Clip ’n Carry Poké Ball Pokémon From the 2016 Collection
TOMY’s Clip ’n Carry Poké Ball toys gave Pokémon fans a compact way to collect, display, and play with some of the franchise’s best-known characters. Each set paired a molded Poké Ball with a small Pokémon figure, creating a portable version of the capture-and-carry concept seen throughout the games and animated series.
The line formed part of TOMY’s Pokémon 20th Anniversary Collection, a limited-edition program released during 2016. It sat alongside mythical Pokémon plush figures, anniversary toys, and character merchandise created under official Nintendo licensing. While the plush range emphasized the year’s monthly mythical Pokémon releases, the Clip ’n Carry assortment focused on familiar battle-ready characters.
For collectors, the main challenge is separating this specific product line from other TOMY figures, Poké Ball playsets, and retailer-exclusive anniversary products. The checklist below focuses on the Pokémon associated with the 2016 Clip ’n Carry Poké Ball assortment rather than every character sold in a TOMY Poké Ball accessory.
What The Clip ’n Carry Set Included
A typical set combined a plastic Poké Ball with a small Pokémon figure. The ball opened to reveal the character and could be carried using its attached clip, making the toy suitable for belts, bags, or imaginative adventures outside the home. Its compact format also made it easier to collect several characters without needing a large playset.
The figures were designed for quick, character-focused play rather than elaborate articulation. Their appeal came from recognizable silhouettes, bright colors, and the satisfying contrast between the closed Poké Ball and the revealed Pokémon. For anniversary collectors, the packaging and the connection to the 2016 program were just as important as the play feature.
The assortment should be viewed as a character series, not as a list of every Pokémon that appeared in TOMY’s wider 20th Anniversary Collection. Mythical Pokémon such as Jirachi had their own important place in the anniversary campaign, especially through the monthly plush releases, but that does not automatically place them in the Clip ’n Carry range.
The Pokémon In The Line
The 2016 Clip ’n Carry Poké Ball assortment is generally represented by four Pokémon: Pikachu, Charizard, Greninja, and Lucario. Together, they cover several generations and different aspects of Pokémon’s popular identity, from the franchise mascot to powerful evolved forms and modern fan favorites.
Pikachu was the essential character for an anniversary line. Its inclusion connected the product directly to the original games, the animated series, and the familiar image used across Pokémon merchandise. The small figure also worked especially well with the Poké Ball format because Pikachu is instantly identifiable even at a compact scale.
Charizard brought first-generation appeal and a dramatic visual profile. Greninja represented the sixth generation and the contemporary Pokémon era surrounding the 2016 celebration, while Lucario bridged the game, animation, and competitive-battle audiences. These choices gave the assortment a broader reach than a first-generation-only collection.
Complete Character Checklist
The following list is the practical checklist for the 2016 Clip ’n Carry Poké Ball character assortment. Names refer to the Pokémon included with the product rather than separate accessories, plush versions, or unrelated TOMY figure packs.
| Pokémon | Generation | Why It Matters To The Collection |
|---|---|---|
| Pikachu | I | The central Pokémon mascot and the most recognizable anniversary character |
| Charizard | I | A classic evolved Pokémon with strong collector and battle appeal |
| Lucario | IV | A popular fighting and steel-type character with broad media visibility |
| Greninja | VI | A modern favorite representing the generation current during the anniversary year |
This four-character checklist is useful when identifying loose toys at conventions or in secondhand listings. A complete group should contain one Poké Ball and one matching figure for each character, although packaging condition, paint variation, and regional labeling can differ.
Collectors should also be careful with listings that use “Clip ’n Carry” as a general description for any Pokémon Poké Ball toy. Some sellers combine products from different years or include figures from larger playsets. The molded figure, ball design, clip, and original packaging are the best clues when determining whether a piece belongs to the 2016 assortment.
How The Line Fits The Anniversary Program
The Clip ’n Carry products were one part of a much larger anniversary campaign. TOMY released toys throughout 2016, with special attention given to the 20th anniversary of Pokémon’s original launch. The program included plush toys, figures, playsets, and character-specific items, allowing fans to collect by format or by release period.
The monthly mythical Pokémon theme received much of the campaign’s attention. Pokémon such as Jirachi, Arceus, and other mythical characters were highlighted through dedicated merchandise and promotional storytelling. That focus can make it easy to assume that every anniversary character appeared in every toy range, but TOMY used different assortments for different product types.
The Clip ’n Carry selection instead favored Pokémon with strong recognition across play patterns. Pikachu and Charizard offered classic appeal, while Lucario and Greninja reflected more recent generations. This balance helped the line feel like a celebration of Pokémon history without limiting it to the original 151 characters.
Retailers, Packaging, And Regional Variations
Retail availability is an important part of researching these toys. Some TOMY Pokémon 20th Anniversary items were distributed through particular retailers, and packaging or exclusive character combinations may vary by market. A product that appears absent from one store’s catalog may have been sold through another retailer or listed under a slightly different product title.
The retailer exclusivity guide can help place a Clip ’n Carry item within the broader anniversary release. It is especially useful when comparing boxed examples, store-exclusive packaging, and products that were promoted together but belonged to different assortments.
Loose figures create another identification problem. A small Charizard or Pikachu may look similar to figures included with other TOMY products, and a Poké Ball without its original card cannot always be dated confidently. Collectors should compare the ball’s size, clip attachment, figure scale, paint details, and packaging artwork instead of relying on the character name alone.
Collecting The Four-Pokémon Set
A complete loose set is relatively straightforward: four matching Poké Balls and the four corresponding figures. The more demanding goal is a complete packaged set, since sealed examples can be harder to locate and may have suffered from crushed bubbles, faded cards, or retailer stickers over time.
Condition matters differently depending on collecting priorities. A sealed set preserves the original anniversary branding and product photography, while loose examples are better for displaying the figures or demonstrating the clip feature. Because the line was made for play, minor paint wear and scuffing are common in pre-owned pieces.
When building a checklist, record the Pokémon, packaging state, retailer information, and whether the ball and figure are matched. This prevents duplicate purchases and helps distinguish an original release from a later substitute. A character may be easy to find loose but much harder to locate with an undamaged card.
Practical Ways To Verify A Find
Use these checks when evaluating a potential Clip ’n Carry purchase:
- Confirm that the set includes one of the four characters: Pikachu, Charizard, Lucario, or Greninja.
- Check that the Pokémon figure fits the included Poké Ball and is not a replacement from another TOMY assortment.
- Look for the carry clip and compare the ball’s proportions with documented 2016 examples.
- Inspect the card or blister for Pokémon 20th Anniversary branding, product photography, and retailer markings.
- Treat listings that mix several years of TOMY merchandise as unverified until the packaging and figure details match.
The most valuable reference point is the complete product context. A figure alone can be difficult to date, but a matching ball, original card, and recognizable anniversary graphics provide a much stronger identification trail. The same approach is useful for separating the Clip ’n Carry toys from anniversary plush, standard TOMY figures, and specialty releases such as Arceus merchandise.
TOMY’s 2016 Clip ’n Carry Poké Ball line remains a small but distinctive part of the Pokémon 20th Anniversary Collection. With Pikachu, Charizard, Lucario, and Greninja, it offers a focused four-character checklist that combines portability, play value, and anniversary packaging. Use the character list and verification points above to organize a collection, identify loose finds, and explore the wider range of officially licensed TOMY Pokémon releases from 2016.