Monday, December 30, 2013

Vinylmation Review - Poster Art Series Part #4

For today's Vinylmation Review, I will be taking one last look at the Poster Art Series. I have broken this post into 4 parts, and for the final part, I will be looking at the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth figures in the set: October, November and December. You can find Part #1 herePart #2 here, Part #3 here, and you might also like to read my 2013 Poster Art Series Overview Review.


October
Walt Disney World October poster art

I think October's poster is perfect for October with eerie black, gray and white colors and a Halloween theme. The background looks to me like it's inspired by The Nightmare Before Christmas with the black swirl border and lack of straight lines. In the center of the poster we have the main attraction from the Nightmare Before Christmas movie - Jack Skellington, surrounded by creepy bats. In the front reads a poster "I'm Mr. Unlucky" an appropriate twist to the ongoing theme of luck in the Poster Art Series. Lucky and perhaps not so lucky charms feature in the poster's four corners.

October
October Vinylmation figure

October's poster art has been recreated wonderfully on to October's Vinylmation figure! I can't describe how the whole feel of the poster is right there on the figure: the creepy feel, the Halloween theme, how ominous it is - I love it! Jack of course is central, with his head on Mickey's and the body on the belly. He looks just like Jack Skellington and I love how his head and body were translated on to the figure (unlike the strange body proportions of Gaston and Jafar for example). The "I'm Mr. Unlucky" banner features in the same style, font and position underneath Jack and the beautiful swirl detail runs around the vinyl's feet.

The black lines from the poster's background are subtly placed behind Jack's head on the front of the figure and run around the sides and down the back of the vinyl, giving an intriguing appearance and adding some detail to the back (always a plus in my book). The four lucky/unlucky charms have been added to the front and back of both ears (another bonus - use those ears!!). Finally the bats from the poster fill the sorcerer's hat, creating a solid, flowing figure instead of having the sorcerer's hat stand out as an awkward, unrelated accessory. Overall a beautiful figure, one of my top in this series!


November
Walt Disney World November poster art

November's poster has a lot going on! A Day of the Dead themed skull and crossbones sits at the center of this poster, surrounded by a red and yellow background that ties in with the theme. Inside the skull are numerous drawings of famous Disney villains: Ursula, Hades, The Evil Queen, Jafar and Scar to name a few. Inside the eyes the number "2013" is written with two digits in each eye. Above and continuing below the skull reads: "El Año de Los Villanos", with a translation "The Year of the Villains" written inside the skull and crossbones. Various symbols with a Day of the Dead theme sit in the four corners of the poster.

November
November Vinylmation figure

Considering how much detail is in November's poster, I think the figure is disappointing. I love how the Day of the Dead look and feel has crossed over onto the Vinylmation with the style and vibrant colors. Many of the features from the poster can be seen on the vinyl: the central poster theme of the skull and crossbones is on the front of the vinyl, extending into the ears and onto the feet. "2013" is written in the eyes of the skull, with "The Year of the Villains" written in the bones and the bottom of the skull.

On the back the same skull and crossbones can be seen but this time reading the slogan in Spanish "El Año de los Villanos". More of the imagery from the poster is on the sides of the figure and also on the front and back of the sorcerer's hat. I think this can be a nice figure in itself if you like the theme, but in terms of reflecting the poster art I think it could have been better. The skull really doesn't look skull shaped and it's a shame to lose the detail of the villains since the whole idea is Year of the Villains. Considering August's poster I think more of that detail could have been incorporated.


December
Walt Disney World December poster art

I love December's poster! So classic and so Disney! I really love the look and feel of this poster, capturing four of the Fab 5 - Mickey, Goofy, Donald and Pluto; alongside Walt Disney World icons - The Magic Kingdom castle and logo, Animal Kingdom's Tree of Life, EPCOT's Spaceship Earth, Hollywood Studios' original logo the Earful Tower; memorabilia of the Mickey Mouse Club badge, classic Mickey ears and the old park tickets, complete with the man himself! "Twenty Thirteen" is written at the top, with "Walt Disney World Believe in Magic" written at the bottom. Faint writing can be seen in the background, as can a circular Mickey head. Finally, a strong blue border rounds off the poster.

December
December Vinylmation figure

December's figure reflects the poster beautifully! The same retro look and feel applies and it's wonderful to look at from all angles. I just wish there was enough space to add everything on there from the poster. The vinyl is black all over with the blue border from the poster on the sorcerer's hat, around the ears and on the arms. Goofy and Pluto are on the sides of the head, with Mickey on the front of the body and Donald on the back. On the back of the vinyl's head is the classic Mickey ears. The "Twenty Thirteen" from the poster matches perfectly on the face of the vinyl. The "Believe in Magic" slogan is written on one side of the feet.

The faint writing from the background of the poster is written across the front and back of the sorcerer's hat which I think is a great use of that space and a thoughtful inclusion of easily overlooked detail. More subtle details can be seen on the side and back of the vinyl, where the circular Mickey head shape can be seen and on the front of the vinyl where The Magic Kingdom is written. Another of my favorites in this series, however my one criticism is that I would have preferred to see the park logos (Spaceship Earth, Earful Tower, Cinderella's Castle and Tree of Life) and Walt over Mickey, Donald, Pluto and Goofy. That would have sent this figure straight to my must-have pile!

-

I hope you've enjoyed my four part review of the 2013 Poster Art Series. This series has really surprised me this year, I've enjoyed seeing each month's release, and reviewing the good and bad of each figure. Here's to 2013!

No comments:

Post a Comment