New Possible Release Dates and Sets

A source of Vinylmation Kingdom provided release dates for some upcoming series. None of these dates are confirmed by Disney at this time, but they give us a peak at windows to anticipate these sets. A few are once we know about, a few are ones we have never heard of.

3/8 – Oz Series – This series of 3″/Jr combos will celebrate the upcoming Disney Movie “Oz: The Great and Powerful.” March 8 is also the release date of the movie.

3/24 – Mickey’s Wild West Series – No idea about this one. I’d assume Mickey and Pals in western garb and probably not the 1928 comedy short staring Mickey Rooney.There is a 1934 Disney Short called “Two Gun Mickey.”

There is also a show at the Disneyland Paris Disney Village called “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.”

“An encounter with Buffalo Bill, Sitting Bull, Annie Oakley and the Rough Riders brings the audience back to the Old West. Upon arrival, guests are greeted by Mickey in the festive atmosphere of Colonel Cody’s Saloon alongside Goofy Sheriff and the musicians. Let the Show begin!”

3/29 – Cutesters: En Vogue Series – This will be the first series on the new Minnie shaped platform. Features a high fashion look.

4/5 – Urban Redux 1 Series – The reboot of the Urban series will feature different set sizes than we are used to.

4/12 – 9″ Chernobog and Animation 3 Series – The great part about the 9″ Chernobog announcement is that we have now seen a few 9 inch figures with accessories. So if this doesn’t have wings, big disappointment. He could be a part of the Fantasia series. Animation 3 is solid so far from what we had seen at Mickey’s Circus.

4/22 – Masks Series – I can’t even begin to guess.

4/26 – Monsters University Series – A mystery box set featuring characters from the upcoming Disney Pixar film.

Spotlight On: Lawrence Sharma’s Monster’s Inc. Set

We found custom artist Lawrence Sharma online last week showing off his almost completed Monster’s Inc customs. When he finished them we got a chance to speak with him about his work.



Destination Vinylmation: How long have you been an artist?

Lawrence Sharma: I’ve been doing art since I was really young. I mostly dabbled in pencil sketches and comic book styled art until high school when I tried my hand at more digital mediums of art (graphic design, photography, photo manipulation). It actually wasn’t until a couple years ago that I picked up a paint brush to start painting my own clay figures. Then I found out about vinyl toys…that’s a whole different story.

DV: How long have you been doing custom vinyl? How did you first get into vinyl?

LS: I actually just started customizing vinyls quite recently. A couple of years ago I first made a robot mascot out of a Munny for a company my friends and I were trying to start up. I also was able to make a Ron Weasley out of a Munny about a year ago, and that where it ended before I found out about the Vinylmation series. My friends collected vinyl toys and the “DIY” aspect of them just appealed to me.

DV: That’s cool. What’s your favorite Disney designed Vinylmation?

LS: My absolute favorite vinylmation is the Urban 5 3D Mickey Chaser! It really stood out to me when I first started collecting. It was just so creative.

DV: Your Monster’s Inc set is incredible. What made you make this set?

LS: Thanks a lot! I made this set mostly because I wanted to do a Disney custom instead of more customs inspired by comic book characters. My friend BK gave me a Vinylmation Jr. he didn’t want so I immediately knew I would use it for a custom. My girlfriend, Chelcie, actually really loves Monster’s Inc. so I decided to make a set based on the characters.

DV: Sounds like a good place to start. While making this set of three characters, what was the biggest challenge?

LS: The biggest challenge had to be finding time to paint the figures. I had done the sculpting and mutilation of Mike a couple months before I actually was able to sit down and paint the figures. School and work just ate up a lot of my time, but the monsters were always sitting in the back of my mind.

DV: I know the feeling. When you got the chance to sit down and paint, what ended up being easier then you expected?

LS: The painting, actually! I’m still figuring out how to paint my figures since it is a relatively new medium for me. I was so surprised at how quickly I was able to paint them once I got started. I just got in the zone, I guess.

DV: I really like your choice to use just the head and feet for Mike. How did you get the arms into his head?

LS: I want to say I used a drill because it seems easiest…but since I didn’t have a drill lying around I had to poke holes on each side with box cutters and I “drilled” into the head with a screwdriver. After some cleaning and sanding, he had the arm holes he needed!

DV: Wow. Well that’s certainly a unique way of doing it. Anything else about the set you want to talk about?

LS: Just that I’m really happy with how it came out and I’m grateful to everyone for all the nice comments and props I’ve been receiving. Thanks everyone! KCCO!

DV: They came out excellent, especially for a first time Vinylmation custom artist. How can people see your other work or request commissions?

LS: You can follow me on instagram @Lsharma or go to my facebook page www.facebook.com/lawrencesharmaart (slowly updating it) to request commissioned work or to see some work I’ve done in the past. Don’t be shy!

DV: So what do you think about the upcoming prequel, Monster’s University?

LS: My initial reaction to it was disappointment because I wanted to see Boo
again and I don’t like the idea of Sulley being a bully. However, the
more we see of it, the more excited we are. She still bugs me to buy her
the for armed monsters University sweater from the website too.

DV: Those are pretty awesome. Thanks for letting us pick your brain. Let us know the next time you have something cool to show off. And don’t forget to keep on collecting!

LS: Thanks!

Mickey’s Circus- Movie Based Vinylmation

Disney announced that they will make a better effort putting out the Vinylmation when the movie hits the theaters from now on.

There will be four total 3″/Jr. LE Combo sets released around the March 2013 launch of Oz The Great and Powerful. They are all designed by Ron Cohee. 

3″ Oz with Jr. Monkey LE Combo Set

3″ Glinda with Jr. China Doll Combo Set

Celebrating The Lone Ranger on the silver screen in the Summer of 2013 will be this 3″ LE Combo pack featuring Tonto and The Lone Ranger. They are designed by Eric Caszatt who took great care to give us an accessory crow on Tonto’s head instead of just painting it on. 

The release of Pixar’s Monsters University movie in June will have it’s own 12 figure blind box series dedicated to it. 

Mike and Sully, all ready for college, were shown off at Mickey’s Circus. Then we got to see the shining example of NOT being released with the movie hitting theaters… or Blu-Ray… POTC On Stranger Tides.

John Corigliano’s 3/23-25/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter John Corigliano visited the Walt Disney World Resort this weekend and has some newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

MORE CIRCUS PHOTOS!

Can’t get enough of these shirts

New character shirts

The back

On to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, here’s another look at the Brave exhibit at Magic of Disney Animation

Monsters University billboard

Wreck-It Ralph poster

The remodeled Storyroom

Still no Narnia replacement… and I’m fine with that…

Only 90 minutes…

Splash fountain is being refurbished

Cars meet and greet has had short lines recently

Phineas and Ferb has long lines all the time

The Art of Animation sign is in place along the road

Both hands on the wheel John…

Habit Heroes is still closed

Someone is up in that window…

The Honeymooners? WHY?

Awwww…

Tick… tock…

This is one nerdy reptile… we named him fanboy

“Horizons was the greatest thing EVER!”

Land accross from the site of the new Grand Floridian DVC wing is being cleared, probably for parking

Tom Corless’ 3/1/12 Hollywood Studios Photo Report

It isn’t very often I post a photo report of my own, but here are some newsworthy photos I took on Thursday at Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

The exit exhibit at Magic of Disney Animation has been updated to feature PIXAR’s Brave

Artwork on display

“I got a rock…”

The posters in the exit hallway have been updated

The storyboard room was remodeled

Temporary queue set up for Animation Academy for some reason

The gallery portion was closed for a few days to replace the Snow White exhibit

Lady and the Tramp banners in the courtyard

The new Vacation Club logo is just about everywhere now

Adam Roth’s 12/26/11 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth recently visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom and took a TON of newsworthy photos to share with us, so strap in for a lengthy look around Walt Disney World:

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Adam caught the Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special inside the ABC Sound Studio, former home of Sounds Dangerous

In case you don’t know, Comedy Warehouse was a club at Pleasure Island

Just a sticker, but shows effort for a very temporary attraction

Control booth

The show is improv, comedy’s ugly cousin…

OK…

I’ve been running this site for five years, and this is easily the lowest moment…

Adam enjoyed it and so did guests, so we’ll see what the future holds…

Booths from the Food & Wine festival being used to meet dining demands

The Magic of Disney animation added a campus map a while ago… it’s trying to look like a real animation studio

Nothing says Italian like fast food meatballs…

The Premiere Theater is showing holiday cartoons

“Curse you Perry the Platypus!”

The daily schedule

The “italian” restaurant

It looks awful…

The stage is set for New Year’s Eve

Adam is a good colorer…

I’m so proud…

The Monsters University logo now up inside the Magic of Disney Animation

Moving to the Magic Kingdom, we arrive at Sleepy Hollow

What could we be here for?

Of course!

Here is the chicken sandwich without the usual spread

The ham, prosciutto, and swiss sandwich

The Diamond Horseshoe was open

Somewhere, a child cries…

“MICKEY!”

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is performing daily now

“Yay! We didn’t have to buy a party ticket! But this place is packed…”

Christopher Robin was added to the parade this year, but the Pooh tree float is gone

Duffy joins the fun

The skiers were new for this year

Awwwww…

Bo Creep… I mean, Bo Peep

A personal favorite

Another personal favorite

However long that is, it’s too long…

Too long!

Could we cut out this step thing!

Storybook Circus construction as seen from the TTA

The lower level rock-work taking shape at Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

The back of the Dumbo queue building was painted green

Three digits…

A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas is performing daily

Spot the Captain EO reference?

Eye did! Get it? Eye did!

Instead of having him on screen, Stitch appears on stage now

Some new props had to be made for the changes

The new tower at Barnstormer is rising up around the track

There is a lot of color on the Dumbo queue

They are pretty much rebuilding the old tents

Oooooo, I spot a dirty word…

Scaffolding up over the Dumbo queue building

The roof over the two covered queue areas is coming along

You can see the new Dumbo spinner through the queue

The train station is almost done

Another look at Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

The caverns are now visible

Belle’s Village is starting to look good

Another look at the Storybook Circus train station

Back to Under the Sea

Prince Eric’s castle

Notice Mr. Stork at the top of the new Dumbo spinner

Back to Belle’s village

Maurice’s cottage

Be Our Guest restuarant

A panoramic view of construction

Some of the Storybook Circus pavement has been revealed

wagon wheel marks and horse footprints litter the path, a beautiful detail

The mountain range looks great

The sun sets on the old Dumbo…

Some work has been done on the Castle Wall

A stone wall has popped up next to it

The edge of the rock-work

A chimney through the trees

Holy Nana!

You’d have to have a hook for a brain to wait in that

“it’s a long line”

Nice sign

The new path near the Haunted Mansion is being worked on

Non-alcoholic sangria from Tortuga Tavern

YUM!

Time to light the Castle

Purty…

New details were unveiled in the Town Square Theater queue for Mickey

Notes for advertisements made by Mickey sit on a bulletin board

Gotta love these details

Mailboxes

A reference to the first attraction in this space, the Walt Disney Story

The Bill Justice character mural that used to stand in this space lives on with these rolled up pictures of it in one of the mailboxes

A great addition to a pretty bland room of the queue

A new Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom window in Fantasyland

Hidden camera

Another window in Fantasyland

This appears to be Merlin’s house as you can see Archimedes’ bird house in the back

Another Fantasyland window

Not so hidden

The last reference to Tinker Bell’s Treasures has been turned into a Sorcerers window

The Main Street Electrical Parade is supposedly leaving before Summer 2012, so get in your last views while you can

The holiday edition of “The Magic, the Memories, and You!” is still performing

Some Holiday Wishes! photos

Yowza…

Quick, let’s take the secret exit out of this photo report!