Posted via web from Newtronika
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Disney May 2010 day 4 - Turkey Leg Demolition and Fair well to Toon Town Fair
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
My Vinyl Love Affair: Part 1
It's no secret that I love toys. In high school and college my bedroom shelves over flowed with action figures and playsets, and even a few die cast cars. What drew me in for years was a possessing love for the characters represented and I pursued the collection for years with multiple stops at Wal-mart, Target, and Toys R Us nearly every day. In the early 2000's a new type of toy began entered my realm of awareness - the designer vinyl.
Designer toys are created by artists and intended to be appreciated as a work of art in their own right. The piece may take the form of a completely original design (starting with the sculpt) or it may be a redecorated existing figure. Some of the most popular lines, such as Dunny and Qee, are based a basic figure used by multiple artists to create a character within the confines of that canvas. For years I was intrigued enough to keep abreast of various designer toy lines if not enough to know a wide variety of artists and recognize their styles. Frequently a Dunny or a Qee caught my eye but I was held back from purchase by financial commitment to toy lines derived completely from licensed properties. As my devotion to the Star Wars line waned with the prequel trilogy, Justice League Unlimited took it's place with the occasional Transformer filling in the gaps all along the way. Recently JLU distribution problems resulted in a significant decline in interest there as well.
There was a vacancy in my heart and Vinylmation, Disney's take on the Dunny/Qee trend, took it's place. On our annual post-Thanksgiving trip to Walt Disney World in 2009, I finally saw Vinylmation first hand and fell in love. My deep love for the Disney Parks and history coalesced with my long dormant interest in designer toys. What began as six 3" figures purchased in the Coronado Springs giftshop has turned into around forty 3" figures and six 9" figures in about 6 months time. We leave for WDW again soon, and I've already planned significant additions to the Vinylmation village growing in my study. This is a collection which will never be "complete" and for once that feels ok. Unlike with licensed character lines, most of the figures are only loosely connected to each other. Still, there are quite a few past releases that I really feel should be part of my collection - some of which are possible, others are much less likely.
Today I present the top 5 Vinylmations not in my collection that should be:
5. Test Track Dummy set, Park 3, by Randy Noble
Why I should have it: This vinyl represents Test Track at Epcot, a favorite attraction at Epcot.
Why I don't: I saw this piece several times at retail during our trip - it had only released the week prior. My interest in Vinylmation was still growing and I wasn't keen on the $75 asking price for 9"/3" sets. That apprehension has since faded somewhat...
4. Yeti, Park 1, By Kyle Price
Why I should have: I truly believe that Expedition Everest is one of the best themed rides Disney has ever done, and the Yeti is a huge part of that. When it was working (more on that in a later post, perhaps), the Yeti was the most impressive audioanamatronic ever created.
Why I don't: The Park 1 Series was released two weeks after our trip in 2008. It was a truly limited release, as Disney Merchandise was unsure of how popular this new product would prove to be and under ordered. Sadly, I missed out completely. The Yeti now demands a hefty bounty.
3. Osbourne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, by Jeff Ebersohl
Why I should have it: Christmas is our favorite time of the year at Disney World. Last November when I became interested in Vinylmation, WDW produced three vinylmations, each in their own tin, representing the holidays at three of the four major parks at the resort. The Osbourne Spectacle of Dancing Lights, hosted at Disney's Hollywood Studios, is the most amazing display of Christmas lights I've ever seen and this figure really should be present alongside the other two in my display.
Why I don't: I had planned to purchase the Osbourne Lights figure on the last day of our trip, when we expected to return to Disney's Hollywood Studios for an early morning go at Toy Story Midway Mania before returning to catch the bus to the airport. Unfortunately the rain dampened our Disney spirit: we hung out in the hotel instead. As it happens, the Osbourne Lights vinyl became the most popular of the three Holiday tins, sold out shortly after Christmas, and has been on a meteoric rise in price on eBay.
2. Carnotaurus, Park 3, by Maria Clapsis
Why I should have it: Carnotaurus is the antagonist of the ride DINOSAUR, themed after the 2000 cgi film of the same name, in Disney's Animal Kingdom. Some criticize the ride for being jerky, loud, and frightening for children and adults alike. We love it.
Why I don't: I have no real excuse. I had the chance to purchase it when we were there in November and I should have. Unfortunately I still wasn't quite feeling the love for the 9" figures, and passed. Asking prices are often somewhat reasonable online, so this one is still in the realm of possibility for me.
1. Kermit the Frog, Park 1, by Monty Moldovan
Why I should have it: I love the Muppets, and pretty much everything Henson has ever done. In the early 90's when bow-biters were in for teenagers, Kermit smiled happily up from my feet. This is the first, and likely to be only standard, representation of Kermit in the Vinylmation pantheon and is one of the most creative uses of the Vinylmation canvas to date.
Why I don't have it: This figure, like Yeti above, is part of the Park 1 series - and like Yeti, has reached prices far beyond what I am willing to pay. They are both amazingly well designed pieces, but they are destined to elude me forever, I fear. I'll have to be satisfied with Kermit in his 55th Anniversary Tuxedo from Muppets Series 1.
Unfortunately it doesn't stop there, of course. Rarely will a new interest take hold in modest fashion. Disney lead me to finally take the first step into the world of designer toys, and a crisis is underway. Within the next few days I'll return with an exploration of my tastes in art toys outside of the world of Disney Vinylmation in My Vinyl Love Affair: Part 2.
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