It should be no surprise that Nintendo and HAL Laboratory are pulling out all the stops for the 30th anniversary of the Kirby series. This is evident with the release of a brand-new adventure with the pink puffball, with Kirby and the Forgotten Land also being the franchise's transition into a fully 3D adventure. That game has been a huge success, both critically and commercially, with fans lauding it for the lore and gameplay. Aside from Forgotten Land, there are a number of projects that are both in the works and have been announced that are celebrating this momentous milestone for the Kirby series.
Some of these projects have already been scheduled for later this year, such as the Kirby 30th Anniversary Concert going to be online broadcast in August. This will feature many songs from across the series' history, all to be performed in a big-band style with 35 musicians performing. Nintendo has confirmed that more anniversary projects are coming through the year, with one of these being a huge plush toy based on the titular character.
This oversized plushie, known as the Kirby 30th Classic Plush DX, is based on his appearance in Kirby's Dream Land, the very first game of the series released in 1992. This is evident with the plushie keeping Kirby's curved smile, black eyes, as well as cat-like whisker blush on his cheeks. The plushie however is colored pink instead of white, much more in-line with Kirby's current color scheme.
This Kirby plush will also feature a Star Rod accessory that can be attached to Kirby's hand, which can be removed via velcro. The Star Rod is also plush-like, having a commemorative logo for the 30th anniversary, along with Kirby in his modern design sitting on the top.
Pre-orders are already open for this oversized Kirby plush, which are being sold through the Japanese distributor Yamashiroya. The storefront is also selling a number of other Kirby 30th anniversary related toys and accessories, including more plushies. Other places where this plushie is being sold includes Amazon Japan and Meccha Japan, with a retail price of 33 thousand yen, which will set a fan back by approximately $260. This price makes sense, considering how big this Kirby doll is, but should be worth it for the most ardent fan. Orders of this plush will ship in late-August of this year according to listed retailers.
Source: Nintendo Life