Pocket Dragons
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
ṛ
Pocket Dragons are collectible depictions of friendly dragons in various situations. They are produced primarily in figurine form, but also are released as ornaments, in flat artwork and various other forms. They were created by, and are still designed by, Real Musgrave, and are manufactured by Collectible World Studios. Unlike many artists behind collectible lines, Real not only creates the flat artwork for them, but also sculpts them. Both Real and his wife, Muff, have enjoyed nearly complete creative control over the line.
[edit] History
The first set of Pocket Dragons went on sale in June 1989, and included twenty-seven of the figures. They were produced in Stoke-on-Trent, England.
In 1998, an animated television series was produced based on Pocket Dragons, called Pocket Dragon Adventures. It ran for fifty-two episodes. The writers of the series collaborated with Musgrave.
As of 2006, over 400 different Pocket Dragons have been released.
Real & Muff Musgrave announced their retirement in the fall of 2005, along with the Pocket Dragon collection, to be effective on December 31, 2006.
In May 2006 the distributor Collectible World Studios has gone into receivership due to high debts and ceased trading. So far, the production and distribution of what would be the last Pocket Dragon pieces is uncertain. Since then the official website and the website of the distributor are no longer online. Xystos, a company linked with the Collectables (Fine Glass and China) LTD company bought CWS later that year.
On the 12th of November 2006, the last ever Pocket Dragons event was held at Collectables (Fine Glass and China) LTD, Stockton on Tees. Real and Muff Musgrave have now retired and Pocket Dragons are no longer being made.
[edit] Trivia
- Although Pocket Dragons were created by an American, the British Pocket Dragons Collectors' Club is triple the size of its US counterpart.
- Over 50% of all Pocket Dragons are sold in England.
- Real often uses coffee cans to ship his original sculpts to the factory for production.
- The very first Pocket Dragon was called "New Bunny Shoes".
- Real Musgrave, creator of all things green, is to retire as of December 2006.
- The Pocket Dragon that has the highest secondary market value (SMV) is "Gargoyle Hoping for Raspberry Teacakes" and regularly fetches over £1000.