BODY: The Mythical bolt-loving Meltan is finally getting the cuddle treatment. The Pokémon Center has announced that its beloved "Pokémon fit" plush series will add Meltan and its evolved form Melmetal on July 11, giving collectors two of the franchise's most unusual creatures in palm-sized form.
Each plush retails for ¥2,200 (roughly $14). In-store sales begin July 11, but online shoppers can jump ahead: the Pokémon Center Online store opens orders on July 9 at 10:00 a.m. Japan time.
The "Pokémon fit" line is prized for its compact, sit-in-your-hand proportions and surprisingly faithful detailing, having quietly grown into one of the Pokémon Center's most complete plush collections. Meltan—the hexagonal, mercury-bodied Mythical first introduced through Pokémon GO and Let's Go, Pikachu/Eevee in 2018—translates unexpectedly well into the rounded, huggable style, while the hulking Melmetal makes for a notably chunkier addition.
For fans, the appeal is as much about completion as cuteness. The "fit" series has steadily worked through the National Pokédex, and each new wave sends collectors scrambling to fill gaps before stock sells through.
The insider take
In Tokyo, "Pokémon fit" releases are treated less like merch drops and more like limited events. Popular entries routinely sell out within hours online, and resale prices on Mercari and Yahoo Auctions can climb fast for anything that lapses out of print. The July 9 online head start matters: domestic buyers know the flagship Pokémon Center stores in Shibuya and Ikebukuro draw lines, so locking in a web order two days early is the savvy move. Expect Meltan—still a fan-favorite oddity—to be the one that vanishes first.
Originally reported by GAME Watch (Japanese).