Johnson and Friends was an Australian television series produced by Film Australia, with four seasons airing throughout the '90s. It inspired a wide range of collectible merchandise like these toy figurines, which were a sign of the show's popularity and remain highly sought after today. Created by Ron Saunders, Ian Munro and John Patterson, the show followed Johnson, a stuffed toy elephant, and his friends: McDuff the concertina, Diesel the truck, Alfred the hot water bottle and Squeaky the robot. The toys live in the bedroom of a young boy named Michael, and come to life when Michael isn't around or falls asleep. Each episode showcases one of their adventures, often with a simple life lesson for children, such as the importance of sharing, honesty or managing frustration.

The series was hugely popular in Australia and sold to over 50 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, France, Canada and New Zealand.