2014 In Review

Last year I decided to start reviewing my year in Vinylmation collecting here on my blog. It's a once a year review where I can look back and remember my journey during that past year to keep collecting what I love. (I've been collecting for almost 4 years now). I feel like 2014 was a pretty uneventful year for me in terms of vinyl collecting. But without further ado... here's my 2014 In Review!

Number of Vinylmation in my collection as of this post:
3" - 122
9" - 1
Jr. - 6
Park Starz - 9

My favorite Disney artist right now is:
This is really difficult because I love everyone's work! I want to give a big honorable mention to Enrique Pita who has done a lot of amazing work this year and I don't think he's been recognized enough. I have been super impressed with Caley Hicks this year! Topiaries, her Park Starz #3 figures, Holiday Gingerbread Duffy the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover figure, and Tiki Mickey have been fantastic. I have wanted to add a lot of Caley's work to my collection this year. I also loved Ron Cohee's work on the Haunted Mansion Mickey & Friends series. So it's a tie between Caley and Ron.

The upcoming set I'm most looking forward to is:
Again I'm having the same problem as last year in that we really haven't been told a whole lot about upcoming releases yet. The Lilo & Scrump set that was announced at the Imagination Gala, did not release in November as announced. I am looking forward to whenever that set is released. I'm also looking forward to Pirates of the Caribbean Mickey & Friends and the next Haunted Mansion set. 

Holy grail that I wish I owned is currently:
Park #6 UP 9" just like last year. I still love the 9" UP figure but I still haven't found it an affordable price, nor have I had the money to bite the bullet and buy it at an extortionate price.

My favorite purchase this year was:
My focus on purchases this year was filling in gaps. I kinda got annoyed at how many vinyls had dramatically dropped in price last year after I bought them. I wanted quite a few so much that I got them very soon after release. Seeing the price a couple months later made me kick myself. So this year I filled in gaps to bide time while I waited for what I wanted to drop in price. But my favorite purchase was the Animal Kingdom Tigger Is That You? set. I love my Cranium Command set too but that was a gift not a purchase so I can't count that.

The artist whose work I added most to my collection this year was:
I added a surprisingly low number of vinyls to my collection this year. The artist whose work I added most was Maria Clapsis with 4 figures, followed second by Thomas Scott with 3 figures. Overall I added only 14 figures to my collection this year.

Something new I did this year was:
Add Park Starz to my collection. I bought one and traded for the others. I had always liked them but couldn't get over how to display them with their shapes being different. I know that's kind of the point but I'm a little OCD and I like that although my vinyls are all different, they're uniform enough that I can line them up and display them neatly. I can't do that with Park Starz. I decided to collect them anyway because I like them but they're not currently displayed. I still haven't figured out how. 

I'm hoping 2015 will bring some more great Vinylmaion to my collection!

Snapshot Sunday - My Vinylmation Christmas Gifts

Walt Disney World 2015 Eachez Release

The 2015 Walt Disney World Eachez has been released today at D-Street locations and The Disney Store Online. This Eachez is a "limited release" (as opposed to a limited edition) which means quantities are limited, however Disney has not announced exact production numbers.

The common figure is Donald dressed in a Pirates of the Caribbean themed outfit (9 in 10 chance) and the variant figure is Mickey dressed as a resort guest, with a Sorcerer Hat and a Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar (1 in 10 chance). On Mickey's back is the Walt Disney World logo. Ironically, only the common figure has the 2015 date. Both figures were designed by Mike Sullivan and each blind box retails for $14.95

Disneyland 2015 Eachez Release

The 2015 Disneyland Eachez has been released today at D-Street locations and The Disney Store Online where it has already sold out. This Eachez is a "limited release" (as opposed to a limited edition) which means quantities are limited, however Disney has not announced exact production numbers.

The common figure is Goofy dressed as Buzz Lightyear (9 in 10 chance) and the variant figure is Mickey dressed as a resort guest, with a Sorcerer Hat and a Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar (1 in 10 chance). On Mickey's back is the Disneyland logo. Ironically, only the common figure has the 2015 date. Both figures were designed by Mike Sullivan and each blind box retails for $14.95

Merry Christmas!

The Backside of Vinyls - Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights

For today's installment of The Backside of Vinyls, I've gone with a Christmas theme as I take a look at the back of The Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights Vinylmation.

The back of this figure really gives a well-rounded representation of the Holiday show over at Disney's Hollywood Studios. With so many bright light displays that make up the Osborne spectacle, I'm glad to see a good selection of them across this Vinylmation, not just repetition of the front design on the back.

On the back of the vinyl's ears are two reindeer from the electrical display of Santa in his sleigh. Reindeer are a great Christmas icon to have picked and they work perfectly in the ears. On the back of the head are holiday bells, taken from a row of lights that hangs between two of the Streets of America. The bells correspond with the wreath that can be seen in the same row of lights and on the front of the figure.

Moving down to the back of the vinyl's body are the glowing Christmas trees, one of the central features of the Osborne Lights. The whole body, front and back, running down the arms and feet of the Vinylmation, also has other white scattered lights across to replicate the incredible number of lights in the display

I love every angle of this Vinylmation! It's fantastic! A wonderful representation of a classic Walt Disney World Holiday attraction and a great Christmas addition to any Vinylmation collection.

Vinylmation Stories - Tapestry of Nations

The Tapestry of Nations was a parade at EPCOT that ran from 1999 to 2001 as celebration of the new millennium. It might just be my favorite Disney parade of all time. I loved it! The show was mostly huge puppets that were incredible. The whole idea, theme, colors, puppets, music, everything was amazing. I was pretty upset when like all good things, the parade ended.

When I saw that a Vinylmation set had been made for this parade I just had to have it! There were so many puppets that there could have been a Vinylmation series for The Tapestry of Nations, but I think making it a 5 figure set in Park #7 was a better way to go. The parade ran for a relatively short period of time, and if you didn't happen to visit Walt Disney World, or catch the parade during that time, I'm sure the figures are lost and very unappealing to those collectors.

So many of the key and memorable moments in the parade have been beautifully captured in Vinylmation form. One very iconic character from the parade who made it into the Vinylmation set, is the Sage of Time:

I was especially impressed by how the Marionette puppets were translated in to Vinylmation. The Marionette was one brightly colored puppet who walking along controlling a smaller puppet. They're represented by a 3" and a Jr. figure in the set.

I am so pleased this set was made and that I was able to pick it up for a steal! I still love the parade and these figures.

Villainous Duos Flotsam and Jetsam Release

The Villainous Duos Flotsam and Jetsam set has been released today at D-Street locations and The Disney Store Online. This two figure set has 3" figures from The Little Mermaid that were both designed by Maria Clapsis. The set is a limited edition of 1,500 and retails at $29.95

Throwback Thursday - Nutcracker Goofy

Series: Jingle Smells #3

Artist: Enrique Pita

Released: October 2013

Collector of Habit - Christmas

Welcome to another installment of Collector of Habit. For those who are new here, Collector of Habit (a play on "creature of habit") is a series of posts where I pick a theme to follow when collecting Vinylmation, and show pictures and lists of vinyls related to that theme, as an idea of how to get your collection started. Today I'm looking at Christmas vinyls!

There are many Christmas Vinylmation across various series. Here's some that I've picked:

Holiday #1

Holiday #2

Holiday 2012 Exclusive

Holiday 2013 Ice Skating Set

Holiday 2013 Exclusive

Holiday Ornaments

Jingle Smells #3

Jingle Smells #2

Jingle Smells #1

Snapshot Sunday - Santa Mickey and Minnie

Throwback Thursday - Holiday Ornament

Series: Holiday 2013

Artist: Caley Hicks

Released: November 2013

Disney Store Update

My local Disney Store is currently selling Toy Story #2, Big Hero 6 and Star Wars #4 Vinylmation. Their case of Mickey's Christmas Carol is running low.

Iron Patriot and War Machine Set Release

The Marvel #2 combo set Iron Patriot and War Machine has been released today at D-Street locations and The Disney Store Online where it has already sold out. This is a set of two 3" figures from the movie Iron Man 3. Both figures were designed by Thomas Scott and the set has a limited edition of 1,500. The set retails for $29.95

Throwback Thursday - Candlelight Processional

Series: Holiday 2010

The Backside of Vinyls - The Main Street Electrical Parade Train

Today I'm looking at the back of the 9" Main Street Electrical Parade Train Vinylmation from Park #2. I love the way the detail of this vinyl continues on to the back. It's one of those "back sides" that's so epic, you could look at only the back of the figure forever and still love it.

This Vinylmation is designed after the train featured in the Main Street Electrical Parade at both Disneyland and The Magic Kingdom:

On the back of the vinyl's ears, head, arms, body and feet are the red and yellow lights that cover the train. When you look closely at the train in the picture above you can see that some lights flash brighter than others. I love how that has been portrayed on the vinyl bu bright stars! Every inch of detail has been included by Lin Shih.

On the back of the Vinylmation's head we can see lights in the shape of a Mickey head, taken from the side of the train in the first picture, and from the flag on the back of the train, which can be seen more clearly in the second picture. On the sides of head are the flags of lights that sit on the top of the train.This design creeps around on to the back of the figure's head.

Finally on the back of the body we can also see the carriage of the train, the circular Main Street Electrical Parade logo. This is absolutely beautiful Vinylmation with an accurate and fantastic design. The whole 9" figure has been used effectively, without any space wasted. Another amazing back side of a vinyl!

Snapshot Sunday - Mickey's Christmas Carol

The recently released Mickey's Christmas Carol series is being sold at my local Disney Store. Looks like they only just put out a new case!

Gravity Falls Series Release

The Gravity Falls Vinylmation series, based on the popular Disney Channel show, has been released today at the Walt Disney World Resort and The Disney Store Online. This is an 8 figure blind box set of 7 common figures plus one chaser. The series was designed by artists Thomas Scott and Caley Hicks. Each blind box retails for $12.95 and the set will be released at the Disneyland Resort on a later date.

Happy Turkey Day!

The Backside of Vinyls - Lightning McQueen

In today's Backside of Vinyls post, I'm looking at Lightning McQueen from Park #5. Lightning McQueen is featured at Disney's Hollywood Studios, in both a Meet and Greet area with his pal Mater, and also in a cameo appearance during the Lights, Motors, Action! show.

Monty Maldovan did a great job with this Vinylmation. I love not only all the details he's included, but also the way in which he's incorporated those details into the figure. I actually like the back of this vinyl better than the front.

Starting on the back of the ears, we can see Lightning's tires, a design that starts on the front and continues on to the back. I think that makes sense considering he has 4 wheels. Monty has re-created the wheels perfectly - with the same red rims in the center and the brand "Lightyear" running around the outside. (Nice Pixar in-joke there).

On the back of the figure's head, there's a 95 taken from the side of Lightning McQueen. The coloring is spot on here.

Moving down to the back of the vinyl's body, Lightning McQueen's name is written in white at the top of his back. Underneath is the "Rust-eze" logo, taken from Lightning's hood, which has been created with an impressive level of detail. Despite being a 3" figure, the logo looks exactly the same and even has the brand's slogans.

Lightning McQueen was a great choice for a Park figure, even more so now that Disney's California Adventure has Cars Land. I love how fantastically designed this figure is! It really does justice so such a fun and lovable character.

Vinylmation Stories - Flik

Flik is from Pixar #1, but to me he instantly looked like a Park series Vinylmation. Partly because I think it's a great theme park featured character choice, Flik is featured in Animal Kingdom and Disney's California Adventure, but also because of the fantastic artwork by Ron Cohee.

 
I had to have Flik for a few reasons. Firstly, I love A Bug's Life. I have always loved it and I once owned it on VHS. (Now of course I've upgraded it to Blu-Ray). A Bug's Life is a great movie, triumphant, fun and entertaining. I love the bright colors and wonderful animation! I have so many memories of it as a child. I watched the movie, listened to the soundtrack on cassette tape (yes, really) and I had several action figures - including Flik.

Secondly, this Vinylmation reminds me of It's Tough To Be A Bug in Animal Kingdom, a 3D show hosted by Flik.

It's Tough To Be A Bug is a must-do attraction when I visit Animal Kingdom, so I have come to associate Flik with the park. My love of all things A Bug's Life, plus Ron Cohee's amazing artwork, made Flik a must-have Vinylmation figure for me.

D-Tour #2 Pinstripe Eachez Release

The D-Tour #2 Pinstripe Eachez has been released today at D-Street locations and The Disney Store Online where it was already sold out. This Eachez has a Limited Edition size of 1,000 with a 9 in 10 chance of pulling the common Mickey figure (pictured left) and a 1 in 10 chance of pulling the variant Minnie figure (pictured right). That means there's 900 Mickey figures and only 100 Minnie figures. Both figures were designed by artist Thomas Scott and each blind box retails for $16.95

Holiday Special Boba Fett Release

The Holiday Special Boba Fett figure that accompanies the Star Wars #4 series has been released today at D-Street locations and The Disney Store Online, where it has already sold out. The figure was designed by Casey Jones and as a Limited Edition size of 1,500. Each open window box retails for $16.95

Throwback Thursday - Mickey's Garden

Series: Have A Laugh!

Artist: Eric Caszatt

Released: June 2010