| 2012 Dee Vee Award Show
After a long break, we’re back with the results of YOUR voting. The 2nd Annual Dee Vee award show with celebrity presenters and lots of fun! Woohoo! So relax into that Vinylmation print chair and listen as this years winners are announced. And thanks to everyone who voted!
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Vinylmation fans were treated to a sweet surprise this past Monday with the surprise release of Kidada’s “Let Your Conscience be Your Guide” set. This limited edition set of 500 pieces comes complete with a nine-inch figure, a Vinylmation Jr, and a pin and retails for $74.95.
It is available only at DisneyStore.com, the North Michigan Avenue Disney Store in Chicago, the Times Square Disney Store in Manhattan, and the Walt Disney Studio. Like Kidada’s other Vinylmation figures and sets, this one features an incredible amount of detail. According to the description, it “showcases the positive and negative sides of temptation.” On the front of the nine-inch figure is a happy Pinocchio surrounded by all kinds of sweet treats at Pleasure Island.
The Vinylmation Jr figure is designed to look like Jiminy Cricket with eyes glancing in the direction of Pinocchio and a disapproving expression on his face. The back of the nine-inch figure depicts an unhappy Pinocchio with donkey ears and tail inside the mouth of Monstro the whale. Above Pinocchio are the words, “Go ahead. Make a fool of yourself, then maybe you’ll listen to your conscience!” The pin is a sculpted metal pin that reads “Official Conscience 18KT” and is a great addition! As usual, the box art for the set is as whimsical as the Vinylmation. The front of the box matches the candy theme of the front of the nine-inch figure, and in a great innovation, the back of the box also has a window and is designed to resemble a stage through which one can see the back of the nine-inch figure! Hopefully this type of packaging will be used in future sets of nine-inch figures.
Friday saw the release of the Vinylmation Star Wars Disney Characters set at the parks and the Brave set in Disney Stores as expected. It also saw the release of images of some upcoming designs. Here is a preview of the Phineas and Ferb figures, from the set of six open edition figures coming to Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Disney Store next Friday, May 25.
The figures in this set will retail for $12.95. Kudos to the artist for adapting Phineas’ triangular shaped head perfectly to the rounded Vinylmation canvas!
The other preview released on Friday was of the rest of the figures being released during the Vinylmation Trading event, Mickey’s Circus. In addition to the three figures previewed earlier this year, there is this set of two three-inch figures of Bongo and Lulubell from the animated film, Fun and Fancy Free.
The combo was designed by Monty Maldovan and has an edition size of 500. It will retail for $26.95.
The last two figures for Mickey’s Circus are two nine-inch designs. Both figures will have an edition size of 100 and will each sell for $150.00 (we’re hoping this is a typo on Disney’s part)!
The first design is by Caley Hicks and features a Circus Seal standing on a platform while balancing a ball on its nose. The seal’s face is done in profile, allowing the canvas’ left ear to be used for the ball and the right ear for a hat. It may be a little tricky to make out the design at first.
The other nine-inch design is by Eric Caszatt and features a Circus Lion. This design is straightforward, and like the seal, is very colorful.
Mickey’s Circus Vinylmation Trading Event will take place at Epcot’s World Showcase on Sunday, September 9, 2012, from 9:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. Registration for the event is now open. Will you be attending? As the Kidada figure states, “Let your Conscience Be Your Guide!”
It’s that time of the year again, Festival of the Masters (the 37th!) will be at Downtown Disney Orlando the weekend of November 9th thru the 11th. There’s always lots of artists, lots of LEGO, and more importantly lots of Vinylmation teases and custom artists. We’ll be there to report, but it’s free so if you get a chance, you should drop by!
Lots of news today about release dates. Here is all the NEW info from the events page.
At D-Streets:
On October 19th
Park 11 and the Park 11 Combo topper will be released.
On October 26th
Park 11 9″ Grizzly Peak ($44.95) will be released
“Disney-Pixar Toy Story 2” Buzz, Little Green Men, Jessie, and Woody ($12.95 each). I think this is the Japanese Andy’s Drawings ones.
On November 2nd
Disneyland or Walt Disney World Resort Annual Passholder Series #3 ($14.95)
Villians Series #3 ($12.95 each)
Disney’s Prep & Landing ($26.95)
On November 16th
Disney-Pixar Series #1 ($12.95 each)
Phineas & Ferb Series, Agent P (we assume the Christmas Tree variant) ($12.95)
In WDW, artist signing with Maria Clapsis, Ron Cohee, and Thomas Scott from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at D-Street.
On November 23rd
Disney-Pixar Series #1, Heimlich Combo Pack ($24.95) (Is this a combo topper?)
At the Disney Stores:
On November 9th
2012 Santa Mickey Mouse ($16.95)
On November 16th
Disney-Pixar Series #1 ($12.95 each)
Fantasia Series #2 – Unicorn and Faun (LE 2,000 $24.95)
On November 23rd
Disney-Pixar Series #1, Heimlich Combo Pack ($24.95)
On November 30th
Phineas & Ferb Series, Agent P ($12.95)
Fantasia Series #2 – Unicorn and Faun (LE 1,500 $24.95)
So first, it looks like there are two possible dates for the 2nd Fantasia Combo Pack, but it is ONLY online. (I’d try the 16th because it’s got the right edition size). Which of these sets are you picking up? Remember that the Classics set also comes out this month. Any one’s wallets feeling a bit thin yet?
By Brian Shapiro
Celebration with Vinylmation is the theme of recent releases and previews. Friday, June 15, saw the release of many exciting figures, starting with the Park Starz Mr. Lincoln variant at both D Streets and online. It celebrates Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln in Disneyland and The Hall of Presidents in Walt Disney World. Designed by Casey Jones and Thomas Scott of the Disney Design Group, this inspired LE 2500 figure is identical to the original design except it is copper toned, like a penny! Similar to last week’s Bride variant, Abe comes in a specially designed tin. The retail price is $24.95, and the online quantities sold out in about an hour.
If Abe Lincoln doesn’t get you in the patriotic spirit, then perhaps you should consider this LE 600 Holiday Series #3 nine-inch Independence Day Colonist. Released online on June 15, it retails for $44.95. The artwork on this figure is amazing, especially the shadowing. The tricorn hat is the icing on the cake and rivals the coonskin cap on the Davy Crockett figure released last year.
Still not feeling patriotic? Then this 2012 Independence Day commemorative figure by Thomas Scott should do the trick! This 3″ open edition figure was released on June 22 at D Streets and online. It retails for $16.95.
Also released on June 15 were several 3″ and 9″ Vinylmation figures celebrating the reopening of Disney California Adventure in Disneyland. The six 3″ figures come in windowed boxes and celebrate the new Cars Land, Grizzly River Run, and Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. They retail for $12.95 and have lots of great details!
The two 9″ figures honor Buena Vista Street and Radiator Springs Racers and were designed by the talented Maria Clapsis of the Disney Design Group. Both are LE 500, and they each sell for $54.95.
In keeping with the Cars theme, the blank Create-Your-Own Vinylmation 95 figure was released online and at Disneyland. It will be released at Walt Disney World on June 29. The new canvas is open edition and retails for $39.95.
Monday, June 18, saw the much anticipated release of Villains Series #3 at Disney Stores and online. This celebration of some of Disney’s baddest of the bad includes creative interpretations of both infamous and obscure characters. While the characters in the series may be nasty, the price of the figures, $9.99 per blind box, is not!
On Friday, June 22, a large variety of figures were released, starting with the Park Starz Yeti variant by Thomas Scott and Casey Jones. This all gold version of the original design comes in a custom designed tin and has an edition size of 2500. Like the other variants it is priced at $24.95. It sold out within minutes online and was available at D Streets.
Also released online and at D Streets was the Vinylmation Mascots series we alluded to a few weeks ago. This collection of four 3″ figures featuring Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto as edgy, retro style sports mascots comes in open edition windowed boxes. The series includes some innovative accessories like Donald’s hat, Goofy’s foam finger, and Pluto’s pennant (which he holds with his teeth!). The figures retail for $12.95 and are a must for any sports fan.
In Disneyland, the Disneyland Resort Icons 3″ series was released on June 22. Similar to the Walt Disney World 40th Anniversary series released last year, these open edition window boxed figures feature classic designs and logos celebrating the original Disney theme park. There are four unique designs and two variants and they sell for $12.95 each.
For those who “like” Duffy the Disney Bear on Facebook, there was the “Facebook First” release of the two open edition Duffy figures on the official Vinylmation Facebook store. These 3″ figures introduce the new Duffy Vinylmation mold. One figure comes without an outfit and is flocked, and the other comes painted with a sailor suit and dons a sailor hat. They retail for $14.95 and will be available at D Streets on June 29.
Rounding out the releases was the appearance of the Nerds Rock Figment and Stitch at D Streets.
Not only were there a lot of releases over the last two weeks, there were loads of previews too! Last week Disney provided this preview of the gift item for Mickey’s Circus on September 9, 2012. It is a combo set featuring a 3″ Mrs. jumbo and a 1.5″ Dumbo. The set was designed by Thomas Scott.
Disney also released previews of the eight 3″ figures in the Color Block Series. These figures will be coming to D Streets on June 29 and look like 3″ versions of the Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Cheshire Cat, Woody, Buzz, and Nemo figures from Vinylmation Jr Series #2. One design included in the series that was not a part of Vinylmation Jr. Series #2 features colors inspired by Mickey.
The last preview supplied by Disney is of the “Under the Big Top” series coming to Disney Stores and DisneyStore.com on July 23. The Disney Store in South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California, will have a two day early release artist signing event with artist Gerald Mendez.
Like we conjectured on the podcast (which isn’t even out yet!) Disneyland will be getting a variant of the WDW Passholder vinylmation. Not only will the writing be changed to reflect the other park, the top balloon will also be a different color! The DLR one is yellow, the WDW is blue.
What do you think of these vinyls? Will you get both? Only one? Will the other parks get these too, like the Celebrations First Visit Balloons?
After a long time of speculation and no comments by Disney, a photo of a tray of the second series of Furry Friends was leaked onto the Facebook site Vinylmation Exchange.
There is one change, the name. Series 2 will be called Whiskers & Tails. Vinylmation Kingdom reports that Disney Store Cast Members are pointing to January 21 as the release date. Now let’s see what we can gather from the box art. First, it looks like the figures will follow in their predecessor’s wake with specially crafted arms that look like paws. I’m sure all the custom artists have been looking for these for a while and will be happy to know they are back (I know I have been looking for over a year for a personal present). Other sites are also reporting that because of the size of the tray, we can expect the cool packaging from Furry Friends 1 (a 2012 DeeVee nominee for Best Packaging.)
Based on the box art we also know the 11 non mystery figures:
Lucky, from 101 Dalmations. Soon we will have all 101 represented!
Lucifer, from Cinderella. Looks pure evil.
Lambert, the sheepish lion. “Yes! Finally. There was a pin of him at Mickey’s Circus that I really wanted and now there’s a Vinylmation! I will be coming for that one, you bet ya.” – M.C.
Bolt, from Bolt. We already had a 9″ version but it’s great to see a 3″.
Figaro, from Pinocchio. Perfect. Many people felt this was one of the most obviously absent figure from Furry Friends.
Nana, from Peter Pan. It also looks like Nana’s long face will be spread over the head and the top of the body. Well done the artist.
Lady, from Lady and the Tramp. This is a great pairing for those who managed to get a Tramp from Furry Friends.
Flower, from Bambi. Another good choice. Although we’ve already seen one as part of Animation 2. When do we get a Thumper?
Dinah, from Alice in Wonderland. There was already one as the chaser from the Alice series, but I think this one looks better and the paws are always an added bonus.
Hen Wen, from Black Cauldron. He is the magical pet pig of Taran and Dallben in Disney’s 1985 feature film The Black Cauldron.
Tito, from Oliver and Company. Nice movie choice with a cool hair accessory.
There will also be a chaser of course. Any wishes for character selection?
No look at Whiskers & Tails would be complete without comparing them to Annemarie’s Furry Friends 2 from earlier this year.
Lady, Figaro, and Nana were all part of her custom 12 figure set. As for Figaro and Lady, they look almost exactly the same. With Nana, I actually think I prefer Annemarie’s better. The Disney one looks less energetic then hers. Also worth noting is that Annemarie included a set of the Fox and the Hound in her 12 piece series. This set will be part of the upcoming LE from the Animation 3 line.
WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Downtown Disney, Epcot, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios yesterday and has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us from this trip, so let’s take a look:
Work continues on Splitsville at Downtown Disney
Spotted construction workers
Still looks nothing like the concept art…
The Phineas and Ferb topiary from Epcot is now near the Phines and Ferb & You attraction
Guests were waiting for it to open
Blink has been open for a while now, don’t think we have shown it yet…
John Carter Vinylmation is now at D Street
Adam is probably the only person who has bought them
They had better hurry up…
Moving over to Epcot
Some work going on at both ends of the turnstiles
A great Epcot 30th anniversary display is up in the window at Art of Disney
They are pretty much ready for the Food and Wine festival, starting Friday
You can still buy these
The Cool Wash near Test Track is out from behind walls and now features the new “Sim Car”
The area got fixed up nicely
The dummy sports the new logo
A large hole is now in the front of Test Track
Goodbye old entrance
A new chimney installed at the Norway pavilion… we assume Agent P related…
The work on the Norway waterfall is done
Some other roof work is wrapping up
The new American Adventure cast costumes have debuted… these ones are pretty bad. Did somebody say McDonald’s?
The attraction host costumes are actually very nice
The Festival Shop actually has real doors this year…
Chase seems to be a sponsor ready to burn cash
All of the booths are ready to go
The DVC booth near Canada is just about complete
Told ya’ it was a DVC booth!
Work going on next to the Refreshment Port as well
Display at the front of World Showcase
Framing props…
WATERMELON PATCH
Apparently the cranberry bog is coming back
Moving over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Celebrity 5 & 10 is behind tarps
FastPass+ installed at Indiana Jones
WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Epcot and the Magic Kingdom on Sunday and has a TON of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:
Great chocolate art at the Festival Center at Epcot
It’s dark, but nice to see them use more of the pavilion space
Work continues on Test Track as we race towards December 6th
The IBM Runtime game is now closed inside Innoventions, it opened back in 2008
Rumor is that IBM Smarter Planet is getting some updates
I hope so because it wasn’t really working…
The seating area that was formerly Rockin’ Robots is now walled off as well
Some scaffolding inside
Still nothing going on at the former Segway Central
Habit Heroes is still closed…
The Epcot 30th display remains at MouseGear
What remains of the merchandise is on display
A lot of generic Epcot merchandise has filled in some space
Moving to the Magic Kingdom, the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction is picking up
An Orioles hat… how cute… 😉
Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid
The now completed Storybook Circus
I love these seats…
That is some fancy lighting for an outside tent…
Let’s go to Pete’s Silly Sideshow!
The calliope is from Disneyland PAris’ Main Street U.S.A.
Reference to a classic Disney animated film by the same name
Into Pete’s mouth!
Meeting Minnie and Daisy
The theming is insane… the walls are labeled for easy construction, insinuating that the Circus moves from town to town
Goofy and Donald
A look up at the ceiling
It’s a tent
PANORAMA!
ANOTHER PANORAMA! AMAZING!
Minnie trains trick Poodles…
It looks much better when Adam doesn’t use the world’s brightest flash…
Awwww…
Daisy
Daisy will see you now!
Looks very “Museum of the Weird” like the Madame Leota cart
Exit
Into Big Top Souvenirs
Very fitting that they sell Popcorns Vinylmation here
Everyone loves this carpet!
The “Under the Big Top” series is also available
My favorite display
A close second is the Penguins cage holding the cold drinks
The strange tiny MousekeEars are also available here
A look at the new food carts in the area
I’m in love with a food cart…
Usual cart food though
So much time and energy spent on such little details
I love the striped curtain for when they are closed
Let’s go back in
Those random doors look themed…
THEY ARE!
GOOFY!
He crashed his motorcycle
Donald is a snake charmer
ANOTHER PANORAMA! ASTOUNDING!
Could have been a sign, but it is a material banner
I wonder if someone could go in that booth…
I hate to say this so soon, but I love Storybook Circus. It is simply 2 small rides, meet and greets, and shopping, but it is so well done. Kudos to Disney on delivering with a land that was rushed in as a replacement in the expansion.
If Storybook Circus is that cool, I can’t wait to see this…
Another new cart near the entrance
Not listed, but they have roasted almonds too
Another look at Mine Train
A look at what will be Princess Fairytale Hall
The former Skyway site which will now be restrooms and maybe something more…
They are still working on Village Haus
Another piece of track should be lowered into place shortly
FastPass+ equipment was simply covered after the tests ended, so it might just be permanent now
Cool popcorn bucket, but it must be pretty easy to spill…
Going back to Epcot, we take a look at Test Track through a rainy monorail window
Well, that was neat… I guess…
Adam got to stuff his face at the Disney Dessert Discovery event as part of the Food and Wine Festival
So much to eat and drink
Live entertainment
FLAMING DOUGHNUTS!
IN 3D!
WOOOOOOOAH!
Fruit? We didn’t come to a dessert event for fruit!
We came for flaming doughnuts!
Gross…
Thank you for the flaming doughnuts! Oh, and all these photos Adam…
We learned a lot about Popcorns at Mickey’s Circus including the actual creation of the series.
Artist Doug Stayer created this art that Thomas Scott decided to turn into a series of Vinylmation. The series will be released in waves. No set number of figures in each wave, but it seems that they will let us know what will be in each series. If you didn’t know by now, Popcorns is a new platform for Vinylmation that will be sold in open window, popcorn shaped, boxes. Each will be based on Characters from the Disney movies or cartoons. The first series will be released at D-Streets on September 28th and retail for $24.95 (even the variants).
This series will include: Chip/Dale, Chernabog, Jack Skellington, Kermit, Sully, Dumbo, Goofy, Mickey
Pluto (online exclusive).
As far as variants go, there are at least 2 in the first series and they are both LE 2500. A Black and White Mickey that debuted at Comic Con and can still be found for sale at DisneyStore.com and a Clown face Dumbo. The Dumbo was first sold at Mickey’s Circus, but can now, as of 9/11, be found at D-Street Orlando.
The second series will be released next fall, but we already have a peak at two of the figures, Frankenweenie and Stitch.
