Merchandise/Gashapon toys
Gashapon toys are toys that are dispensed by Gashapon machines. Gashapon is a brand of machines created by the company Bandai, and are exclusive to Japan. They are similar to quarter machines found in the US, but are usually more expensive and give higher quality rewards. Each Gashapon machine will have a series associated with it. The toy you obtain will be a random selection from the series you purchased from. Takara Tomy Arts released many Pikmin themed Gashapon series over the span of the series.
List of Pikmin Gashapon toys
Pikmin 3 character collection
Takara Tomy Arts released a collection of keyrings in February 2014 based on Pikmin 3. The keychains are comprised of Red, Yellow, Blue, Winged, and Rock Pikmin types, each with either a lead, bud, or flower, bringing the total number of keychains in this series to 15. They are designed to clip onto each other from top to bottom so that one can create "ropes" of Pikmin. These were common to find in Japanese dollar stores.
Pikmin 3 keyrings.
Keyring collection.
Pikmin supply collection
Takara Tomy Arts released a collection of Pikmin-themed supplies in December of 2013. They were sold in machines in Japan for 200 yen each. The supplies consisted of Pikmin business card holders available in Red and Yellow Pikmin variations, Pikmin rubber bands, Pikmin decorative tape, and Pikmin mini notepads.
The Takara Tomy Pikmin supply collection.
Another image.
The container of rubber bands.
Pikmin swing collection
Takara Tomy Arts released a collection of Pikmin Swing Mascots in September of 2013. They are rubbery toy Pikmin that can wiggle back and forth when shaken. They come in plastic pots with brown hard plastic made to look like dirt, however, it is advertised that the Pikmin can also be stuck into an earphone jack. The pot is brown and has "Pikmin" written on it. The Pikmin are each about 3 inches tall, and consist of a Red, Yellow, or Blue Pikmin, each with either a leaf, bud, or flower, totaling to 9 different variants. The leaf/bud/flower and eyes are the same color as the Pikmin itself, to ease on production costs.
Pikmin swing character collection.
Pikmin swing character collection.
Pikmin keychain collections
In March 2002 Takara Tomy Arts released a set of keychains which contained a few Pikmin figures and a clip. The figures consisted of Red, Blue, and Yellow Pikmin, each with either a leaf, bud, or flower, as well as red, blue, and yellow pellets, and a Captain Olimar figure. The keychain clip would come with either 2 or 3 figures as well as a tag with the Japanese Pikmin logo. Keychain clips that contained Olimar would have Olimar and one other figure, while keychain clips that did not would have 3 other various figures.
In July of 2004, these figures were re-released for Pikmin 2, which they then added on to the number of figures. Purple Pikmin and White Pikmin and Bulbmin, with leaf, bud, and flower variants were added, as well as a figure for Louie, and the President. The clip was replaced with a strap, and the logo on the tag was replaced with the Japanese Pikmin 2 logo.
Due to popularity in the first set of keychains, as well as the recent release of Pikmin 3, in June 2013 the figures were released a third time, again based on the first Pikmin game. This time the figures featured straps again, with Olimar attached to the strap, with a Pikmin attached to a new ring on the bottom of Olimar's feet. The series contained 9 different keychains which featured Olimar and one Pikmin. The Pikmin with Olimar varies between Red, Yellow, or Blue and has either a leaf, bud, or flower.
The 2002 keychain figures for Pikmin.
The 2004 strap figures for Pikmin 2.
Photo of some 2004 figures.
Photo of some 2004 figures.
Box art for the 2013 strap figures for Pikmin.
The 2013 strap figures for Pikmin.
Photo of all the 2013 strap figures.
Pikmin magnet collection
In December 2002, Takara Tomy Arts released a set of 7 magnets based on Pikmin called "Pikmin Relief Magnets". Six of the seven could be placed next to each other on a magnetic surface to display a line of Pikmin in whatever order the user wants. The seventh was just an emblem. They were sold in machines in Japan for 200 yen.
All of the magnets.
Pikmin suction cup figure collection
Takara Tomy Arts released a collection of Pikmin figures with suction cups in October of 2012. There were 11 figures total, consisting of 3 Red Pikmin, 3 Yellow Pikmin, and 3 Blue Pikmin, each with a leaf, bud, and flower variant, as well as a Mushroom Pikmin and Captain Olimar figure. The leaf Pikmin were also shown carrying pellets. They were sold in machines in Japan for 100 yen. Each container came with 2 Pikmin, with the exception of Olimar, who came alone.
Suction cup figurines.
The pamphlet that comes with each suction cup figure.
