Target's early Black Friday sale has kicked off for 2026 and one of the best deals so far is on a surprising Pokémon product. The Puppetronics Pikachu was released earlier this year as part of Pokémon's 30th anniversary celebrations and this is the first big discount we've seen on it. It's currently discounted to $47.99 at both Target and Amazon, which is a whopping $32 off its retail price.
There are a lot of different Pokémon plushies on the market, but this is the only one that will actually move and talk to you. This animatronic Pikachu boasts more than 120 movements, lights, and sounds that bring the character to life right before your eyes.
Animatronics are a bit of a mixed bag, even if they are Pokémon-themed. On one hand they are a really cool gift for a kid who just wants the closest thing to a real-life Pokémon. On the other hand, they just feel a bit haunted. There's a reason the Five Nights at Freddy's franchise is so popular and it's because it feeds into a very real fear.
That being said, I have heard nothing but positive reviews about this little guy from friends who have bought it themselves. It's movements and sounds are triggered by motion and touch and there's very little reason to believe it will ever gain any sentience beyond that. It also comes in a box that doubles as a display case if you don't plan on playing with it too often. The company behind this product, Jazwares, are the same people who created the very popular Squishmallows.
Target's early Black Friday sale is one of the first of many Black Friday sales to come. Amazon has also recently joined the early Black Friday club with discounts on Pokémon DVDs and Blu-rays well ahead of Thanksgiving. So if you're looking to shop for gifts for the Pokéfan in your life, right now is a surprisingly good time to start browsing.
Jacob Kienlen is a Senior Audience Development Strategist and Writer for IGN. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has considered the Northwest his home for his entire life. With a bachelor's degree in communication and 10 years of professional writing experience, his expertise is spread across a variety of different pop culture topics — from TV series to books and the latest LEGO sets.
سەرچاوەی فەرمی بە زمانی ئینگلیزی: https://www.ign.com/articles/animatronic-pikachu-plush-early-black-friday-2026
