Aulani Press Exclusive Vinylmation

WDWNT on September 28, 2011

As if being in Hawaii wasn’t enough of a treat, it appears that members of the press at the Grand Opening of the new Alunai Disney Resort received a special treat in their goodie bag. This news is unconfirmed as of this moment, but here is an excerpt of a post by Goonie that we found on the Vinylnation forum:

“So… hate to share this, but I just returned from Disney’s Aulani’s grand opening in Hawaii. Select press attendees staying at the resort were given a special present after the Grand Opening Presentation. A numbered and limited hand-painted Vinylmation by a Hawaiian artist housed in a 2-piece custom hand-made wicker box wrapped with a Disney’s Aulani Grand Opening sleeve of paper. Inside is a printed description and numbering. Artistically, they are definitely an acquired taste… but are EXTREMELY limited. (These are not the for-sale Menehune ones from the store — the are very crudely hand painted)”


Sounds like an eBay hit to me. We still have not seen any of these pop up anywhere and as of this post, no pictures have been found on the net.


Update: 9/28/11 Pictures uploaded courtesy of Erik (Goonie)

Park 7- 40th Anniversary Tribute by Minnie Malice

WDWNT on September 26, 2011

The official Vinlymation blog just announced that the Park 7 series that we saw previewed at The Florida Project will be released on October 14th at the D-street locations. While it’s always great to have a release date, there is something particularly exciting about this announcement.

It was revealed that the Park 7 series will be considered a “tribute collection”. Though we’ve known that the Park Series was going to start marking “important” things in Disney history, this particular set is officially the “40th Anniversary Tribute Collection”.

But, what does that mean exactly? Well…

Lets start off with the tray box.

As you can see, the tray box has been decked out using the Walt Disney World 40th Anniversary Merchandise Collage, created by Natalie Kennedy, a Senior Graphic Designer with Disney Design Group.

This box is awesome, capturing the last 40 years beautifully.

Then there are the individual blind boxes.

Again, the Merchadise Collage has been used to decorate the box, bringing life to the usually boring, black box we are all familiar with.

With such a wonderful design, I might just hold onto the box for once, instead of just recycling them.

Then there are the indiviual figures.

A much anticipated series, from the first time we all caught a glimps of these figures, I think we all agreed that this series showcases some of the most creative uses of the Mickey figure we have seen to date. Specifically, how Casey Jones captured Donad’s “good side” in his interpretation of the Philharmagic attraction; Thomas Scott’s Space Figment, utilizing the Buzz Lightyear space helmet; and my personal favorite, the sparkly Tinkerbell with WINGS! (EEP!)

Here is the America on Parade figure from Park 7:

Also, here is a look at the Combo Topper:

The series will retail at $12.95 with the combo pack selling at $26.95.

Pictures borrowed from the official Vinylmation blog:

Spotlight On: Customation Project Artist Chelsey

WDWNT on September 23, 2011

We are going to finish the week off with one of the best artists. (I maybe be partial, I have one of her customs!) We’ve featured her before here on Destination Vinylmation. The first time was for her awesome Kevin from Up. She also made use this awesome Destination Vinylmation custom!

Destination Vinylmation: If, for some reason our readers haven’t read about you before, where can they find your stuff?
Chelsey: You can check out my stuff at: facebook.com/pages/Chelsey-Custom-Vinylmation/181170415290217

DV: WE love your stuff (of course!) How long have you been making custom vinyls?
C: I have been making custom vinyls for almost 10 months now.

DV: Can we have a sneak peak into the pieces you’ll be bringing to the show?
C: I’m still working on several pieces. But the two pieces I have ready are Mickey as Wolverine 9″ and Captain from Wall-E 9″ + Wall-E & Eve set.

DV: Those sound awesome. Why did you choose Mickey and Marvel?
C: Since Marvel is part of Disney now, I decided to show the merge on my vinyl as well. That’s why I created this Classic Mickey as Wolverine 9″ custom. He has the classic expression along with his cigar :). He took me 4 days to finish. I really like how it turned out. Really shows the combination of two classic figures.

DV: He looks great. You seem to really like Pixar movies, it sounds like you really like Wall-E. Tell us about the set you’re bringing.
The next piece I’m going to present is a set. The 9″ one is the captain of Axiom in “Wall-E”. I really like when he find out that “Auto” was the on who’s controlling everything and tried to fight back scene. That’s why I also created “Auto” in his hand. He also have a tough look when he’s fighting back (which I reflected on his face). Besides the Captian will be my version of Wall-E and Eve. I do like the official Wall-E and Eve combo set. However, I feel like Wall-E is too “clean” as he worked for over 700 years to clean the place. There’s must be some dust and rusty spots on him. That’s why I created this “original” Wall-E. I also like the scene where Wall-E takes care of Eve when she finds the plant and went into “sleep” mode. That’s why my eve is in “sleep” mode. This set took me week and half to finish. I’m also pretty happy about how it turns out.
DV: Those look amazing! Thanks again for all your contribute to the world of vinyl. I can’t wait to meet you as soon as I can!

Spotlight On: Customation Project Artist Angie Annett

WDWNT on September 22, 2011

Remember all those artists from earlier this week? Well, here’s another artist from the Customations Show. Her name is Angie Annett. Let’s see what she’ll be bringing to the show in a few days.
Destination Vinylmation: Welcome to Destination Vinylmation, where can the folks find your work if they are looking for more?
Angie Annett: I have a facebook page where you can see all of my designs as I add them! Here is the link.

DV: How long have you been making custom vinyls?
AA: I started making customs back in February. I was always a bit upset that their wasn’t a Dug vinyl, as he is one of my favorite characters, so I decided to take matters into my own hands. I had never painted before, so I made the design on photoshop and transferred it over. Turns out, it went better than I could have ever hoped.

DV: I like the hair, so which vinyls will you have at the event? Tell us a little about them.
AA: The first is my Timon figure that I custom designed. This was the second vinyl that I ever made and the first one I ever used sculpey pieces on. This is one of my favorites in my collection because it is one of my designs that actually turned out better on the vinyl than it looked on photoshop! It took me about 8 hours to finish this piece.

The other design I like to call my Disneyland Collage. This is by far the most intricate and detailed design that I have ever created and it took me over 2 months to finish. Just sketching the design took me over a week! I tried to incorporate all of my favorite rides and aspects of Disneyland into the vinyl. This is my first ever non-character vinyl I made and I was a little nervous attempting this one. Fortunately, it turned out to be one of my favorite customs in my collection.

DV: Both pieces look great, I hope you enjoy the event this weekend! Thanks for letting us chat with you for a moment.

Vinylmation Speculation: Star Wars 2 characters

WDWNT on September 21, 2011

First off, we only know two official characters. So as a reminder, this is all just speculation from MC’s brain.

We know of two characters, Greedo and a Tusken Raider. We also know that the set will be based on the Star Wars: A New Hope.

Now for what I want/think should be part of the set.

Jawa

Jack Purvis and others

If we have Raiders we should also get a Jawas. This could be the triple for the case! Imagine an army of these guys. (Unless they come out as Jr.’s which would rock even more.)

Aunt Beru

Sheila Frasier

And think, there could be a “on fire skeleton” variant! (I was gonna add a pic of that scene, but it’s still pretty horrific.)

Uncle Owen

Phil Brown

Also treated to a similar fate, but good for a set.

Luke Skywalker (X-Wing pilot)

Mark Hamill

We have him as a novice Jedi, how about the outfit he spends the last half of A New Hope in.

Prisoner Princess Leia

Carrie Fisher

Again, lets see her as we first saw her, in flowing white robes.

Grand Moff Tarkin

Peter Cushing

The guy who really seemed like the antagonist in the first movie. He actually tells Vader what to do!

Wedge Antilles

Denis Lawson

One of the few Rebellion pilots to make it through all 3 movies. This guy is very very lucky.

Biggs Darklighter

Garrick Hagon

An old friend of Luke’s that joined the Rebellion as an X-Wing fighter.

Porkins

William Hootkins

Big guy. Dead Guy. Poor Porkins.

Mon Mothma

Caroline Blakiston

One of the biggest political figures in the Rebellion.

Admiral Ackbar

Timothy M. Rose

The leader of the fleet that attacks the first Death Star. He knows when something is good, and when “It’s a trap!”.
From a marketing standpoint this would be brilliant. Think of all the University of Mississippi students who would want one!

Any random cantina guy

There are a lot to choose from, but they would help fill out the set. (Yes, I know his name is Pondo Baba. I say random because there are several creatures in the bar that they could use)

Gonk

I didn’t have any robots for this set, so how about the much maligned Gonk. He’s a robot, that looks like a trash can. How cool is that? No, seriously. Is that cool?
Chaser- Original Jabba

This is what Jabba looked like before he was cut in the original film. Lucas later went back an covered over him with a CGI version of the Jabba we all know.

And then hopefully they will release some LE sets. Muppets 2 had them, why not Star Wars 2!

Sandcrawler 9″/Jawa 3″

I like when size matters. This would be a perfect set.

Cantina Band 3″ set

They all look the same, but this would be a great set for accessories. If they can make the 6 piece Kitchen Kabaret, then this would be similar.
Death Star 9″/
Tie 3″/X-wing 3″

This would be epic. I think they should totally do this (but this would be the only way I’d want to see vehicles done. None in the normal set please!)

I left out Han, Chewie, and Ben because they would look the same as series 1. (They don’t have a large selection of wardrobe.)
Who would you like to see as part of this set?

Spotlight On: Customation Project Artist Jesus Paez

WDWNT on September 21, 2011

Leading up the Cesar’s event in Santa Clarita, CA this weekend, Destination Vinylmation will feature each of the custom artists and talk to them about some of the figures they will be bringing to the event.
Today we spoke with custom artist (and first time Destination Vinylmation guest) Jesus Paez.

Destination Vinylmation: We saw some of you work and we really think it’s unique, how long have you been working on vinylmation?
Jesus Paez: I’ve been customizing vinlys since February of this year. I’m still learning as I go.

DV: Well you certainly seem to have the swing of things, which pieces will you bring to the show this weekend?
JP: Two of the vinyls that will be at “The Customation Project” show are a 9″ Gene Simmons Mickey vinyl and a 3″ Goku vinyl. The Gene Mickey was the very first vinyl I painted, its the one that started it all. Its Gene Simmons’ costume from the KISS album “Love Gun”. I tried to get as detailed as I could from his Godzilla boots to his chain on his chest. The vinyl took me about three days to complete and when I was done with that one I could not wait to start another one. Another vinyl that will be at the show is Goku from Dragon Ball Z. I have been a DBZ fan since I was kid. I remember drawing Goku and all of the other characters, so I got the idea to make a Goku vinyl. This vinyl also took me three days, I had to mold his hair and the knot on his belt out of super sculpey, then I painted it.

DV: Thanks for your time, and good luck at the show. If people want to see more of your stuff, where can they go?
JP: The best place to find my previous work would be on you tube. If you search for sk8erguy600 or custom vinyls some of my work will pop out, my you tube screen name is sk8erguy600. I recently made a Facebook page which im starting to upload some of my work there.

Spotlight On: Customation Project Artist Lucas Yoshida

WDWNT on September 20, 2011

Leading up the Cesar’s event in Santa Clarita, CA this weekend, Destination Vinylmation will feature each of the custom artists and talk to them about some of the figures they will be bringing to the event.

Destination Vinylmation: First off, where can people find your work?
Lucas Yoshida: My work can be found at lyoshida.com.

LinkDV: So how long have you been at this?LY: I have been making custom vinyls for about 8 months.

DV: So which of your vinyls will you be bringing to the event?
LY: One of the vinyls I’ll have at the event is called Dia De Los Mickey II. It is the second vinyl I’ve done with a Dia De Los Muertos theme to it. It took me about two weeks of constant work to complete this 9 inch vinyl. I like the little details that I put on it. These are the types of projects I have the most fun with. I really enjoy being free with creativity.
Another vinyl I am bringing is called Zombie the Uber Mouse. He is a 9 inch vinyl to go along with two other zombie themed 3 inch vinyls I’ve done. This one is what I believe Mickey Mouse would look like if he were to join the ranks of the undead. He took me a couple of days to make. I was having so much fun with it that I really flew through the process. I had a ton of fun adding little decayed details to his face. Adding rips in his skin exposing the muscles underneath was fun too. Blood spatter is always a fun detail to add.

DV: Yes, always fun! (Even if it is a bit frightening.) Thank you for your time and have fun at the show!

NYC Bridges Release and Signing

WDWNT on September 20, 2011

On Saturday, September 17 the NYC Times Square Disney Store released the new 9″ Bridges exclusive Vinylmation. Artist Oskar Mendez was on hand to sign figures for guests. Our friend The Playwright sent in this report:

I don’t collect 9″ so I didn’t go. (but he had a friend that did) It went pretty smoothly according to my friend. There was a small crowd at opening, and by 9am, it was just a small and steady line up to when he stopped signing.

Disney Store Design Artist Oskar Mendez
Signed figure
9″ Bridges
Artist Card
Signed Oskar Mendez Robot Cards given out to first 50 guests
Cars Vinylmation were finally on sale
9″ NYC Vinylmation on sale!

Pirates Movie Vinylmation On Deck

WDWNT on September 19, 2011

Release Date: 2012
Artist: Casey Jones
Details: Open Edition, open window 4 figure series featuring Captain Jack Sparrow, Blackbeard, Barbossa and Angelica from “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides”

Update: 07/18/12 The figures were on display at Comic Con. Still no release date. Photo from Vinylmation Kingdom.
Peg Leg for Barbosa! Jack looks great.

The Florida Project is over, but the announcements keep on flowing. It looks like we can expect a Pirates of the Caribbean movie themed Vinylmation series.

Disney released what looks like concept art of Angelica from the Pirates movie franchise! We also get a sneak of a partial face of another character. I know i’m back and forth about sets dedicated to one thing (movie, ride, etc…) but I am into this. What are your thoughts? What characters do we need to see? Monkey? Jack can have a nice variant.