You can buy a stuffed, likely off-brand Pikachu pretty much anywhere. The R2,000 (£90) Pikachu Puppetronic is a much harder pokémon to capture. The puppet version of the Pokémon series mascot was announced by a company called Wow! Stuff some time back. It’s finally gone on pre-order at the UK-based Pokémon Centre website. And it’s also… well, gone.
The world will have another shot at the cute yellow animatronic buddy when sales open in other regions, but it’s likely that the little Pikachu will disappear just as fast in other locations. The UK stock sold out in minutes, so it’s probably a good thing that there will be details on a broader launch later this week.
Pikachu?
Anyone asking why someone would want a Pikachu Puppetronic by RealFX (its full title) hasn’t seen one in motion. Several attendees at this year’s New York Toy Fair posted videos showing the battery-powered critter in action. Some functions are powered by three AAA batteries, which enable the authentic sound effects. The iconic ‘Pika-pi’ and variations thereof are part of more than 120 sounds and animations the puppet is capable of.
Some of its responses are powered by touch sensors. These sensors are situated in the cutest bits — the head, nose, and stomach. Other functions are controlled by hand. Owners can insert their hands into the fluffy yellow critter’s body to make it do… stuff. That would be the waggling ears and mouth movement, based on videos we’ve seen.
There’s still a strong chance you’ll grab one if you’re patient. The Pikachu Puppetronic that sold out now was the so-called First Edition. You can guess what that means. It also suggests that the entities behind this one are planning on broader launches. After all, there’s no point in leaving all that disposable income lying in other people’s pockets when it could be in your own bank account. Right?
