Spotlight On: Jared Flores' Timon and Pumbaa

We got word from our friend Jared Flores that he had some new vinyl so was asked him to send us some pics.

"Timon and Pumbaa are a set I just finished for a commission. I have a strong attachment to the 90's era Disney Animated features so its a really good time for me when I get to work from movies like Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King. Lion King has a lot of memorable laughs, many of which can be attributed to Timon and Pumbaa. To put their likeness on the 3" mold was really just plain fun. Personally I became really attached to the Pumbaa, as I feel like his head shape fits the mold in a really pleasing way.

I'd love to work on more characters from classic 90's Disney, so please feel free to contact me for a custom quote or to place an order.

check out my work at jaredcircusbear.tumblr.com or flickr.com/photos/jaredflores/

or visit my online shop for toys, prints and original artwork at etsy.com/shop/TheBigTopArt

Thanks" - Jared Flores

Lion King Vinylmation Photoshoot

We finally received our correct Lion King Hyena Ed chaser, so we can now post our completed Lion King Photoshoot. We took the set to, where else, Disney's Animal Kingdom for some pictures.

 M.C. spotted the above trio of signs that seemed perfect for three of our characters.

Disney Store Makes Good on Lion King Chaser

It took a little over 2 months, but yesterday, we received the correct Lion King Hyena Mystery Chaser from the Disney Store in the mail.

We, like many of you, opened up a case of Lion King Vinylmation a couple months back only to have an incorrect chaser. One that mixed up Ed's body with Banzi's head.

The above picture was taken by us at D23. Among many excited collectors opening box upon box, we found this previously unknown chaser. Caught up in all that excitement, we didn't notice the error. Right away, the Disney Store promised to make good on the error by sending guests who opened up a blind box and got this error figure, a replacement corrected figure. All you had to do was email customer service and provide some info like a copy of your receipt. They said expect it in 8-10 weeks, and although it was a few more than that, we are very happy to have received it. So if you contacted customer service as well, rest assured, it seems as if you will be getting a UPS package in the mail too.

On another note, we have made numerous attempts to contact the Disney Store and the Vinylmation team about what steps they are taking to correct this issue in current blind boxes sold on the shelves. As of today, there is no official comment. Can anyone verify if the incorrect chaser is still inside cases currently being shipped to stores?

Rafiki 9" Baby Simba Jr Combo

Update: 8/28/11 Ten Rafiki's were released at the SF Disney Store on Saturday along with the 3" SF Golden Gate Bridge exclusive. So... 690 for the rest of us at stores scattered across North America and some warehouse waiting to be shipped to a few lucky online buyers.

This is an exciting combo set that makes a ton of sense. A 9" Rafiki with a baby Simba Jr will be released at select Disney Stores across the country on August 29. This Jim Valeri designed set is limited to only 700 and will retail for $59.95. This is the same day the Lion King 12 figure series is released across the country (and Canada) exclusively to Disney Stores as well.

The catch, just like the Villains 9/Jr combos, is that only select stores will have a limited quanity of these, as will the Disney Store Online. Here is the list of stores:

US
Chandler Fashion Center - Chandler, AZ
Mission Viejo, CA
Montebello, CA
Fashion Valley - San Diego, CA
Santa Monica, CA
Stockston Street - San Francisco, CA
Westfield at Culver City, CA
International Plaza - Tampa, FL
Perimeter - Atlanta, GA
North Michigan Avenue - Chicago, IL
State Street - Chicago, IL
Roosevelt Field - Garden City, NJ
Freehold Raceway - Freehold, NJ
Times Square - New York City, NY
Palisades - West Nyack, NY
Cherry Hill, PA
Northpark - Dallas, TX
Northstar - San Antonio, TX
Bellevue Square - Bellevue, WA

Canada
Metropolis at Metrotown - Vancouver, BC
Square One - Mississauga, ON

Good luck on grabbing one of these. Rafiki is my favorite design in the 3" Lion King set, and this 9" looks great as well. I really like the background in the ears.

And baby Simba has the markings on his head. I like how they put a 3" Rafiki in the set even though they are putting out a 9" as well. I hope we eventually get a 3" Animal from Muppets for example. I do question the LE 700 on a piece that's spread around the Disney Stores when a figure that's produced to 1000 or 1500 sits on the shelves of two D-Street stores for months. What are your thoughts on the LE, distribution and figures themselves?

Episode 035 Snow White's Scary Adventure

Ep. 035 Snow White's Scary Adventure This week we wrap up D23. We talk about all the event releases and all the new upcoming figures on display at the expo.

Listen in Popup Player

Download Episode

Episode 034 Poncho

Ep. 034 Poncho This week we talk about the much anticipated Lion King set. We review Black and White, China Pavilion and Materhorn, we reminisce about EPCOT's Kitchen Kaberet, and we discus the upcoming D23 Expo. We of course deliver the latest Vinylmation news and rumors and have an up to date schedule of release dates and events. The winner of the Robots Contest is announced. Oh, and we read your comments and questions in the Mystery Mail Bag.

Listen Now:

Standard Podcasts [59:36m]: Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

The Lion King Vinylmation Explained

Lion King
Release Date: August 21 19 at D23 Expo; August 29 at Disney Stores
Disney Store Exclusive
Retail: TBA


Released to theaters on June 15, 1994 by Walt Disney Pictures, The Lion King is the 32nd film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics. The Lion King will be released on Blu Ray on October 4th, 2011 and hit theaters once again for two weeks beginning September 16th... this time in 3D.

"First impression... this set is amazing. The detail on the figures blows me away. Rafiki stands out as my favorite. I'm a little disappointed in Zazu, but can't place it. I will say I'm a bit disappointed in character selection, but only because I would have liked to see maybe some Lion King landscapes, or other (non main character) animals, or movie scenes. Lion King is a vibrant movie, and that is captured on the characters here, but I would have like the envelope pushed farther. Here is where I get controversial... two Hyenas here? either give us all three or none. Because as much as like New Mold, the Villains 1 Banzai doesn't fit here.  Now that you guys changed my mind this is Banzai here and not Ed, that means the chaser most likely is Ed. They wouldn't give us 2 Hyenas, with one we already have in Villains 1, and not all 3... or would they? Just one more thing... lots of tails???" - Nick

	Mufasa Voiced by James Earl Jones King of Pridelands and Simba's father. Beautiful colors and great use of the entire mold to give Mufasa a strong presence. I do not agree with the angry roar version depicted here. I think of Mufasa more as a stoic and wise leader. I would have liked to see a friendlier looking version.
	Young Nala Voiced by Niketa Calame Simba's best friend and later mate. A nice clean and simple look.
	Young Simba Voiced by Johnathan Taylor Thomas Zoe called this one! She calls him "I just can’t wait to be king Simba". It's young Simba with the leaves all around his head before he grows up and gets his mane. Great looking figure. I might be blasted for this, but this young Simba looks 20x better than the Animation 1 Combo Topper.
	Baby Simba Voiced by N/A Simply a brilliant choice. Didn't expect this one. Thank Zoe for helping figure this one out. He looks perturbed at being shown off around the Pridelands and comes complete with the markings Rafiki put on his little head.
	Timon Voiced by Nathan Lane This guy and Pumba make this set great. The artist took the fun route with these guys, not just giving you the character, but designing a representation of classic movie scenes. Look at the animation in his mouth as it raises up and back. Perfect.Also, I like the small detail like the light brown color coming down onto the hand uneven, not a straight line at the cuff.
	Pumbaa Voiced by Ernie Sabella Awesome! Simply a great capture. Look how big his face is. Takes up the whole figure. That's where the artists excel in this set... using the head for the upper part of the face and extending it down into the body. Then the colors and detail on the bug as well.
	Zazu Voiced by Rowan Atkinson Why does this one just miss for me? And no mold cracks please. They eyes and body color are captured well. I would argue that the feet need to be an orange as opposed to yellow. Maybe he needs a neck piece? Maybe, like Cruella, he needs to be painted inside the body and not fill out the body? Maybe a profile would have worked better. Big question... Sam the Eagle like tail on back?
	Rafiki Voiced by Robert Guillaume Best figure in set hands down. Wow! Good job Disney artists. The accessory really puts him over the top. Great facial expression, coloring and placement of art.
	Scar Voiced by Jeremy Irons Very similar to Mufasa in style, they are brothers, but Scar of course has the more menacing and dark look to him. Again, his features are perfectly captured on the mold. Pairing a roaring Scar with a roaring Mufasa does make sense.
	Shenzi Voiced by Whoopi Goldberg One of Scar's three henchmen hyenas. This one looks good. The tuft of hair on the head. The menacing smile. Nicely done.
	Ed Banzai Voiced by Cheech Marin One of Scar's three henchmen hyenas. Thanks for all you comments changing my mind. I thought this was a total miss as ED, because I couldn't believe they would put another Banzai in a set after Villains 1... but they did. I'll say, this one looks better.
	Mystery Chaser What are your guesses? Sarabi? Timon in hula skirt? Ed?

Packaging photos (darn you Disney for making me keep more empty boxes!!!):

Copyright Disney

Copyright Disney

Copyright Disney

Copyright Disney

Lion King Confirmed at D23

Lion King now joins the It's a Small World Jr. 4 set as being confirmed to make it's debut at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, CA later this month.

Mufasa. Photo copyright Disney

Lion King will show up at D23 on the last day, Sunday, August 21. As rumored, there will also be an artist signing beginning at 10am that same day. Lion King will be a Disney Store exclusive and will officially hit shelves on August 29.

Episode 033 Penny Machine

Ep. 033 Penny Machine Z. Just kidding. Sure we talk about Z but we also discuss all the latest Vinylmation News including a Florida Project Cast Chaser, Room for One More, Alice, Lion King and more. We have the latest release and event dates as well. M.C. is off this week, so fill-in co host Chris joins Nick inside Blind Box Studios. This show is also the premire of the DV Roundtable. This week we welcome Matt from Vinylmation Kingdom and Greg from Vinylmation World.

Play in Popup

Download this Episode

Will We Hear the Roar of the King at D23?

Update: 8/5/11 Disney said today on the Blog to "Stay tuned as we have some exciting news to share about the release of this series." Will they announce the D23 release and artist signing? They did release this picture of the actual Mufasa figure:

Copyright Disney

According to rumors on Vinylnation.net, Simba really can't wait to be King. When a collector was talking to Disney Store Artist Enrique Pita at the Robots Vinlymation signing in California last week, Enrique reportedly let it slip that the artists will be on hand at the D23 Expo (August 19-21 in Anaheim, CA) signing Lion King Vinylmation. What!? But Lion King will not be out until the following Friday the collector remarked. Enrique then said that Lion King will be available at D23.

This set is exciting. One of my all-time favorite moves in Vinylmation form with the Blu Ray coming in October and the 3D theater experience! Exciting times. These Vinylmation will surely be the mane event for me at the Expo. We will see if we get that early peek at D23. And if you can't make it to D23, Hakuna Matata, we will of course be reporting all the info we get as we get it and posting lots of pictures throughout the weekend. Oh, and check out Zoe's predictions for this set here.