Company: Pokémon Center
Release: 2018+
Size: +/- 40cm
Main distribution: Japan, USA, UK (at Pokémon Centers)
These large fluffy plush are from the Comfy Friends line from the Pokémon Center. Also known as Fuwafuwa Daki Nuigurumi (ふわふわ抱きぬいぐるみ) and Fluffy Hugging plush.
26 Comfy Friends are currently out, released in waves. Some waves are exclusive to Japan, whereas others are slowly making it’s way to the West. The plush arrive in a plastic bag with their barcode on it.
I have 4/26.
Wave 1
Release: 25 April 2018 (Japan)
The first wave was simply known as Fuwa Fuwa, and as far I know exclusive to Japan. It exists out of a sitting Pikachu and Eevee.
I got 0/2.
Wave 2
Release: 20 July 2019 (Japan)
The second wave added Mew to the first wave. As far I know this one is also exclusive to Japan, and was released to commemorate Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution in Japan.
I got 0/1.
Wave 3
Release:
21 December 2019 (Japan)
22 December 2020 (USA)
19 August 2024 (UK) – Pikachu, Snorlax, Ditto
The third wave started to establish the line, and brought us Pikachu, Ditto, Snorlax and Quagsire.
I got 1/4.
Pikachu
Barcode: 701E13501
Pikachu has his iconic colours although the black ear tips and eyes are of a slightly lighter colour, more like a dark grey or pastel black. He has embroidered face features, with open eyes and a 3 mouth.
This Pikachu is in a laying position. He’s incredibly soft, with a medium pile and very soft filling. The paws have beads in it, giving it some weight and making them floppy. The tail is filled with something soft and flat, I’m guessing foam.
It has quite long and several tush tags under its back left paw, which have the standard Pokémon Center info on it with the Pokéball logo, Pokémon Center, year (©2023) and the usual copyrights. Attached on a tiny loop underneath these is the tag, which is quite large and has a basic Pokéball design on the front, and the usual Pokémon Center info on the back, as well as the line of plush, the name of the plush and barcode. This is the UK version. I believe the Japanese have a laying Pikachu hang tag.
Wave 4
Release:
12 December 2020 (Japan)
22 December 2020 (USA)
The fourth wave exists out of 5 new plush; Larvitar, Dedenne, Skwovet, Toxel and Substitute Doll.
0/5.
Wave 5
Release: 18 September 2021 (Japan)
The fifth wave adds 4 more; Swablu, Bidoof, Zorua and Cinccino.
I got 0/4.
Wave 6
Release: 9 April 2022 (Japan)
The sixth wave adds the Sinnoh Starters; Turtwig, Chimchar and Piplup.
I got 0/3.
Wave 7
Release:
20 October 2022 (Japan)
December 2022 (UK)
January 2023 (USA)
The seventh wave adds the Kanto Eeveelutions; Vaporeon, Jolteon and Flareon.
I got 3/3.
Jolteon
Barcode: 701-96552
Vaporeon has its iconic colours although they are of a slightly lighter colour, more pastel. It has embroidered face features, with a ( mouth. Its details in the fins and paws are also embroidered.
Vaporeon is in a sitting position. It’s incredibly soft, with a medium pile and very soft filling. Its butt has beads in it, giving it some weight and making it sit nicely.
It has quite long and several tush tags at its back left paw, which have the standard Pokémon Center info on it with the Pokéball logo, Pokémon Center, year (©2022) and the usual copyrights. Attached on a tiny loop underneath these is the tag, which is quite large and has a basic Pokéball design on the front, and the usual Pokémon Center info on the back, as well as the line of plush, the name of the plush and barcode. This is the UK version. I believe the Japanese have a sitting Vaporeon hang tag.
Jolteon
Barcode: 701-96553
Jolteon has its iconic colours although they are of a slightly lighter colour, more pastel. It has embroidered face features, with a 3 mouth. Its details in the paws are also embroidered.
Jolteon is in a sitting position. It’s incredibly soft, with a medium pile and very soft filling. Its butt has beads in it, giving it some weight and making it sit nicely.
It has quite long and several tush tags behind its back left paw, which have the standard Pokémon Center info on it with the Pokéball logo, Pokémon Center, year (©2022) and the usual copyrights. Attached on a tiny loop underneath these is the tag, which is quite large and has a basic Pokéball design on the front, and the usual Pokémon Center info on the back, as well as the line of plush, the name of the plush and barcode. This is the UK version. I believe the Japanese have a sitting Jolteon hang tag.
Flareon
Barcode: 701-96551
Flareon has its iconic colours although they are of a slightly lighter colour, more pastel. It has embroidered face features, with an 0 mouth. Its details in the paws are also embroidered.
Flareon is in a sitting position. It’s incredibly soft, with a medium pile and very soft filling. Its butt has beads in it, giving it some weight and making it sit nicely.
It has quite long and several tush tags behind its back left paw, which have the standard Pokémon Center info on it with the Pokéball logo, Pokémon Center, year (©2022) and the usual copyrights. Attached on a tiny loop underneath these is the tag, which is quite large and has a basic Pokéball design on the front, and the usual Pokémon Center info on the back, as well as the line of plush, the name of the plush and barcode. This is the UK version. I believe the Japanese have a sitting Flareon hang tag.
Wave 8
Release: 4 November 2023 (Japan)
The eight wave adds Paldeo Pokémon; Tandemaus, Mabosstiff, Houndstone, and Clodsire.
I got 0/4.
When I saw Japan got the laying Pikachu back in 2019, I wanted it so badly. It looked so cute and fluffy, and reminded me of one of my grails, the large Rainbow Pikachu plush. People who owned both also stated it was very similar.
I’ve been eying one on eBay for years ever since. But the extra resale costs, plus shipping and import, just didn’t seem worth it.
In 2021, UK finally got an online Pokémon Center. We regularly check it out. It didn’t have everything Japan had on offer of course, but it was something at least.
But slowly it’s been catching up with Japan. And when in 2022 the Eeveelutions got added, it wasn’t long before the UK had them too.
I struggled to pick one, as Jolteon is my favourite, but Vaporeon has the most interesting design, and Flareon looked cute here too with its 0 mouth. Eventually I settled on Vaporeon, as I figured that one will sell out first (it did!) and my husband got it for me for Christmas 2022.
That New Year 2022-2023 I broke my ankle. Feeling sorry for myself, I ordered Jolteon for myself.
Now having both, I couldn’t leave Flareon out. So for my birthday 2023, I got Flareon too, completing the set.
They are so soft and fluffy! They look adorable and I love their unique personalities with their face expressions. They are kind of big though, and space is at a premium, but I love them regardless.
Imagine my surprise, when in August 2024 the UK Pokémon Center added Pikachu! 5 years after Japan’s release, I could finally get him for retail price! So I snagged him up immediately. He’s so soft and fluffy and I didn’t realise it’s paws would be floppy! Adorable! I love laying and floppy plush as they are so nice to snuggle with.
As much as I love these plush, I don’t think I’ll get any more of these. For one, they are quite big.
The first 2 waves are debatable if they’re even part of this line, but I don’t like the sitting Eevee (seems unnatural somehow) and I don’t think those will even ever make it to the West. I don’t consider Ditto fluffy. I might think about Snorlax perhaps. I might also consider the Substitute plush. But the rest isn’t Kanto and so I’m not interested. I hope they never make the Kanto starters as that would be a very tough call.
They retail for £35, which I think is a very fair price considering their quality and size.
Comfy Friends are a great line of very comfortable, soft, fluffy plush which are a decent large size too. If you love to snuggle plush, or enjoy soft, fluffy plush, you’ll love these.
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!