Animation 4 hasn’t even hit shelves yet, but today Disney provided us with full previews of the first limited edition set from this series. The designs are Jaques and Gus from Cinderella, and here are the 360 degree shots:
These vinyls were designed by Monty Maldovan, are LE 1500, and will release at both the parks and online for $29.95 on January 3rd. These were first previewed at Reflections of Evil back in September along with another LE set from Animation 4, a three pack featuring Huey Dewey and Louie. Jaques and Gus look great in person, and I think their expressions are captured perfectly. Will you guys be picking this two pack up?
Also, here is a picture of the back of the box they will come in, courtesy of Vinylmation World:
If you’ve visited Disneyland park recently, you may have noticed that Fantasy Faire is quickly taking shape next toSleeping Beauty Castle. Opening this spring, Fantasy Faire will not only be a home for Disney princesses, but it will also be a natural extension of Fantasyland. To find out how the look and architecture of this new area will be designed to flow with Sleeping Beauty Castle and Fantasyland, I went to the creative lead for the project: Michel Den Dulk, Creative Director, Walt Disney Imagineering.
“My goal,” he said, “was that the new Fantasy Faire would meld over into the existing Fantasyland naturally.” He said that his intention would be for first-time visitors to never suspect that this addition came later than the rest of Fantasyland.
“I took a lot of inspiration from the classic Disney movies like ‘Pinocchio.’ There’s some reference that’s in the architecture to the way the backgrounds of ‘Pinocchio’ are drawn. I took inspiration from the castle – you’ll see that there’s a lot of gold finials and beautiful banners and turrets that are similar to Sleeping Beauty Castle … So it really looks like it’s all part of the existing Fantasyland.”
Another key piece of architecture in Fantasy Faire will be the Royal Theatre, which was the former Carnation Plaza Gardens Stage. “My main inspiration there,” Michel explained, “was a Gothic kind of fair. King Arthur Carrousel and all the structures surrounding Dumbo – those were the main inspiration for the theatre structure.”
We’ll have more updates on Fantasy Faire – including the opening date – here on the Disney Parks Blog in the coming weeks, so keep checking back!
This week we record live at Disney’s Boardwalk hotel with Zoe. We talk all about Haunted Mansion, Cinderella and the new Japan series. We get Zoe’s take on some of the Mickey’s Circus previews and fight about what is a Dole Whip. We also have an interview with custom artist Aaralyn.
Update 09/12/12 We snapped some pictures of the 9″ Cinderella Castle and 3″ Prince Charming at Mickey’s Circus. We also learned of a September 17 Disney Store release. The price of the 9″ is $59.95 and was designed by Gerald Mendez. The price of the 7 figure pack is $69.95 and was designed by Ignacio Rodriguez.
On October 2nd, the Disney animated classic Cinderella goes Hi-Def when the Diamond Edition Blu-Ray combo pack is released.
To commemorate the re-released of one of Disney’s treasured films, the Disney Store will also release some (presumably LE) Vinylmation on October 2nd. A big thank you to Vinylmation Kingdom for unearthing this info. The first figure is a 9″ that will retail for $59.95.
The figure depicts Cinderella’s castle in a very animated style. Even in this grainy photo we can tell the colors and artwork are beautiful. The castle steps lead down toward the feet with the glass slipper sitting on them with sparkles all around. The packaging itself add to the collectability of this piece. A blue box with stars and what looks to be Cinderella’s coach at the top. Next, is a set of Vinylmation.
This 7 figure set includes five 3″ figures and two Juniors. Depicted here are:
Cinderella: Dressed in her ball gown with stars in her ears as well as a glass slipper. All of these figures take on a slightly exaggerated cartoonish style that the Disney Store artists seem to prefer over the more true to the animation style the Disney Design Group artists strive for. It’s not a good or bad thing… it’s just a style and a matter of preference. I still would love to see Thomas Scott take on the princesses, but this one is done beautifully. As with Rapunzel from the 25th Anniversary set, Cinderella’s hair is used to frame her face, keeping her face from appearing chubby.
Prince Charming: He is all dressed in his best clothes for the ball and boy is he happy! And why not? He just found the foot that fits the glass slipper… WHICH IS A HOLDABLE ACCESSORY!!! That is by far the best part of this set for me. Very cool idea.
The Fairy Godmother: This is our second version (Animation 1) and as described above, this is a more cartoonish as opposed to true to animation approach. This one also has a wand. Her ears have stars, with the left one also having an outline of the castle.
Jaq and Gus: A brilliant idea to make the two mice Jr figures. Especially with the detail artists can put on these 1.5″ figures now. They both look great with a ton of character in their tiny faces.
Anastasia and Drizella: Cinderella’s stepsisters are chosen without their mother Lady Tremaine. This is a commendable decision given that Lady Tremaine can already be found in the Villains 2 series. Their design looks good… evil and mean… just what the artist was going for.
The Disney Store has now given us another classic princess. What are your thoughts? Here is the trailer to get you ready for the big release.
Yesterday the Cinderella 7 figure set hit Disney Stores and Online. The 9″ Cinderella Castle figure was also available yesterday (proof in screen shot above) but doesn’t seem to be there today. It is an LE 1500 figure and quantities were available throughout US stores as well, so did the online allotment sell out in 1 day? I had a friend pick mine up at the local Disney Store, she also grabbed a 9″, so they were there. I don’t have the set in hand yet, but The Playwright sent us pictures from his pick up at the Times Square store in NYC.
As you can see, the display box swings open to give access to the figures and the back of the box is wonderfully decorated with artwork and an inscription.
WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited The Magic Kingdom and Epcot yesterday and has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip, so let’s take a look:
Matt Paul spent two days at the Walt Disney World Resort and actually has some pictures that aren’t of things featured in the ridiculous amount of photo reports we’ve had this month. Let’s take a look:
Those great Star Wars Weekends posters are outside Disney’s Hollywood Studios
A quick update to share tonight…our antique carrousel ride in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom Park –Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel – is officially changing its name to Prince Charming Regal Carrousel. The name change takes effect June 1.
The name change helps tell the rest of the Cinderella story that inspired the carrousel. Here’s the official story behind it:
Following their fairy-tale romance and happily-ever-after wedding, Cinderella and Prince Charming took up residence in Cinderella’s Castle. With peace throughout the kingdom, Prince Charming had time to practice for jousting tournaments. In the countryside near the castle, he built a training device of carved horses, on which he could practice the art of ring-spearing, a tournament event in which a knight rides his horse full speed, lance in hand, toward a small ring hanging from a tree limb, with the object of spearing the ring. This event was known by various names throughout the lands, but generally came to be called “carrousel.”
The carrousel device drew the attention of the villagers, who wanted to take a turn on this amazing spinning contraption. So Prince Charming had a second carrousel constructed closer to the Castle, where everyone could take a spin on this wondrous invention. Instead of a working knight’s training device, however, this new carrousel is more befitting its regal location in the Castle Courtyard – its rustic training horses replaced with ornately decorated prancing steeds adorned with golden helmets and shields, flower garlands, feathers and other festoons. Prince Charming invites one and all to test their horsemanship skills and to enjoy their own happy ending.
While the presentation about the Fantasyland Expansion during the D23 First Anniversary party did not allow photography of any kind, there were ten pieces of artwork on display at Ariel’s Grotto during the party, some new, some you may have seen before:
The overall view, nothing new here
Old concept art of Dumbo’s Circus area and the “Dueling Dumbos”
The exterior of “Dreams Come True with Cinderella”
Old concept art of “Under The Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid”. A new version of this artwork was shown during the presentation, however, photography was not allowed. The ride will use omnimover vehicles very much like those found at the Seas with Nemo and Friends
Old concept art of “A Birthday Surprise for Sleeping Beauty”
Old concept art of “Dreams Come True with Cinderella”
Old concept art of Gaston’s Tavern
New concept art of the cottage that will hold the magic mirror transporting guests into “Enchanted Tales with Belle”
Older concept art of “Be Our Guest” Restaurant, but take note of the “living character” Lumiere being wheeled around, along with the stained glass windows featuring Beauty and the Beast characters towards the back of the room
New concept art showing the entrance to the Beast’s Castle and the “Be Our Guest” Restaurant
