There’s a clear ( 
) precedent for the the clear/transparent versions.
There’s the early deluxe (DX) boxes that were released, in the non-standard collection style boxes.
And there are variants akin to shiny versions. The problem in my mind has been I have looked for these versions of particular figures and not found them to see if I could confirm whether a large enough sample showed that every figure had them. They didn’t seem ubiquitous.
But @bbobrob has a Hoppip that is one of those variants, and I was overly cautious in that instance too.
Translations are far more accessible now with AI, so I dug out the book I’ve mentioned before.
You can see the clear versions (and have probably seen them before, but for reference to the following).
This fold out sheet from the book shows an example of multiple releases (and variants) of the same shaped figure.
Translation:
Header
Special Project 2: 10th Anniversary
Held!! The Finger Puppet Guinness!!! Pokémon Kids “Anything Goes” No. 1!!
A competition to decide the winners from over 1,000 items! The “Kids” claiming to be No. 1 have gathered!
Top Section: “Most Frequently in the Lineup” Category
(Top Left Box)
Category: The Pokémon released the most times!
“Popular Pokémon appear as products again and again!! The number of times in the lineup is proof of popularity! The competition begins… who stands at the top!?”Counting Rules:
Counts items released up to December 2006.
Reprints of the exact same pose count as 1.
Different forms (like Deoxys) or combined sets count as 1 type.
Only nationwide retail releases are counted (Campaign prizes/Limited sets are excluded).
The Rankings:
1st Place: Pikachu! (24 Lineups)
- Visuals show Pikachu figures from Part 1 (1996) through Diamond & Pearl (2006).
2nd Place: Mew (11 Lineups)
3rd Place: Deoxys (10 Lineups)
- Note: The Deoxys box says “Different forms are funny/interesting!”
Commentary (Blue Box):
“As expected, the number one is Pikachu. Between new poses, reprints, and Clear versions, it is the main character! Its count is overwhelming. Following next is Mew and Deoxys! There is a 10-year accumulation of Mew figures. Applause for Deoxys who closed the gap in just 2 years! The one following the Top 3 is Mewtwo.”
Right Sidebar: Extra Edition
Title: Which Trainer has been in the lineup the most?
Winner: Of course, Satoshi (Ash)!!
Total: Commercialized 3 times!!
Commentary: “If we count humans using the same rules, 1st place is naturally him! It’s interesting to see how his clothes change when lined up. Will he become a ‘Kid’ figure in his Sinnoh outfit…?”
Bottom Left: “Longest” & “Flattest” Categories
- Text: “Next is the measurement of Kids figures—Length and Thinness No. 1 have been decided.”
1st Place (Longest): Gyarados!!
Description: “Huge!! It’s a combination technique of 2 parts!! Though it doesn’t have a finger hole…”
Measurement: “From the tip of the fangs to the tip of the tail, it’s a whopping 10cm!”
1st Place (Flattest): Unown!!
- Description: “Its thinness is overwhelming. Carefully measured with calipers.”
Bottom Middle: “Most Colorful” Category
1st Place: Raikou!!
Total: 11 Colors!!
Description: “Deciding the No. 1 Kid by using the most paint colors. The glory goes to this department! The detailed coloring on Raikou’s head.”
Note pointing to mouth: “The white of the mouth and the white of the teeth are different colors!”
Comparison (Purple Box): Metamon (Ditto)
- Text: “On the other hand, the one with the fewest colors is this one. Simple No. 1!”
Bottom Right: “Most Size Variations” Category
Title: The Category for being made into ‘Kids’ in the most sizes
1st Place: Lugia!!
Description: “There are ‘Big’ sizes for Kids, and ‘DX’ is a separate category too. Combining them all, the No. 1 for having that kind of size variety is…!?”
Visuals show:
Normal 100 yen product.
DX Pokémon Kids Series 5.
Pokémon Kids DX2.
Pokémon Air Kids.
The book shows all of the official releases up until 2006.
I checked for all releases containing Starmie.
You had thought the one in question might be from 1998, however, the one below is the only figure mentioned for 1998.
Translation:
Header
1996 - 1998 Pokémon Kids HISTORY
The Figures (Grid)
Note: The number corresponds to the ID number in the top left of each box.
113: Pidgeot (Pijotto)
109: Golem (Goroonya)
105: Victreebel (Utsubot)
114: Pinsir (Kairos)
110: Starmie (Starmie)
106: Marowak (Garagara)
115: Staryu (Hitodeman)
111: Persian (Persian)
107: Articuno (Freezer)
116: Dewgong (Jugon)
112: Magikarp (Koiking)
108: Mankey (Mankey)
Right Sidebar Info
New Pokémon Kids Part 3
Total Types: 20
Release Date: May 1998
Packaging: Open Package (Contents visible/labeled)
Set Contents: Painted Soft Vinyl Figure, Ramune Candy, Card.
Characteristics of this Wave:
“2-Part” Figures! Pay attention to Hitmonlee!!
Hitmonlee, who decorates the package, is a “2-part” figure and a deluxe version that does not have a finger hole. Because it is a rare Pokémon in the game that you can only get once per playthrough, it was given special treatment within the “Kids” line. Two Legendary Pokémon were also made into figures, bringing the 1st Series to a climax!LIST (Bottom Right Table)
Left Column:
115 Staryu
116 Dewgong
117 Gloom
118 Machoke
119 Hypno
120 Krabby
121 Arcanine
122 Gastly
123 Moltres
124 Hitmonlee
Right Column:
105 Victreebel
106 Marowak
107 Articuno
108 Mankey
109 Golem
110 Starmie
111 Persian
112 Magikarp
113 Pidgeot
114 Pinsir
How it differs from the one question, is the 1998 figure isn’t mid attack.
Translation
Top Text
Header: “A series developed in parallel with the Advance series. It re-released Kanto and Johto Pokémon that appear in the Hoenn Pokédex and National Pokédex!”
Top Right Note: “History of the Reprint.”
Right Section: The Pokémon Kids Reprint Series Part 1
Release Date: November 2003
Total: 20 Types
Figures (Rightmost two columns):
006: Pikachu
109: Golem
019: Sandshrew
112: Magikarp
035: Oddish
127: Zubat
042: Abra
143: Machamp
066: Horsea
182: Pichu
088: Golduck
190: Corsola
101: Ninetales
203: Wobbuffet
206: Igglybuff
213: Skarmory
227: Natu
240: Girafarig
241: Phanpy
243: Chinchou
Middle Section: The Pokémon Kids Reprint Series Part 2
Release Date: June 2004
Total: 20 Types
Figures (Middle two columns):
005: Jigglypuff
043: Machop
012: Raichu
047: Seaking
015: Psyduck
056: Golbat
022: Voltorb
059: Geodude
025: Wigglytuff
061: Grimer
033: Rhyhorn
071: Rhydon
040: Vulpix
080: Vileplume
081: Sandslash
089: Kadabra
098: Graveler
103: Magnemite
104: Weezing
110: Starmie
Left Section: The Pokémon Kids Reprint Series Part 3
Release Date: December 2004
Total: 18 Types
Figures (Leftmost two columns):
084: Electrode
135: Koffing
094: Goldeen
142: Alakazam
117: Gloom
144: Tentacruel
130: Magneton
146: Dodrio
131: Doduo
148: Seadra
132: Muk
152: Marill
155: Bellossom
161: Heracross
180: Donphan
238: Lugia
249: Ho-Oh
Bottom Left Box: Gyarados
Title: Gyarados becomes a finger puppet type!!
151: Gyarados
Text: “In ‘New Pokémon Kids Part 5,’ the Gyarados that surprised fans was redesigned as a finger puppet form. It seems they created a new pose to create a sense of unity with the other figures!”
Again, this one is not mid attack.
That was it for Starmie through to 2006.
Then I translated this page:
1999–2001 Pokémon Kids HISTORY
Kids TOPIC 17 – The Secret of the Clear Versions
Let’s compare the regular versions and the clear versions!
Pukurin (Wigglytuff)
Wigglytuff looks cute no matter what,
but in the clear version you can really see the inner shape, which is neat!Lizardon (Charizard)
When Charizard becomes clear,
its fiery energy really seems to shine from inside!Fushigiso (Ivysaur)
The clear version tries to recreate the feel of “solar beam” gathering light!
The transparent look makes it even cooler!Porygon
The digital Pokémon Porygon looks even more digital in the clear version!
Its polygon shape really stands out!
The Secret of Clear Versions
Pokémon Kids fans probably know that “clear versions” exist.
But hearing “I got a clear version from the kids I bought!” is something only a few lucky people can say.That’s because clear versions were made only in very small numbers.
The reason?
Some Pokémon’s shapes were extremely difficult to reproduce using the clear material used at the time.
Because of that, some Pokémon were simply too hard to make as clear versions.Even so, a few of these rare and valuable clear Pokémon Kids figures managed to be produced.
Here we introduce these special, precious items!
Which Pokémon was the most difficult to make as a clear version?
The editorial staff of this book—huge Pokémon and Kids figure fans—conducted a survey among the team:
“Which Pokémon was the hardest to turn into a Clear Version?”
The answer was… Kakureon (Kecleon)!
Its body has complicated curves, and capturing that shape with transparent material was extremely challenging.
Some staff members even said:“It was practically impossible!”
That’s why Kecleon is shown here as the representative example.
So the variants are acknowledged, but perhaps not across all series.