Be@rbrick was created by Tatsuhiko Akashi in 2001, founder of the Japanese company, Medicom Toy. Akashi created Bearbrick for the World Character Convention in Tokyo after organisers approached him to make a toy that could be handed out as a gift to the attendees. Encouraged by the fact that the teddy bear's soft toy was celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2000, hit upon the idea of placing a bear’s head on its body of a Kubrick.