Disney Store Japan Monsters Inc Hug & Smile Sulley Mike Wazowski Boo Plush 2019

Disney Store Japan Monsters, Inc. Hug & Smile – Sulley, Mike Wazowski & Boo – 2019

A wonderfully expressive Disney Store Japan “Hug & Smile” plush, featuring Sulley, Mike Wazowski and Boo together in one integrated Monsters, Inc. design.

This is not simply a standard Sulley plush with smaller characters added. It was created specifically for Disney Store Japan’s Hug & Smile series, a collection built around much-loved Disney characters physically hugging, cuddling and smiling together.

The Japanese product name was:

マイク＆サリー＆ブー ハグ＆スマイル ぬいぐるみ
Mike, Sulley & Boo Hug & Smile Plush
Archived Japanese retail records give the exact release date as 11 January 2019 and identify it as a Disney Store-exclusive release. Its documented dimensions were approximately 27 cm high × 29 cm wide × 24 cm deep.

More than just a Monsters, Inc. plush

The design itself tells the story beautifully.

Sulley stands at the centre with his arms wrapped around his two companions: Boo is cuddled against one shoulder while Mike hangs happily beneath the opposite arm. All three have deliberately exaggerated happy expressions, perfectly matching the “Hug & Smile” concept.

Sulley retains his turquoise-blue body, purple spots, horns, back spines and wonderfully oversized embroidered grin. Mike features his unmistakable lime-green body and huge single eye, while Boo appears tucked safely against Sulley in her purple clothing.

It is essentially a little permanent Monsters, Inc. group hug.


Hug & Smile was not simply the name of this individual plush.

Contemporary coverage from February 2019 documented an entire eight-design Disney Store Japan Hug & Smile plush collection, including character groups from Winnie the Pooh, Monsters, Inc., Bambi, Zootopia, Lady and the Tramp, Lilo & Stitch, Big Hero 6 and Dumbo.

A particularly nice point for collectors is that this Sulley, Mike and Boo version appears to be one of the earlier documented entries in Disney Store Japan’s Hug & Smile series. The range itself went on to include eight different character designs, and this Monsters, Inc. example helps represent the early phase of that charming Japanese rollout.

So this is a specific 2019 Japanese Disney Store collector range, rather than an anonymous Monsters, Inc. plush.

Original Japanese release details

• Disney Store Japan exclusive
• Hug & Smile series
• Monsters, Inc.
• Sulley, Mike Wazowski & Boo
• Released: 11 January 2019
• Approx. size: 27 × 29 × 24 cm
• Original 2019 price: ¥4,536 including tax
• Recorded UPC: 4936313758153
• Manufactured in China

Condition

This example presents very nicely and importantly still retains its original Disney Store swing tag attached, which is a lovely bonus for a collector.

The colours remain bright and character detailing presents strongly, including Sulley’s embroidered grin and facial expression, purple markings and back spines; Mike’s large eye and character features; and Boo’s hair and clothing.

As this is an older 2019 collectible, there may naturally be very light signs of previous storage or handling, including to the attached paper tag. Please study all photographs carefully, including the close-up, side and rear views, as they form an important part of the condition description.

Colours may vary slightly according to lighting and individual screen settings.

A brilliant piece for a Monsters, Inc., Pixar, Disney Store Japan or Hug & Smile collection, and far more unusual than the standard individual Sulley, Mike or Boo plushes commonly encountered.

I’m currently having a collection clear-out and gradually letting a number of my Jellycats and other collectibles find new homes — so please feel free to have a look at my other listings, as more will be appearing.

Sources:

Suruga-ya Japan – archived Disney Store Hug & Smile product catalogue

U Beauty – contemporary February 2019 Hug & Smile collection coverage

Disney Store Japan – Hug & Smile range/character concept

Archived international retail record – exact Monsters, Inc. Hug & Smile product data