Hobonichi Mother Project Unveils Runaway Five Plushes for Mother Series Fans

The legacy of the acclaimed Mother series, known in North America as EarthBound, continues to captivate fans through innovative merchandise and passionate community engagement.

The Hobonichi Mother Project—founded by renowned creator Shigesato Itoi—has championed the preservation and celebration of the series with a steady stream of high-quality products, events, and cross-media promotions.

Their latest announcement brings exciting news for collectors and long-time fans alike: the release of officially licensed plushes featuring two key members from the beloved Runaway Five band.

This dynamic duo of plushes, representing the characters known as Lucky and Nice, will launch in Japan on June 4, 2024.

Each plush comes packaged in a unique presentation, emulating the iconic tour bus immortalized in EarthBound.

This bus-themed display adds a special touch for fans familiar with the band’s memorable in-game escapades across Eagleland, their home turf within the world of the Mother series. Announcing this latest product addition, organizers at the Hobonichi Mother Project emphasized their ongoing commitment to creating items that celebrate the ingenuity and charm of Shigesato Itoi’s original vision.

In their statement, rephrased for clarity: “Our aim is to bring the vibrant spirit of the Runaway Five into the hands of series enthusiasts, commemorating their role not just in the games, but also in the cultural life surrounding Mother.” While Lucky and Nice are the first band members featured, the Runaway Five comprises six musicians in total—a detail that has not gone unnoticed by attentive fans.

The Hobonichi team have yet to confirm whether the remaining four bandmates will receive their own plushes in the future.

The announcement coincides with broader celebrations of the Mother series in Japan.

In late June, a special livestreamed musical performance featuring tracks from both the original Mother and its critically acclaimed sequel, Mother 2 (EarthBound), will further unite fans in appreciation of the franchise’s lasting musical and narrative achievements.

Since its inception in the late 1980s, the Mother series has achieved cult status worldwide, bolstered by Shigesato Itoi’s storytelling, distinctive art style, and memorable soundtrack.

While mainline entries remain exclusive to Nintendo hardware, with EarthBound currently available on the Nintendo Switch Online service and the eShop, the fandom thrives through projects like these from Hobonichi. Collectors and dedicated EarthBound fans can look forward to the June 4, 2024 launch of the Lucky and Nice plushes in Japan.

For international supporters, staying connected with official Hobonichi updates or reputable importers will be key to joining this latest celebration of the Mother legacy.

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