2025 has been an exciting year for Pizza Cat fans. Multiple pop-ups. Multiple major releases. Surprise collaborations. Appearances at major events.

Today, I want to review a list of things we’re still expecting, going into 2026.

🔵 Figures & Toys

Bellfine Yattarō & Karamaru

The Bellfine prototype definitely made an impressive amount of guest appearances at conventions and events, this year. That kind of visibility signals internal confidence. Companies don’t keep touring a prototype they’re unsure about.

Since it’s quiet announcement, we watched Yattarō go from prototype grey, to fully painted. The Karamaru prototype hasn’t yet been painted, BUT both characters got brand new official promo art, which is very reassuring.

ES Gokin figures

Back in July, a single image quietly made the rounds online — and it turned out to be a big one.

Shared by Action Toys, the image showcased seven ES Gokin figures from Kyatto Ninden Teyandee, including the Nyanki in their civilian outfits, alongside a selection of villains and secondary fan-favorite characters. This marked the first time many of these characters had ever been represented in ES Gokin form — even at the prototype stage.

What made this reveal particularly notable was its source: the image wasn’t just reposted by fans, but shared directly by Action Toys employees, lending it real credibility despite the lack of a formal announcement.

Since then, there have been no additional public updates, painted samples, or convention appearances — which places this firmly in the category of “acknowledged, but quietly waiting in the wings.” Still, the fact that seven distinct prototypes already exist suggests planning beyond a one-off concept.

Heat Boys Pururun & Sukashii

Heat Boys revealed Pururun and Sukashii prototypes well over a year ago, and… then essentially froze time.

Both characters have appeared in multiple display photos and event booths, showing unpainted / white prototypes, alongside character illustrations — a clear signal that the design phase itself is locked in.

However, since those initial reveals, there have been no painted prototypes, no preorder announcements, and no public production updates. Despite the silence, the fact that these figures continue to appear in official Heat Boys materials (and haven’t been quietly pulled) suggests they’re paused, not cancelled.

RimiStar plushies

RimiStar made one of the most delightful and unexpected moves of the year with the official announcement of Samurai Pizza Cats plush dolls.

Following multiple convention appearances, RimiStar formally confirmed a lineup of four large, officially licensed plushies of the four main Nyanki (Yattarō, Sukashii, Pururun, and Otama).

These plushies are being promoted as substantial in size, highly expressive, and immediately recognizable, striking a balance between faithful character accuracy and plush-friendly charm. Seeing them in person at events made it clear that these aren’t small novelty items—they’re statement pieces.

What makes this release historically important is that these are the first officially licensed Samurai Pizza Cats plush toys ever produced for retail, outside of a handful of fan-made creations over the decades. That alone makes this a milestone moment for the franchise.

While pricing, preorder timing, and release dates have not yet been announced, RimiStar’s official confirmation removes all doubt: these plushies are real, licensed, and happening. In a year filled with prototypes and “wait and see” moments, RimiStar stands out as one of the few companies to move decisively from reveal to confirmation—and that deserves recognition.

Sofubi Addict 2D Pururun + Sukashii prototype

Sofubi Addict continued to be one of the most quietly consistent presences this year.

2D Pururun was formally announced and confirmed for production. While preorders have not yet opened, the designer Foon Wong has described the release window as simply “soon.” No hard dates yet, but unlike many long-tease items, this one is fully acknowledged and alive — just waiting for its turn.

Sukashii, meanwhile, moved from concept into something far more tangible. His prototype was recently shown with one of his most iconic accessories: the umbrella. That small detail matters — it firmly anchors the sculpt in Sukashii’s identity and signals that this isn’t a placeholder design, but a character-accurate build being actively refined.

Taken together, these releases show Sofubi Addict continuing their slow-burn approach: fewer announcements, but meaningful ones — with clear respect for the characters and their silhouettes. No rush, no noise, just steady forward motion.

Yolopark Pururun & Sukashii

Before Yattaro even reached collectors’ hands, Yolopark quietly confirmed that the full Nyanki trio is part of their long-term plans.

At ACGHK 2025, Yolopark displayed Pururun and Sukashii alongside Yattaro in official promo art, marking the first explicit visual confirmation that these two are coming down the pipeline as well.

No prototypes were shown, and no preorder windows or timelines have been announced yet—but the tease itself is significant. Yolopark doesn’t typically spotlight characters unless development is genuinely planned, making this less of a “maybe someday” and more of a clear “stay tuned” signal.

📚 Media & Publishing

Samurai Pizza Cats graphic novel (Nakama Press)

One of the biggest and most important announcements of the year wasn’t a figure at all — it was a brand-new graphic novel.

In mid 2025, Nakama Press officially announced Samurai Pizza Cats: Volume 1, positioning it as a modern reintroduction of the franchise for a new, contemporary audience. The fact that it’s explicitly labeled Volume 1 strongly suggests longer-term plans, rather than a one-off nostalgia release.

The book is written by Fred Kennedy with art by Lorenzo Di Santo, and features a bold, modernized art style that still clearly honors the original designs and team dynamics.

According to current listings, Amazon has the release date set for April 7, 2025, making this one of the earliest known major Samurai Pizza Cats releases on the horizon.

Whether you’re a long-time fan or someone discovering the Pizza Cats for the first time, this graphic novel feels like a gateway release — something meant to re-establish the brand, expand the audience, and remind the world why these characters still matter, 35 years later.

Kyatto Ninden Teyandee BD Box

Separate from any Western releases, Frontier Works has announced a brand-new Japanese Blu-ray box, scheduled for 2026.

This upcoming BD box is especially significant because it:

• originates from Japan, not as a licensed overseas release.

• reflects renewed domestic interest in the franchise

• and arrives during a period where Kyatto Ninden Teyandee is clearly experiencing a broader revival across multiple industries.

While full specifications haven’t yet been revealed, the announcement alone carries weight. A modern Japanese BD box signals confidence — not nostalgia mining, but recognition that the series still has relevance and value today.

Taken alongside: new figures across multiple manufacturers, official plush lines, a new graphic novel, and an upcoming video game… the Frontier Works BD box feels less like an isolated reissue and more like part of a coordinated second life for the franchise.

It’s not just about preserving the past — it’s about making sure Kyatto Ninden Teyandee is present again, in its home market, for both longtime fans and a new generation discovering it for the first time.

There have been no announcements about English BD boxes. Yet.

Samurai Pizza Cats: Blast from the Past

This is the keystone.

The gravitational center.

The reason everything else suddenly makes sense.

After decades of silence on the interactive front, Samurai Pizza Cats: Blast from the Past was officially announced as a brand-new video game, currently expected to release in early 2027.

And this isn’t a throwaway mobile tie-in or nostalgia-flavored shovelware. This is:

• a full, modern game

• built for today’s audience

• Designed by fans, FOR fans, with the help of Tatsunoko employees.

• Leaning on the English identity of the franchise

• while still being immediately recognizable to longtime fans.

In other words: this is a revival, not a cameo.

This game can be added to your Steam wishlist:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2413800/Samurai_Pizza_Cats_Blast_from_the_Past/