The difference between a Pokémon plush and a teddy bear
The biggest difference between a teddy bear and a stuffed toy like a Pokémon is probably the price; I bet a teddy bear is way more expensive. And the second difference is in sales: Pokémon plush toys probably outsell a thousand to one or more teddy bears (maybe a lot more).
Adults are much more interested in teddy bears than children. And they are usually women who are interested as collectors and decorative objects that in cuddling them at night.
Clearly, the teddy bear in previous years was wildly popular, but as a doll full of love and affection, it is now quite forgotten. I know that as a child I never had a teddy bear or knew anyone who did, and I am not a spring hen! Certainly there was Barbie, but who could snuggle with a Barbie doll?
Pokémon plush toys (known as stuffed animals) come in a variety of sizes and, like a quality teddy bear, they are not quite as soft when new, although I imagine they take on softness when handled over time. My son has his in bed with him, although I have never seen him hug him. Much older children, teenagers in fact, also like to collect Pokémon stuffed animals (particularly popular now is any Black and White Pokémon). And why is that?
Pokémon dolls are collectibles and toys. Where like the classic bear has a history and a legacy behind them, they are filtered into the culture in other words, but they do not have a history behind them and although teddy bears enjoy much more diversity than you might imagine at first. Look, Pokémon are all about diversity, mutation indeed. There’s a whole world behind Pokémon that almost makes collecting them like collecting artifacts; a pseudoscience is growing behind Pokémon. That is something very different. You will never see a black and white teddy bear card game, but you can buy legendary Pokémon cards.
I’m not sure what stuffed animals used to be. In relative terms, the toys were much more expensive than they are now. I imagine that a teddy bear probably passed from several generations. Monetary value now reflects heritage and crafts; Pokémon dolls represent a popular marketing boom phenomenon. The two are very different things, although I am not sure that children’s feelings are so different.
Yet somehow the two remain the same. In real life, bears are strong and dangerous animals. They may be soft, but they would never let you hug them (most wouldn’t anyway). In fantasy, Pokémon are dangerous creatures too. But both, in doll form, look cute and harmless. Generally, people are afraid of scary things in the dark. Cute beast stuffed animals alleviate that fear.
