The 2016 TOMY plush’s belly button: a rare detail on some mythicals

In 2016, TOMY’s Pokémon 20th Anniversary Collection turned a long-running game licence into a year of commemorative toys. Plush figures appeared alongside Clip ’n’ Carry Poké Balls and other specialty items, released in waves instead of one permanent shelf range. The small belly button stitched into some mythical Pokémon plushes became one of the easiest details for collectors to overlook.

That detail can help identify a release, although it is not proof of rarity by itself. The same character existed in several retail presentations, and a seam, loose thread or chest motif can resemble a navel in a photograph. Its value comes from combining close observation with the right hang tags, packaging and market history rather than from a tiny feature in isolation.

Australian collectors met the range through chain stores, online sellers and imported stock. Availability differed from North America and Europe, and an overseas retailer exclusive did not necessarily appear at the Australian branch of that chain. Sydney and Melbourne toy fairs, specialist dealers and local online marketplaces provided extra chances to compare genuine examples and documented variants.

Here, the belly button means a tiny embroidered or inset stitch on the front of the torso, not a tag, badge or sound-button mechanism. It is a useful collector clue because few sales photographs were taken with enough light and scale to show it. It is also easy to overstate, so the distinction between a real design detail and a supposed one-off matters.

Why the tiny belly button became a collector clue

Collectors call it a belly button for a very small oval, vertical or curved mark centred on the torso. On the relevant plushes, it sits below the chest and is much smaller than the face embroidery. The name is descriptive rather than an official feature name. Magnified sales images can distort its size, so compare it with the character’s head, paws and overall length.

The Mew plush is a useful reference because a darker central stitch can show against purple fabric. The Mew plush reference gives collectors a focused starting point for the character and its release details. A thread knot should still be checked against the anniversary tag, body proportions and expected construction, rather than treated as instant authentication.

Mew, Mewtwo and the wider mythical range

The mythical most often discussed in relation to this stitch is Mew; Mewtwo examples can also show a fine centre-belly stitch in some runs. Their relatively plain lower torsos leave room for a tiny mark that may be thread, felt or an indentation. Two plushes can therefore look slightly different while sharing the same broad design, particularly when one came from a different retailer run.

Other mythicals need their own visual logic. Celebi’s green-and-yellow torso pattern, Jirachi’s star features and Victini’s chest panel can resemble small marks in a low-resolution image, while Meloetta relies on costume-like colour breaks. A collector rarity guide offers useful context for these distinctions, but a photograph should never be used to rename a character’s established artwork as a navel.

Reading tags, fabric and packaging

Begin with the hang tags and anniversary graphics, then inspect the body. TOMY branding, the Pokémon 20th Anniversary emblem and Nintendo licensing information should agree with the character and product format. The embroidered logo may sit on a paw, foot or lower seam, so checking several points can reveal inconsistencies hidden by a polished front photograph.

Packaging is especially important for exclusives. A retailer sticker, barcode country or store card can be the strongest link to a release, while an overseas chain name does not prove that its Australian branch sold the item. Keep receipts and release notices. Loose tags reduce confidence, yet a complete set is not essential when the construction and documented variant details align.

Monthly drops and retailer exclusives

The range followed a month-by-month rhythm from its early-2016 launch through the final holiday assortment, but it was not synchronised across countries. News often reached Australian shops weeks after overseas announcements, and December demand could pull stock forward. The calendar is best read as a series of release windows, not identical dates for every market.

Australian exposure came through JB Hi-Fi, Kmart, Big W and Target Australia at different times, plus Amazon Australia, eBay Australia and specialist dealers. Stock varied between states and disappeared quickly when a retailer-specific plush arrived. Collectors visiting Sydney or Melbourne could inspect packaging and duplicate examples at toy fairs, while imports from Japan, the United States or Europe brought 10% GST and possible import duty, even below the AUD 1,000 low-value threshold.

Pikachu and the wider licensed collection

Pikachu was the collection’s clearest draw. Anniversary Pikachu plushes appeared in standard, plush and premium formats, with differences in clothing, embroidery and presentation. Their yellow faces and red cheeks are instantly recognisable, but tags remain decisive because pose and tail shape could change between releases.

Clip ’n’ Carry Poké Balls and other specialty pieces broadened the programme, while playsets and trainer accessories gave each monthly drop its own character. TOMY’s official Nintendo licence supports the line’s credibility, but licensing does not establish condition or regional exclusivity. Collectors should match maker, licence, character and retailer evidence rather than assuming every product carrying a Pokémon face belonged to the same plush series.

Comparing the belly-area details

A sound comparison separates the visible clue from the character artwork and the market history. It also prevents a familiar torso motif from being presented as evidence of a scarce production error.

Character Belly-area feature Collector significance Identification caution
Mew A small central stitch can show against the purple body Useful clue on documented 2016 examples Confirm the tag and close-up; not every Mew shown online is this release
Mewtwo A fine central stitch may occur on the pale belly Can distinguish some bodies or runs A construction seam can look similar at low resolution
Celebi The yellow-green torso decoration is the main visible feature A motif-based identifier, not a navel Do not convert a colour mark into a claimed variant
Jirachi, Victini and Meloetta Stars, chest panels and costume shapes define the torso Character-specific decoration can verify the model Check stitching carefully rather than inferring a standard belly-button feature

Photograph the belly without digital smoothing, include a familiar object for scale and retain the original labels. Record the retailer and purchase date as well. Those steps turn a curiosity into evidence another collector can evaluate, while avoiding a claim that a tiny stitch alone created a rare variant.

Australian checks for serious collectors

A sensible Australian buying process starts with physical checks, especially when a listing uses words such as exclusive, prototype or limited:

Provenance checks explain where the item came from and which market it was intended for:

A well-documented 2016 TOMY plush can be satisfying even without the famous stitch. The detail matters because it demonstrates how much careful observation can reveal in an ordinary soft toy, not because every collector needs a rare variant. In Australia, clear records, original tags and honest descriptions preserve value and make later identification easier.