toys Superstore locations across the UK between May 27th and June 2nd, offering a range of activities to entertain younger fans, as well as a selection of Pokémon merchandise for purchase including several exclusive Pokémon TCG products. The tour will visit Hedge End on May 27th, Milton Keynes on May 28th, Norwich on May 29th, Mansfield on May 30th, York on May 31st, Hull on June 1st, and Leeds on June 2nd.

In a shocking announcement, the team at Original Stitch, have announced that their company will be closing its doors permanently, with final orders closing online on June 11th, at 7pm (PST). This closure impacts all of the company's brands, including the popular Pokémon Shirts.

The Pokémon Company International and Bear Walker are once again partnering for a new series of limited edition Pokémon-themed skateboards. This latest collection, currently available exclusively from Pokémon Center UK, features the three Johto starter Pokémon, Chikorita, Cyndaquil and Totodile. Each design is limited to a total of 250 units.

The Pokémon Company has launched a new Theme for the LINE app called Pokémon Coquelicot, featuring Eevee surrounded by various a plethora of flowers including mimosas, baby blue eyes, and the titular coquelicots. It can be purchased in the LINE shop for ￥370 in Japan, or in other countries at the local currency equivalent of the USD$2.99 price tier.

The 2023 Pokémon Europe International Championships will be held from April 14th to 16th at the enormous ExCeL London event center in England, featuring competitions for the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet video games, Pokémon UNITE, and Pokémon GO. As with the 2022 Pokemon World Championships which were also held at ExCeL Longdon, a pop-up Pokémon Center store will be available at the event, selling a wide variety of Pokémon products, including a range of items themed around the International Championships.

A brand new art exhibit has debuted in the Japanese National Crafts Museum in Kanagawa, Ishikawa Prefecture. The Pokémon × Kogei: Playful Encounters of Art and Japanese Craft exhibit features the work of 20 individuals, from living national treasures to young rising stars, taking shape as pottery, attire, metalwork, and other Japanese crafts. The exhibit runs from March 21st until June 11th, 2023, excluding Mondays. There are about 70 works, featuring Pokémon from Generations 1-8.

The Pokémon Company has launched a new Theme for the LINE app called "Pokémon Seasons Pink", featuring a plethora of popular pink Pokémon including Jigglypuff, Clefairy, Sylveon and Mew.