Why Mew led TOMY’s 2016 Mythical Pokémon collection

TOMY’s Pokémon 20th Anniversary Collection was designed as a year-long celebration rather than a single product launch. Across 2016, the range introduced limited-edition toys linked to the franchise’s twelve mythical Pokémon, with releases arriving in a planned sequence and some items available through particular retailers. Learn more about Shaymin.

The February Mew plush was an especially meaningful opening move. Mew was familiar to longtime players, instantly recognisable to younger fans, and important to the mythology of the Pokémon world. Starting with this character gave the anniversary range an emotional centre while establishing the monthly rhythm that collectors would follow for the rest of the year.

Why February mattered to the anniversary range

February gave TOMY a useful point between the anniversary announcement period and the larger retail activity expected later in the year. A first-wave product needed to attract attention quickly, but it also had to be accessible enough to introduce the collection’s concept. Mew suited both purposes because the character had broad recognition without belonging to just one generation of games.

The timing also helped turn the collection into an unfolding event. Instead of placing all twelve mythical Pokémon on shelves at once, TOMY could encourage fans to watch for each monthly reveal. The Mew plush therefore functioned as the opening chapter in a sequence, giving the 20th anniversary programme a clear beginning and creating anticipation for the next release.

For Australian fans, February is a practical retail moment. It falls in late summer, around the return to school and the settling of household spending after Christmas. A compact plush could work as a birthday present, a back-to-school treat or an affordable addition to a Pokémon display, while larger specialty products could arrive later in the year.

Mew was the right character to begin with

Mew occupies a distinctive place in Pokémon history. It was associated with discovery, mystery and rarity from the earliest games, where its status as a mythical Pokémon made it feel different from the creatures players encountered during ordinary play. That background gave a Mew plush more meaning than a standard character toy: it represented the hidden, collectible side of Pokémon.

The character was also visually adaptable. Mew’s rounded shape, large eyes and long tail translated naturally into a soft plush format. A first anniversary item needed to look appealing in photographs, display well in a bedroom or collector cabinet, and remain recognisable even to someone who did not follow every game release. Mew met those requirements without needing a complicated design explanation.

Collectors can place the choice in the broader sequence by consulting the mythical Pokémon release order. The order connected the range to the history of the games, while Mew’s position at the start made the first product feel like an invitation to explore that history.

The plush established the collection’s tone

A plush was a smart lead product because it made the anniversary accessible. Collectors could keep it boxed or display it immediately, while families could treat it as a conventional toy rather than a highly specialised gaming collectible. This widened the audience beyond people already searching for rare Pokémon merchandise.

The Mew release also introduced the idea that each monthly item could carry a different kind of appeal. The programme included mythical Pokémon plush figures, Clip 'n' Carry Poké Balls and other specialty products. Those formats gave the collection variety, but the opening plush created a warm and familiar first impression before the range moved into more character-specific or play-oriented pieces.

TOMY’s official Nintendo licensing added credibility to the anniversary line. For collectors, licensing signalled that the products belonged to an authorised celebration of Pokémon’s twentieth year rather than being unrelated novelty merchandise. It also helped retailers present the range as a coordinated programme, with packaging and release timing supporting the same anniversary identity.

What Australian collectors had to navigate

Availability in Australia could depend heavily on the retailer and the timing of each shipment. National chains such as Big W, Target and Kmart were important parts of the toy market, while Myer, independent toy shops and specialist game retailers served collectors looking for particular releases. A retailer-exclusive item could therefore be easy to find in one city and frustratingly scarce in another.

Geography added another layer. Someone shopping in Melbourne or Sydney might have several retail options and access to conventions or specialist stores, whereas a collector in regional Queensland, Western Australia or Tasmania could need to rely on phone enquiries, store transfers or online sellers. “I’ll check the shops” was not always a quick task when the nearest major retailer was several hours away.

Price comparisons also worked differently from those in the United States or Japan. Australian buyers had to consider the local recommended price, GST, delivery charges and the possibility of imported stock. By the time a sold-out February plush appeared through a marketplace seller, postage could make a modest toy considerably more expensive. That encouraged careful buying when a new wave appeared.

The seasonal calendar mattered too. February’s hot weather, school routines and post-Christmas budgets shaped how families approached new toys. A small Mew plush was easier to justify than a large impulse purchase, while dedicated collectors could begin tracking the anniversary schedule before later releases became harder to locate.

How to read the first wave as a collector

The first Mew plush should be viewed as both a character product and a marker of the 2016 programme. Its value comes from the combination of design, release timing, licensing and place within the twelve-month story. Even collectors who did not complete the entire series can understand why the opening item became a reference point for the collection.

A useful way to research the item is to compare its presentation with later waves rather than judging it in isolation. Look at the packaging, character artwork, product size and retailer information. The Mew plush spotlight offers a focused record of the first mythical Pokémon product and helps separate documented details from later marketplace descriptions.

For collectors building a complete anniversary display, the following checks can make the search more reliable:

• Record the February 2016 release details before comparing current resale prices.
• Check packaging, tags and licensing marks when assessing a pre-owned Mew plush.
• Compare Australian postage and GST with the item price, especially for overseas listings.
• Keep the monthly release order beside the collection so later mythical Pokémon are identified correctly.
• Treat retailer exclusivity as part of the item’s history, not just as a reason for scarcity.
• Cross-reference unusual products with official TOMY or Nintendo-linked information before buying.

Mew’s first-wave position made the plush an effective starting point for the anniversary collection. It combined the character’s mythical status with a friendly, widely appealing format, then used February to establish the anticipation that carried through the rest of 2016. For Australian fans and collectors, that combination of story, timing and limited availability is what makes the opening release particularly memorable.