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

The Backside of Vinyls - The Little Mermaid

In honor of The Little Mermaid's 25th birthday yesterday, today I'm looking at the back of The Little Mermaid figure from Park #2. From the front, this Vinylmation looks very cute, but fairly simple. I love the surprise when you turn it around! A beautifully drawn Ariel on the back.

I love The Little Mermaid, Ariel has always been my favorite princess because she has red hair like me. There are a few things this figure could represent at the Disney Parks, but I'm going to go with it representing The Voyage of The Little Mermaid at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Michelle St. Laurent-Shrieve has done a fantastic job with this design. I love that Ariel starts right at the top of the figure's back, in the left ear. The design then moves all the way down, using all of the back of the head, the back of the body, and even moving over into the left shoulder and arm. Michelle has utilized all of the space on the 3" Mickey canvas effectively and she's drawn a spot on Ariel that looks just perfect!

Such a well done and fun figure all around!

Snapshot Sunday - Super Mouse at Comic Con

I took this picture last weekend when I attended Wizard World Comic Con. Super Mouse enjoyed the con with me

My Thoughtful Spot - Variants

I've been thinking recently about variants and how I feel about them.  My overall, summarized opinion is that I think they're a fantastic idea when they're warranted. If there's a legitimate reason to have them in a series, I'm all for it. I think it adds to the appeal of the series and can expand a series to include almost completely different figures.

To illustrate my point, the Dapper Dans are a wonderful idea for a variant! The Dapper Dans each wear a different color (red, orange, blue, purple and green) and to own each of the variants, plus the common figure, creates a complete Dapper Dans set. They make sense because the Dapper Dans actually look like that and there's reason to want to collect all of the variants, aside from wanting them just because they're variants.

On the other hand, the 100 Years of Magic variant from Park #8 was not really necessary in my opinion. There's no reason to have that same figure in red and white. It's not a new character like the Dapper Dan variants are. It's not the same character in a different scene like Spacesuit Figment, where the common figure is Figment in the original ride and the variant is Figment in the present ride version. The 100 Years of Magic "variant", I think, is a variant for the sake of a variant. It's designed and added to the series to make people want it because it's more rare, not because of the figure's design or what the figure represents. It's those types of variants I don't really like and will not make an effort to collect.

Sometimes variants are just fun. There was no real need to have two, or even one Wet Paint Donald variant in my opinion. I'm not sure many collectors want all three figures, but it would be cool to pull a variant if you wanted the original. Changing the color in this example makes sense and doesn't ruin the original common figure either. I wouldn't have minded which color I got, I just wanted that figure in some form. But since I didn't pull a variant, I am not forking out extra money to get an orange or purple figure instead of green. Green is fine with me.

Even if the variant is a good idea, like the Dapper Dans, I usually don't chase after them because they're just too much money. A quick search for the Dapper Dans variants shows a set of all 4 with a starting bid of $289.95 plus shipping. Spacesuit Figment is going for over $100. There's not a single variant I want enough to pay that kind of money for.

I can still appreciate a lot of the variants with meaning behind them, when they are more than just a color change, or Indiana Jones with "pit stains" (as he's being dubbed). Variants like that bring back the chase. They're almost always more coveted and worth more on the secondary market than chasers. Variants can be great for the hobby. I don't think bad variant choices can hurt the hobby, I just think they're a waste of a figure and are very disappointing.

Villainous Duos Pain & Panic Release

The second of four Villainous Duos sets has been released today at The Disney Store Online where it has already sold out. This set has a 3" figure of Pain and Panic from Disney's animated movie Hercules. Both figures were designed by Maria Clapsis. The set has a limited edition size of 1,500 and retails for $29.95

Classic Collection Orphan's Benefit Mickey & Goofy Set Release

A 2 figure companion pack to the previously released Classic Collection series has been released today at The Disney Store Online. The Orphan's Benefit set has two 3" figures, one of Goofy and the other of Mickey from the 1934 short Orphan's Benefit. The artist of both figures is Bert and the set has a limited edition size of 2,500. Each set retails for $29.95

Throwback Thursday - Winter Storage

Series: Have A Laugh!

Artist: Eric Caszatt

Released: June 2010

The Backside of Vinyls - Lights, Motors, Action!

Today I'm looking at the back of the Lights, Motors, Action! figure from Park #10. I love the use of clear on this figure! This is another example of a figure where the back side is a continuation of the front of the figure, and for that reason is extremely similar. This figure is technically based on the Disneyland Paris original version, but the show is identical at Walt Disney World. What I love about the back of this figure is the nod it gives to the attraction's origins.

(Photo credit: Marc Lorenzo)

This vinyl depicts the finale from the Lights, Motors, Action! show pictured above. The red car flies out from a Provençale building, over flames, as fireworks go off either side of it. We can see the flames on the back of the vinyl's body and feet, underneath the car that we can see represented on the back of the vinyl's head. The fireworks are featured in each ear of the Mickey figure, which positions them perfectly either side of the car, just like in the show.

What you may not know, is that in 2005 "The Happiest Celebration on Earth" was launched at Disney Resorts worldwide, to celebrate 50 years of Disney Theme Parks. As part of the celebration, attractions were imported from one Disney location to another. At that time, the Disney-MGM Studios received Lights, Motors, Action! from the Disneyland Resort Paris. The license plate on the back of the car on this figure reads "DLP-92", in recognition of the attraction's genesis at Disneyland Paris, which opened in 1992.

I've said it before but I'm going to say it again - it's the inclusion of little details that blow me away sometimes with Vinylmation!

Vinylmation Stories - Mascots

The Mascot figures were some of the first vinyls I bought that were not from the Park line. I loved them from the moment I saw them and I'm disappointed by the criticism I've read of them. I debated on whether or not to get them because they weren't from the Park line. I collect what I love but I don't have unlimited money and space!

These figures appealed to me because of the style they've been created in and what they represent. I love the old collegiate feel they have and their vintage colors. I bought them as I was nearing completion of my undergraduate degree and about to start my postgrad. I needed some cheerleaders to get me through!

I bought Mickey to be my mascot as I finished up college for the first time and went back again for my postgrad. I have always loved Mickey and I love this vinyl's baseball cap accessory. I bought Pluto as my brother's mascot, to remind me to encourage and motivate my younger brother, who was about to start his associate's degree as I finished up my degree. He is in tech school learning to be an engineer, so it was perfect that Pluto is holding a fantastic flag accessory reading "tech". Pluto was also my brother's favorite character growing up. Perfect!

Finally I bought Goofy as a mascot for my husband who had decided to go back to school to get a second degree. I love his foam finger accessory! They look fantastic all in a line together on my desk and I would see them every time I sat down to study. I still love them just as much to this day, and they are still sat on my desk at home.

Throwback Thursday - Super Mouse

Series: Urban #4

Artist: Mike Sullivan

Released: July 2010

The Backside of Vinyls - Anglerfish

For today's Backside of Vinyls post, I'm looking at the back of the Anglerfish Vinylmation from the Jr. 11 Finding Nemo series. There's not a whole lot to say about this figure - it's literally the back of an anglerfish, but I wanted to post about it because I think it's beautifully detailed for a 1 and a half inch figure.

I really am impressed with how great it looks, and it's not cutesy or cartoony looking. After all the anglerfish is scary dude! I also love the deep, dark colors. They're perfect! Just looking at this figure takes me right back to that scene in Finding Nemo. It also reminds me of the anglerfish's appearance in The Seas with Nemo and Friends ride. This is a great back side for a Jr figure!

Mickey's Christmas Carol Series Release

The anticipated Mickey's Christmas Carol series has been released today at Disney Stores and The Disney Store Online. It will release this Friday (November 7) at D-Street locations. This is a 12 figure blind box set made up of 11 common figures and 1 chaser. The series was designed by artist Enrique Pita and each blind box retails for $12.95

Big Hero 6 Release

The Big Hero 6 Vinylmation series was released today at Disney Stores and The Disney Store Online. It will release this Friday (November 7) at D-Street locations. This is an 8 figure blind box series of 7 common figures plus 1 chaser, which were all designed by artist Eric Tan. Each blind box retails for $12.95