New merchandise has been revealed for Project Thunderbolt, the collaboration betweenPokemonand legendary Japanese streetwear designer Hiroshi Fujiwara. The latest results to come from this collaboration include some strikingPokemonplushes that look quite different from the characters fans know.
ThePokemonfranchise is no stranger to collaborations with well-known designers and brands. Recent examples includePokemon-branded Adidas sneakersand a partnership with the French luxury brand Longchamp to create Pokemon-themed luxury handbags. Although these projects include Pokemon, they normally don’t modify the Pokemon. Project Thunderbolt instead applies a sleek black aesthetic to the Pokemon themselves.
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As teased on Instagram, the new merchandise includes small keychain plushes of Jigglypuff, Pikachu, Psyduck, and Meowth. All of them, except for Pikachu, are completely black, save for their eyes and the Project Thunderbolt logo on their bellies. Although Pikachu has its normal colors, it has the same logo on its belly. The Instagram account also teased a larger version of the Pikachu plush and a black Meowth air freshener. Unfortunately, there’s no indication yet as to whether Western fans of thesePokemon from the franchise’s iconic first generationwill be able to get their hands on this merchandise.
HardcorePokemonfans may recognize the thunderbolt symbol that appears on the latest merchandise.Project Thunderbolt designs have appeared inPokemon GO, in the form of shirts for avatars and a cap for Pikachu. Still, placing the thunderbolt logo on Pikachu itself is going a step farther, as it modifies the iconic character’s body. Although thePokemongames have given Pikachu new forms over the years (such as its Gigantamax form inPokemon SwordandShield), it is rare to see Pikachu’s body itself be altered.
Looking beyond just Pikachu, this isn’t the first time that iconic Pokemon have been depicted in all-black. A large number of Shiny Pokemon areall-black recolors of more colorful Pokemon, Still, this is the first time that Jigglypuff, Meowth, and Psyduck have been depicted this way. Psyduck’s Shiny form is blue, while the Shiny forms of both Jigglypuff and Meowth are slightly darker variants of their normal designs.
ThePokemonfranchise also has exciting ongoing collaborations beyond the world of fashion. For example,Pokemonand Toyota are collaborating on the Pi!Car!, creating a Pikachu-themed car that showcases futuristic technology. Whether or not the Project Thunderbolt plushes end up being sold internationally, futurePokemoncollaborations will surely come to the West in some form.
