Set: Rainbow series
Company: Pokémon Center Japan
Year: 2010
Size: 14cm (not incl. ears)
Main distribution: Japan
These plush come from the Rainbow series line that ran exclusive in the Japanese Pokémon Centers in 2010.
It’s a highly sought after series and therefor the plush can be expensive. It has various Pikachu (and Ditto) merchandise. There are 2 large plush; a Dittochu and a laying Pikachu. Besides that there are 7 smaller plush; Pikachu with an apple, flying Pikachu with balloons, surfing Pikachu, Dittochu, laying Pikachu, munching Pikachu and Pikachu looking up. I love how unique these all look!
I only have 3/9 of them so far, but hope to get them all. The two big ones have been a long time grail of mine and although I see them pop up now and then I can’t afford to spend so much money on them.
Pikachu with apple
Like the other small plush in this series Pikachu with the apple is about 14cm big and has the original colours as used in the anime. He is either a small Pikachu or he has found a large apple! The apple is about the size of its body and Pikachu leans on it.
The fabric is smooth and almost feels rough compared to some of my fuzzier plush. Its face is embroidered. The apple is made of a more shimmery fabric.
Flying Pikachu with balloons
Again this Pikachu is about 14cm big and has the original colours as used in the anime. He has 7 small balloons tied around his middle. It has the same fabric as the other plush. Its face is also embroidered.
The balloons are made of a more shimmery fabric, just like the apple. All the balloons are sewn stuck together and the two lowest balloons are also sewn to the plush Pikachu itself.
Munching Pikachu
This is the only Pikachu of the series I have in its box. This Pikachu has a chewing expression on its face, assuming munching on an apple. Like the others, the plush is about 14cm big and has the original colours as used in the anime. It has the same fabric as the other plush. Its face features are also embroidered.
The box has a rainbow pattern on the front as it’s from the Rainbow series. The rest of the box depicts an apple garden, with on the back a munching Pikachu.
All the plush have the standard Pokémon Center tush tag. It’ll have Pokémon Center on it with the Pokéball logo, as well as the year and the usual copyrights.
I absolutely adore this series. The Pikachu are all very expressive and uniquely posed (which I love) and aren’t too big a size so it’s nice to have them all together without taking too much room.
The munching Pikachu and Pikachu with the apple remind me of the anime.
Whereas the flying Pikachu is very iconic of Pokémon Yellow (GB).
Surfing Pikachu is both in the anime and Pokémon Yellow, and Dittochu is also in the anime. The laying and looking up Pikachu feel a bit more ‘standard’ but are still very cute (especially that fluffy big one!). I hope to own these some day.
I’m not entirely happy with the fabric choice (they could have been softer and don’t like the shimmery fabric at all) but definitely worth owning.
I got them so far from other collectors in Pokémon groups on Facebook. The one in the box I won in an auction for a good price. The sides of the box are slightly bent (no crease though) but overal it is in good condition. Although I don’t care much for packaging the ones of this series are pretty cute.
I’m still hunting for the others of this set.
Got any more details / information you think I should add? Or did I get something wrong? Do you own the same plush? Do you agree or disagree with my findings? Let me know in the comments below!