Along with Jingle Smells 3, the new ornament vinylmation released today. It is available in both stores and online for $12.95. It is designed by Gerald Mendez and features a nice red and gold design. What do you guys think? Will you be hanging this one from your tree?
Wild West
Release Date: April 20
Disney Stores
Artist Signing with Gerald Mendez and Enrique Pita at the Sun Coast Plaza Mall in Costa Meza, CA on April 20 from 10am-1pm.
Update 04/02/13 We added photos from Disney of the set.
Update 04/01/13 We added photos from Vinylmation Exchange of the remaining 6 figures off the side of the tray.
Update 03/29/13 Zoe sent in some up close photos of each figure. This is where the Disney Store shines!!! Back to doing a Disney Character-centric set. We never questioned the talent of the DS artists, just the choice of designs they produce. They have a command of the Mickey platform when drawing characters on the canvas. We just want them to be DISNEY! You may not purchase this particular set, but this is what the average VM collector wants to see from these artists. The colors are wonderful. The use of ears with the various western back drops are perfect. The biggest plus is that they changed them up. And the accessories? Among the best we have ever seen. Just take a look…
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Pluto
First of all, they used the Furry Friends/Whiskers Tales paws! This may be my favorite Pluto. I love he just took a bite out of the bad guy’s pants. The “V” star belt is a wonderful touch. |
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Mickey
He is the sheriff. Disney Store makes the most amazing hats. The chewing on the wheat is a perfect touch. And I love that the artist used an old school Mickey. |
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Minnie Mouse
The bonnet is another great accessory by the Disney Store. She has the old school like, just like Mickey. Disney Store does the characters so well… some of the best mouse faces we have seen in Vinylmation. |
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Donald
Donald as an Indian is just spectacular. The expression the DS artists give to his face in all his figures are the perfect way to draw him. It is very hard to make the duck bill work, but they always do. The feather head dress! What can I say? I can not wait to have this one in hand. Then, in the ears, you can see the wild west landscape with cactus and teepees. |
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Daisy
As much as I’m not a Daisy fan, the design here is a lot of fun. She looks like a performer in a wild west saloon. The clothing and feather in ear are great. Love the star background as well. |
| Clarabelle
Great addition of a classic Disney cow into this western series. |
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Horace
Another one with Furry Friends paws. Great choice of the classic Disney horse into this set. |
| Goofy
Crazy eyes. |
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| Huey, Dewy and Louie
It’s about time we get Donald’s nephews into a set. Three 3″ figures here. Wonderfully themed as Indians to fit in with Donald. |
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Mystery Chaser |
Zoe was walking through the South Coast Plaza Mall in California today and happened upon this poster:
What an unexpected treat I found on Facebook today. Disney Store artist Gerald Mendez has posted a photo album tutorial on how to airbrush a 9″ Vinylmation. It is located on his Facebook page.
“Knowing the enthusiasm of many Vinylmation custom artist trying to figure how to airbrush a vinylmation piece I decided to post the step by step pictures of how I Airbrushed the 9″ Vinylmation Cosmic Mickey” – Gerald Mendez
In September we get Mickey’s Circus. But before that we’ll be seeing a whole Circus Vinylmation Mystery Box series called “Under the Big Top” from Disney. On July 23rd the Disney Stores will be releasing this new series across the country and online.
Two days before, we will see a special release of the series at a signing at the Costa Mesa Disney Store. On July 21st, Gerald Mendez will be signing his new series from 10:30 – 1:30. There will also be special events and activities at the event. Some interesting fine print for the event. If you purchase a full tray of this set, then you get a gold ticket, good for up to 7 signatures. If you buy 3-8 boxes, then you get a silver ticket, which gets you up to 3 signatures. While supplies last.
Here is a quick look at four of the pieces from this series. What do you think?
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Fire Eater
Love the accessory (I always do). Looks great. |
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Ring Master
Great mustache. And Hat. |
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Monkey
Reminds me of Abu. Another nice accessory! |
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Fortune Teller
Great us of artist technique to show the table and crystal ball in front of the vinyl. |
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There also looks to be two more pieces in the picture of Gerald. One looks like it could be a Strongman (with a mustache similar to the Ringmaster’s, but not crooked.) The second is harder to identify, maybe a Clown or even a concession item. |
Hello everyone!
Villains 2 Vinylmation were released a few days early today at the Disney Store at South Coast Plaza Mall in Costa Mesa, CA in honor of an artist signing event!
I don’t know if you guys know this but, yours truly recently got a job working at the Disney Store in South Coast Plaza (if you are in the area come visit!) I was asked to work this event since I have such extensive Vinylmation knowledge! I obviously said YES! I can’t wait to tell you guys about my day!
I got into work around 9 am and there was a huge line of eager and familiar Vinylmation fans waiting to get their hands on the early release of the Villains 2 blind boxes as well as the LE 9 Inch Combo of Jafar and Genie! Many guests told me they got in line around 7 AM, and actually got to sleep in! (Which we all know is rare with limited releases!) We started ringing customers around 9:30 and got everyone queued up for our event starting at 10:30!
The artists that were on hand at the event today were, Jim Valeri, Gerald Mendez, Enrique Pita and Kyle Jensen! All artists worked on series such as, Villains 1, Villains 2, Robots, and Certain city specific Vinylmation as well as Lion King.
Guests were so excited to meet the artists and get their Vinylmation signed! Sadly around 10:45 we sold out of all Villains 2 Vinylmation, but luckily we had plenty of Lion King and Robots to go around!
The artists seemed to be having such a blast with the fans! I worked line control so I was interacting with each guest before they would enter the signing area! Everyone seemed eager and really excited about the series!
While chatting with guests before the signing began we found out that so far there is, one variant in Villains 2, which is Shere Khan from Jungle Book. The regular Shere Khan has green ears and the variant Shere Khan has flames in his ears! I love this variant. I think that Kyle did an awesome job on these two!
I noticed that Jim took the time to draw little sketches on some guest’s items. On one guests tray he drew Goofy! so on some down time I asked him to draw me something!
I asked him to draw anything he wanted and he chose Tigger! I love it – he is so talented and funny! Thank you for being so great Jim!
After the signing came to an end, Radio Disney who was on hand for the event gave away, one full tray of Vinylmation Villains 2 as well as the LE Jafar & Genie. The lucky winner was a young boy and his brother who were SO excited about the set!
The artists were so excited they even got down on the floor with the winner and helped him open up his blind boxes! How cool is that!
After everyone starting clearing out when the event was over the artists all gathered on the stage to take a photo!
(Okay so I’m obviously not a Vinylmation artist BUT who knows maybe I could point them in the right direction of a Princess set? Just a thought!)
You guys can obviously see that today was a lot of fun and I’m so glad that we had such a great turn out! Fans were excited, the artists were happy and the set turned out AMAZING! Looks even better in person I promise! I can’t wait to go pick some up on Monday October 24th when they are released at the Disney Store!
Don’t forget if you guys couldn’t make it to the event, the Villains 2 series as well as the 9 inch combo will be online starting Monday October 24th!
-Zoe
All this week, we are taking a look at the Disney artists behind the Robots Vinylmation series. Make sure to check out Robots Explained, Robots Uncovered and Podcast Ep. 30 for more Robots coverage.
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| Gereld Mendez Senior Designer Photo Copyright Disney |
After his graphic design education in Mexico City, Mexico, Gerald Mendez came to the US in 1986 where he undertook the challenge to master as many techniques as possible to improve the quality of his work, including Professional Airbrush and Digital Illustration. In 2006, Gerald joined the Disney Store team and recent he created Ignition Bot, Security Bot and Steampunk Bot from the Vinylmation Robots series.
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| Ignition Bot 3″ |
A fan of fantasy art of all kinds, Gerald has an extensive collection of unique collectible figurines including custom airbrushed Vinylmation. He even airbrushed an amazing snowboard with all the Disney Villains! In his spare time, Gerald operates his art studio called “Aerografika” in Chino, CA.
What are some other Vinylmation Gerald Mendez has designed?
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Disney Store artists Jim Valeri, Gerald Mendez, Enrique Pita and Kyle Jensen will be at the South Coast Plaza Disney Store in Costa Mesa, CA for an artist signing event on Saturday, October 22, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Zoe sent us in the above picture from the mall. These are the talented artists that brought us Vinylmation sets such as Villains, The Lion King, Robots and more! Villains 2 releases at Disney Stores on October 24, but guests attending this event will have the opportunity to purchase some boxes of Villains 2 and a select number of the 9″/Jr Genie Jafar with Genie combo.
According to Disney… the fine print: Please note that artists will sign no more than two (2) total items including Villains 2, Lion King or Robots vinyl figures per Guest and only Vinylmation that they have designed. Guests must be present to receive a signed figure. There will be purchasing limits on October 22: Eight (8) 3-inch Vinylmation per series per Guest a day. One (1) tray per series per Guest a day. One (1) 9-inch Vinylmation per style per Guest a day.
Disney nicely broke down the who designed what for us as well:
Bowler Hat Guy – Kyle Jensen
Hades – Kyle Jensen
Shere Khan – Kyle Jensen
Dr. Facilier – Gerald Mendez
Evil Queen – Gerald Mendez
Honest John – Gerald Mendez
Big Bad Wolf – Enirque Pita
Jafar/Blue Genie – Enrique Pita
Runaway Brain – Enrique Pita
Villains 2 Mystery Chaser – Jim Valeri
Pumbaa – Jim Valeri
Rafiki – Jim Valeri
Timon – Jim Valeri
Rafiki/Simba – Jim Valeri Robots Series #1
Security-bot – Gerald Mendez
Ignition-bot -Gerald Mendez
Steampunk-bot -Gerald Mendez
AudioSonic-bot – Enrique Pita
Elektro-bot – Enrique Pita
Love-bot – Enrique Pita
Radio-bot – Enrique Pita
Elektro-bot – Enrique Pita
Voltinator-bot-Jim Valeri
Bot-in-a-bot – Jim Valeri
Cranky-bot – Jim Valeri
