Pokemon Eevee evolutions are probably the most popular characters. The eight little characters have captured the hearts of fans around the world. Eevee, Umbreon, Espeon, Flareon, Jolteon, Vaporeon, Glaceon and Leafeon have become the obsession of all children. But with so many people wanting them, how can I find them? And what items are out there?
Due to their popularity, Eevee evolution characters have become quite difficult to obtain. Since everyone wants these eight specific Pokemon characters, they have become expensive and hard to find. Take Umbreon for example. The beautiful black cat is probably the most popular of the bunch. The prices of anything with Umbreon can be quite high. Whether it’s small Chupa pop figures, Keshipoke figures, canvas plushies, Pokedolls, plush toys, t-shirts, or Pokemon cards, you’ll probably have to pay quite a bit to get your hands on them.
So what kind of merchandise is there and how can I get it?
There are quite a few Pokemon items featuring the Eevee evolution characters. Most of these items come from Japan. Japanese items are of much better quality and since Pokémon is a Japanese anime, it’s only natural that most of the items come from Japan.
pokedolls
In 2008, the Pokémon Centers in Japan manufactured the Pokedoll plush. The set consisted of all eight evolutions, Umbreon, Espeon, Flareon, Vaporeon, Glaceon, Jolteon, Eevee, and Leafeon. They quickly sold out. They were then released in the US for a short time and of course sold out very quickly. Then, in December 2009, the Pokémon Centers in Japan relaunched the evolution of Pokedolls. Again in very small quantities. Once again they sold out in a matter of days. You can find these items on Ebay, but be careful as there are many pirated or counterfeit items out there. You are almost always safe buying from a Japanese seller as they are honest and of course made in Japan so your chances of getting a real one are much higher.
CANVAS PLUSH
In 2009, the Pokémon Centers in Japan made the plush toy in the shape of a canvas beanbag. The set consisted of all eight evolutions, Umbreon, Espeon, Flareon, Vaporeon, Glaceon, Jolteon, Eevee, and Leafeon. They sold out in a matter of days. They are smaller than a Pokedoll and have a small amount of beans inside. These are very cute as they have legs and are more accurately shaped like the characters. These were not released in the US or anywhere else outside of Japan. Prices are skyrocketing on them. They used to be around $20 when they came out. Now expect to pay close to $60 a piece for them.
PENDANTS, KEYRINGS AND STRAP
There have been a few key chains of some of the evolution characters like Umbreon over the years, but these have become almost impossible to find and can cost up to $200 each. In 2009, Pokémon Centers in Japan released Pokémon Time mobile phone straps. Of the evolutions, only Umbreon, Eevee, and Espeon were made. Umbreon sold out in days, while the other two sold out in weeks. Also in 2009, there was a set of 6 charms that included Umbreon, Espeon, Flareon, Jolteon, Vaporeon, and Eevee. Glaceon and Leafeon were left out of this set.
CARDS AND STICKERS
Many Japanese Pokémon Eevee evolution cards and stickers have been released over the years. Most cards are around $5-10 and stickers are $1-5. The exception is some of the old Bandai cards. Back in 1997, when Pokemon first came out, they released some sticky cards. They are like cards, but they actually have stickers on the front that you can remove. Some of these can be expensive. They typically cost between $30 and $150, depending on the character and condition of the card.
Now the hard part, how can these treasures be obtained?
There is always Ebay, but I personally prefer to avoid it due to the amount of pirated items currently being sold. Your best chance is some of the smaller personal sites where the seller is located in Japan. There are only a handful of sites that are in English, so it’s hard if you can’t read Japanese. Also, most Japanese sites will not ship internationally.
Obtaining Eevee evolution items is tricky and usually very expensive. Buying as soon as they come out is the best bet. Almost always the price increases with the passage of time. Good luck on your search. I have to have them all.