Comparing Plush Scale Across Pokémon’s 20th Anniversary Collection
TOMY’s Pokémon 20th Anniversary Collection turned a landmark year into a coordinated series of toys released throughout 2016. Among the most appealing pieces were the plush figures, which gave fans a tangible way to celebrate Pokémon from the earliest games through later generations.
The collection included mythical Pokémon plush, familiar regular Pokémon, Pikachu products, Clip 'n' Carry Poké Balls, and other specialty releases. Because these items were designed as collectible toys rather than a single standardized plush range, their sizes and proportions can differ considerably.
That variation makes comparison especially interesting. A mythical Pokémon may be smaller in the games but presented in a similar retail format to a much larger species, while an unusual body shape can make one plush feel larger or more substantial than its measurements suggest.
The Collection’s Approach To Plush Scale
The anniversary line was organized around monthly launches and selected retailer availability, giving each release a sense of occasion. It was officially licensed by Nintendo, and its range reflected Pokémon’s broad character roster instead of limiting the line to one consistent size class.
Mythical Pokémon were especially important because they represented rare, story-driven characters with strong collector appeal. Figures such as Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, Manaphy, Shaymin, and Victini could sit beside more familiar regular Pokémon while still feeling like special anniversary pieces.
In practice, “mythical” describes a Pokémon’s status in the fictional world, not the physical dimensions of its plush. A small mythical character may occupy the same shelf space as a medium regular Pokémon, and a plush with wings, ears, or a long tail may have a larger visual footprint than its stuffed body.
Mythical Figures And Regular Pokémon
The clearest distinction between the two groups is usually presentation rather than strict scale. Mythical Pokémon plush were marketed as commemorative characters, so their rarity and anniversary significance could matter as much as their size. Their compact forms often made them easy to display together as a themed group.
Regular Pokémon had a wider range of body types. A rounded Pikachu, a squat creature, or a four-legged character could appear surprisingly substantial, while a slender or compact species might look smaller than its official height suggests. Plush construction also affects the result: stuffing, pose, embroidered details, and attached features all influence perceived size.
This is why a size comparison should consider height, width, depth, and silhouette. A seated figure may be shorter but broader than a standing figure. Likewise, a plush with extended wings or a tail can require more shelf room without having a larger central body.
A Practical Size Comparison
The following guide is useful for comparing the 20th Anniversary plush range without assuming that every character follows one uniform measurement. It focuses on display impression and construction, which are often more helpful to collectors than in-game height alone.
| Plush category | Typical visual impression | Features affecting size | Display effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact mythical Pokémon | Small to medium, focused silhouette | Rounded body, short limbs, compact pose | Works well in grouped anniversary displays |
| Winged or extended-form mythical Pokémon | Medium footprint with projecting details | Wings, petals, ears, tails, or raised limbs | Needs extra horizontal or vertical clearance |
| Small regular Pokémon | Compact and easy to position | Simple body shape or seated posture | Fits naturally beside Poké Balls and accessories |
| Rounded regular Pokémon | Shorter but broader | Large belly, cheeks, or seated construction | Can appear larger than its height suggests |
| Tall or long-bodied regular Pokémon | More vertical or elongated | Upright pose, neck, tail, or limbs | Creates stronger height variation on a shelf |
| Pikachu-focused products | Familiar medium display presence | Different poses and product formats | Acts as a visual anchor for the collection |
This comparison also explains why two plush figures that seem similar in official character scale may not look alike when placed side by side. The anniversary range prioritized recognizable, appealing forms, so the toys were shaped for softness and shelf presence rather than strict anatomical proportionality.
For collectors, the most meaningful comparison is often between the actual plush pieces in the same release group. Looking at their seated height, widest point, and projection from the shelf gives a more accurate sense of how they will display together than relying on Pokédex statistics.
Shaymin Shows Why Form Matters
Shaymin is a useful example because its Land Forme and Sky Forme have dramatically different silhouettes. Land Forme has a compact, low profile, while Sky Forme introduces a taller, more directional shape with extended limbs and floral styling. Even when the underlying plush scale is related, the two forms can occupy a very different amount of visual space.
The Shaymin form comparison helps explain why form changes are so important when judging the anniversary figures. A collector comparing mythical and regular Pokémon should account for pose and transformation design, not just the height of the stuffed body.
Sky Forme’s more open shape can make it read as a larger centerpiece, while Land Forme may sit comfortably among smaller plush. That does not necessarily mean one was intended as a larger toy category; it reflects how character design translates into fabric, stuffing, and poseable-looking contours.
The same principle applies to other Pokémon with alternate forms or prominent accessories. A plush can feel oversized because its ears, wings, tails, or leaves extend beyond the main body. Those details are essential to recognition, but they also change the way the item compares with a simpler regular Pokémon.
Pikachu And The Supporting Products
Pikachu occupies a special place in the collection because it appears across many Pokémon products and serves as an instantly recognizable reference point. A Pikachu plush can help viewers judge the apparent size of a mythical figure, although different poses and product editions may still produce noticeable differences.
The wider anniversary range also included Clip 'n' Carry Poké Balls and specialty toys. These accessories provide scale context, but they should not be treated as a universal measurement standard for every plush. A compact mythical figure may look particularly large beside a Poké Ball, while a broad regular Pokémon may dominate the same display despite having a modest height.
Release timing adds another layer to the collection. Since products arrived across the year rather than all at once, collectors may remember individual plush as monthly highlights. The monthly release schedule places those figures within the larger anniversary program and helps identify how plush releases related to the rest of TOMY’s 2016 range.
Retailer exclusivity can also affect how collectors encounter the pieces today. Some figures may be familiar from photographs or collection archives but harder to locate in person. As a result, documenting each plush’s format, pose, and approximate shelf footprint is valuable for both identification and display planning.
Displaying The Plush As A Group
A strong display does not need every Pokémon to match perfectly. In fact, a mixture of compact mythical figures, broader regular Pokémon, and character-focused Pikachu products creates depth and makes the differences in silhouette easier to appreciate.
Collectors comparing items should record measurements in a consistent way. Measure from the lowest point of the plush to its highest feature, then note the widest point and the maximum depth. For relaxed or slumped figures, it can also help to record the seated footprint rather than forcing the toy into an upright position.
Useful display priorities include:
- Group mythical Pokémon by theme, generation, or visual form rather than height alone.
- Place compact figures in front and taller or extended silhouettes toward the back.
- Leave clearance for wings, tails, ears, and other projecting features.
- Use Pikachu or a Clip 'n' Carry Poké Ball as a familiar visual reference.
- Keep retailer-exclusive pieces with their release notes or original packaging when possible.
These methods make the size relationship easier to understand without reducing the collection to a single measurement. They also preserve the character of each plush, which is the main reason collectors value this anniversary line.
The 20th Anniversary Collection is best viewed as a celebration of Pokémon variety. Mythical status, regular species design, alternate forms, and product styling all influence how large a plush appears. Comparing those elements side by side reveals the thoughtfulness of the range and the many ways TOMY translated Pokémon designs into collectible form.
Explore the 2016 collection’s release history and character lineup to place each plush in context, then use those details to build a display that shows the contrast between mythical rarities, regular favorites, and iconic Pikachu pieces.