Geekscape Reviews: Build-A-Bear Workshop’s Squirtle Plush Set
When I first popped that Pokémon Blue cartridge into my Gameboy Color all those years ago, I chose the water-type Squirtle as my starter. So when I heard that Build-A-Bear Workshop was including this tiny turtle Pokémon in their line of customizable plushes, my hopes were set pretty high and for the most part, they were met.
One of the differences between Squirtle and the previous Pokémon plushes released by Build-A-Bear are the variety of textures found on the plush itself. Squirtle has three different textures on its body. The softest are the blue parts on its face, tail, and limbs. They are so fun to pet! The yellow part of the underside of the its shell (found on the plush’s front) feels almost like velvet. Finally the brown, backside of its shell is a cheap-feeling, rough material.
Like Build-A-Bear’s Charmander set, Squirtle’s online exclusive bundle includes a sound box set inside one of its paws, under the Build-A-Bear patch. And like I said in my review of Charmander, they should have opted for the monster’s in-game sounds rather than those from the dubbed anime. They come out weird-sounding and not at all cute.
Fun fact: Squirtle’s tail props the plush upright quite well. Also, the rain slicker that is included with the online exclusive set is adorable and definitely my favorite item of Pokémon-themed clothing the store has released so far. It is brilliant that they chose to release it with a water-type, too!
The slicker is made of a pliable vinyl material, with Pokéballs printed all over it. It also features the Pokémon logo on one of the pockets.
The other clothing item included in the set was the Ultra Ball hoodie. This one is also available to purchase separately in stores. It didn’t have as much character as the rain slicker but I liked the soft feel of the jersey-like fabric.
Besides the creepy voice box, the only real issue I had with this plush was in the quality control department. I spotted two noticeable manufacturing errors that knocked my opinion of the plush down a notch.
This first mess-up was in the swirly part of the tail. It looks like the sewing machine got jammed, leading to a cluster of loose loops of thread. I don’t think it will effect the integrity of the seam but it is unsightly and I am concerned about it getting on the velcro from the toy’s outfits.
I spotted the second mistake as soon as I took my Squirtle out of its box. The embroidery around the left eye is sloppily done and has some stray stitching just below it. Of the two errors, it is the less irksome but it bothers me that they exist at all.
Every Squirtle purchased, whether online or in-store, comes with an exclusive Pokémon TCG promo card. While I don’t play the card game, I do appreciate the artwork and think it is a cool bonus for fans.
The online exclusive Squirtle set earns a 4 out of 5 rating. The design was well-done and I liked that the tail doubled as a stand. The only problems with were the disturbing voice box and manufacturing errors. Beyond that, this is a fun plush that I can see fans enjoying.
[This review is based on a sample provided by Build-A-Bear Workshop. All opinions are my own.]
