Comparing 2016 TOMY Pokémon plushes with the 8-inch standard
Pokémon entered its twentieth year in 2016, and TOMY’s official commemorative collection gave collectors a broader mix of character plush, mythical Pokémon and Poké Ball-themed toys than a normal annual release. Officially licensed by Nintendo, the range is remembered for Shaymin, Celebi, special Pikachu items and Clip ’n’ Carry Poké Balls. Its appeal came from staged releases and character-specific designs rather than from introducing a giant new plush scale.
For collectors comparing the 2016 TOMY plushes with TOMY’s standard eight-inch Pokémon plush line, the practical answer is surprisingly close. The principal character plushes generally occupied the same compact 20-centimetre class. Differences in height are often only a centimetre or two, caused by a character’s leaves, ears, head shape or the way a manufacturer measures the toy. Sculpt, fabric, embroidery and packaging usually separate the anniversary pieces more clearly than their footprint on a shelf.
That distinction is useful in Australia, where the 2016 range could be difficult to find even when collectors understood its size. Kmart and Big W toy aisles, specialist sellers and Pokémon stockists served different collector needs, while the July 2016 launch of Pokémon GO created an extra surge of interest. As Amazon Australia did not exist until 2017, many buyers relied on eBay, local forums and specialist shops; checking with an Aussie seller after arvo could reveal stock that had appeared sold out online.
Nominal height and measurement method
An eight-inch label equals about 20.3 centimetres, but it is a convenient retail description rather than a laboratory measurement. Plush can be compressed, and some packages measure the toy including its protruding ears or leaves. For a fair comparison, the useful figure is the character’s height from the base of its feet or seated body to the highest fixed point, while ignoring the packaging.
TOMY’s full-size 2016 anniversary character plushes were generally sold in that same eight-inch category. Depending on the character and measurement method, listings place them at roughly 20–22 centimetres tall. The smaller plushes inside Clip ’n’ Carry Poké Balls naturally belong to a different scale, while special Pikachu products may follow another format and should be judged from their individual dimensions.
Shaymin demonstrates how optical size can be misleading. The release notes for two Shaymin formes show that Floral Forme and Sky Forme received distinct shapes and colour treatments. Their leaves, flower and head silhouettes can make one appear taller or wider in its box, even though both occupy roughly the same practical shelf space.
Sculpt, proportions and fine details
Across the standard eight-inch range, TOMY often used compact, rounded body shapes so Pikachu, Eevee and other familiar Pokémon could sit together without obvious scale conflicts. The anniversary plush was more event-driven: mythical characters received specific shapes, subtler colour placement and details suited to a commemorative release. Both ranges could feel soft and lightly stuffed, so character accuracy and construction usually mattered more than the word “special” on the packaging.
Celebi illustrates why height alone provides an incomplete answer. The Celebi plush profile highlights a leafy head silhouette and upright form that look quite different from the rounder outline of many standard plush, even where catalogue measurements are close. The anniversary piece also had its own colour balance, embroidery and face treatment, making it more character-specific than a regular shelf filler.
| Point of comparison | 2016 TOMY anniversary plush | Standard 8-inch Pokémon plush |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal character height | Usually about 20–22 cm, depending on the character and measurement method | Usually about 20 cm, or 8 inches |
| Overall scale | Compact collector plush | Compact collector plush |
| Main design emphasis | Character-specific sculpts, mythical Pokémon and anniversary presentation | Familiar-character designs intended for broad, consistent collections |
| Proportions | Can look taller or wider because of leaves, ears, headgear and upright poses | Often rounder and more uniform, although designs vary by release |
| Shelf effect | Takes about the same space, with accessories and packaging adding bulk | Offers a predictable fit for compact shelves and grouped displays |
| Main appeal | Release history, sculpt, condition and completeness | Wider character choice, easier replacement and often a lower-cost route to filling a shelf |
Shelf space in Australian collections
Most Australian collectors were not fitting these toys beside room-sized Pokémon merchandise. A two-figure arrangement of eight-inch plush needs little more than a standard bookcase bay, and both anniversary and regular versions can share a shelf without an obvious height jump. In compact flats and children’s bedrooms, protruding leaves and original window boxes may need extra clearance, but the figures themselves take up remarkably similar space.
Collector condition often matters more than size. An unused anniversary plush with its original tags, clean pile and uncreased box can command attention that a loose standard plush may not receive. Conversely, a boxed example missing its tag may offer less appeal despite being a rarer release. Gumtree Australia and eBay made it easy to compare unboxed collector copies with shop-new examples, and Australian collectors’ shorthand for these soft toys was simply “plushes”.
Display density also changes the practical effect. Two similarly sized plushes can look crowded when their colours and silhouettes are almost identical, while a Shaymin or Celebi placed between ordinary Pokémon creates more visual variety. Shelf arrangement therefore does more work than height, especially in collections where every figure has been kept in its original packaging.
Monthly drops and Australian availability
The monthly release schedule turned the 2016 collection into a series of small events. A character arriving in one month could feel more desirable than another released at the same time but available for longer. Collectors learned to follow the calendar, check stores and make purchases quickly before popular mythical Pokémon or retailer-specific items disappeared.
Retailer exclusives complicated the Australian hunt. Collectors checked Kmart, Big W, EB Games, JB Hi-Fi and specialist shops, although stock varied between locations and online warehouses. A character in standard anniversary packaging was not automatically exclusive, while regional bundles and character choices could differ. Original receipts, release stickers and packaging were useful evidence when comparing an Australian listing with an overseas auction record.
The Nintendo licence also provided a practical way to assess possible copies. Collectors could check for TOMY and Nintendo marks on the body tag, hang tag and packaging rather than trusting appearance alone. Summer releases arrived during Australia’s Christmas and New Year gifting period, when plush competed with crowded toy aisles and Boxing Day sales. Timing and availability often produced larger price differences than a two-centimetre change in height.
Choosing anniversary or standard plush
For a broad Pokémon shelf, the standard eight-inch line remains efficient. Familiar characters are easier to find, their repeated designs create a consistent look, and a missing figure can usually be replaced without changing the display’s proportions. They also make practical sense for anyone wanting several characters in a limited cabinet or a child’s toy basket.
For a focused collection, the 2016 TOMY plushes provide stronger reasons to search: mythical characters, commemorative presentation, specific sculpts and a clear place within the wider Poké Ball and Pikachu range. Their value lies in those release qualities rather than in oversized dimensions. Buyers comparing listings should still check the actual product because different characters and special Pikachu items do not all follow one uniform shape.
Measured side by side, the anniversary character plushes and the standard eight-inch line belong to the same practical size band. The 2016 range stands apart through official event artwork, distinctive character shapes, limited monthly windows and the mythology of being a twentieth-anniversary release. Those qualities explain why collectors kept hunting them years after the final drop, even when a regular eight-inch plush offered the same footprint and a simpler replacement path.