Big Hats come to Rome

WDWNT on March 26, 2012

Even more Big Hat Figures are being released in Europe. Just recently Vinylmation.com announced that Rome had their own special figure. Meet their Gladiator. Great looking saddles and uniform. Nice use of ears also. This figure is by Adam Colp from the United Kingdom. Colp also created the French Big Hat figure.


Speaking of those other figures, here they are as a reminder. So far we’ve seen figures for Paris, Dublin, and England. Anyone think they know who will get the next one?

All pics from Disney

The Final Word on Robots 2

WDWNT on March 26, 2012

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 Disney
2nd 2 from Billy Davis

Monorail Mold: What’s your opinion?

WDWNT on March 26, 2012

Today Disney showed us a first look at the Monorail Model onto which the Cars characters will be applied.

“Before they announced the mold I was looking forward to the set on Mickey Mold. I thought it would be interesting to see. Now that the mold is announced I don’t think I’m as excited. I have connection to the Monorails themselves so I’m not sure I’ll get these.” -MC

“I love them. I welcome more forms into Vinylmation and can’t wait to see other characters on these too! The idea of using a Disney icon like the monorail is a great idea.” -Nick

What do you think of these models? Does this go even farther then the mold then Park Starz? Will you get these?

Also, obviously Mater and Lightning. Who else will be on this set?

Peter Pan’s expensive flight into NYC

WDWNT on March 26, 2012

The Playwright was in NYC today and found Kidada’s Peter Pan on the shelves. He did note, however, that the price is regular at the store but is cheaper at the online store. (Almost half price!)

Blueprints To a Successful Vinylmation

WDWNT on March 26, 2012

Among the large cardboard cut outs of Vinylmation that adorn the windows of Mouse Gears at EPCOT, we occasionally see a design unfamiliar to us. Last week was one such occasion.

This design was stuck next to good old Park 5 chaser Tom Morrow. It appears to be a blueprint. I for one love the design and hope it is part of an upcoming Urban series, as this is a throwback to Urbans of yesteryear that we at DV enjoy so much. What do you think of Blueprint Mickey?

25th Anniversary Series Light Up Disney Stores on 3/28

WDWNT on March 5, 2012

Picture from Disney

Our friend @DVCwinner tweeted today that the Disney Store 25th Anniversary Series will finally be released on March 28th, which just so happens to be the exact day of their 25th anniversary. On that day in 1987 the first Disney Store opened in Glendale, California. (We’ve also heard this date from other sources)

After the delay are you (reader) still interested in this series (if you ever were)? Let us know…

Pesty Vinylmation

WDWNT on March 5, 2012

Today the vinylmation Facebook presented these two figures without any other explanation. The obvious guess is that these are part of the Urban 9 set that we already saw two figures of, the Sheep and Toaster. But then, maybe these are from a different creepier set.

Snake

A really detailed snake on a red background. Looks kinda like a California King Snake, but the marking seem just a little off.

Fly

Quick call Jeff Goldblum, there’s a fly about. Kinda freaky but still cool, I like the eyes. Great use of clear ears too.

What would you prefer? For these to be part of Urban 9 or some other set? Are these continuing to be too random and not “artsy” enough for Urban?

It’s a Boy!

WDWNT on March 5, 2012

Cutesters at the Beach was released on Friday, so we knew it’d only be a matter of time until pictures of the chaser surfaced. What we didn’t know, is a variant would also wash up. We found these pictures on Vinylmation Kingdom’s Facebook page:

The chaser is actually a boy at the beach. I find this interesting, but on further thought, not all that surprising. After all, a cute boy surfer would certainly appeal to a girl collecting these. He is wearing a floral bathing suit and a shark tooth necklace. I like how Disney promotes good habits by having all the figures wear sun screen on their noses.

The variant, for me at least, is much less impressive. Instead of the Sno Cone stand, it says Fish Tacos. A very Californian (where the Disney Store artists work out of) flair, but Sno Cones is just a much more fun design for me. What are your thoughts on these two designs? Would they be priceless finds for you collection or would you leave them out sea?

The Forgotten Vinylmation Collectible

WDWNT on March 5, 2012

Vinylmation is only about 3 years old and already we have undergone many different ways a Vinylmation is packaged. We have seen tins replaced by open window boxes. We now find it a regular occurrence to have Jrs packaged with both 9″ and 3″ figures. One of the biggest changes was the decision to not include artist cards any longer with Vinylmation. We all remember having to find a place for all those artist cards, but do you remember another short lived item that used to be packaged with Vinylmation?

Around Park and Urban 1 and 2, buttons were packaged with 9″ Vinylmation. Pictured above are the buttons from Tiki Mickey (Urban 2, Doug Strayer, LE 750), Bowling (Urban 2) and a third small button an eBay seller sent me as a bonus. I’m not sure about its origins. The 9″ Bowling figure is one of my favorite Urbans of all time. It was also one of my first two 9″ figures (Black Cauldron) I ever purchased. I remember being really excited when I saw it in the store.

And this Dawn Ockstadt designed 9″ came with a button attached to the inside of the box. This figure is only LE 600. Currently, prices are rising on 9″ figures and at the same time, edition sizes are rising and the artist cards and buttons are gone. Doesn’t seem fair. I don’t really like the buttons too much, but to collectors, they are a low LE collectible that is decently hard to find. After all, not everybody opens their 9″ boxes like I do.

Maria Clapsis’ 9″ Mine, Mine, Mine from Park 2 also came with a button. The buttons are just like the artist cards… they depict the concept art for the figure.

Again, this figure being a low LE of 550 means the button is also rather scarce.

This is the most rare Vinylmation button I own. I came with the Randy Noble designed LE 350 Crossroads figure from Park 2.

Holiday 1 also got in on the button fun. Maria’s LE 400 Turkey also came with a button. So what are your thoughts on the buttons? Did you like when they were packaged with 9″ figures? Do you ever collect them separately from the figure?

Vinylmation Stars in 30 Rock

WDWNT on March 5, 2012

Update: 2/13/11 According to Thomas Scott the figure is actually a “Qee”. Big thanks to him for solving the mystery! (Also thanks to KrisKitten and Evilos for chiming in)

Ok. A bit of an over statement, but thanks to a tip by twitter friend @Charlieague, it looks like there was a Vinylmation on the writers desk. Here’s a screen shot from the show. We never see more then this much. What do you think? Any idea which figure it might be?