New plushies turn Evangelion characters into cats

New cat themed plushies based on Shinji and Kaworu will be available to celebrate Evangelion’s 30th anniversary.

The Evangelion franchise is commemorating its 30th anniversary in 2025, which marks three decades since the debut of its original television series in 1995.

Created by Hideaki Anno and produced by Gainax (now Khara), Neon Genesis Evangelion quickly gained widespread acclaim for its distinctive visual style, its layered narrative, and its exploration of complex psychological and philosophical themes.

The series was also an international success beyond the conventional boundaries of anime and can be regarded as a major cultural phenomenon influencing numerous works across various media.

Evangelion’s 30th anniversary has included the release of tailored suits

To celebrate this milestone anniversary, a wide range of new merchandise and collaborative products based on the “Evangelion” franchise are being developed and released in Japan.

These have included bucket seats for cars, tailored suits and limited edition McDonald’s burgers.

Among these anniversary tie-ins is a collaboration with Movic’s “withCAT” stuffed animal keychains.

“withCAT” is a series of cat-shaped plush keychain toys characterized by their customizable features.

Each “withCAT” keychain includes an interchangeable eye mask, allowing owners to alter the toy’s facial expression.

Shinji and Kawaro have been turned into cute cats

Additionally, the tail of the “withCAT” plush is embedded with a wire, enabling it to be posed in a standing position, adding to its versatility as both a display item and a portable accessory.

Each keychain also comes equipped with a ball chain for attachment to bags, keys, or other items.

The new Evangelion “withCAT” plush keychains are based on Shinji Ikari and Nagisa Kaworu.

An included “eye mask” can be used to change the plushies expression

Reservations for these new plush keychains are currently being accepted at Animate stores nationwide across Japan, through the Animate Online Shop, and via Movic’s mail order service, as well as other participating retailers.

Currently expected to be released on July 26th, 2025, each plush will stand approximately 15cm tall and they will be priced at 2,420 yen (approx. $16.16 USD / £12.48 GBP).

Source: PR Times