Calling All Vinylmation 95 Custom Artists

WDWNT on July 7, 2012

The introduction of the Vinylmation 95 CYO has opened up new doors for custom Vinylmation artists out there. We would love to spotlight your work along side all the Mickey mold customs we have been featuring for years. So whether your a new artist, of a seasoned pro, email us (DestinationVinylmation@gmail.com) with you name and pictures of your work and we will get back to you with some fun questions to make up your article.

While we are waiting for yours, take a look at what these artists, commissioned by Disney, have produced for the Wonderground Gallery at the Downtown Disney District, California.

A Bug’s Life
by Calef Brown

The Little Mermaid
by J. Scott Campbell
Midway
by Miss Mindy
Monster’s Inc.
by Lyla Warren
Muppet Vision 3D
by Amy Mebberson

Andy’s Artwork Now On Sale

WDWNT on July 7, 2012

Today is the 5th of July, the release date for the Toy Story Mania Andy Series in Japan. @vinylmati0n tweeted out this nice picture of them. Do you want any of these? We do!

Spotlight On: Custom Vinylmation Artist Annemarie

WDWNT on July 7, 2012

Annemarie just sent us pictures of her latest custom. It is designed after the boy from La Luna, the new Pixar short that plays before Brave.

Destination Vinylmation: What was it about this character that made you run home after watching La Luna and create him in Vinylmation form?
Annemarie: I may have a sickness, because the first thing I thought when I saw the character was that he’d fit perfectly on a Vinylmation.

Photo Copyright Disney Pixar

DV: Was this design fairly straightforward or did you got through some different options in your head?
AM: He was pretty straightforward. I knew I wanted to capture his expression in the moment where he saw the moon up close. I originally planned to use a Director Mickey hat for his hat, but it didn’t look quite right and would have needed a brim anyway, so I decided to sculpt him his own special hat.

DV: What did you personally take away from this Pixar short?
AM: This short, as all Pixar shorts are, was beautiful. I loved its simplicity.

DV: What is your favorite Pixar short of all-time?
AM: I’ve always loved Geri’s Game the best. Not sure why, I just think the expressions are priceless.

Photo Copyright Disney Pixar

Vinylmation Speculation: Park 9 Combo Topper

WDWNT on July 7, 2012

I opened my email the other day, and there was a message from the Scuba Owl:

What do you think the combo topper will be for Park 9? My vote is for this Mickey from the Mission Space gift shop: 

I almost think it would be too awesome for a topper. But then again, the Park 8 topper was fantastic.
– Scuba

Well that certainly got me thinking. The Park Combo Toppers are always Mickey Mouse in various costumes or forms from the Parks or Cartoons. Park 4 was Plane Crazy Mickey. Park 5 had Sorcerer Mickey. The 6th Park series featured Runaway Brain. The 7th series Mickey was all decked out in a tux and bow tie as he was years ago to great guests when WDW opened its gates. In series 8, we saw Mickey in a Rainbow suit he wore in Future World at Epcot. What will the 9th installment of Vinylmation’s marquee series bring us? Remember, the blind boxes come out on July 13 and the combo topper is slated for a July 27 release. Here are some of my thoughts, please leave yours in the comments.

 Dream Along with Mickey

How about Mickey from his stage show at the Magic Kingdom? A blue suit and bow tie would look great. And I believe this was one of the first Mickey’s to use the new heads with movable facial features.

Christmas Mickey

This could come in various forms… Santa Mickey or even this Victorian Christmas Mickey found at the Grand Floridian meet and greet.

Halloween Mickey

This colorful Mickey would be absolutely fantastic! The cap and cape alone would make this a must have. With today’s designs, they can pull off all the colors and stripes to make this figure look perfect.

The Band Concert

How about a tribute to the first color cartoon? Not to mention how amazing this figure, done correctly, would look. The amazing hat. The accessory baton. If not here, this must get made eventually. 

Mickey’s Christmas Carol

I guess I have a holiday Mickey leaning here. But this portrayal of Bob Cratchit was classic and deserves to be immortalized in vinyl.

Kingdom Hearts

Let’s go way, way, way out on a limb here. A whole Kingdom Hearts set would be a must have, but a King Mickey as a combo topper would be a start.

Park 9 Combo Topper

WDWNT on July 7, 2012

The other day Nick (with the help from some listeners) speculated on what the Park 9 Combo Topper might be. It turns out it was the Brave Little Tailor. We got to see it at Friday’s WDW Trade Night.

This figure looks great. What do you think? Check out all of Park 9 here.

More Popcorns Shapes Appear

WDWNT on July 7, 2012

At the WDW Trade Event on Friday, Disney had an LE Dumbo Popcorns on display.

Dumbo is and edition size of 2500 and will be released before the official launch of the Popcorns product line.

Take a look at the side view. You can see the foot and a good look at the hat. I am absolutely enjoying these much more than I originally thought! I like that they all will have a unique shape instead of just one new mold. A close look around the box revealed to us a few future figures as well.

Donald Duck! I just really love the fun look of these. So much better than I imagined the others, besides the known Mickey, to look like.

There also seems to be a Pluto. Where the majority of the figure is the head with a collar at the base.

And a Chip ‘n Dale seem to be on the way as well. Of course, we already saw the Pie Eyed Black and White Mickey previewed online, but it was on display at the trade night as well.

This guy will release on July 15th at Comic Con as an online product. LE 5000, $24.95. I’m not saying I’ll grab them all, but I am very excited about this new twist on Vinylmation. They are all unique shapes while holding a similar feel. They are both fun and a piece of art at the same time. It’s always interesting to see an artist’s cartoonish interpretation on the Disney characters. We get this in so many other pieces of Disney merchandise, why not in vinyl collectible form? This product line is like Park Starz for Disney cartoon and movie characters. It allows the artists to express themselves outside of the Mickey mold and tell a story with shape and not just paint.

Park 9 LE Combo Set Prepares For Takeoff

WDWNT on July 7, 2012


I was among the disapointed when we did not get a non-nine inch LE set in Park 8. So I was excited to see that we will get at least 1 such combo in Park 9. It is a two 3″ figure LE 1750 combo set representing the Disneyland Space Man and Women that walked around Tomorrowland meeting with guests. Space was a fascination in the US during the 1950’s and 60’s and these costumed characters entertained guests until about 1967.

As they always do, Davelandweb.com has a great article on these retro costumes with plenty of pictures. Here is a peek at the back of the box showing the art for these figures.

Rhino!

WDWNT on July 7, 2012

Here is a look…

July 20th to D-Streets!

More Pixar Combos Coming (After) Up?

WDWNT on July 7, 2012

On July 12, a two figure 3″ combo set featuring Carl and Ellie from Up will release at Comic Con and Online. It was great to see them in person with the packaging at the WDW Trade Night. But it wasn’t just the phenomenal designs on the figures that caught my eye. The box, which features pictures of Pixar characters from all the movies, says “Vinylmation Pixar Disney #1”. Meaning… we are to see more Pixar combos coming down the line!

I have been craving this. Especially after it became clear the Animation series is staying away from Pixar. So ever since the Lightning and Mater 2 pack, I have been saying this is the perfect way to present the Pixar universe characters to us. I am super excited! I hope some Bug’s Life vinyls are just over the horizon. Maybe a Marlin and Dory combo? Remy and Linguini? What combos would you like to see in this collection?

4 NEW Star Wars Series #2 Figs Revealed!

WDWNT on July 7, 2012

At Friday’s WDW Trade Night we saw some of the Star Wars Series 2 Vinylmation pins on display. The 6 pack revealed 2 known and 4 previously unknown figures.

Star Wars Series 2 is based on the first movie, A New Hope. A few characters such as Luke, Leia and Vader who where in the first Vinyl series based on this movie franchise make a reappearance here.

Luke Skywalker has the cool, double sun Tatooine backdrop in his ears.

Leia, buns and all, takes on her New Hop appearance in white robes. Her ears look like the walls of the ship.

The striking feature of this Vader is the helmet. It appears to protrude out from the head meaning an accessory is in the works! Cape? Not by the looks of the pin’s shape. The ears are all Tie Fighter and outer space.

We also have Muftak, a patron of the Mos Eisley Cantina. With this tough guy on the loose can Kabe be far behind?

We knew about the Tusken Raider and Greedo. We also know of Obi Wan and Grand Moff Tarkin. That brings the total up to 8 known figures! We are almost there. Star Wars 2 is slated for an August 2012 release. Stay up to date with our Star Wars 2 Explained page.