Dream Pets began 50 years ago when R. Dakin & Co. began importing electronic trains from Japan. To protect the trains during their long journey to America, shippers cradled them with a half dozen or so "velveteen stuffed characters." This cute and clever "packaging” created an unexpected stir of excitement and R. Dakin & Co., now a division of Applause, LLC, began to import these original Dream Pets by the hundreds. Applause has issued 24 new Dream Pets in their first new release.