Sanrio characters become traditional Japanese monsters in new capsule toy collection
A new line of capsule toys from Bandai’s Gashapon brand is being released, featuring a collaboration with the world of Sanrio characters.
The new collection, titled “Sanrio Characters Dororon Yōkai Figure,” reimagines five popular Sanrio characters as traditional Japanese Yōkai.
Bandai regularly release Sanrio Gashapon with different themes, with one of the last collections featuring Sanrio characters as magical mermaids.
Yōkai are a class of supernatural monsters, spirits, and demons from Japanese folklore that have been the subject of countless stories and artworks for centuries.
This new series blends the cute, modern aesthetic of Sanrio with the spooky, folkloric tradition of Yōkai.
Gashapon are a part of hobby culture in Japan, offering a wide variety of collectible toys and accessories through vending machines.
The new lineup includes five different figures, each with a unique character and monster pairing.
Hello Kitty is portrayed as a “Kitsune,” a fox spirit known for their ability to shapeshift and enchant other beings.
The mischievous devilish character, Kuromi, is fittingly depicted as a “Oni,” a kind of ogre believed to live in caves or deep in the mountains and known for their superhuman strength and evil nature.
The laid-back dog character, Pompompurin, is shown as “Nurikabe”, a spirit said to manifest as an invisible wall that causes mischief with travelers walking at night.
Cinnamoroll, the flying puppy with long ears, is presented as a “Tanuki,” or raccoon dog, a well-known trickster figure in Japanese folklore capable of transformation.
Finally, the fish-man character Hangyodon is reimagined as a “Kappa,” a famous water-dwelling imp known for its love of cucumbers and wrestling.
Each figure captures the essence of both the Sanrio character and the Yōkai they are portraying.
The “Sanrio Characters Dororon Yōkai Figure” collection is now on sale at Gashapon machines across Japan, priced at ¥300 per attempt.
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