Company: Build-a-Bear
Release: 2015+
Size: +/- 30~40cm
Main distribution: USA, UK, AUS (at Build-a-Bear)
These large plush are from Build-a-Bear, where you can create your own plush and dress them up too.
More than 41 different Build-a-Bear Pokémon plush have been released, and are still being made.
In shop, you can pick your plush “skin”, get it stuffed, add a voice box and a heart and some clothing and accessories. It comes complete with an adoption or birth certificate where you can name your plush.
Online, exclusive bundles are for sale which come with exclusive Pokémon clothing for the plush, and a special sound box with the Pokémon cry.
Each Pokémon plush also comes with its own TCG card.
December 2015 was the first Pokémon Build-a-Bear released; Pikachu.
Eevee followed in September 2016. Eevee’s design got updated in 2017, now missing the purple highlight in its eyes. Charmander followed in December 2016.
Then Squirtle in June 2017, followed by Meowth in September 2017, Vulpix in October 2017 and Bulbasaur November 2017.
Jigglypuff came in May 2018, followed by Alolan Vulpix in September 2018 and Piplup in October 2018.
Psyduck joined in May 2019 with Snubbull, and Snorlax got added in August 2019 with a jumbo size added in November 2019. Pichu also got added in October 2019.
Flareon arrived January 2020, with Jolteon in May 2020 and Vaporeon in August 2020. Finally Dragonite joined in December 2020.
Mew released February 2021, Espeon in August 2021, Scorbunny in May 2021 and Umbreon joined also in August 2021. Gengar got added in September 2021.
Glaceon joined in January 2022, followed by Leafeon in March 2022, with Grookey coming in May 2022. July 2022 added celebratory Pikachu, followed by Teddiursa in November 2022 and Sylveon in December 2022.
Growlith released in March 2023, Sobble in April 2023, Sprigatito July 2023, Mimikyu in August 2023 and Mudkip November 2023.
In February 2024 a jumbo Charizard got released, followed by Bidoof in March 2024, Munchlax in June 2024 and Fuecoco in July 2024.
Build-a-Bear advertises an official Pokémon Checklist, although it’s not fully up to date, missing the latest Sprigatito, Mimikyu, Mudkip, Charizard, Bidoof, Munchlax and Fuecoco.
I have 1; Eevee (2017).
Eevee
Release: 2017
SKU: 524099
Eevee is standing upright on 4 paws and has its iconic colours. It has a hard button nose and embroidered face details. The eyes are black with a white highlight (missing the purple from the 2016 variant). It has a happy, open mouth expression on its face.
Eevee is quite soft, with a medium pile and a longer pile on the neck ruffle. The stuffing is soft, and how firm your plush is can vary depending on how its build.
It has the iconic Build-a-Bear logo embroidered on its back right paw. Along the left of its bum are the tush tags. It has a papery Pokémon one, and fabric Build-a-Bear ones.
The first time I saw a Build-a-Bear was in Sydney, Australia back in 2009. I liked the concept, but also found it expensive and didn’t really see any I’d like. I later found another Build-a-Bear in the UK, back in 2013. It had a German Sheppard my then boyfriend nearly got for me, but we decided not to in the end to save money for housing. I have somehow always resisted Build-a-Bear, despite liking the idea.
When Pikachu got added in 2015, I didn’t like him. Pikachu looks weird in the Build-a-Bear style. Eevee that followed looked a lot better. Before I knew it lots of Pokémon got added. I feel some of them are hit and miss. A lot of them look off model somehow, yet also makes it uniquely Build-a-Bear. The clothing accessories are sometimes cute, but seem highly specific for their respective plush. I never went for them.
But then I found Eevee in a charity shop for £1, and I couldn’t leave it for that. They retail for at least £20+ depending on your options, so I took it home. It doesn’t have any clothing, or a voicebox, but I wouldn’t want that anyway. I find Eevee also one of the better looking Build-a-Bear Pokémon plush.
That said, I’m not liking it that much. There’s something off, although I can’t put my finger on it. Perhaps I’m missing the purple in its eyes, knowing it came with that initially. The tail is also quite heavy and floppy. I’m just not bonding with it, so I’m putting it up for sale.
That’s just personal preference though. I know there are plenty of people who collect Build-a-Bear, or the Pokémon Build-a-Bear line, so it definitely has its fans. If you love Build-a-Bear and Pokémon, you’ll like these perhaps too.
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!