ThePokémonfranchise has continued to grow since its inception in 1996, and now, the trading card game has only gained popularity. A new video game is set to release this October, and the anime series remains ongoing. Thistrend continues with Pokémon’s collaboration with Funko, as the figure collectible company has introduced new figures to its lineup, as well as the return of an iconic yellow mascot we all know and love.
According to theFunkowebsite,Absol,Ninetales,andRowletwill be making their debut as Funko Pop! Figures, which will be sold at $14.99 each. They’re currently available for pre-order on third-party sites, such asEntertainment Earth, and are scheduled to arrive in September 2025. Additionally,Pikachuwill be making its return, marking its 17th entry in Funko’s lineup. This will be a soft color variant, and previous Pokémon that received this treatment were the Kanto starters, Bulbasaur,Charmander, andSquirtle. Just like the iconic trio, the packaging for the yellow mascot now comes with an electric-type theme.This figure will be sold exclusively on the Funko websitefor $14.99, and its release date has not yet been announced.
How Did Pikachu Become the Mascot of ‘Pokémon’?
Pikachu has been the face of thePokémonfranchise since its inceptionand has become a beloved character for nearly 30 years. Before he became the face of the franchise, it was reported byScreenRantthat other Pokémon like Poliwhirl and Clefairy were other contenders, butthe electric-mouse Pokémon won due to its popularity.Additionally, finding Pikachu was challenging to locate in the early games, which likely contributed to its increased popularity.
Since then, Pikachu has become the star of almost everythingPokémon. It was Ash’s partner in the anime, which aired for many years,spanning over 20 seasons of episodes.Ryan Reynoldsvoiced the electric mouse in the live-actionPokémonfilm,Detective Pikachu. And it had video games based on the character, such asPokémon Yellowfor the GameBoy Color,Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu!for the Nintendo Switch, andDetective Pikachufor the 3DS, to name a few. It also flew above New York every Thanksgiving during the Macy’s Parade, but is now accompanied by Eevee.
WhenPokémonanime transitioned to a new series, calledPokémon Horizons, where it featured a new lead character with a new partner Pokémon from the Paldea region, the Pokémon Company found a way to ensure that Pikachu doesn’t miss out on this new adventure. It introducedCaptain Pikachu, who belongs to Friedeand has been traveling with our main heroes throughout the show, especiallyduring the time skip,as he and his owner parted ways. However,it was recently teased that there may be hope for a reunion.
Pokémon Horizonis available to stream on Netflix.
Ash Ketchum, his yellow pet Pikachu, and his human friends explore a world of powerful creatures.
