Pokemon Water-Type Starter Build-a-Bear Plush Now Available

Build-a-Bear is adding another Water-type starter to its successful line of Pokemon stuffed animals, this time being Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire’s Mudkip. Build-a-Bear Workshop has had plenty of interesting video game crossovers throughout the years, with customers able to buy cute plush versions of Nintendo characters like Bowser from the Super Mario Bros. Series and Tom Nook of Animal Crossing fame in addition to the brand’s famous line of customizable teddy bears .

One of the most successful cross-promotions between Build-a-Bear and Nintendo is the former’s growing assortment of Pokemon plushies, which started with the ever-famous mascot Pikachu in 2016. Since then, several fan-favorite Pokemon have been released by Build-a-Bear, including many of the starters that players choose from when starting up a new Pokemon game. Red and Blue’s Charmander and Squirtle were among the first Pokemon Build-a-Bear options, and the new Grass-type starter Sprigatito was released earlier this year following its debut in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

Pokemon fans can now add Ruby and Sapphire’s lovable Water starter Mudkip to their collection of Build-a-Bear plushies, as part of a new bundle released on the official Build-a-Bear website. The Pokemon Mudkip Plus Bundle is currently an online exclusive, and like most of Build-a-Bear’s offerings comes with a pair of cute alternate outfits in the form of a Mudkip-themed raincoat set and sleeper pajamas. The Mudkip doll itself plays five sounds pulled from the Pokemon anime, and the entire bundle is priced at $72.

With its useful Water abilities and cute, somewhat South Park-like face, Mudkip has been a popular member of the Pokemon line-up since its addition in 2002’s Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire - even moreso after one appeared in the Pokemon anime as Brock’s new partner in the Hoenn region. Fans have created plenty of interesting artwork of the scrappy Mud Fish Pokemon over the years, redesigning it as a mech pilot, inventing Fire-themed variants, and even visualizing what Mudkip would look like as a human.

Build-a-Bear has become the go-to outlet for Pokemon plush collectors, and now Mudkip is joining the list of Pokemon to be captured in cuddly plush form. While this new Mudkip Build-a-Bear bundle is currently exclusive to the company’s online store, it’s still a cute and charming recreation of Ruby and Sapphire’s resident Water-type starter - especially with its customizable outfits and authentic sound effects. Even better, Build-a-Bear’s new Mudkip plush could make a good holiday gift idea for anyone with an old-school Pokemon fan on their shopping list.