The Year of Eevee

While I've declared my "yearly theme" for this year, it seems Pokémon also went ahead and made a declaration of a specific theme for that same year. The theme involves a well-known species of Pokémon, primarily for its rather diverse evolutionary capability, although it itself is sufficiently well-known as a "secondary mascot" of sorts. The species in question is of course Eevee, and as such this year is dubbed as the "Year of Eevee".

One way that this has been officiated is through a Pokémon Center e-mail newsletter, which shows the promotional emblem for the year's theme. It also highlights plush dolls (for the eponymous Pokémon) as well as figures (for its evolved forms or "Eeveelutions"). The ones for the latter are vivid and graphical with unique styles, while the ones for the former are stylistic and expressive in different ways. These highlighted sets of merchandise suggest that the year will be filled with a variety of exploratory takes on the species (family).

This featuring of Eevee in the (rough) timeframe is not the first time, with the earlier feature being the line of mini-figures featuring Eevee and its evolved forms from a few years back. Of course, the current featuring of Eevee can and should go beyond merchandise - though as this year has only barely started, it means that it remains to be explored within the rest of the many days of this year. It's definitely something to look forward to.

I also want to explore the numerological aspect of this year's theme, as an aside. Eevee is #133 in the National Pokédex, which has a digital sum of 7; meanwhile, this year (2025) has a digital sum of 9. The latter actually has a close correspondence with the nine species of the family, the eight evolved species forms and Eevee itself, while the former might assert a certain "lucky" aspect... whether that's for fans discovering the theme as presented or possessing a certain representative example. It's not much to consider, but it's an useful aside.

Eevee is a rather special Pokémon for those who appreciate it, and this year, it seems Pokémon wants to give everyone more chances to make that appreciation. So it is that this year is declared as the "Year of Eevee" to fulfill that purpose. Given its diversity of possibilities for evolution, there is a diversity of possibilities for its appreciation as well, and the "secondary mascot" and its species family should serve that role well.

One year ago: Quickies: Getting Over Fatigue

Two years ago: Tournament: Raid Group Ember Cup

Three years ago: Quickies: Clapping with Pokémon

Four years ago: The Syntax of Pokémon Names

Five years ago: Locks on Shiny Forms

Six years ago: A Pokémon Case Analytic Scenario

Seven years ago: The Three-Count

Eight years ago: On the Subject of Go