Kyubey Mami Mini-Plush Review

Hello everyone and welcome back to Tiro Finale for our bread and butter Mami content. Today, we will be taking a look at a rather unique mini plush toy of Mami dressed up as Kyubey. That is right, we have Mami cosplaying as the immortal nemesis to all Magical Girls, Kyubey. Join us as we take a look at this one of a kind plush toy which, when it was released, was made available with the other members of the Magical Quartet too.

Still in her original plastic wrapping, this diminutive plush stands just 110 mm tall from head to toe with an additional 10 mm if you include the tail. The reason Mami is still sealed in her plastic wrap is to prevent dust from collecting over time and staining her white coat. As you can tell, I take all things Mami related rather seriously.

Aside from the original plastic wrapping, Mami also came included with her original tags which is a massive plus for many collectors. This particular Mami plush was purchased from Mandarake's Nakano store for a rather steep price of 800 Yen (excluding tax). The first time I had ever seen this Mami plush was in a side-shop on the streets of Akihabara where she was selling for 2,000 Yen. Already then I was tempted to get her but, I persevered and as luck would have it, I managed to find her a year later in Mandarake for half that!

Besides the rather obvious design theme of the plush itself, very little is actually known about this Kyubey Mami. Aside from the name, Madoka Magica Mascot Plush, and manufacturer, cube-works, I could not really gather much information about the plush. That being said, I have seen the other members of the Magica Quartet dressed as Kyubey and in plush form too. So, this is certainly a merchandise series of some sorts released during Madoka's earlier days. 

Information aside, let us move onto the actual Mami plush itself. Because the chain for the tags are still attached to the plush, the chains first had to be uncoupled to allow for a smooth release of Mami from her plastic confines. 

With the chain and tag separated from the plush, Mami can then be gently removed from the plastic wrapping. Still being in near-pristine condition, I took extra care when removing Mami. The last thing I would want to do is smudge Mami's white coat.

With a little aid, Mami is actually able to stand up on her on two feet! A rather impressive feat especially when you consider how top-heavy the plush is no thanks to Kyubey's long ears. The addition of a sizable tail also plays a big part in allowing Mami to stand up right as the tail together with Mami's round feet work together to form a tripod of sorts.

Contrasting the all white coat are Mami's bright yellow locks and eyes. Aside from Mami's signature twin tails, her bangs have also been carefully emulated to really impart the impression that it is indeed Mami herself. Besides her gentle smile and slightly drooping eyebrows, the pink blush on her cheeks are also a very nice touch on this otherwise simple mini plush.

From the back, there plush is nearly indistinguishable from Kyubey save Mami's twin tails which peek out from the sides of her head. Kyubey's core designs such as the red circle on its back, yellow rings on its ears and pink tipped ears are all present and accounted for. Even the slight kink in the tail is present too.

Despite her small size, the attention to detail does not appear to be lost with Mami. Just like her more detailed plush toys or figures, Mami's twin tails maintain their signature two and a half curls helping to create that balanced look that we have all grown accustomed to by now. 

Examining Mami's facial details closer, we find that everything is in place and in order. The finer degree of stitching on Mami's eyes and mouth are very clean. So much so, that it was probably done by machine in order to achieve this level of precision. 

Another facial detail worth taking note of is Kyubey's which are simply its two eyes and sly conniving smile. 

The little hook I mentioned earlier, connects to the chain which can then be re-purposed to use Mami as a hanging charm. Whether it is your phone or bag, Mami is at the ready to accompany you granted you do not mind staining her white coat. 

Besides her ears, Mami's tail is another sizable part of the plush with it being roughly the same height as her body. An additional tag is stitched onto the tail, proudly proclaiming "Made in China". 

In terms of overall fit and finish, I can report that everything is very well stitched and put together. Even after all these years, there is no sign of any play or stress to the fabric at the joint points, namely the neck and arms. Moreover, the seams are still holding up just fine. 

The auxiliary additions such as Mami's twin tails and the rings around Kyubey's ears are still firmly attached. This is partly due to the fact that they are stitched in and not glued on. 

As a whole, I am really satisfied with the final product despite not being the biggest fan of Kyubey. For 800 Yen, this may appear at first to be a rather expensive proposition for a tiny 110 mm plush toy. But for a Mami collector, the virtue of owning such a unique trinket far outweigh the costs making this a worthwhile investment for any Mami devotee. 

With that, we come to the end of this in-depth look this seemingly rare Mami plush. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask them in the comments section below. Until the next time, thank you so much for reading and have yourself a wonderful day ahead!