Pocket Dragons
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 the figurines 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.
History
The story of the Pocket Dragon goes back to a limited set of black and white drawings done by Real Musgrave in the mid-1970s, depicting a small dragon in the pocket of a tweed sport jacket. Those dragons were originally based on Real and Muff's little dog Flower.
The first set of Pocket Dragon figurines 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 half hour episodes or 104 European 15 minute episodes. The writers of the series collaborated with both Musgraves and Real contributed designs for virtually every episode.
As of 2006, over 400 different Pocket Dragons figures have been released, as well as games, books and hundreds of other products.
Real & Muff Musgrave announced their retirement in the fall of 2005, along with the Pocket Dragon figurine 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 November 12, 2006, the (probably) last ever UK Pocket Dragons event was held at Collectables (Fine Glass and China) LTD, Stockton on Tees. Real and Muff Musgrave are retired and attending to abandoned animals but Real still produces Pocket Dragon products licensed with other companies. The proceeds from sales benefit animal charities with which they work. In 2011 they continued their collaborations with Precious Gifts in Maryland to produce a special limited edition figurine to benefit The Humane Society of Flower Mound (in Texas).
Unlike many artists involved in collectibles and television, Real has always personally owned the trademarks and copyrights for his work. The Pocket Dragon trademarks and copyrights are active.
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".
- The Pocket Dragon that has the highest secondary market value (SMV) is "Gargoyle Hoping for Raspberry Teacakes" and regularly fetches over £1000.
- Zoom Zoom is based on Real and Muff's cat Whimsy.