New Funko Pokemon POPs announced in toy fair!

Another set of Funko POPs has been released featuring new Pokemon! Even more, Pokemon POPs are ready to be released with the franchises’ 25th anniversary this year!

True fans of the franchise do take the words, “Gotta catch ’em all,” to heart when dedicating their time collecting anything that has to do with Pokemon. From the core series to the trading card game, there is a certain dynamic that targets the audience of the fans when collecting Pokemon in whatever fashion they please. Even outside the major components that are dedicated to the franchise as a whole, there are even more complex collections for any Pokemon fan can take advantage of. One of the biggest collection concepts that are universal for all ages is toys. Pokemon broke out onto the scene with Funko and their popular toy, POPs not too long ago; and in an anniversary year that celebrates Pokemon, there are even more of these toys to look forward to with Pokemon POPs.

The collection of Pokemon POPs began with Pikachu, the signature mascot of the franchise. The electric mouse has been featured three different ways, so that collectors can have a Pikachu in a base form, holding up the “victory sign,” or in the attacking position where it will deliver a signature ‘Thunderbolt’ from its trainer. What followed these vinyl figures were the original Kanto starter Pokemon with Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle. The other fan-favorite starter, Eevee was also released a POP and soon after, the original Kanto evolutions of the Pokemon were released with Vaporeon, Jolteon, and Flareon. The collection of Funko POPs was followed by many more figurines, including Growlithe, Vulpix, Rattata, Mr. Mime, Cubone, and Ponyta. Pikachu even received company from the evolutionary line with Pichu and Raichu, and there was the inclusion of the legendary Pokemon from Kanto via Mew and Mewtwo.

The collection for Pokemon POPs has only begun for the dedicated collector of the popular toy, and there is more to be released this year. With the recent news of the Funko Fair dedicated to unveiling new toys for 2021, there are already four more Pokemon POPs that are available for pre-order. These new POPs include Psyduck, Meowth, an attacking stance Pikachu, and an exclusive silver-metallic Bulbasaur that commemorates the 25th anniversary of Pokemon. There is also another silver-metallic Pikachu available for pre-order, which was announced at the beginning of the year by the Pokemon Company that expressed their excitement to celebrate the anniversary with fans. With the release of Pikachu and Bulbasaur starting over for anniversary editions of their POPs, it is only a matter of time before the remaining Kanto starter Pokemon are released to join in on the celebration. These Pokemon POPs are already available for pre-order via the Funko website and other toy expos that will be going on this year.

With the anniversary of Pokemon drawing near in February, the New York Toy Fair is normally held during the same time as the physical date of the anniversary. This toy expo would most likely reveal even more Pokemon POPs that would be released throughout the year and would have the past POPs available for people to purchase. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances of the pandemic of COVID-19, New York has postponed the event until further notice. The event would have been even a larger deal for the Pokemon Company to take advantage of, even more so with the Nintendo Store that is also in the heart of Manhattan. With these delays, the Pokemon POPs will depend on online orders to be the primary way collectors will be venturing into how to gather these new figurines. With Funko already available to other outlets and websites, this is already made possible for these new Pokemon POPs to be collected.

With more hype being realized in the anniversary for Pokemon, surely Funko would take advantage and go beyond designing anniversary figurines for this year. It would not take much for Funko to release more Pokemon POPs that are fan favorites of other Pokemon. This would most likely include the full evolution stages of the Kanto starters, including Venasaur, Charizard, and Blastoise. If this is an anniversary year that celebrates the original releases of Pokemon Red, Blue, and Green; then it is a definite possibility for these Pokemon to be made into POPs. Even more so with the first two Pokemon featured in the title screen of those Pokemon games; Gengar Nidorino and Jigglypuff would be definite nominations to be featured as POP figurines when being released this year. That is not to dismiss the popularity of other Pokemon from other generation games, like Lucario or Greninja who are featured as characters in the popular game Super Smash Bros Ultimate. Could you imagine if the Pokemon POPs had the same technology to act as a Nintendo amiibo? It would definitely make them more popular.

The celebration of Pokemon’s anniversary goes on all year long for fans of the franchise. There have been few announcements of what new games are in store for their fans, even some teasing news of what trading cards will be released this year. Funko releasing more POPs for Pokemon fans to collect is catering to a huge audience that definitely wants their favorite Pokemon in a figurine. Even more so with a special anniversary edition being released for trainers to cherish the celebration even further. We look forward to these figurines to be released and more excited to anticipate more coming out in the near future.