Bandai Namco is giving Pokémon model kit fans a new tiny thing to hunt, and this one feels made for the display shelf and the bag zip.
A new Pokémon Plamo keychain series is heading to Bandai Namco’s Gashapon capsule machines in Japan in May 2026. Instead of being actual buildable kits, these are miniature replica keychains based on existing Pokémon Plamo Quick model kits. Each capsule pull costs 400 yen, which is roughly around RM11–RM12 before any import or reseller markup.
The first lineup features six Pokémon: Pikachu, Mew, Eevee, Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle. Basically, Bandai knows exactly what it is doing here. You get the mascot, the fan-favourite Mythical, the forever-popular Eevee, and the original Kanto starter trio. For Malaysian collectors, this is the kind of lineup that will probably disappear fast if local toy stores or Gashapon corners bring it in.
The design is the fun part. Each keychain looks like a completed Pokémon Plamo figure sealed inside a small blister pack. So no, you are not getting tiny runners or pieces to snap together. It is more like a mini tribute to the kit, packaged as if the finished Pokémon is sitting inside a collectible display card.
The back of the packaging still nods to the model kit experience, showing references and instruction-style art of parts being removed from sprues and assembled. Nice touch, honestly. It keeps the Plamo identity without making the keychain itself a fragile mini kit that you will lose pieces from in five minutes.
These are based on the Pokémon Plamo Quick line, which is the beginner-friendly side of Bandai’s Pokémon kits. The Quick kits are smaller, cheaper, and easier to build compared to more complex model kits. They also usually skip articulation and extra parts, focusing instead on simple snap-fit assembly and cute shelf presence.
The six keychains reference Pikachu #1, Mew #2, Eevee #4, Charmander #11, Bulbasaur #13, and Squirtle #17 from the Plamo Quick range. That means Bandai is not following the original kit release order strictly. Some Pokémon like Scorbunny and Piplup appeared earlier in the actual kit lineup, but for this keychain wave, the priority is clearly the heavy hitters.
For SEA fans, the big question is availability. Right now, the release is confirmed for Japanese Gashapon machines in May 2026, with no exact worldwide date announced. Still, Pokémon Plamo kits are already sold internationally, so there is a decent chance these keychains eventually show up through import shops, hobby retailers, Amazon, or stores like SimplyToyz.
Malaysia-wise, expect the usual collector pattern: Japan gets them first, then local hobby shops and online sellers start listing full sets or blind pulls later. If you are the type who wants all six, buying a complete set from a reseller might be less painful than gambling capsule by capsule, especially once shipping and markup enter the chat.
Bandai Namco has also been building out other Pokémon keychain lines, including a fire-type themed series with Pokémon such as Fennekin, Charizard, and Victini. So this Plamo-inspired wave feels like another smart crossover between Pokémon merch collectors and model kit fans.
Not essential? Sure. Cute and dangerously collectible? Absolutely.
Source: Siliconera