Animation 1 Photoshoot

WDWNT on June 11, 2012

With the Art of Animation Resort opening at Walt Disney World tomorrow, I thought it would be a great time to share some pictures of Animation 1. 
Austin and I followed them around the parks for the day as they visited their favorite areas. (captions by Austin) More photos on our Facebook page

Aladdin
Magic Kingdom: Frontierland
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Aladdin
EPCOT: Morocco
“Aladdin loves riding his camel (he just wishes it went a little faster).”
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Alice
Magic Kingdom: Mad Tea Party
“Nothings better than having a nice cup of tea with the Cheshire Cat… especially when the cups are this big.”
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Dodger
Hollywood Studios: Streets of America
“Woof! Woof! or as Billy Joel would say: Why should i worry? Why should i care?”
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Fairy Godmother
Magic Kingdom: Cinderella’s Castle
“She has a great view to make sure that dress gets made and Cinderella gets to the ball on time.”
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Hunchback of Notre Dame
Magic Kingdom: Sir Mickey’s
“Looking out from the bell tower at life below.”
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Marie
EPCOT: France
“Which pet’s address is the finest in Paris?”
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Frog Prince Naveen
Magic Kingdom: Liberty Square
“Just blowing off steam down by the river side.”
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Peter Pan
Magic Kingdom: Fantasyland
“He can fly! He can fly! He Can fly!”
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Phil
Hollywood Studios
“Hercules is inside training.”
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Pink Elephant
Magic Kingdom: Pinocchio Village Haus
“He found the secret passageway, where does it lead exactly?”
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Mushu
EPCOT: Japan
“I have officially found the coolest tree in Epcot.”
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Pinocchio
Magic Kingdom: Pinocchio Village Haus
“Just hanging out in Pinocchio Village Haus.”
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Pinocchio
Magic Kingdom: Pinocchio Village Haus
“Who’s the real boy? or are they both unreal?”
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Pinocchio
Magic Kingdom: Pinocchio Village Haus
“First he loses the tail, then the ears, and then he’s a real boy!!!”

D23 Vinylmation Preview: Animation 2

WDWNT on August 19, 2011

Some Animation 2 figures were on display. This sequel will be released in November for $12.95 a blind box.

Here are two of the figures:

Flower from Bambi
Dopey – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

A Closer Look at Animation 9″

WDWNT on August 9, 2011

Update: 8/11/11 Disney changed the LE on with webpage for Genie from 1200 to 1000.

Update: 8/9/11 Genie will be out via Disney Store Online on August 26. LE (now) 1000. $44.95

Copyright Disney

Update: 5/3/11 The Disney Vinylmation blog announced today that Willie the Whale and Hyancith Hippo will be released on May 13! At Disneyland the release will happen at D-Street as usuall, but in Orlando, the release will be at the Art of Disney Store in Downtown Disney’s Marketplace. This is due to the big Pixar Cars event taking place that weekend on the West Side near D-Street. Huge weekend at WDW with this release, Cars at DTD, Pixar Days over at EPCOT, Flower and Garden Festival, and the Destination D: D23 event. Oh, and check out the newly built Disney Movie themed Lego creations by the new Lego store if you haven’t yet… they are amazing!

Click each photo to enlarge.

We have already seen the release of Beast and the Elliot and Pete 9/3 combo. Merlin and Bolt should be released in the Fall of 2011. No word on Genie.

 Willie The Whale
“Make Mine Music”
designed by Maria Clapsis

A colorful design on this cartoonish figure.
The best feature on this figure is the blow hole on the back. I like the shadow that gives the water a 3D spouting effect. The eyes on the side of the head are also very well drawn on the Vinylmation.
Bolt
“Bolt”
designed by Monty Maldovan
Bolt’s coolest feature is the dog tag. It is a separate piece from the body hanging around the neck.
Hyancith Hippo
“Fantasia”
designed by Maria Clapsis
On the Whale, we see a rare non-vinyl accessory. The fabric skirt that goes around this figure is a great and welcome touch.
Merlin
“Sword in the Stone”
designed by Maria Clapsis

They captured Merlin’s face perfectly and the beard is great. A wand is a noticeably missing accessory.
We like the sparkles that swirl around Merlin signifying the magical powers he possesses.

Photos of Vinylmation from Disney Vinylmation Blog
Photos of movie characters from Google image search

More Confusion with 9″ Animation 1

WDWNT on March 16, 2011

Update: 3/16/11 – Disney’s Vinylmation blog today states that the general release windows they talked about yesterday were referring to the release dates of these figures at the Disney Parks. Seems like they still might be sporadically available at select Disney Stores. We placed a call to a Tampa Disney store and they said they just got a couple Willie the Whales in on Monday. Maybe spreading out the releases across both Disney Stores and Parks will cut down on the extra 9″ figures that sit on the D-Street shelves for so long. We will keep you updated on an official release date for Animation 9″ at the Disney Parks.

Today the Disney Vinylmation Blog announced the the rest of the Animation 1 9″s release date’s are going to be spread out over the next year. Back on January 7th 2011 the first two 9″ figures were released in D-Street stores. That was Pete’s Dragon and the Beast. Now the blog states that Bolt and Merlin will officially be released in the Fall of 2011, and that sometime this spring we will be seeing Willie the Whale and the Hycacinth Hippo.
That’s interesting and all, but since January 29th, all of them have been available (on and off) at the NYC Times Square store, as well as various Disney Stores across the US. So that leaves us with the question: What is Disney doing with these? Why are they already out in some places, but not officially out? We’d love to know your opinion. Leave a comment at the bottom.

Simba’s back, and front

WDWNT on February 10, 2011

Coming out tomorrow is the box topper for the Animation 1 series. Here’s some pictures of the front and back. The front was just released at the Vinylmation Facebook.


I like the tail the most I think. He’s got a sad sorta face, but the whiskers are fun. I am totally going to pick up at least two of these tomorrow. (I hope the variants are included in the set that might be on the bottom of this combo.)

Tell us what you think, just leave us a comment.

What does a Dog, a Hippo, a Whale and a Wizard have in common?

WDWNT on January 29, 2011

If you answered, “they all showed up on a store shelf at the NYC Times Square Disney Store in Vinylmation form”, you have amazing and scary powers… because you’re right.

Dabid’s Blog reports they found some Merlins, Bolts, Willie the Whales, and Hyacinth the Hippos at the NYC Times Square Disney Store back on January 15th! Dabid has a review and some great pics of Bolt that you can see here: Dabid’s Vinylmation Bolt Blog Post. The highlight for me has to be Bolt’s dog tag. It’s an accessory piece that hangs off Bolt’s neck (see left).

A few days later, Dabid posted some pics and a review of the 9″ Merlin. Merlin’s beard takes up much of the front of the vinyl and the back shows his robes and “magical sparkles” (see right). Dabid says these look fantastic up close.

Disney has not officially announced a released date for these figures, but they seemed to pop up around the country and this is our first confirmation with photos that they are (or were on January 15th) on the store shelves at the Times Square Disney Store.

We want to thank Dabid for his posts. You can easily get to his Vinylmation blog posts here: Dabid’s Blog.

If you find any breaking Vinylmation News or have Vinylmation posts on your blog you would like to share, please email us at DestinationVinylmation.com.
All photos from dabidsblog.wordpress.com.

Animation 1 Chaser!

WDWNT on January 15, 2011

SPOILER ALERT!

12/31/10 Thank you @emaereyes for sending us the picture of the Animation 1 Chaser. For all those wishing to see it, click here. For those who want to wait and be surprised, we can tell you, it looks really well designed.

Update- 1/7/11 Confirmed 2 of 3 variants for the chaser. The pic shown here is the “non” variant chaser.

Update- 1/14/11 Disney has confirmed the chaser and 3 variants on their vault page. Click on the following images to see the variants.
!!For the full rundown on Animation 1 check out Animation Explained post!!

Friendly Foto Contest (Animation 1)

WDWNT on January 12, 2011

Nick and MC are battling for the chance to NOT stand in the line for Star Wars Vinylmation. Both hosts took pictures of the Animation 1 set and have submitted them for your judgment. The loser has to stand in line on Thursday night to pick up both people’s Star Wars set, the winner gets to run around and maybe even catch a movie!

To vote just hit the comment button at the bottom of this post and say which set you liked more, Nick’s or M.C.’s (Click each photo to see its full glory)

M.C. Nick

Which host’s set did you like the most? Which photo was awesome? Which one failed? Let us know with a quick comment!