Company: Bandai
Release: 2016+
Size: +/- 3.5 cm
Main distribution: Japan
The Tea Cup Time figures are small figures of Pokémon that fit in a Pokémon themed tea cup, that were distributed in gashapon machines in various series of 5 figures. They are made by Bandai.
5 series of 5 have been made, resulting in 25 figures. I got 1/25.
They are distributed in a Gashapon machine, so it will be random which one you get. It cost ¥300 per play. Inside the Gashapon ball you will find the Pokémon, the tea cup and the leaflet. The figures are in plastic.
Tea Cup Time Mascot
Release: 2016
Series 1 has 5 figures; Pikachu, Charmander, Eevee, Bulbasaur and Squirtle. They come in teacups which are fully white, with Pokéball markings.
I got 0/5.
Tea Cup Time Mascot 2
Release: May 2017
Series 2 has also 5 figures; Pikachu, Mew, Magikarp, Meowth and Snorlax. They come in teacups which are coloured like Pokéballs, with a red top and white bottom and black markings.
I got 1/5.
Pikachu
Pikachu sits happily in his cup with his paws up in the air and a happy expression on his face with an open mouth. The full figure, so in cup, is about 3.5 cm high. Pikachu can lounge in his cup, but he can also sit in it upright. The figures can be separated (in fact there is nothing attaching them together). So if the theme isn’t your cup of tea (ha!) you can use the Pokémon figure separately. It’s a cute and small figure that is surprisingly detailed and accurate for its size. On the back of Pikachu’s tail is the branding. It has the iconic 4 dots in a diamond shape of Bandai, as well as a B. The cup has no branding.
Tea Cup Time Mascot 3
Release: 2018
Series 3 has also 5 figures; Pikachu, Cubone, Slowpoke, Psyduck and Lapras. They come in teacups which are coloured like Pokéballs, with a red top and white bottom and black markings.
I got 0/5.
Tea Cup Time Mascot 4
Release: 2018
Series 4 has also 5 figures; Pikachu, Totodile, Cyndaquil, Chikorita and Gengar. They come in teacups which are coloured like Pokéballs, with a red top and white bottom and black markings.
I got 0/5.
Tea Cup Time Mascot 5
Release: 2018
Series 5 has also 5 figures; Pikachu, Eevee, Flareon, Vaporeon and Jolteon. They come in teacups which are coloured like Pokéballs, with a red top and white bottom and black markings.
I got 0/5.
I love Gashapon series as they are so cute and tiny. And yet despite their size they are incredibly detailed and well made, which is typical for Japan. They are also “cheap” as it costs only a couple hundred yen to play, which is the equivalent of £2~£4 / €2~€5.
It’s randomness means it may be hard to get a full set though, so collecting full sets can be expensive, but doubles can often be traded or sold. It’s also sometimes better to buy a full set online.
Having said that, most of these cool ones are only available in Japan, so shipping / importing these quickly makes these “cheap” figures rather expensive. I often see these sold for around £7+, which I find too much for them considering their cost price (these are ¥300).
However, I don’t mind paying more than £2 as I do understand the import costs, and I bought this Pikachu for £4 in an anime shop in Newcastle, UK.
I have a passive interest in this serie (tea is not my thing) and a single figure displays just as nice as a full set, so I only bought Pikachu. The figure is incredibly cute though!
If you like gashapon or small figures, these series are really cute and easy to collect (not too expensive in general), and a good recommendation.
Got any more details / information? Did I get something wrong? Do you own the same figure? Let me know in the comments below!