Who doesn't remember them? The egg shaped keychains that hide in their belly a cute animated scene?
Originally they were brought out by Takara in 1993 but later on they were remodeled into a newer shape by Z Wind Ups although personally I do prefer the ones from Takara. Sorry Z Wind Ups.
Takara brought out several series of these egg shaped keychains. You had categories as:
- sea
- jungle
- farm
- family
- tropical
- chicks
- ...
And that is only counting the ones in which animals play the staring role. Takara also brought out pocket critters around themes as:
- sports
- tv shows (Babar or Astro Boy for instance)
- people (a hula dancer for instance)
- ...
And even cooperated with other brands for unique pocket critters like the ones made in association with Sanrio for Hello Kitty.
Some examples:
![](http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b638/fabt1/The%20Mortal%20Instruments/pocket%20critters/007c8d8a22829631e71ac7b06f5c971e_zpsy9mmvf2q.jpg)
Takara examples for the jungle assortment
![](http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b638/fabt1/The%20Mortal%20Instruments/pocket%20critters/63d5a0a81984ef8b4a08e01d41f7af6d_zps9jkcpdaa.jpg)
Takara examples from the assortment cats, dogs, pigs and farm
![](http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b638/fabt1/The%20Mortal%20Instruments/pocket%20critters/465d554faeb87dd3159b889673a5ce54_zps7epymenf.jpg)
A few examples from Takara's chicks and bunnies assortment
![](http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b638/fabt1/The%20Mortal%20Instruments/pocket%20critters/sports%20assortment_zpsc8xb4sx0.jpg)
Takara's sports assortment
![](http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b638/fabt1/The%20Mortal%20Instruments/pocket%20critters/6a4e5e94359f5d68b0dc4b9fb5ca2bbc_zpsg6vi8gtg.jpg)
Barbar from Takara
![](http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b638/fabt1/The%20Mortal%20Instruments/pocket%20critters/dc28fc135e93079a3fd187e27d92e8dc_zpsdzt0hsl0.jpg)
Takara's pocket critter made for Coca Cola
![](http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b638/fabt1/The%20Mortal%20Instruments/pocket%20critters/371724937d9ff47ba425c38aa386fd37_zpsn43qtyqr.jpg)
Takara and Sanrio joining forces for pocket critters Hello Kitty
![](http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b638/fabt1/The%20Mortal%20Instruments/pocket%20critters/3973c194c52a92268e85bcb6ac999845_zpscgaxa4ty.jpg)
Astro Boy from Takara
![](http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b638/fabt1/The%20Mortal%20Instruments/pocket%20critters/870200e903125bbb884efdfd8f7df586_zpslpx2zy9r.jpg)
Z Wind Ups Dinos
![](http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b638/fabt1/The%20Mortal%20Instruments/pocket%20critters/1952ff9a81d2adba3997dc61bcaf09e1_zpspkyw8ham.jpg)
Z Wind Ups Dolphins
![](http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b638/fabt1/The%20Mortal%20Instruments/pocket%20critters/2ac0bfeac1506fa297629e8173dd148f_zpstqvhnfbg.jpg)
Z Wind Ups Cows
Please also note that Takara themselves too have brought out some of their pocket critters anew in a slightly different version. For instance the "Mooo" pocket critter was later replaced by the "Farm" pocket critter:
![](http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b638/fabt1/The%20Mortal%20Instruments/pocket%20critters/d0b4ad5088041b8105ec8b6ed6a9ff10_zpsengcd6xz.jpg)
The original pocket critter for the cow from Takara
![](http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b638/fabt1/The%20Mortal%20Instruments/pocket%20critters/883e06f3d1b35a6d70b8d7ec14ab5691_zpsphomhcvv.jpg)
The later brought out pocket critter by Takara for the cow
Site of Takara with some listed pocket critters:
http://www.javys.com/takara/Pictures on my Pinterest account of the ones I have found so far:
https://www.pinterest.com/faoabt/pocket-critters/ (note that I am only interested in the "animal" pocket critters and a few of the "special" ones. The "people" pocket critters are passed by by me)