Star Wars: The Last Jedi Series Release

Today saw the release of Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi and to accompany this highly anticipated theatrical release is a new Vinylmation series! The Star Wars: The Last Jedi series has been released today and features 12 figures: 11 commons plus a mystery chaser.

This entire set was designed by artist Maria Clapsis Stuckey and the characters in this series include: Rey, Luke Skywalker, Finn, Poe Dameron, Rose, General Leia Organa, DJ, Kylo Ren, General Hux, BB-9E, and a Stormtrooper Executioner. Each blind box retails at $14.99 and can be purchased at ShopDisney.com

Star Wars The Last Jedi Eachez Release

(Photo Credit: Vinylmation World)

As part of today's Force Friday II Star Wars merchandise release, a Star Wars The Last Jedi Eachez has been released today at the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. This Eachez has a Limited Edition size of 1,500 and features a common Praetorian Guard with a 7/10 chance of being in the blind box. The two variant Praetorian Guards each have a different weapon accessory and have a 1/5 and 1/10 chance respectively of being in the blind box.

(Photo Credit: Vinylmation World)

The figure on the left is the rarest variant figure (limited edition size of 150), the Guard pictured center is the common figure (limited edition size of 1,050), and the vinyl on the right is the second variant figure (limited edition size of 300). Each blind box retails at $16.95.

Star Wars Legion #4 Released

A fourth Star Wars Legion series has been released today at the Disney Store online. This is a 6 figure blind box set with 5 commons plus a mystery chaser. Each design is different but every figure is shaped like a Stormtrooper's helmet. Blind boxes retail at $12.95

Rogue One Series Release

To celebrate the release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, a Rogue One Vinylmation series has been released today at the Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, the Disney Store Online, and the Shop Disney Parks App. This is a 12 figure series with 11 commons plus a mystery chaser. The series was designed by artists Jason Peltz and Billy Davis. Each blind box retails at $14.99

Star Wars Legion #3 Droids Release

The Star Wars Legion #3 Droids series has been released this week at the Disney Store Online. This is a 6 figure blind box set with 5 common figures and a chaser. Each vinyl figure is a Stormtrooper shape with a droid design. Each blind box retails at $12.95

Rogue One Shoretrooper Eachez Release

A Rogue One Shoretrooper Eachez has been released today at Walt Disney World, the Disneyland Resort, the Shop Disney Parks App and the Disney Store Online in anticipation of the upcoming release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in December.

There's one common and two variants that make up this Eachez. The common figure (pictured in the top left) has a 9 in 10 chance of being in the blind box, while the two variant figures (pictured top right and at the bottom) each have a 1 in 20 chance of being in the blind box. This is a Limited Release meaning exact production quantities are not known. Each blind box retails at $14.99

Vinylmation Stories - Ree Yees

Thanks for joining me for another Vinylmation Story! I'm going to tell you today why I had to add Ree-Yees to my collection. Newer Disney fans might not recognize him, but Disney veterans may remember Ree-Yees from the original Star Tours safety video. I always thought it was funny how he was C-3PO's example of what not to do during your Star Tours flight, by smoking and using flash photography.

As a big fan of Star Tours, I instantly recognized Ree-Yees when I saw him in Park #16. I thought it was fantastic to include some retired characters in the anniversary series. He became a must-have for me when I saw Casey Jones's perfect artwork, and Ree-Yees's camera accessory - he wouldn't have been complete without it! I love looking at Ree-Yees and remembering the original Star Tours flights to Endor.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Series #2

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Series #2 has been released today at Disney Pin Traders, Star Wars Galactic Outpost, D-Street, the Launch Bay and the Disney Store Online. This is a an 8 figure set with 7 commons and a chaser, plus two variants it seems. The entire set was designed by artist Billy Davis and each blind box retails at $14.99.

Star Wars Legion Series 2 Release

The second Star Wars Legion series has been released today at the Disney Store Online. There are 5 common figures plus a mystery chaser, to make a total of 6 figures in the series, making the second series smaller than the original 8 figure series released last year. Each blind box retails at $12.95

Vinylmation Stories - Wicket

Today I'll be telling the story of why I added Wicket from Star Wars #3 to my collection. For starters, I'm a pretty big Star Wars fan. I love the movies and the score, I have a ton of Star Wars clothing and shoes, and I even have a Star Wars themed bathroom. But my passion for Star Wars does not mean I automatically buy every Star Wars Vinylmation released. I still like to stick to my favorite Walt Disney World attractions in Vinylmation form.

Wicket was the first Star Wars series Vinylmation that I purchased, and I decided that he had to join my collection because 1) Who doesn't love Ewoks? 2) He's just too adorable and 3) even though he doesn't appear in the Star Tours attraction, he reminds me of the exterior to Star Tours because it's themed to Endor, Wicket's home planet.

When I look at Wicket I think back to one of my favorite Hollywood Studios attractions - Star Tours, and that's what collecting Vinylmation is all about, the memories they bring. I have also had a great time taking pictures with Wicket at Hollywood Studios, which you can see here. I love his chubby little face, big eyes, adorable expression, and the Endor foliage in his ears. I'm very happy to own Wicket.

Star Wars Eachez #7 - Princess Leia Release

Another Star Wars Eachez has been released today at D-Street, Star Wars Galactic Outpost and the Disney Store Online. Both figures are of Princess Leia on Hoth with the common figure pictured left (9 in 10 odds) and the variant pictured right (1 in 10 odds). The Eachez has a Limited Edition size of 2,500 meaning there are 2,250 common figures and 250 variant figures. Artist Thomas Scott designed both Vinylmation and each blind box retails at $16.95

Star Wars Wicket 9" Release

A Star Wars 9" Vinylmation figure has been released today at D-Street, Star Wars Galactic Outpost and The Disney Store Online. This new Vinylmation is Wicket from Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Wicket was designed by Maria Clapsis and has a Limited Edition size of 1,000 like previous Star Wars 9" figures. Retail price for this figure is $59.95.

Update: Wicket is now available for purchase via the Shop Disney Parks app (6/4/16).

The Collector's Space - Long Live 9" Vinylmation

I've written before about the decline in production for 9" Vinylmation figures and how I want them to still be made but in a more realistic and appropriate manner. I have been extremely happy to see 9" figures accompany the Star Wars Weekend Vinylmation for the past 3 years, especially last year's Death Star 9" combo. This week Disney Parks Merchandise announced that although Star Wars Weekends are gone for good, there will be another Star Wars 9" Vinylmation released this May! 

The upcoming 9" Vinylmation is Wicket from Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. We don't know yet which artist created this figure, but I think this vinyl has been designed wonderfully! Wicket looks almost fluffy, with his cute little expression and adorable eyes! What I love the most is the nighttime Endor scene in the ears. If you've been reading this blog for a while, you're probably sick of me griping about artists wasting space in the ears of Vinylmation - not the case here! Absolutely beautiful detail! 

I hope this is a sign 9" Vinlmation will continue to be released. Even one 9" figure a year prevents the platform from becoming extinct, although this will be the second 9" released in 2016 after Hipster Mickey. Plus, one or two figures a year will create a higher demand, and prevent 9" figures from being moved en masse to outlets. Due to the higher price point of 9" vinyls coupled with the bigger size, there's just no way collectors can keep up with numerous releases a year, leading to 9" figures becoming outlet fodder, which is what caused their withdrawal in the first place. It seems as if Disney are moving in the right direction by keeping the 9", but keeping releases very low. 

Retail price of the Wicket 9" is being advertised as $59.95, the same price as last year's Death Star 9". This is a more realistic price to entice collectors to buy. Go too low and you'll find locals stocking up to resell on eBay, go too high (some 9" have been priced as high as $99.95) and you'll still find 9" going to outlet, with sellers refusing to pay no matter how amazing the figure. 

The only downfall I can foresee with this figure, is the Limited Edition size. I assume there will be one, given that the last few Star Wars 9" figures were LE 1000. However, it didn't appear that Hipster Mickey was a Limited Edition so we'll see. If the size is too high to meet demand, there may still be the outlet issue. 

The artwork on Wicket is fantastic and I'm happy to see a 9" figure designed with a purpose. With artwork this good for such a popular brand, I can see this figure being a success. If we only get Star Wars 9" for a while, that's fine with me! It seems as thought, for the moment at least, Star Wars might be what's keeping 9" figures alive, I am all for it!  

Star Wars Rex and Ace Eachez Release

The 8th Star Wars Eachez, Rex and Ace, has been released today at D-Street, Star Wars Galactic Outpost, the Launch Bay, and the Disney Store Online. The common figure is Captain Rex (RX-24), with a 9 in 10 chance of being in the box, while the variant figure is Ace (AC-38), with a 1 in 10 chance of being pulled. These Vinylmation have a limited edition size of 2,500 meaning there are 2,250 figures of Rex and 250 Ace figures. Both vinyls were designed by artist Thomas Scott and each blind box retails at $16.95.

Star Wars #6 Release

There won't be any Star Wars Weekends this year, but the annual tradition of releasing a Star Wars Vinylmation series has continued. Today, Star Wars #6 was released at D-Street, Star Wars Galactic Outpost, Launch Bay and the Disney Store Online and for the first time we have a reduced case size for the Star Wars line. While most series moved to 8 figure sets some time ago, Star Wars has remained a 12 figure set until now.

The set includes 8 figures: 7 commons, 1 chaser, plus two variants have already surfaced. All 8 figures were designed by Disney artist Maria Clapsis. Each blind box retails for $12.95

Vinylmation Review - Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens received its own Vinylmation series on its release day. Previous Star Wars Vinylmation series have proved popular with collectors and it seems this series was received with enthusiasm also. The series is even more appealing to those who have seen and enjoyed the latest installment of Star Wars. I actually think this movie had enough going on that this set could have been expanded to 12 figures. I would have included Luke, Maz Kanata, Captain Phasma and General Hux and made this set 12 figures, keeping Han as the chaser.

Reasons to love this series:

• Character assortment - I think every character you could possibly want from The Force Awakens is in this series. (Okay, you might want Chewbacca but there's already a Vinylmation of him in existence). There's the heroes, the lovable droid, the new villain, C-3PO sporting his new look, and the updated Stormtrooper. Kylo Ren is particularly popular among collectors 
• Variants - The possibility of a variant is often the incentive collectors need to pick up blind boxes these days, so it's always great to have them in a series, but they only get my vote if they make sense as part of the set. Rey in her desert gear and Finn in is stormtrooper outfit definitely fit that description. (I would have liked to have seen a variant of Finn with his helmet on and the bloody hand print, but perhaps that was too risque?)
• Desirable chaser - Some collectors argue that the quality of chasers is starting to decline and thus chasers aren't what collectors chase anymore. I don't think that applies to the Han Solo chaser in this series. Fans were thrilled to see the return of the lovable scruffy looking nerf herder. I think this is a wonderfully designed figure and perfect for the chaser
• Accessories - Kylo Ren would not be complete without his 3 prong lightsaber and Rey would not be complete without her staff. Thankfully, both were included as accessories as they look perfect! To top it off, the stormtrooper even has a blaster to make him an even stronger figure
• Creativity - I think the way BB-8 was designed is perfect! What a neat and creative way to translate another popular new character on to the Vinylmation mold

Things that aren't so great:

The only criticism I have with this set is the character faces. It is so hard to translate human faces on to the new Mickey mold. Most end up looking chubby and not quite like they should. I think Han (designed by Thomas Scott) is the best at looking most like the actor, but he still doesn't look as good as Thomas Scott's Indiana Jones figure, also played by Harrison Ford. Rey, Finn and Poe all look good, but in my opinion do not look like Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Oscar Isaac.

Star Wars #6 Jedi Spirit Set Release

An unannounced Vinylmation set has been released today at the Disney Store Online. The Star Wars #6 set has a Limited Edition size of 2,500 and contains a 3" figure of Spirit Anakin, a 3" figure of Spirit Obi Wan and a Jr. figure of Spirit Yoda. The set retails for $36.95 and all three figures were designed by Bill Davis. This set will be released at D-Street and Disney Pin Traders on March 11.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens at the Disney Store

The force is strong at my local Disney Store! There is still a case of Star Wars: The Force Awakens Vinylmation for sale. BB-8 looks really amazing in person!

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Vinylmation Release

A Star Wars: The Force Awakens Vinylmation series has been released today at the Disney Parks and the Disney Store Online, to coincide with the release of the movie. This is an 8 figure blind box series with 7 commons, 1 chaser, and 2 variants. All figures were designed by artist Thomas Scott. Each blind box retails for $14.95, not the usual $12.95 price point. (It's been reported that this series is being sold at the Star Wars Galactic Outpost (formerly D-Street) at Disney Springs in Walt Disney World).

Star Wars Darth Vader Eachez

A Star Wars Darth Vader Eachez has been released today at Disney Pin Traders at the Walt Disney World Resort and the Disney Store Online. This Eachez has a Limited Edition size of 2500, meaning there are 1250 common figures and 250 variant figures. The figures were designed by Thomas Scott and Casey Jones. The common figure is the unmasked Vader (pictured left) with 9 in 10 odds of being in the blind box. The variant figure is the masked Darth Vader (pictured right) with 1 in 10 odds of being in the blind box. Each blind box retails for $16.95.