Pokémon Plush Madness!

When I was but a young lass back in the '90's, I, along with my peers, were introduced to the video game, trading card game, and anime franchise known as "Pokémon." I liked the anime well enough, but I really, really loved two of the Pokémon video games, Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Snap for the Nintendo 64. I spent HOURS playing these games, particularly Snap (and then my older cousin came over and deleted my Snap file and I have been salty about it ever since).

After awhile, my love for Pokémon kind of fizzled, only really returning when Pokémon Go came out. That eventually led to me playing Let's Go, Eevee (Nintendo Switch), which didn't really excite me as much as I'd hoped. When I hit depressing Lavender Town, I lost interest completely. I eventually stopped playing Go, too, and once again drifted away from Pokémon.

But then...

A line from Metal Gear, but it works too well lol.

Oops, I got Pokopia'd!

I never really saw it coming, either! I think I remember watching the announcement on Nintendo Direct and thinking, "Pssh, whatever, I'll stick to my beloved Animal Crossing, thank you very much." And later, I urged my husband to get it, because he'd just finished "perfecting" Stardew Valley and needed a chill game to play alongside some of the more stressful ones he likes.

And then I borrowed it.

And then I borrowed it some more.

And then I bought my own copy of it.

And many, many, many hours later, I think it's safe to say that this game gives me the same excitement and joy I felt playing Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Snap 30 years ago. (Good Lord, how has it been 30 years?!).

I freaking love Pokopia! I love that I can make homes for all of my favorites and either bring areas back to life or completely bulldoze sections to create what I want from scratch. In Withered Wasteland, I have a beautiful cottage high up on the hill that I share with Minccino, Sprigatito, Espeon, and my unexpected new favorite, Glaceon. I built a combination Del Taco and hot springs resort. I've got a church painstakingly hewn out of the side of a mountain (the game has these gorgeous stained glass windows and I wasn't about to let them go to waste), and I just finished making a section of railway that partially cuts through the ocean.

I really love not having to fight against any Pokémon or use any to fight with. I just love being around them and having them help me rebuild with their special abilities or just run up and tell me how much they appreciate me! The game is so freaking wholesome and cute and absolutely needed during these trying times. Sometimes it does feel a little eerie because of the particular circumstances you find yourself in (which is a big spoiler, so I'm just going to leave it at that), but it's an overall fun and creative use of time and it's really rekindled my love of certain Pokémon and brought about a newfound love of others.

And if I really love something, you know my dolls do, too...

Thus began my doll-sized Pokémon plush collection!

I started off with some of the Pokémon Center's small "Sitting Cuties" line plushies, Minccino, Lapras (an OG favorite), and Leafeon. Then came Sprigatito (Partners Keychain version) and Espeon (Sitting Cuties), because obviously, my dolls needed my adorable Pokopia housemates!

April and I agree, Sprigatito is the best starter.

The Pokémon Center has plushies that are in and out of stock all the time, so when I went to add Glaceon to the herd, I found that her "Sitting Cuties" version was sold out. They did, however, have a version of her from the "Eevee Collection" that seemed a little cuter and a little more accurate, size-wise.

I loved her so much, I decided to get the Vaporeon (another OG favorite) and Leafeon from the same line.

One of my OG favorites, Vaporeon, and my newest favorite, Glaceon.

I also got the "Comfy Cuddlers" version of Pichu, because although he doesn't live with me, he's always popping up around me, so he practically does lol.

Is there such a thing as "too many" Pokémon? Probably not.

I have the more size accurate Pokémon in my downstairs display case and the others are with my upstairs set of dolls. Espeon matches nicely with Elizabeth's pink gown, and my smaller Leafeon looks especially fitting next to Rapunzel.

Is my plush Pokémon collection complete for now? ...Maybe? I do have one more plush keychain coming that I think will make a good doll plush, and I would like to eventually get a plush Glaceon keychain, but I do think I'm satisfied with my "team." Looking at them waving back at me next to their "trainers" really brightens up what is a particularly gray day today.

Them and more creating in Pokopia! ;D

#AprilBennett #ElizabethCole #MiaTierney