New merchandise has been revealed for Project Thunderbolt, the collaboration between Pokemon and legendary Japanese streetwear designer Hiroshi Fujiwara. The latest results to come from this collaboration include some striking Pokemon plushes that look quite different from the characters fans know.
The Pokemon franchise is no stranger to collaborations with well-known designers and brands. Recent examples include Pokemon-branded Adidas sneakers and a partnership with the French luxury brand Longchamp to create Pokemon-themed luxury handbags. Although these projects include Pokemon, they normally don't modify the Pokemon. Project Thunderbolt instead applies a sleek black aesthetic to the Pokemon themselves.
As teased on Instagram, the new merchandise includes small keychain plushes of Jigglypuff, Pikachu, Psyduck, and Meowth. All of them, except for Pikachu, are completely black, save for their eyes and the Project Thunderbolt logo on their bellies. Although Pikachu has its normal colors, it has the same logo on its belly. The Instagram account also teased a larger version of the Pikachu plush and a black Meowth air freshener. Unfortunately, there's no indication yet as to whether Western fans of these Pokemon from the franchise's iconic first generation will be able to get their hands on this merchandise.
Hardcore Pokemon fans may recognize the thunderbolt symbol that appears on the latest merchandise. Project Thunderbolt designs have appeared in Pokemon GO, in the form of shirts for avatars and a cap for Pikachu. Still, placing the thunderbolt logo on Pikachu itself is going a step farther, as it modifies the iconic character's body. Although the Pokemon games have given Pikachu new forms over the years (such as its Gigantamax form in Pokemon Sword and Shield), it is rare to see Pikachu's body itself be altered.
Looking beyond just Pikachu, this isn't the first time that iconic Pokemon have been depicted in all-black. A large number of Shiny Pokemon are all-black recolors of more colorful Pokemon, Still, this is the first time that Jigglypuff, Meowth, and Psyduck have been depicted this way. Psyduck's Shiny form is blue, while the Shiny forms of both Jigglypuff and Meowth are slightly darker variants of their normal designs.
The Pokemon franchise also has exciting ongoing collaborations beyond the world of fashion. For example, Pokemon and Toyota are collaborating on the Pi!Car!, creating a Pikachu-themed car that showcases futuristic technology. Whether or not the Project Thunderbolt plushes end up being sold internationally, future Pokemon collaborations will surely come to the West in some form.
Source: NintendoSoup