Company: Bandai
Release: 2023
Size: Figure 3cm, with float and rope 20cm
Main distribution: Japan
Bandai has made several series of Pokémon bath bombs, under the Bikkura Tamago or Surprise Egg name. These particular ones are extra large and come with a fishing rod, so you can fish in the bath!
There are several lines of these but I’ll only be listing the ones with the fishing rod here. For the full figure ones, look here.
The bath bomb with figure and fishing rod comes in a blind bag, so you can’t tell which one you get prior. When opening the blind bag you’ll find the bath bomb tightly wrapped in clear plastic, as well as the fishing rod in pieces in plastic. The bath bombs are larger than the standard ones, and although it has a line across its center it isn’t Pokéball shaped (lacks the button).
The fishing rod is easily assembled.
Although you can dissolve them in a bowl of hot water to get the toy out, I don’t like wastage so I ran myself several baths over the weeks and threw a bomb in each time.
This particular large bath bombs colours the water heavily, so you can’t see the figure until you fish it out! It fizzes mostly, and does not really create any bubbles like normal bubble bath stuff would. It colours the water strongly and it has a nice light smell. Eventually, the float (which looks like a Pokéball) comes up. It doesn’t take that long for the entire bath bomb to dissolve, about three minutes (which is a minute longer than the standard, smaller bath bombs).
And this point it’s time to fish!
The figures feel quite nice and of high quality. They got a nice shine to them, and don’t feel so rubbery as some other bath bomb figures do. They do have a rope in their mouth however with a float on the other end. They are also in hanging poses and hard to stand up right. The gimmick is really fishing the surprise.
The first set has 5 different Pokémon to fish; Magikarp, Sharpedo, Feebas, Dratini and Poliwag.
I got 3/5.
Magikarp
Magikarp is in a neutral pose and has the rope in its mouth. It’s the male version as his whiskers are yellow. His eyes are open and he’s flat hanging / laying straight. His float is a Pokéball. Because he’s so thin he can’t stand upright and has to be laid down.
There are no markings on Magikarp but there are on the Pokéball. It reads in black font: Pokémon™ B. CHINA 2655314 and the 4 dots of Bandai.
Dratini
Dratini is curled up in an angle and has the rope in its mouth. Its eyes are open and its looking up at you. It’s float is a Pokéball. Due to the curled pose as if hanging, it can’t be placed standing upright.
There are no markings on Dratini but there are on the Pokéball. It reads in black font: Pokémon™ B. CHINA 2655314 and the 4 dots of Bandai.
Poliwag
Poliwag is standing neutral and has the rope in its mouth. Its eyes are open and its looking up at you. It’s tail is upright. It’s float is a Pokéball. Its feet are slightly curved as if hanging, so it needs its tail to help it stand upright.
There are no markings on Poliwag but there are on the Pokéball. It reads in black font: Pokémon™ B. CHINA 2655314 and the 4 dots of Bandai.
I was never a fan of bath bombs, but after the Pokémon Oh!-Egg Bath Ball and Dragon Quest Friends of Slime Bath Bomb, and especially after many of the Pokémon Surprise Egg Bath Ball, I got hooked (see what I did there?).
I love taking baths in general, and Gashapon, so the combination of cute figures in a bath bomb is perfect. This one is so much fun though. The water gets really deeply coloured, till the point you can’t see through it anymore. That’s half the fun as you don’t know what figure you have until you fish it out the deep. I love hook-a-duck, so this is a win.
Once the gimmick is over though it’s less great. The soap isn’t that amazing; it wasn’t as moisturising as the others. And although there is a smell, it seems fleeting. The figure is also stuck with a rope in its mouth, and hard to display unless you hang it.
That said though, it’s still a very fun take on bath bombs and the deep colouring of the water is cool (you can’t see your legs once in it). Sadly sometimes the rope is tightly wrapped around the figure and float making it a large clump rather than a dangling figure to fish out.
I got 3 of these and hoped for the Gen 1 Pokémon, and I got lucky and managed to get exactly those 3! I’m very happy with this. I hope they make another series, as there’s more water Pokémon to fish. A Goldeen comes to mind. Or Gyarados!
If you like cute or small Pokémon figures, or hook-a-duck, I recommend getting these. They are nice quality. If you like bath bombs for the bath itself, these are cool too, as they deeply colour the water.
However, if you want your baths to be moisturising, smelling nice or bubbly, these won’t do. The figures are also hard to display unless you hang them, and have a rope stuck in them. If that’s not your thing you’ll give these a miss.
Got any more details / information you think I should add? Or did I get something wrong? Do you own any of these figures? Which one is your fav? Do you bath in them or dissolve in a bowl? Do you agree or disagree with my findings? Let me know in the comments below!