Mimi Octopus

Mimi is a red velveteen octopus from the whimsical Dream Pets line by R. Dakin & Co. She features bright blue eyelids, a jaunty cream hat with a red pom-pom, pearl earrings, and a dainty tissue in one tentacle.

Dream Pets were soft, whimsical stuffed animals first introduced to the U.S. market in 1957 by R. Dakin & Co., a San Francisco-based toy company. Originally manufactured in Japan as packaging fillers for toy trains, their quirky charm—characterized by velveteen bodies, hand-painted felt details, and playful, stylized designs—quickly captured the hearts of American consumers.

Each Dream Pet had a distinct personality, with imaginative names and endearing features ranging from long eyelashes to oversized ears and vibrant colors. They became a cultural phenomenon throughout the 1960s and 1970s, often collected and displayed rather than used as traditional plush toys.