The 20th Anniversary Plush Texture Rated by Collectors

TOMY’s Pokémon 20th Anniversary Collection arrived in 2016 as a year-long celebration rather than a single toy launch. Alongside Clip ’n’ Carry Poké Balls and speciality products, the range included limited-edition plush figures representing beloved and mythical Pokémon from across the franchise.

For collectors, the appeal was partly visual: anniversary markings, character-specific colours and release timing gave each plush a place in the wider series. The other attraction was tactile. A plush can look excellent in a display cabinet, yet feel surprisingly firm, fuzzy or lightly stuffed when handled.

The ratings below reflect collector impressions of surface softness, stuffing, seams and overall hand feel. They are practical observations rather than an official TOMY grading system, and age, storage and repeated handling can change how a plush feels over time.

Plush or character group Collector softness rating Typical feel Display and handling notes
Shaymin 9/10 Velvety and lightly padded Excellent for gentle handling
Celebi 8/10 Smooth pile with springy stuffing Keeps its shape well
Pikachu 8/10 Soft outer fabric, moderately firm body Familiar, durable everyday feel
Smaller mythical Pokémon 7–8/10 Short pile and compact padding More sculpted than cuddly
Larger anniversary plush 7/10 Plush exterior with firmer internal fill Strong shelf presence

How collectors judge a plush’s softness

Softness is more than the first impression from touching the fabric. Collectors usually consider the length and density of the pile, whether the material feels silky or brushed, and how much resistance comes from the filling underneath. A plush with a smooth exterior may feel less cuddly than one with a slightly fuzzy surface and flexible stuffing.

The best hand-feel often comes from a balance between softness and structure. Pokémon with narrow limbs, wings or pointed ears need enough filling to hold their shape. That means a mythical character may feel firmer than a simple round Pikachu, even when both use pleasant fabric.

Collectors also pay attention to seams. Neatly finished edges tend to feel smoother in the hand, while raised stitching can create a slightly ridged sensation around feet, facial features or tail details. These small construction choices matter when comparing a 2016 release with newer mass-market plush.

The softest characters in the anniversary range

Shaymin is frequently placed near the top of collector softness rankings. Its compact form allows for a gentle, even fill, while the outer fabric has the kind of smooth, cushion-like feel many fans associate with a premium plush. The shape is still defined enough for display, so it does not collapse into a loose bundle after handling. A closer look at the Shaymin plush helps explain why its proportions work so well as both a keepsake and a comfort item.

Celebi usually receives similarly strong feedback, although its wings and leaf-like details make the experience more structured. The central body feels soft and rounded, while the smaller features provide resistance under the fingers. That contrast gives Celebi a more characterful texture than a completely floppy plush.

For Australian collectors, this can be particularly noticeable after a parcel has travelled through warm conditions. A plush left in a delivery van in western Sydney or Perth may feel temporarily warmer and slightly compressed when unpacked. After airing in a cool room, the fabric generally returns to its normal texture.

Pikachu offers a familiar middle ground

Pikachu products from the anniversary range tend to sit in the middle of the softness scale. The body is comfortable to hold, but the stuffing is firm enough to preserve the famous silhouette. Cheeks, ears and the zigzag tail also add more structured areas, so the toy is not uniformly squishy from nose to feet.

That balance suits collectors who want a plush that can be displayed, photographed and occasionally handled without losing its posture. The Pikachu collection also reflects how broadly the character was used across the 20th Anniversary programme, with products designed for different retail settings and fan preferences.

In Australia, Pikachu is often the easiest character to recognise at a toy fair, a specialist game shop or a collector meet-up in Melbourne. Its broad appeal can also make examples more likely to have been handled by children, so buyers should inspect the fabric for flattened pile, marks and stretched seams rather than judging softness alone.

Why mythical Pokémon can feel different

Mythical Pokémon plush figures often have more complicated silhouettes than standard mascot designs. Celebi’s wings, Shaymin’s floral details and similar decorative elements require internal support. The result is a toy that may feel soft across the body but comparatively firm around its accessories and narrower sections.

That variation should not automatically be treated as a quality problem. A completely loose plush might feel wonderfully soft but fail to hold the character’s shape. Collector ratings tend to reward a fabric that feels pleasant while still supporting accurate sculpting, embroidered faces and recognisable features.

The 2016 range also benefits from its limited-edition context. Because releases were promoted throughout the year, fans often compare individual characters as pieces of a set. Texture becomes part of that comparison: one plush may be prized for cuddling, another for its crisp details and a third for the way it sits in a cabinet.

What changes the feel over time

Storage has a major effect on a plush’s tactile quality. Sunlight can dry or fade fabric, while dust can make a soft pile feel coarse. Compression from stacking boxes or placing heavy objects on top may flatten the filling, especially around the body and face.

Collectors seeking the best condition usually keep anniversary plush away from direct windows and high-humidity areas. In coastal Australia, including Brisbane and parts of the New South Wales coast, humidity can make fabric feel less airy and encourage musty odours in enclosed storage. A breathable display space is preferable to a sealed plastic bag for long-term care.

Useful handling habits include:

Cleaning should be conservative. Aggressive washing can alter the pile, loosen embroidery or change the firmness of the filling. A collector who wants to preserve resale appeal should record the original condition before attempting any treatment.

How Australian collectors compare condition

Australian availability can be uneven because the 2016 collection involved scheduled releases and retailer-specific distribution. A figure found in a Melbourne specialist store may not appear at the same time as one promoted through a major national chain. Some fans therefore rely on conventions, collector groups and carefully described second-hand listings.

Postage is another factor. A plush sent from Sydney to Darwin or across the Nullarbor may arrive with temporary creasing from packing. That does not necessarily indicate permanent damage. Gentle reshaping, room-temperature storage and time can restore much of the original form.

When comparing listings, Australian collectors often use practical language such as “nice and squishy,” “a bit firm,” or “still fluffy.” Those descriptions are useful, but photographs of seams, tags and fabric direction are equally important. A high softness score cannot compensate for sun fading, stains or missing licensing information.

Reading the range as a licensed anniversary collection

The collection’s appeal comes from the combination of character identity, release timing and official presentation. Nintendo licensing helped establish the products as part of a recognised Pokémon anniversary programme rather than unrelated novelty merchandise. For collectors, tags and branding can therefore matter almost as much as the plush surface.

The monthly release approach encouraged fans to follow the collection over the course of 2016. A figure purchased early in the year could later be joined by a mythical Pokémon, a Clip ’n’ Carry accessory or another speciality item. Texture comparisons add another layer to that timeline, showing how different designs were adapted into soft toys.

Celebi is a good example of that balance between tactile comfort and display detail. Its body invites a gentle squeeze, while the wings and facial elements remind the owner that the item is a character collectible first. The Celebi release details place that plush within the broader anniversary story.

A practical collector rating guide

A softness rating is most useful when it separates personal preference from condition. Someone building a shelf display may prefer firmer stuffing and sharper details, while someone buying a companion plush may favour a flexible body and longer pile. Neither preference makes a figure objectively better.

A simple collector scale can help when comparing examples from different sellers:

On that basis, the 20th Anniversary plush range generally lands between 7 and 9 for softness when kept in good condition. Shaymin and Celebi are commonly favoured for their gentle bodies, while Pikachu appeals to collectors who want a softer toy with a dependable, structured silhouette.

The strongest examples are those that still feel pleasant without losing their original shape. That combination captures why the 2016 TOMY collection remains interesting to Pokémon fans in Australia: it offers a tactile record of a major anniversary, with every plush expressing the character through fabric, stuffing and carefully finished details.