One of the very best things about the Pokémon franchise as a whole is that there is a creature out there for every kind of fan. Whether you love Mew, Pikachu or something more outlandish like Trubbish, there is guaranteed to be a design that appeals to that child-like sense of whimsy that hopefully lives on in all of us.

That said, there are some that crop up all the time on most popular lists and their iconic designs are so closely tied to the series as a whole that it’s impossible to imagine them in any other appearance. One of the biggest of those is undoubtedly Charizard, and it’s about to return in a whole new format and with a look that few would have been expecting.

Pokémon Plushies Like You Have Never Seen Before

Over on Twitter/X, the user Pokéxperto shared a post confirming the release of three new officially licensed plush toys. Designed in direct collaboration with Sean Wotherspoon, the Pokémon featured are Charizard, Bulbasaur and Pikachu, with all three currently on sale at via the Pokémon Center.

Though they all have the same basic shape, the patterns and colors featured as part of the design are unlike anything you will have seen anywhere else and the Charizard in particular has wings featuring tartan and teal shades that really make it stand out amongst its peers.

Sean Wotherspoon is an American sneaker designer, collector, store owner, and YouTuber who created some of the most popular trainer designs of the late 2010s. This latest collaboration sees him enter the mainstream even further, in what is easily one of the most sought-after releases (outside of the TCG) tied to the franchise this year.

In sharing a little about his reasons for the collaboration, Wotherspoon posted the following statement on the site:

“Growing up, and even as an adult, Pokémon has played a huge part in my life. From the thrill of getting my first card—a feeling that really never went away—to watching the cartoon every weekend and playing the games on my Game Boy, it is everything to me. Now I get to watch my own kids grow up in a Pokémon world, and that’s been super special. Being able to share something that means so much to me with them now is pretty amazing. Getting the chance to work on a project with Pokémon is something 8-year-old me, and even me now (haha), never could have imagined. It’s been incredibly fun because it’s brought back so many memories while also letting me experience Pokémon all over again through my kids’ eyes.”

The material on the plushies is also delightfully eco-friendly, with much of it being made from pre-loved clothing and well-worn clothing (sorry for all the hyphens). Though they are more expensive than the usual plushie range on the site, they also aren’t at a ridiculous level either, clocking in at $59.99 apiece.

A Big Few Years For Pokémon

Outside of that, the first TCG drop of Pokemon’s 30th anniversary has just arrived, and there are all sorts of exciting hits in play that seem to be showing up at a respectable pull rate. Heading into 2027, Winds and Waves will inevitably be the big arrival, which should mean that fans will have plenty to do for a long time to come yet.

TV Show(s)

Pokémon

Video Game(s)

Pokemon Red and Blue, Pokemon Yellow, Pokemon Gold and Silver, Pokémon Crystal, Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, Pokemon Sapphire, Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, Pokemon Platinum, Pokemon Black and White, Pokemon Black and White 2, Pokemon X and Y, Pokemon Sun and Moon, Pokemon Sword and Shield, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Pokemon Winds and Waves, Pokemon Legends Arceus, Pokemon Legends Z-A

First Film

Pokemon: The First Movie

First TV Show

Pokémon

First Game

Pokemon Red and Blue

Genres

RPG

Pokémon is a Japanese multimedia franchise created by Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori, launched by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures in 1996. Centered on fictional creatures called Pokémon, the series spans video games, trading cards, animation, films, merchandise, and competitive events. Players assume the role of Trainers who capture, battle, and trade Pokémon. It is one of the highest-grossing entertainment franchises in history.