Why Pokémon’s 20th Anniversary Collection Focused on Mythicals

TOMY’s Pokémon 20th Anniversary Collection was designed around a very particular idea of rarity. Released throughout 2016, the range spotlighted Mythical Pokémon through plush figures, Clip ’n’ Carry Poké Balls and other limited-edition products. These characters occupied a special place in Pokémon history: they were elusive, story-driven and often connected with celebrations, events or unusual methods of obtaining them.

That focus helps explain why the collection did not simply gather every famous Legendary Pokémon. The anniversary programme was a curated celebration rather than a complete catalogue of powerful creatures. For collectors in Australia, where new toys could appear through different retailers and release windows, the monthly schedule added another layer of anticipation to an already selective line.

Mythical Pokémon Had a Distinct Role

In Pokémon terminology, Mythical Pokémon are separate from Legendary Pokémon, even though both groups are associated with rarity and extraordinary abilities. Legendaries such as Mewtwo, Lugia and Rayquaza usually belong to the central mythology of a game region. They are often encountered as major story figures or powerful guardians. Mythicals such as Mew, Celebi and Jirachi traditionally feel more hidden, appearing through special events, distributions or unusual discoveries.

That distinction suited a twentieth-anniversary campaign. Mythical Pokémon could represent the secrets fans had chased across multiple generations, including characters that were difficult to obtain during their original releases. A plush of one of these Pokémon carried a sense of discovery that went beyond simply choosing the strongest or most recognisable character.

The category also offered a clear curatorial rule. Rather than competing with the many established Legendary Pokémon, TOMY could present a focused group of rare companions from across the franchise. The result felt like a commemorative series with a theme, not a random selection based solely on popularity.

An Anniversary Built Around Monthly Discovery

Pokémon’s twentieth anniversary ran across 2016, and the release structure encouraged fans to follow the celebration over time. New Mythical Pokémon were highlighted month by month, creating a rhythm that reflected the franchise’s long history. Each arrival gave collectors another character to identify, seek out and add to a display.

That approach made sense for a line spanning different formats. A collector might find a Mythical Pokémon plush, a Poké Ball accessory or a smaller speciality item connected to the same anniversary concept. The products worked as individual purchases, while the release schedule encouraged the feeling of assembling a complete story.

The series also benefited from the internet culture of the period. Unboxing videos and first-look posts helped fans compare products across countries and retailers. The collection’s video unboxing trends show how physical toys became part of a wider online celebration, particularly as YouTube made packaging, size and character details easy to share.

Why Legendaries Belonged to a Different Strategy

Legendary Pokémon already had strong visibility in the wider toy market. They were frequent choices for action figures, role-play items, trading cards and game-related merchandise because their designs communicated power immediately. A 20th-anniversary range centred on them could have looked like a standard greatest-hits assortment rather than a special commemorative programme.

Many Legendaries are also tied closely to particular regions or game narratives. A line that included one famous Legendary from each generation would quickly become difficult to balance. Fans could reasonably ask why Ho-Oh was included but not Lugia, or why Groudon appeared without Kyogre. Mythicals provided a more manageable theme because their rarity and event history already linked them across generations.

This did not make Legendaries less important. They remained central to Pokémon’s identity and continued to appear in many other products. The choice simply allowed the anniversary collection to own a narrower piece of the brand: the mysterious Pokémon that fans remembered as special discoveries.

Plush, Poké Balls and the Language of Rarity

The physical design of the line reinforced the mythology. Plush figures translated unusual silhouettes and expressions into something tactile and collectible. A soft Mew, Celebi or Jirachi could sit alongside a broader Pokémon display while still looking like a distinctive anniversary item. The format also suited younger fans who connected with the characters emotionally rather than through battle statistics.

Clip ’n’ Carry Poké Balls added a different kind of appeal. They referred to the familiar act of catching Pokémon and made the products feel connected to play, even when the featured character was difficult to obtain in a game. Packaging, colour choices and anniversary branding helped separate these items from ordinary evergreen merchandise.

For owners displaying several plush figures, the limited theme was part of the attraction. A collector could arrange them by release month, generation or colour palette instead of mixing them into a large general Pokémon collection. Practical ideas for arranging the range appear in these plush display tips, which are particularly useful when soft toys begin to take over a shelf or bedroom.

Retail Timing And The Australian Market

Australian fans experienced the collection through a market shaped by local retailer availability, shipping distances and seasonal timing. A product promoted overseas might appear through a major chain such as Big W or Target, a specialist toy shop, or a Pokémon-focused stockist at a different time. Retailer exclusivity could make one item easier to find in Melbourne than in Perth, while collectors in regional areas often had to rely on online listings or wait for restocks.

The 2016 Pokémon GO boom also gave the anniversary year unusual visibility in Australia. Crowds gathering around landmarks in Sydney and Melbourne made Pokémon part of everyday public conversation, even among people who were not regular game players. That wider attention could increase interest in anniversary toys, particularly among families visiting shopping centres during the winter school holidays.

Australian collectors also had to think in Australian dollars, postage and seasonal display habits. A plush released during a northern summer campaign arrived during Australia’s cooler months, when indoor collecting and gift shopping were especially common. The monthly schedule therefore felt both international and local: fans followed the global anniversary while searching through the retailers available in their own city.

For collectors tracking releases, these details mattered:

Pikachu, Completion And The Collection’s Legacy

Pikachu remained an essential part of the anniversary story, even though the Mythical Pokémon provided its central collecting theme. Pikachu products offered an instantly recognisable entry point for casual fans, while the rarer characters appealed to people building a more focused set. This balance helped the range reach children, long-time players and adult collectors without losing its central idea.

The Nintendo licensing was also significant. Official branding gave the toys a connection to the broader Pokémon anniversary campaign and distinguished them from generic character merchandise. For collectors, authenticity could be seen in the sculpting, fabrics, packaging and consistent visual treatment across products.

The decision to feature Mythical Pokémon gave the 2016 line a defined identity. It celebrated rarity, memory and discovery rather than attempting to represent every legendary creature in the franchise. That is why the range remains interesting to collectors: its limits were part of its design, and the absence of Legendaries helped the Mythical Pokémon feel like the true guests of honour.