Disney launched its Tsum Tsum plush toy line in Japan in 2013.
Tsum Tsum toys are small, horizontally shaped plush characters designed to be stacked. The word “tsum” comes from the Japanese verb tsumu, meaning “to stack,” which describes the line’s central play and display feature.
The collection began with Disney characters and later expanded to include Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars characters. Their compact size, uniform shape, and large character range made them suitable for collecting, trading, decorating, and displaying in stacks.
Tsum Tsum is sometimes used to describe only the plush toys, but Disney also created related mobile games, stationery, clothing, and other products. The merchandise line’s Japanese launch occurred before its broader international expansion, so 2013 is the key date for the original plush range rather than for every later Tsum Tsum product.