Episode 098 Anubis

Ep. 098 Anubis This week we discuss the latest Disney Store releases... Robots 3 and Zooper Heroes. We also talk about the AP figures floating around the world resorts and announce the winner of the random DeeVee Award voter drawing. We also cover more of the latest news and have an up to date calendar of releases.

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Annual Passholder Vinylmation Now Worldwide

by Nickolas Lam

Hello DestinationVinylmation fans, my name is Nickolas Lam and I am a new contributor to this website. I am excited to be joining this awesome website, and I will bring you exciting new articles about Vinylmation. Please enjoy my articles and I hope it helps the community.

Ni hao! If you live near Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Resort Paris, there is a new Vinylmation for you guys. The Annual Passholder Vinylmation for HKDL has a yellow Mickey balloon in the head, like the Disneyland Resort Vinylmation. It has the clear outline globe, and the blue and green balloons on the bottom. It has a small edition size of only 300.

(Photo from dsewrc on eBay)

The Disneyland Paris AP's edition size has not been released, however, the size will probably be 300 or 3000 like the others. It has a blue Mickey balloon for the head. The bottom balloons are blue and green, reminiscent of the Disney World Passholder Vinylmation. It was released on Saturday in the Disney Village in Paris

(Photo from miaze49 on eBay)

3" Annual Passholder Balloons LE not OE

In Disney's funny little way of not wanting us to have all the info up front, we found out another little tidbit about these new 3" Annual Passholder Exclusive Balloons... they have a limited edition size of 3,000. That is according to the Disney Vinylmation Blog. The Events page still calls them "open edition." There was no LE placed on the first two Passholder figures, Mr. Toad and Orange Bird. The were open edition and in fact, are still available today to my knowledge. I will say, the LE of 3,000 on this figure is quite large and should be around for some time to come. Disney also released official pictures of both versions...

The balloon figures for each coast are different and retail for $14.95 and are now available at the D-Streets. I like the Disneyland one much better. Just appears to be a more classic and clean design.

Episode 095 Yellow Splattered

Ep. 095 Yellow Splattered This week we discuss the Pixar 1 line up, the new AP 3" figure, new Japan figures and much more. We have the full announced upcoming release calendar. And we have a Mystery Mail Bag filled to the brim with your questions and comments.

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DLR Passholder Variant Revealed

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?

Picture of New Passholder Figure is Floating Around the Web

Thanks to a friend for pointing us toward this photo of the previously unknown Annual Passholder 3" figure that is due out on November 2 for $14.95 at both D-Streets.

This same picture has been used in a few eBay pre-sale auction already. The photo is not credited  but appears to be taken at the D-Street Orlando upcoming figures display case. You can see Walt Disney World printed on the balloon, I would assume the DLR version is identical except for Disneyland printed on it. This figure represents a gathering of the iconic Mickey head shaped balloons inside a balloon sold on Main Street USA.

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Disney's California Adventure and Cars Land 2012 Explained

Finally some Disneyland Exclusives for all those California folk who have sat by and watched two straight Park series dedicated to WDW. Disney has announced a huge merchandise lineup the celebrate the opening of Carsland and the re-opening of the reimagined DCA. Here is a look at the full catalog. It is chock full of shirts, pins, coins and of course... Vinylmation.

The three limited edition pieces will be on sale at the event on June 15th in Disneyland. The other 3" open edition figures will also be out that same day and retail for $12.95 each. For the three limited edition pieces there will be a purchase limit of only one per person and will be found in Zone 3 at the event. The event takes place at the Animation Building in DCA. More more info on the event and how to attend, can be found on the artofdisney page here.

What do you think of these pieces? Will you be getting any? Is that not the coolest accessory ever with the bear????

	Passholder Exclusive Buena Vista Street Red Car Trolley Artist: Maria Clapsis Limited Release Release Date: 6/15/12 $16.95 It looks like this vinyl will be a limited release and only one per guest. Great looking cable car. I really like the use of clear for the windows.
	Red Car Trolley Artist: ? Open Edition Release Date: 6/15/12 $12.95 I like the use of the rail line map on the feet and the stamp on the ear.
	Hollywood Pictures Backlot Artist: ? Open Edition Release Date: 6/15/12 $12.95 A cool looking collage of the attractions in this part of the park. I like the color scheme too.
	Condor Flats Artist: ? Open Edition Release Date: 6/15/12 $12.95
	Grizzly River Run Artist: ? Open Edition Release Date: 6/15/12 $12.95 LOVE the accessory! A must have!
	Cars Land Artist: ? Open Edition Release Date: 6/15/12 $12.95 This one we found during the podcast. Nick really thinks it looks sweet.
	Ariel's Undersea Adventure Artist: ? Open Edition Release Date: 6/15/12 $12.95 I'd talk about this, but Zoe's screaming is too loud to think.
	Radiator Springs Racers 9" Artist: Maria Clapsis LE: 500 $54.95 Release Date: 6/15/12 It looks like this vinyl will be a limited release and only one per guest. Pretty straight forward conversion of a poster. Well done though.
	Red Car Trolley 9" Artist: Maria Clapsis LE: 500 $54.95 Release Date: 6/15/12 It looks like this vinyl will be a limited release and only one per guest. I like the back of this one with the man and the kid and the Mickey balloons.

Behind the Silly Symphony Swings

Disney just announced a Disneyland Exclusive Annual Passholder 3" figure based on the DCA attraction Silly Symphony Swings. It will retail for $14.95 and be available beginning December 23rd at D-Street Anaheim and Off The Page inside DCA.

The swings attraction opened in June of 2010, but the Silly Symphony goes back much further in Disney's history. The Silly Symphony was a collection of animated shorts that began in 1929 and spanned a decade. This series is of great importance to the history of Disney animation for numerous reasons.

Flowers and Trees (1932) was the first full color Technicolor cartoon. Silly Symphony was also the vehicle that introduced my favorite Disney character Donald Duck, who debuted in 1934 in "The Wise Little Hen."

The Silly Symphonies also took home the Academy Award for Best Cartoon Short 6 years in a row and influenced how Walt Disney himself would take a step back from directing Disney's animated films in favor of producing and creative director roles. As far as Vinylmation, before this DLR exclusive, The Silly Symphonies were the inspiration for at least two figures that I can find. One of my absolute favorites is this 9" Holiday 1...

This figure draws inspiration from The Skeleton Dance, the first ever produced Silly Symphony. The skeleton is perfect and the curtain opening up to reveal the black and white short on the back of the head is just an amazing detail. The second figure is actually much more recent.

Three Little Pigs was a 1933 Silly Symphony, and it's baddie was The Big Bad Wolf, who Gerald Mendez designed for Villains 2. Now, after all that, we come around to the Silly Symphony Swings.

The swings are located on Paradise Pier at Disney's California Adventure. Guests are swung around the base in this carnival type ride. The funny thing about the actual attraction is it isn't based on an actual Silly Symphony short! The Band Concert, from which it's design comes from, was a short produced in 1935 staring Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and various other characters. The short holds a special place in history in its own right, as it's Mickey Mouse's first appearance in a color cartoon. (watch the short here.)

Imagineers used this colorful short as the basis for the swing's design because of its "symphony storyline." Let's take a look at the Vinylmation in more detail along side the attraction. As the story goes, Mickey is the bandleader, so he sits atop the attraction.

So no better place to paint in Mickey than the ear of this Vinylmation.

Beautiful detail in the tiny little ear. On the very top of the vinyl's head, you can see a design that mimics the gold music note design Mickey stands on atop the attraction. Moving down, the attraction and vinyl both feature the red and white awning. Then, at the bottom of the awning on the attraction, is a series of scenes from the short.

Instead of an intricate design on the face of the vinyl, the designer went with this...

Still grabbing the feel of the golden frames, but adorning the middle with a green Mickey head. As the short progresses, a tornado approaches, but the band continues to play on. Amid the chaos of the storm... wind, leaves and instruments swirl around. At the attraction, the pole at which the swings spin around captures this feel...

And the Vinylmation body mimics this pattern...

The feet of the vinyl feature the base of the funnel cloud and a sign that reads "Band Concert Today In The Park."

Overall, its a great looking Vinylmation. The colors are bright and it has a ton of action for a little three inch figure. And the Mickey in the ear is very detailed. To me, a Disney enthusiast, this is more a nod to a legendary color short than to the swings attraction itself. I actually skipped this ride when visiting DLR in August... did I miss out on a good one? I can tell you this, I will not miss out on picking up this beautiful Vinylmation when it launches later this month. Hey Zoe! ...that means you need to make a trip to D-Street for us. At least you don't have to think about what to get MC and I for Christmas.

Update: Disneyland Passholder Exclusives

July 8th is still the day to get the Disneyland Passholder Exclusives, but there is an update to where you can purchase them. July 8th a blackout date for some APs so there will be 2 locations to purchase Goofy's Sky School and The Little Mermaid from:

• Embarcadero Gifts inside Disney's California Adventure Park (open 9:30am)
• D-Street at Disney's Downtown District (open 8am)

Also note the purchase limit of 2 figures, per style, per day.

The Little Mermaid and Goofy's Sky School $14.95

Today, Disney announced that the California exclusive Annual Passholders Little Mermaid and Goofy's Sky School will come out on July 8th and will cost $14.95.

Disneyland Annual Passholders 2011 Explained

The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure Designed by Maria Clapsis Released July 8th $14.95 Clearly a clear Vinylmation, this passholder exclusive looks quite different from other Little Mermaids or in fact most others at all. Utilizing the old molds, this Vinylmation has clams for ears, fish and Sebastian on its head, a starfish on its foot, a shadow of Ariel on its stomach and bubbles throughout. A very intricate piece. - Nick J

Goofy’s Sky School Designed by Maria Clapsis Released July 8th $14.95 We’ve seen a few different Goofy Vinylmations come out already yet the designers continue to introduce new designs. Goofy’s ears are sky blue with the flight school bird (wearing what looks like may be goggles) in his right ear and the cloud with a bird shaped center missing on his left. The artist seemed to place Goofy inside of the plane for this Vinylmation with the window of the cockpit located on his chest and the propeller on his stomach. This is also created using the old mold. - Nick J

I'm a tin fan, but these boxes the DL APs are packaged in look great!

dd

New Annual Passholder figures on the horizon.

Update: 5/18/11 Vinylmation.com posted the pictures of these two.

Find more at the Annual Passholders Explained

Update: 5/15/11 Don noticed that the Art of Disney now has confirmed these two as being released in mid-June and that the full name of the Ariel piece is "The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel's Undersea Adventure". More as it comes!

Update: 5/16/11 Oh yeah! We totally forgot we already saw the Goofy's Sky School! Check out the post Nick did with a great explanation of the piece.

Getting Goofy with Vinylmation

5/15/11- DV reporter Zoe just emailed us this.

"I was just browsing the annual passholder section of Disneyland.com and it says limited edition passholder only Goofy's Sky School and Little Mermaid related Vinylmation :)
It also said pictures to come soon! I'm really excited :)"

Looks like there will be several new AP figures available. Both themes have been seen before so it will be interesting to see what they do for these. The other question is... Will they be Disneyland exclusives?

The Orange Bird has landed in Florida once again

Here is the new Annual Passholder exclusive Orange Bird Vinylmation by artist Monty Maldovan. This Citrus mascot who once made the Sunshine Terrace in the Magic Kingdom his home from 1972 to the mid 80's, is now available for purchase at D Street in Downtown Disney. I love the retro design elements. He makes my mouth water for a Citrus Swirl, how about you?

Passholder Exclusives Released

The Passholder Exclusives Series
Released on various days.

Mr. Toad Artist: Randy Noble Park Passholder Released: 8/29/10 LE: 8000	Orange Bird Artist: Monty Maldovan Park Passholder Released: 11/6/10	DVC Mountain Sky Artist: Lisa Badeen DVC Member Released: 9/24/10