Thursday, August 27, 2015

Throwback Thursday - Green Oh Mickey

Series: Oh Mickey!
Artist: Eric Caszatt
Released: April 2010

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Vinylmation Review - Peter Pan Series


Peter Pan is a true Disney classic and in my opinion, a fantastic choice for a Vinylmation series that has proved to be successful. Caley Hicks and Ron Cohee did an amazing job at designing these figures and I wanted to share my review.


Things to love about this series:
  • The characters - I think everyone you could want is in this series. (Well, Mr Smee is missing, as is Tick Tock, but you can get both from the Villains series)
  • The accessories - how perfect is Michael's hat and umbrella?! Plus Nana and Wendy have bows, Tiger Lilly has a feather, and Captain Hook has not just an awesome hat, but also a hook for a hand. As they all should
  • Likeness - I think Michael, John, Peter, Nana and Captain Hook, are absolutely spot on in looking like they do on screen. Tinkerbell and Wendy are great, I just think Wendy isn't as perfect and Tink looks a little on the chubby side. But they are still fantastic figures
  • The ears - you know I love good artwork in the ears! Peter has Neverland and Tinkerbell, and the three children have their bedroom wallpaper in the ears. Nothing else would be more appropriate
  • Worthy chaser - I think Tiger Lilly is both a desirable character and a sought after Vinylmation, since it's been designed so well
  • Amazing variants - the variants are appropriate: Wendy, John and Michael sprinkled in pixie dust. On top of that, they are beautiful! I've never made it my mission to own variants, but I wish I owned these!
  • Mix of molds - I love that both the Mickey and Minnie mold are in this series. It works perfectly for Nana, Wendy, Tinkerbell and Tiger Lilly, plus it's nice to see things mixed up a little


Things that aren't so great:
I don't think that there's anything not to like about this series. However, some might be wishing we had a Tick Tock or Mr Smee. Others might also be tired of repeats of Captain Hook, Nana, Tinkerbell and Peter Pan. Personally, I think Captain Hook and Nana needed a do-over and these versions blow their predecessors out of the water

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Vinylmation Stories - XP-37 Space Cruiser


The XP-37 Space Cruiser, for those who don't know, is the name of the vehicle you ride in during Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. This Vinylmation, designed by Eric Caszatt, embodies every aspect of the ride vehicle: front, back, sides, and even the laser cannons you fire. There are two reasons why this figure was a must-have for me. First, the design is incredible! I love the details and colors. The more I look at it, the more detail I see and the more impressed I am.


The second reason is that, in my opinion, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin is under-appreciated. Every since Toy Story Mania opened, I've heard a lot of people complain that Buzz is archaic, amateur, and not worth visiting when you could just do Toy Story Mania instead. I disagree. I love both attractions and they both have different things going for them. I love the control you have of your car in Buzz, how interactive it is with you moving through scenes instead of looking at a screen, the gun itself is different too. It's a different type of game.

I love Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin just as much now as I did when it first opened. No trip is complete with a ride on Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. My enthusiasm for the attraction, plus Eric Caszatt's incredible design is why the XP-37 Space Cruiser joined my collection.

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Friday, August 21, 2015

2015 Halloween Eachez Release


The Halloween Vinylmation release for this year is an Eachez blind box, with the possibility of pulling either Mickey dressed as a pirate or Minnie dressed as a princess. The blind boxes retail for $16.95 each and are available only at the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort at this time.

No details yet on which is the common and which is the variant, although my guess is that Mickey is the common (as usual) and Minnie is the variant. I hope however that it will be the other way around for a change. The artist is also unknown at this time, and it has not been announced if this is a Limited Edition or Limited Release. More news and updates when I have it.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Throwback Thursday - Claire de Room

Series: Park #13
Artist: Ron Cohee
Released: November 2013

Monday, August 17, 2015

Aladdin Set Release


To celebrate the release of Aladdin on Blu-ray and DVD, a 3" Aladdin Vinylmation set has been released today at the Disney Store Online. There are 8 figures in the set - 7 commons and a mystery chaser. All figures were designed by Gerald Mendez and each blind box retails for $12.95

Art of Jasmine Set Release


Over the weekend, the Art of Jasmine set was released at the D23 Expo. Today it was released at the Disney Store Online. This is a set of two 3" figures representing Princess Jasmine from Aladdin. There is no limited edition size for this set. It retails for $26.95

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Throwback Thursday - Mowgli

Series: The Jungle Book
Artist: Gerald Mendez
Released: February 2014

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Aulani Exclusive Menehune Eachez Release


An Aulani Eachez has recently been released exclusively at Disney's Aulani Resort in Hawaii. The Eachez has a common "wood" figure with 9 in 10 odds of being in the blind box, and a variant "stone" figure with 1 in 10 odds. The figures are a Limited Edition size of 5,000 which means there are 4,500 of the wood figure and 500 of the stone figure. Artist John Henselmeier designed both Vinylmation and each blind box retails for $16.95.

Sunday, August 09, 2015

Vinylmation Stories - Dole Whip


Those who know me well know that I am a huge Dole Whip fan! No Disney trip is complete without one, and I only wish Aloha Isle would open at rope drop. Alas, I have to wait until mid-morning to pick up my favorite fruity Disney treat... but I digress.

You may have wondered all this time why my blog is called Vinylmation Isle. Well in part it's because I view my blog as an island of Vinylmation escapism, and partly because the name was inspired by Aloha Isle. You may have noticed that I used the Dole Whip Vinylmation from Park #9 as part of my blog's logo.


When I discovered that Caley Hicks had designed a Dole Whip Vinylmation, I didn't think twice! I had to have that in my collection. It was only fitting that I own a figure as integral to my Walt Disney World vacations as Space Mountain and the Tower of Terror. I also think the vinyl is very well designed, it's more simple than other vinyls, but that really works, and no key detail has been spared.

That's the story behind why I own the Dole Whip Vinylmation!

Friday, August 07, 2015

Jr. #12 Adventureland Series Release


The Jr. #12 Adventureland series has been released today at D-Street locations. This is a 12 figure blind box set of various Adventureland characters, including the Tiki Room birds, and fan favorite, the Orange Bird. There will be 11 commons, plus a chaser, and maybe potential variants. Each blind box retails for $9.95.

Thursday, August 06, 2015

Throwback Thursday - West Coast Mickey

Series: Park #11
Artist: Maria Clapsis
Released: October 2012

Tuesday, August 04, 2015

The Backside of Vinyls - Primeval Whirl


Today on The Backside of Vinyls, I'm taking a look at the back side of Primeval Whirl from Park #6. This figure, designed by Thomas Scott, truly impresses me with all the little details it includes from the Animal Kingdom attraction.

Let's begin with the back of the Vinylmation's head. It depicts a meteor crashing down toward a dinosaur near the start of the attraction. (Pictured below). I love how the meteor starts in the vinyl's ear and makes its way down the back of the head.


There is no space wasted on this figure, even the arms include aspects from the ride. From the back, you can see an atom that stretches over the vinyl's right arm. The atom can be seen during your ascent at the beginning of the attraction:

(The blue star is pictured under the "e" in the phrase "Back in Time" and
above the "e" in the phrase "WAY back in Time")

Notice at the top of the right arm, on the back of the Vinylmation is a blue star, taken from the same segment of the ride. (You can see it above the "e" in "Time" in the picture below). Finally, let's move on to the back of the Vinylmation. The firey looking arches you move under at the start of the ride feature diagonally across the vinyl's back. In the middle is a blue alarm clock taken from one of the arches:


There are so many details in this ride that I think have been captured perfectly on this figure. I love the bright colors and the attention to detail by artist Thomas Scott. I love looking at this figure in my collection and being taken right back to Dinoland USA.

Saturday, August 01, 2015

Calling All Vinylmation Collectors!

I want to see YOUR collection! I hope to begin a new series of posts showing how Vinylmation fans display their prized possessions. But I need your help! If you are interested in sharing, and want to see your collection featured here, please email me pictures and a short description to vinylmationisle@gmail.com

(This is not my collection)

A description is not necessary but if you'd like to provide one, here's the kind of info I'm interested in:
  • How long have you been collecting?
  • Which Vinylmation do you focus on collecting? (Park Series, anything Mickey, etc.)
  • How many vinyls do you own?
  • Do you collect 3" or 9"?
  • (Optional) What state you live in (just the state, not your city) or country you live in if you're an international collector

I hope you hear from you!