Spotlight On: Chris Chapman of the Disney Design Group

WDWNT on March 12, 2011


We recently sat down with Chris Chapman 
of the Disney Design Group to talk Vinylmation and more. 
You can find the complete audio interview on the upcoming 
Episode 13 of our podcast.

In his role with Disney Design Group, Chris Chapman has designed and illustrated toys, logos, print, Vinylmation, pins, clothing, packaging, candy and more.  His work can be found at Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Hong Kong Disneyland and World of Disney Stores.

Chris Chapman is also the artist behind the new Disney Afternoons series of Vinylmation.

He calls this series his best work at Disney. Why? “I have such an incredible passion around Disney Afternoons. Because of that I was going to put in the extra hours and fight for it. I always like to find, I call it the Disney rarities. The things that don’t get the coverage, but people have huge passion around these guys.”

Before Disney Afternoons, Chris created a one-of-a-kind piece for Trade City in 2010.
This Steampunk inspired figure, named Dr. Frumberlockle, was auctioned off at the event
Moai was a cancelled Chris Chapman figure that never made it into a series. 
It too went up for auction at Trade City 2010
9″ Park 5 Mad Hatter, designed by Christopher Chapman

What did Chris think of Vinylmation when it was presented to him? “The skys the limit. That mickey shape is a blank canvas for us, no different than a flat canvas, but obviously the difficulty is in the three dimensional form. We had to learn what worked and what didn’t. You have submit to the form and think three dimensional.”

We also asked Chris about the balance between 
Disney’s creative and business sides.
“You have to balance that right brain creative blue sky ideation 
and the left brain analytical. Letting both of those 
work together is vital to success. 
And Walt Disney was a master at this.”
Some of the pins Chris designed for a 2009 Haunted Mansion event
“Mayor Mickey” is a work Chris created for Trade City 2010

There was much, much more from Chris. He also gave us a sneek peak at the Florida Project merchandise and what other Vinylmation he has in the works. Listen to the full interview on the upcoming Episdode 13 of out podcast.

TRON Vinylmation Release Date

WDWNT on March 12, 2011

Disney surprised us late last night at announced the release date for the TRON series we already saw available in Japan.

On March 25th the 8 figure, open window, set will arrive at D-Streets Florida and California, as well as the DisneyStore.com. No word on price.

Check out all the figures at our TRON Explained post.

I wonder if Steven will wear his disc.

End of Line

5 Dollar, 5 Dollar, 5 Dollar 3 Inch?

WDWNT on March 11, 2011

Update: 7pm Straight from the @DisneyStorePrez- Promotion this weekend only!

According to the Disney Store Facebook, starting tomorrow for every $20 worth of merchandise you buy at a Disney Store, you can get a 3″ vinylmation figure for only $5. Buy a hundred dollars worth of stuff, get 5 for only $25. However, this only works in brick and mortar stores (no DisneyStore.com). On Facebook someone asked about the fine print. Disney Store responded, “This promotion excludes Villains, Urban 6, and Cutesters Too Series”. I’m taking that to mean you can get any 3″ for $5, except those listed. It’s also interesting to note that they say “Urban 6”. So I guess that means they are getting Urban 6 sometime soon. This weekend only!

You’ve seen the hats, now see the figures.

WDWNT on March 11, 2011

Based on the reveal yesterday of two of the coolest Vinylmation Mickey Hats so far, (the first I’ve ever actually wanted to purchase) Disney revealed two of the 9″ figures for the Urban 6 set. We already had glimpses of these figures from a set of pins that was announced, but today they were confirmed. No word on the artist and LE numbers, but Disney said both figures will be released sometime in April.

Viking
Looking fierce this guy needs to work the runway. Only there would his odd horned hat and bracelets make him
Gumball Machine
We saw the 9″ Gumball Machine in the pin set, but we didn’t know it was part of a 9″/3″ combo. The 3″ kid is great, especially if you have the hat. That set of two 3″ would be a before/after shot of a poor kid who blew his bubble up too big. Also of note is the gumball slot in the feet. I was worried about how it would look on a 3D figure, and I think my concerns are valid. This 9″ doesn’t seem to live up to the concept art.
This piece will only be sold online at the DisneyStore.com

Annual Passholder Preview for Star Tours?

WDWNT on March 10, 2011

This just arrived in an email for WDW Annual Passholders:

May 20 is the launch date for new Star Tours thrills!
The adventures continue at Disney’s Hollywood Studios® with some of your favorite Star Wars™ characters, amazing new effects and 3D magic. Star Tours®—The Adventures Continue is where out-of-this-world imagination stretches as wide as the galaxy itself. Plus, keep an eye open for special news for Passholders!

While it doesn’t say that there will be an annual passholder preview, it does hint at something special for them. Perhaps more importantly, we have confirmation of the Boba Fett chase scene, as well as the inclusion of the planet Geonosis & the first Death Star under construction in the attraction (It appears behind the vessels in this small image). Does this indeed mean that you will see destinations from our post last week? Probably, but we’ll just have to wait to find out…

Wondering What Ursula Will Look Like “Under the Sea”?

WDWNT on March 9, 2011

From the Disney Parks Blog:

The infamous evil sea witch, Ursula, has taken her place inside The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure attraction opening June 3 at Disney California Adventure park. When you’re on the attraction, you can’t miss her. She’s 7 ½ feet tall and 12 feet wide! Of course, the Disney Parks Blog was there to capture this exciting day! Come with us behind-the-scenes as we show you Ursula being installed, and meet some members of the amazing team of Walt Disney Imagineers who brought Ursula to “life.”

Change of Course?

WDWNT on March 9, 2011

An update to the Disney Vinylmation site has us lost. Yesterday we reported that the Park 6 series was to be released on April 1st, as seen written on the picture page for all the Park 6 figure turn arounds. Now that piece of information has been replaced with the words, “Coming Soon”. Does this mean that the date has changed? Or did Disney just not want us to know the date so early. (A whole month!) We’ll keep you appraised of the situation as it changes.