Robots 2: BOGO 70% Off
Robots 2 are on sale across Walt Disney World.
Buy One Robots 2 Get One 70% Off. Offer valid in all WDW stores that carry Robots 2. I saw them in the Magic Kingdom and at D-Street.
Updated Calendar Info
Disney has updated a ton of their information on releases and some contradict previous posts from last week. We collected all the updates in this one post and also made the updates to our calendar.
April 13th
On this day, at both DLR and WDW, the Robots 2, 9″ Crying Alice LE (LE 2500, $74.95) and Haunted Mansion Pocket Watch (LE 750, $175) will all still come out. The update is a wristband distribution at Disneyland only. From the Disney website: “Wristbands for the limited edition Vinylmation will be distributed at D-Street in the Downtown Disney District at 7:00 a.m. Wristbands will be available at the location until 1:00 p.m. or while supplies last. We kindly ask that Guests do not line up for wristband distribution prior to 6:00 a.m. The queue for wristbands will begin behind the Rainforest Cafe in the Downtown Disney. Also of note, is Snow White Jr will NOT release this week as previously planned.
April 20th
The Alice Flowers LE set will now NOT be released this week. However, Thomas Scott will still be at an artist signing at D-Street Orlando from 5p-7p. According to the blog, he signing is for “LE Alice figures.” At this point however, only the 12 figure set, Cheshire Cat combo, and the previous week’s Crying Alice 9/Jr will be available.
Also on the 20th, at both DLR and WDW, the Snow White Jr Series 6 ($9.95 each) will be released and the Disneyland Paris 20th anniversary four figures will finally be available stateside. This French set includes the 3″ Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy all sold separately for $14.95.
April 27th
This week will then see the release of both the Alice LE Flowers 4 figure set (LE 2000, $44.95) and Alice LE Walrus and Carpenter 9″/3″combo (LE 1500, $74.95)
Disney Store Rumors
The Playwright sent a few Disney Store Vinylmation related rumors our way today. Check it out, and remember, these are only rumors from one particular Disney Store.
1. Robots 2 will be released at Disney Stores on Friday with a special sale that includes Pop Vinyls. Something like buy a number of vinyls and get a Pop Vinyl for free.
2. Urbans will be back in Disney Stores this month with Urban 9.
3. The first Jrs set being sold at Disney Stores with the Snow White and Seven Dwarf Jrs.
Putting Together Robots 2
Robots 2 is a brand new idea in the world of Vinylmation. The premise… take 12 figures designed as retro robot toys. Pull off their arms, heads, bodies and feet. Mix them up and reassemble them with mix-match parts. Then have collectors search for the parts they need to assemble the Robots they desire. Sure, frustrating for completionists. OK, maybe a little gimmicky. But I truly enjoy this twist and think it’s a fun addition to the hobby. It is at the same time an enjoyable game for kids and a fun challenge for collectors.
The twelve designs are by Billy Davis (Sea Creatures) and the set has no chaser. Blind boxes cost $12.95 and a case includes two full sets of 12. I like these designs a little better than Robots 1 (designed by various Disney Store artists). I love the retro style that is achieved here, along with several accessory pieces such as the helmet, light bulb and antenna. The addition of a couple “human” faces behind the costumes is also a fun touch. There are a few features on the backs including “on/off” switches…
and batteries…
The color scheme plays a huge part in this series. The palette that is used contains the perfect shades of greens and reds and yellows to convey the feel of retro robot toys. The simple colors and patterns also help collectors line up and judge what parts go to what Robot. The chart above was released online, but is NOT inside the blind boxes. It is however available upon request behind the counter at D-Street. But there is a picture on the back of each blind box with both the mixed up and completed Robots, as well as a numbering system on the parts themselves I will show you below.
Let’s start with one Robot. Oh no!!! It’s parts were all mixed up at the factory!!!
As we pull it apart to right the “mistake”, we see numbers on the body parts. On the bodies, the numbers are hidden here, near the neck. Visible after you pop the head off.
The feet numbers are well hidden by the post after you pull them off.
The head’s number is underneath.
The arm numbers are on the underside near the post.
I’d like to reunite this head with it’s parts. So I looked on the box and located the three Robots that had the correct 2 arms, body and feet needed to go with this head.
After pulling off the needed parts, I had a messy pile of sad Robots. You can see how the color scheme and patterns match on “correctly” assembled Robots making it still possible to spot your needed parts without a guide.
And here is my assembled Robot! In some cases, I actually like the mix-match figures better. I personally will be making many of my own combinations to display. As we discussed in the podcast before, I am curious to see how this idea of mixed-matched parts will affect trading values. Will “correctly” assembled Robots be of higher trade value? Will we see pieces of Robots being traded? There is a trading night at Disneyland’s Paradise Pier Hotel tonight from 7p-9p… let us know.
Robot 2 All Mixed Up
This picture was sent to us by VM_Paris. Paris is saying that robot two is out in France, and will e mix and match. Crazy! What do you think of this? How do you collect/trade these then? How Disney, How?
VM_Paris reveals Robots 2
Update: 3/15/11 After a closer look it seems the feet are mixed up too. So each piece has a different set of arms, body, head, and feet.
After a day of waiting we finally have a look at the figures for Robots 2. Like we were told they will be mixed up. The question is, “How mixed up?”
Are those 12 figures on top what their ideas of “Mixed Up” is? Or are they just examples.
I’m starting to think we will just see the top 12 figures and nothing more mixed up. It makes sense because that would mean there is a full set in each case and they don’t have to worry about numbers. However, this means that most people will see these mixed up robots and think they are the designs. Do these become the official designs, or are the unmixed figures the right designs? How do we name them? How do we trade them? Piece-meal?
What do you think about this? Does anyone know for sure the answers? Let us know.
Most importantly, would any of these count for Combo Contest #3?????
(All pics from VM_Paris, thanks!)
PS- I wonder what the “Details inside” will be….
The Final Word on Robots 2
It’s been a long week of crazy information about Robots 2, so we wanted to clear a few things up.
Robots 2 was released in Paris earlier this week.
Robots 2 will be coming to America on April 13 2012 to Disney World and Disneyland.
Later they will be available on the Disney Store Online.
They come as a series of 12 Robots, each of which has the head, body, arms, and feet of 4 separate Robot designs. Inside there will be a instructions on how to create the originals. It looks like this:
On the front is each design as it was intended to be, along with a number to represent that design. On the back is how they come in the boxes and a guide to which piece is which using the numbers on the front. Here’s a closer look:
So the Robot on the Top Left has the Head of Robot 12, the Body of Robot 1, the Arms of Robot 11, and the Feet of Robot 6.
This is an interesting way to release these figures (although it reminds us a lot of our Combo Contests) but because there are set Robot Mix Ups it is still too early to tell how collectors will refer to or collect them. Will you display yours Mixed Up as they come from the boxes, or Unmixed?
Also of note is that this series is by Billy Davis, the same guy who gave us the Sea Creatures line (the first series on new mold). After taking a look at his tumblr account at oneswellillustrator.tumblr.com it’s no surprise he got the opportunity for series 2. Check out these other robots he designed for Tin Men.
I also noticed he designed a poster for an Aquabats show I’m pretty sure I went to back in 2008. Awesome job Billy and keep up the great work!
1st 2 pics from Disney2nd 2 from Billy Davis
Episode 064 Little Dragon
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Ep. 064 Little Dragon |
Robots 2 Explained
Robots Series 2
Release Date: April 13
Where: D-Streets
Price: TBA
Details: This set is promoted as “Mix ‘n Match.” In a single blind box, you will receive a robot with mixed up parts. A head, a body, feet and 2 arms from 4 different Robots. You can collect the mixed matched bots, make your own combos or find the missing parts and put together the artists original Robot design… or the “correct” version. This set was designed by Bill Davis. Unlike Robots 1, this second series was designed by a single artist and will not be a Disney Store exclusive product.
Unlike our normal Explained tables, we instead will just share the Mix ‘n Match instruction sheet Disney has supplied on the blog and in each blind box. You can download the pdf here. Or take a look at the image below.
WDW Trade Night Wrap Up
Update 3/4/12 Two updates below. Alex Maher actually had a hand in the Snow White Jr designs along with Thomas Scott. Also, Billy Davis is freelance, not a Disney Cast Member.
We had a ton of fun and learned a lot last night. Including many, MANY, release dates!!! Take a look…
As usual, the line exploded about 40 minutes from the doors opening. Also as usual, much pre-show trading took place.
Then the scramble for tables began. These shows have been incredibly packed lately. Pin and Vinylmation traders alike claimed their space and hunkered down for 3 hours. But the highlight of any WDW Trade Night (sorry DLR traders) are the displays of upcoming figures… and we got to see a few new ones!
Alice in Wonderland LE Flowers Set
Thomas Scott
LE 2000
April 20th
Four 3″ figures make up this set. It was a great little surprise to see a yet to be revealed Alice LE set and a lot of excitement surrounded this one.
Alice 3″ Flower
Alice 3″ Flower
Alice 3″ Flower
Alice 3″ Flower
Alice 3″ Flower Box Back
Looks like a perfect addition to the Alice series. Designed with care and every detail in mind, the colors truly pop in person.
Alice in Wonderland LE Cheshire Cat Set
Thomas Scott
April 13th
Also on display were the two 3″ figures from the Cheshire Cat set. This one we knew about for quite a while, but were happy to get a release date on it. What we couldn’t get a release date on however was the 9″ LE Alice set we have had sneaks of on the Vinylmation blog.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Jr 6
Thomas Scott and Alex Maher
April 20th
This of course is the next Jr. mystery box set of 18. We have seen a lot of dwarfs, but finally all 7 together. Now Thomas alluded to Snow being in this set… and come on, what would the set be without here, but we saw her in all her tiny glory last night.
I’m a big fan of Snow and in Jr form, she is captured wonderfully. Right along side Aurora from Villains 2, the Princesses look good on the miniature canvas.
Robots 2
Billy Davis (entire set)
April 13th
With the first Robots set put in the hands of the Disney Store artists, it was a mild surprise to see the second series designed by artist Billy Davis. Billy, has given us Sea Creatures and even the Urban 8 Robot. That Robot was sure a pre-cursor to what we will see in Robots 2. Billy certainly took a different angle on the look of the Robots for this series and so far, I think I like it better than the first series. Shielded from view (guess they were not supposed to be on display last night) were two other Robots, and one had a big bubble (think Buzz) giving a 50’s sci-fi movie robot feel. Since I just dined in the Sci-Fi diner, I recognized the style.
Day/Night Bot
Bulb Bot
9″/3″ Animation 2 Price Phillip and Maleficent Dragon
Casey Jones
LE 1200
April 6th
Honestly, the Maleficent dragon doesn’t do much for me. I enjoy the Villains 2 Maleficent better. However, the Price Phillip looks absolutely spectacular! Not to say the dragon isn’t expertly designed, just a matter of personal taste. I don’t like how I’d have to buy the combo to get him. (anyone want to set up a split?) This is a solid LE addition to Animation 2.
3″ Price Phillip with sword. The ears are perfect with the thorns!
Another view of the Prince. The back has a painted on cape.
9″ Maleficent Dragon
9″ Maleficent Dragon back
9″ Park 8 Mickey Mouse Revue
LE 1500
March 30th
Paris got it first, but our time is coming soon. The first in a line of Park 8 LEs. I wasn’t really into this design… that is, until I saw the back last night. Breathtaking and super creative.
I’ll show you the back first. To me, this design over the whole thing would make a perfect vinyl. It really represents the former attraction.
The front isn’t bad either. It honestly looks like an Animatronic’s face. Interesting new 9″ mold hand design to hold the accessory baton.
9″ Animation 2 Roger Rabbit
Maria Clapsis
LE ?
July 13th
OK, this one is cheating. We didn’t see it at the trade event. But sometime after this weary eyed trader went to sleep last night, the Vinylmation Blog updated with a release date and turnaround of the great 9″ Roger Rabbit.
Meanwhile at D-Street….
The store was lit up with the new 7″ Night Lights.
Green, Red, Purple and White are available for $24.95 each and they come with batteries.
You can test them out in the store, so I’m not sure how much juice those batteries will have left once you get it home.
The USB drives were also available.
Urban 1 Oopsy, Cast Exclusive Mickey and Cutesters 1 Owl where the chosen designs.
Probably due to the $65 price tag, these where kept behind the counter where guests had to ask for them.