Nevermind, in the time it took me to write this article it has sold out online!
On the Disney Parks Blog today, Steven Miller talked about the release of Muppets 2. Most of the information was not new to frequent readers of DV, however the images he included were! Confirmation of all 4 of the 9″ Muppets, 3-D Kermit, Animal, Gonzo (with Camilla), and Sam the Eagle. No word on edition sizes (but DV thinks they will be pretty big, think Toy Story 9″, unless they feel there are too many Toy Story 9″ left) and the release date is only known to be NOT April 15th. The artist is Monty Maldovan.
 |
Kermit 3-D 9″
Originally the chaser for series 1, until they put a tux on him to celebrate the 55th anniversary, this design was kept over and blown up to be a 9″ figure for series 2. I really like the Muppets 3-D logo shirt, the Mickey Ears, and the 3-D glasses (which look so good I can’t tell if they are part of the paint or an accessory!) The second vinylmation to have 3-D glasses, it’s nice to see Kermit has upgraded to Polorized technology from 3-D Mickey’s red and blue anaglyph tech. |
 |
Animal 9″
Animal looks really good. I miss not having actual hair, but I do have to say the design is better then I expected (after having Celeste set the bar so high). The have all the details, from the drum stick, to the silver bracelets (it would have been cool to make them studded), to the rope belt. Very cool. As an ex-drummer I think I’m gonna have to buy this one. |
 |
Sam the Eagle 9″
Released June 24th Check out his parioticness! The American flag in the background (the ears). Sam’s beak also looks really good from this angle. Using the (not for long) Mickey nose it really does almost look like a beak in this shot! Perfect eyebrow, and I also like the talons on the front, with one on the back. |
 |
The back of Sam gets it’s own row because of the special accessory. The tail! It’s been added and looks cool! I can’t wait to see it in person!
|
 |
Gonzo 9″
Sold with: Camilla 3″ Well there wasn’t much they could do about Gonzo’s nose. But once you’re past that, the rest of this figure is pretty cool. I love his suit with the flower. I’ll miss not having a 3″ Gonzo for the moment, but I think this pairing is a great idea. |
 |
Camilla 3″
Sold with: Gonzo 9″ Gonzo’s love interest has followed him all the way to the vinylmation box. I really think this 3″ works, and would buy several if she came alone. Great job with this figure Monty! |
I think this series will have me bending my “No 9” rule just a little. Ok, a lot. I want them all! What do you think? Forgetting the desire to have these chracters as 3″s (which I hope comes later) do these figures work for you? Let us know…
 |
Ep. 015 Glow Mickey
In this episode, Nick talks about his trip to buy Villains 9″ figures. Then Nick and MC review the recently released TRON: Legacy series. They also update everyone on the Park and Urban 6 9″ figures and check out the Mystery Mail Bag.
|
We received our Villains 9″/Jr combos today. Which one is your favorite? What do you think about Disney releasing these limited edition figures in select Disney stores? What is the most fair way to allow collectors to get limited edition items? Keep them at D-Streets or put them online?
 |
Maleficent 9″ and Princess Aurora Jr
Maleficent is one of the most striking figures yet. The colors are vibrant. The face is drawn really well and is in the perfect place on the figure. I like designer Oskar Mendez’s use of gloss on the head and hands and matte finish to the clothing. The Jr “Sleeping Beauty” is the first full representation of a “Princess” as a vinylmation. Here’s hoping to see some more, and in 3″ size! |
 |
Julius 9″ and Minnie Mouse Jr Another nice placement of the face, giving him a big chin. Artists Gerald Mendez’s design is very exaggerated and cartoonish. Great detail with the stitches and gloss finish. Minnie Jr’s face is drawn remarkably well on the Jr. Great color. Mickey will come as the Combo Topper for Park 6, (April 1st) |
 |
Jumba 9″ and Stitch Jr
The Jumba figure doesn’t work for me. To be honest, I don’t think Artist Dan Beltan captured Jumba’s character. The eyes look crossed. Also, I get he has a blue tongue, good idea, but it looks awkward. He’s missing his satchel and a few hairs on his head. And I’m fairly certain the coloring is a bit off on the clothing. But hey, I like the stars in the ears. Stitch Jr is basically Stitch from Park 5 shrunk down… and like his predecessor, it doesn’t look right. Stitch needs to be drawn more cartoonish and exaggerated. |
Update: 10:30AM All the villains 9″/Jr combos are sold out online. Also as of this time, all the Villains 9″/Jr sets are sold out of the Tampa Disney Store (and we suspect any other EST store). Tampa only had 8 Maleficent sets (and the family in the front of the line bought like 6).
Well it didn’t take long. At some point between 2am EST and 730am EST the Disney Store Online put the Villains 9″/Jr sets up for sale. As of now, the Maleficent and Aurora set is sold out. Interestingly, they also put up a package where you could buy all 3 9″/Jr sets. That is currently sold out also! Each set is a Limited Edition of 700.
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.
Based on the reveal yesterday of two of the coolest Vinylmation Mickey Hats so far, (the first I’ve ever actually wanted to purchase) Disney revealed two of the 9″ figures for the Urban 6 set. We already had glimpses of these figures from a set of pins that was announced, but today they were confirmed. No word on the artist and LE numbers, but Disney said both figures will be released sometime in April.
 |
Viking
Looking fierce this guy needs to work the runway. Only there would his odd horned hat and bracelets make him
|
 |
Gumball Machine
We saw the 9″ Gumball Machine in the pin set, but we didn’t know it was part of a 9″/3″ combo. The 3″ kid is great, especially if you have the hat. That set of two 3″ would be a before/after shot of a poor kid who blew his bubble up too big. Also of note is the gumball slot in the feet. I was worried about how it would look on a 3D figure, and I think my concerns are valid. This 9″ doesn’t seem to live up to the concept art.
This piece will only be sold online at the DisneyStore.com
|
The official Disney Vinylmation Blog has just released a look at the backs of the 9″ Park 5 Goofy’s Barnstormer and Retro Disneyland figures. Here is our take:
Retro Disneyland
Artis: Monty Maldovan
LE: 800
Release Date: February 25th
Where: D-Street in Orlando and CA
I was on the fence about this one, mostly because I focus on WDW over DLR items, but…
Well it’s been a long time since we’ve gotten any info from Disney, but late last night the Events page informed us of a lot of new things, coming in just 8 days!
First off: Everyone in California, once again the WDW 40th Anniversary will be delayed another week. That means that this Friday (the 4th) California D-Street will only be releasing Cutesters Too and the Holiday 2 9″ Cupid. On the 11th they will be getting the WDW 40th Anniversary.
And now the big news!
On February the 11th both coasts will be releasing three things.
First, the Animation Combo Pack with the Simba Topper. We got teased earlier this year with the back of Simba (which has a tail) and now he’s here. (Although usually the Combo packs come out only 7 days after the set, so this has been a long wait.)
Second, the Urban 5 9″ Orange Gear Bear will be released that day. This is the first 9″ gear bear, I wonder how it will sell. This bear was designed by Maria Clapsis (not Dan Howard who usually designs the gear bears) and is LE of 600.
And third, the Urban 5 9″ Bacon will also be released. This vinylmation is by Thomas Scott and is a limited edition of 600. Who’s got eggs?
 |
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. |
 |
