When it comes to the World’s highest grossing media property, Pokemon wins hands down. Pokemon is No.1. Pokemon is BIGGER than Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings combined! It’s no surprise then amidst Pokemon’s array of merchandise an underground industry dedicated to producing unofficial and unlicenced product exists. It’s also no surprise sooner or later someone would dream up this weird xenomorph Pikachu hybrid figurine, one that opportunistically fill in gaps where big IP owners fail to deliver such crossovers.

This item is made in China. There’s no indication (in English, anyway) that this is an officially licenced product of any kind. The box does display the Pokemon logo prominently but unofficial product of this nature has often been known to display such authentic graphical elements in order to feign legitimacy and still be pirated material. This one is definitely no different. The fact the box also lacks any official 20th Century Fox badging also indicates this oddity has a dubious origin.

No manufacturer’s markings or date exists on the figurine, either. With these observations in mind, we’re just going to treat it as a knock off of a sort – a very creative one – but definitely one outside of authorised property permissions. So, a knock off.

Is this a bad thing?

It depends on how you look at it. Pokemon Company probably won’t like it – but they’re a Japanese based organisation and this item hails from across the East China Sea where adherence to copyright laws are less stringent and such liberties with international IPs are common so their powers of objection are severely limited to ineffectiveness. On the other hand, to a fan of Pokemon and/or ALIEN, this strange little effigy is a weird delight.

Call it what you like, ‘Xenochu’, ‘Pikamorph’ or whatever this thing is. It’s only identified as Pikachu on the box – but that just seems inadequate and lacking the synergy that this piece embodies. This pocket monstrosity is both overbearingly adorable and freakishly hideous in the same breath. There’s a high “WTF..?” Component to this 4 inch tall figurine. It’s a static piece with no points of articulation and mostly cast in a hard material, a resin, I am guessing. Separate pieces such as the arms, ears and – what would normally pass as facial features – are all made of plastic and fitted into place. It’s obvious in photos accompanying this review different materials were used.

The juxtaposition of the super cute Pokemon character finished in HR Giger’s signature biomechanical style is excellently realised. Looking at the silhouette of the figure, there’s no doubt this is Pokemon’s most famous ambassador. After which, you don’t have to look too closely at the details to reveal its entire surface is covered with all the integument and hoses of the exquisitely grotesque Big Chap from ALIEN.

It’s this odd, normally conflicting hybridisation crafted with great skill that draws these contrasting themes together into a surreal whole that is at once a joy to behold and also equally repulsive and concerning. Pokemon Company may not approve of this oddity but I’m pretty certain Giger would guffaw loudly if he was alive today to hold one of these things in his hands despite his reputedly somber and pensive disposition.

This cute abomination is available in distinct 2 colors. Greenish blue and yellow. I must admit I like the yellow one a lot more. It’s intention to emulate the Pokemon character that inspired it is thematically ‘authentic’. Yellow is Pikachu’s traditional color after all, but the resemblance doesn’t end there. The yellow figure also boasts the signature black tipped ears and tail of the little yellow rodent. A pair of bloody marks on the side of its face where Pikachu’s famously rosy cheeks would normally be found and a black wipe down of the figure complete its unsettling treatment of a safe and familiar personality turned malevolent.

It’s possible to easily dismantle Xenochu’s face, removing the transparent dome and skull features beneath. Doing so will reveal a cavity within the figure where small valuables may be concealed once these parts are returned to the figure’s head. There’s only one problem with using this space within the figure to hide your stash. Everyone I know who owns one of these delightfully unwholesome figurines has discovered it. So relying on this secret place inside the figure for purposes of security probably isn’t the great idea it appears to be.

This unconventional figurine is as charming as it is disconcerting; “wicked cool” is a most apt description, here. TaoBao is responsible for the manufacture of these Tooth Fairy figurines but there’s no official distributor outside of China due to the questionable nature of these commodities. If you would like one, however, they are currently available outside of China via eBay. They’re easy to find and at a reasonable price, too. Highly recommended if you need to add some extra weird and worrying quotient to your lives.

Score: 8/10

There is a mad genius behind this thing, even if it does possess a face only a predalien  mother could love.

I’d like to thank Mitch Mitchell for additional input regarding this oddity.

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