An official plush of the Pokémon Piplup, which stands nearly three feet tall and costs $350, has been revealed on Pokémon Center. The iconic monster collection franchise originated as a video game, but the series' success quickly allowed it to spread across various mediums. Now Pokémon exists in the form of video games, animated shows and films, a trading card game and an abundance of different merchandise.
It comes as no surprise that The Pokémon Company has produced a number of bizarre pieces of merchandise, given the franchise's international success. For example, in May 2021 a number of Pokémon Grassy Gardening accessories were released by Pokémon Center Japan. This set is meant to help Pokémon trainers with their gardening and add a bit of flair to any floral arrangement. The Grassy Gardening collection includes small plush dolls, depicting popular Grass-type monsters such as Bulbasaur and Turtwig, which sit inside small plant pots or hangers. The centerpiece of the Grassy Gardening collection is no doubt the Squirtle watering can, which lets gardeners water their plants with the iconic Water-type starter. Another amazing Pokémon plush production, which went on sale in January 2021, is a $250 Gengar plus with a giant tongue. The cuddly Shadow Pokémon itself is large enough to fit a human head in its mouth, and its gargantuan tongue can be used as a sleeping mat by a full-sized adult.
As the latest oversized Pokémon product, Pokémon Center has revealed a 31 inch tall plush of Piplup the Penguin Pokémon. The adorable Water-type is about the size of a small child, making it the perfect companion for any aspiring Pokémon trainer. Whether it's snuggled in a bed or displayed in a home office, Piplup will happily sit anywhere you put it. The jumbo penguin plush is currently selling for $350 and will not ship until April 2022.
Read Pokémon Center's announcement of the giant Piplup plush on Twitter here.
While Pokémon Center is an official source of some truly mesmerizing Pokémon merchandise, some of the franchise's accessories are a bit harder to come by. KFC released Pokémon toys for Chinese New Year 2021, and the chicken-scented products were more than just a mere Happy Meal toy. One item available from Kentucky Fried Chicken, a Pikachu music box which displayed the series' mascot atop a crescent moon, was particularly admired by the series' fanbase. Unfortunately these KFC giveaways were only available in China, and many of them are unavailable even through online auction websites.
Pokémon is among the biggest franchises in the world, so there is no lack of merchandise to be found for fans of monster collection.However, the new Piplup plush could stand out as a particularly large and cuddly addition to any trainer's home. $350 is a steep price for a decorative Pokémon, but it's hard to say no to that look on the Penguin Pokémon's plush face.
Source: Pokémon Center, Pokémon Center/Twitter