Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Products are nothing new, but the latest line of legend-inspired plush makes Koraidon and Miraidon more adorable than ever. The concept of Pokémon plushies has been around almost as long as the series itself: from the crooked, sun-bleached Pikachus lining the walls of your local gas station, to the official, real-life merchandise. like exclusive plushies in the world and Snorlax body pillows. Even MIraidon and Koraidon have been subjected to the toy treatment, but never like this.
The new Scarlet and Violet plush toys, available now through Pokémon Center (and see Koraidon’s Pokémon Center listing here), render Miraidon and Koraidon with chunky chibi-style proportions, making Paldea’s two legendary mascots cuter than they should be. These new designs compress their normally slender and serpentine silhouettes into much more robust and plump shapes. Their wide eyes stare intently into space on either side of their softly rounded faces. Each about the size of a small Pomeranian, the plushies stand on wide, chicken nugget-shaped haunches while their pot-bellied bellies hang to the ground.
Lovingly rendered with bright colors and close attention to detail, Koraidon and Miraidon products represent an entirely new direction for Pokémon productsgiving them widespread appeal to a larger portion of the Pokémon fandom. But this isn’t the first time these two Legendaries have been transformed into plushies.
A new design for Koraidon and Miraidon
How the New Plushies Compare
While it’s not the first time Koraidon and Miraidon have turned into plushies, it’s definitely the cutest they’ve ever looked while doing so. Just compare the two versions of each above: older plush designs were incredibly realistic, even too accurateshowing Pokémon almost exactly as they appear in the game (just a fraction of the height). There is something to be said for the realistic approach: the resulting product is genuinely impressive and is certainly a desirable collectible piece.
That being said, people like Pokémon for different reasons: some get caught up in the details of backstories, stats, and designs, while others simply enjoy collecting adorable creatures and going on adventures with them. Old designs appealed more to the first camp, which prioritizes precision; the new ones appeal to the second camp, which prioritizes style.
Screen Rant’s take: Plushies should be cute
But there’s room for both
There is nothing necessarily wrong with accuracy, but at the end of the day, the purpose of a plush is to be hugged, and therefore cuteness should be its guiding design principle. There are a ton of different styles of Pokémon products: from clothes to accessories and toys, not to mention Pokémon TCG. The exact, individual precision of the video game is best saved for other media like figures, while plushies should be given free rein to break the rules of anatomy.
And I’m glad to see that in the last few days, This is the exact direction official Pokémon merchandise appears to be heading. In recent years, Pokémon plush toys are increasingly cute, with the launch of products such as the discreet Comfy Cuddlers with fuzzy lining or the brightly colored Soda Pop plush toys. However, the most accurate renders are still available, so players can choose based on preference. Nothing is necessarily wrong with either approach: the coexistence of both speaks to the vast depth of the Pokémon franchise and the broad appeal of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.