Although this isn’t the case for all of the Bromides cards, if the second picture is the back of your Starmie, you can find the year at the green circled portion:
You can check the back of the sticker to verify the copyright year and when it was made.
As the source above, there is a clip from a TV show that aired in 1998 (Soonpoong Clinic - Ep.353 Pikachu’s Sticker) which features a girl opening a bunch of this type of Pokemon Bread, which shows the stickers: https://youtu.be/dgAelUIjK8E?t=312
There is also a news article ( KBS 뉴스 ) from 1999 that focuses on the food waste as a result of these stickers, as it seems that children were buying bread then throwing them away in order to obtain stickers.
Oh, this is nice. I will have to check the card again (and take my own pictures of it, too). I think I checked the card for a copyright date earlier, but it seems I overlooked it. Will report back.
Btw it is great your Seviper got so much love with the Bromide cards – I wonder how often Starmie was featured though.
Yes! Very detailed explanation and great resource for the stickers you provided. Thank you very much @sableguy, as always. It is sad though that the stickers produced such crazy food waste.
Together with the help of @everyonewe now have 237 Non-TCG items identified in this thread (link) and many more where only the date is missing. Not all of them are hard to identify or they have been identified before elsewhere. But I think this thread grew to a nice resource for interested species collectors – and it is soley due to the help of such lovely and knowledgeable people like the ones here on e4.
An update on Item 37 is it might be a name tag. Possibly from a self assemble kit of sorts. I say this because the top loops are made of different materials and styles, along with the backing label being attached with different positioning (vertical and horizontal).
It looks like the one in your photos has reacted to something or is a factory error.
You can see areas of what might become transparency appearing on this one for example. It appears to be reacting to something, possibly handling and UV.
@rainbow and @sableguy : Totally amazing finds, I never would have dreamed of the possibility to identify all of those super niche items. You do the community and me a huge favor!
Regarding Item 37 (Starmie pacth) @rainbow: I am very curious why the loops are different. If they had been part of a kit, they surely would be the same, wouldn’t they? Nevertheless, you are right; they seem as if they were put together by hand, as indicated by the different orientation of the white patch on the back. What strikes me is the following: Why would they need a patch and a loop? It would be reasonable to assume they served one specific purpose.
Regarding the Pokemon Town full color collection 3, @rainbow, you are right, I have it not in my collection, but I surely will add it later on next year. Thank your for the hint. I hope, I will find one with the housing and the intact capsule.
Regarding the Pokemon Full Color Stadium Part 8, @rainbow, same as above, will add this one later. Thank you again for the hint.
Regarding 262p, Special Moves Pokémon Kids 8 (2008), @rainbow, I will take photos as soon as this one arrives, as I understand the Japanese text, the seller claims, it was a special transparent edition, but sun exposure or factory error seems more likely if there is no information out there you know of.
Regarding 104, D.Mangas hors-série n°36 - Juin 2000, @sableguy, I would never have dreamed, this card would be identified. I was browsing google one day and the picture search showed this one. I clicked it thinking the link would surely be dead. I ended on a Frech website and ordered it, still thinking it would never arrive. And here we go, a french hand cuttable card identified and encapsulated! WOW!
A quick search for other transparent figures within the the special moves series reveals there is in fact other clear versions for it too, so that’s great news, and would’ve been the smart thing for me to check originally.
Oh, that is nice to know, good you kept looking.
Do you know, which set those are from, is it still the Special Moves Pokémon Kids 8 (2008), only with transparent figures?
identified by @bbobrob : (link), came within a plastic capsule that either contained Trading cards or a plastic toy (Gameboy)
quote: “The box contained both common non-holo and rare holographic variations of each card. These cards measure 23 mm wide and 23 mm tall and are made with a thin but sturdy cardstock.” (source)
#41 - Metal Coaster - likely from Nagatanien Curry (カレー) You can make out a very similar metal coaster on this boxart … I can’t exactly date this one yet, but the blog post it’s from was written in 2004, so it was at least made during that year.
@bbobrob : “is definitely by Sapporo Ichiban (company). I think it’s one of their noodle sticker sets, but not sure which one, as they released a few (and are still releasing to this day, I think). [26-01-2025]”
044: [YEAR?] – Meiji Pokémon Ice Get sticker (Golden Starmie)
@sableguy : “The back of the sticker states that it is from the “Meiji Pokémon Ice Get” campaign in Japanese. I could not find a year for this sticker.”
@bbobrob : “Called Meiji ice cream stickers (found this searching around on Mercari Japan). They were also apparently individual lottery tickets for winning a prize (?), and you could flip over the things on the back to reveal if you won? (Also read this on a Mercari Japan listing, and if you Google translate one of the backs, it says something along those lines).”
identified by @bbobrob : (link), came within a plastic capsule that either contained Trading cards or a plastic toy (Gameboy)
quote: “The box contained both common non-holo and rare holographic variations of each card. These cards measure 23 mm wide and 23 mm tall and are made with a thin but sturdy cardstock.” (source)
248p is as expected, a guidebook/Pokedex for Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire. Bookoff’s listing for it says it was released in 2/20/2003 and published by Shogakukan, one of the usual companies that publishes game guidebooks.
There’s also a guide released earlier that seems to have only the walkthrough portion of the book.
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.
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.
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.
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!”
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.
I can only speak to Hoppip/Skiploom/Jumpluff (and maybe a few others that I’ve seen while browsing), but last time, in one of your articles, I had surmised that clear versions only existed for Hoppip and Skiploom (based off reprint sets that possibly had clear variants). I’ve since confirmed that the clear Jumpluff does exist (not owned by me yet, though), but it does seem harder to come across than the clear Hoppip and Skiploom figures.
It seems like maybe the sets with clear versions aren’t well documented because, even within sets, they don’t exist for all pokemon? Given what was mentioned in the page with the Kecleon.
Yeah, they might not want to publicly announce them because:
they might feel obligated to the public to release them all, and disappoint some collectors when they can’t;
they might not have consistent quantities enough to want to draw attention to them.
That page from the book made it even less clear () by being written in the 1999-2001 part of the history.
The Starmie in question is from the 2008 figure production mold. But interestingly, and I hadn’t noticed this before, but the website toys.qee.jp , mentions clear versions for this release, albeit generally and not individually (see outlined).
It’s not mentioned on all releases, interestingly.
I was scrolling through collection threads and had to reply, I’m the one who sold you the Russian poker card : ) now that I’m here, I can post a thread on them at some point with more images a decklist for each, I do believe they were unlicensed as the person I got them from also had some hideously charming bootleg stickers- this goofy rapidash was one of them. When I spoke to the original seller a lot was lost in translation as they were located in Russia, so all they could tell me was that they were ‘pokemon poker decks’ and nothing else. I bought them for the novelty and because they had Ponyta/Rapidash cards in them, then eventually pieced out the decks so other collectors could get their hands on them too!
For the sake of completeness, I will include all parts in order. However, specifically, 266p & 272p are from 1996 Bandai Pokemon Gachapon Eraser Part 3. There is no title actually listed on the gachapon pamphlet as far as I can tell, so I gave them a generic name.
While the Copyright year lists 1995, I’ll assume they were released after the release of Pokemon on the Game Boy. I could be wrong, however, as I don’t actually know the specifics of when products Copyright 1995 were released.
Your green Starmie can be seen in the top left corner of the first image, and is listed on the setlist. It is likely that your red Starmie comes from this set as well, as the color seems to match.
I am guessing that your Starmie are missing the tags associating with typing, as it seems that they are prone to falling off. Here is an example of a lot with part 1, where most of the tags are missing:
I was unable to source an exact title for these, but these are the stamps the sticker sheet is from.
Specifically, the stickers for the far left stamp (Butterfree). You can see how the legs of the of the Squirtle and Butterfree connect to the sticker, as well as the Pokeball sticker and the sticker for the Japanese Pokemon logo.