Dear Friends,

In 1988 we began a journey that changed our lives in so many ways. With the help of Bill Dodd and the team he had then and would assemble later, we were able to bring Pocket Dragons from two dimensional drawings, paintings and prints to the lively little green guys who occupy the corners of cupboards, cabinets and our hearts. This journey provided us with incredible opportunities, new challenges and deep friendships far beyond our expectations. But all journeys must eventually end and after much thought and many sleepless nights we have decided that it is the right time to bring this particular journey to a close. In many ways, we'd love for this part of our lives to continue forever, but we know it cannot.

So it is with both great sadness and great happiness that we announce that we have decided to retire at the end of 2006. Great sadness because we will truly miss the wonderful family we have all been a part of through the Whimsical World of Pocket Dragons and the Pocket Dragons and Friends Collectors Club. Great sadness because we truly enjoy creating the little green guys just as much, if not more, than you enjoy having them in your homes.

But we feel great happiness as we look forward to the next chapter in our lives. We plan to start by taking a few years off to do nothing... to putter around the house and tackle those projects we've been putting off for years... to read all those books we've been accumulating... to spend more time messing with computers old and new... to playing with the poor, neglected (their words, not ours) cats... to maybe bringing a puppy into our home... to perhaps building a micro-car... to visiting family and friends we've sometimes truly neglected over the years. The list is endless, but mostly we're just going to be lazy for a while... and we're really looking forward to it. There will be art projects, even though we don't know what they'll be, and Pocket Dragons will always be a part of our lives.

When we told Collectible World Studios of our decision they were saddened, yet completely supportive. They have been aware that during the last few years world travel has become much more difficult for us. As we have aged and the world has changed, many things are just a little harder. The CWS team did their very best to make our lives easier, taking on more and more tasks. And we thank them for it. Yet at the same time, we have held on to all of these tasks. We know many artists who have been able to turn their creations over to others and let them do all the work... but that has never been our style. Maybe we care too much. We have always been a part of every detail in the process (and make no mistake, by its very nature it is a long and difficult one). The group at Collectible World has given us the opportunity, almost unprecedented in this industry, to maintain full creative control. We find that we cannot simply “let go” and let others take over. With us, it seems to be all or nothing.

We have had long discussions with CWS and their first thought, as was ours, was “How do we make this decision the best it can be for our collectors?” No, we won't simply fade away. We are currently in the process of planning a GIANT farewell year, chock full of incredibly special Events and Parties, great new Pocket Dragons, some old friends re-visited and lots of fun surprises. Without question, 2006 will be the best year ever! We want to celebrate the Whimsical World and to honor all that we have accomplished together on this journey. And we want you all to be a part of it.

We know that many of you will be disappointed by our decision and many will not understand it. Please believe us when we say it was not a decision we reached lightly. As we said to Bill Dodd, “In many ways we feel like we are tearing our hearts out.” But it's time.
We are asking you to do as we are doing-- to mourn the end of one journey, but to come together and help us celebrate that same journey by participating in all of the great things we have planned for 2006. And we ask you, at the end of that year, to raise a glass with us and toast the beginning of our next journey. We don't know exactly where it will take us, but you will always be in our hearts-- and we hope Pocket Dragons will always be in yours.

With sincere affection and gratitude,

Real and Muff