Special to Go Figure by Cat “Venomiss” Hahn
No it’s not another classic Disney movie or theme park, but something so epic you’ll be asking yourself “where have I been?”
Welcome to Disney Vinylmation: Disney's Vinylmation was launched early in 2008, with its first figure released in November the same year. This piece was a blank, white 3” figure that become known as the “create your own vinylmation” (or CYO). From there the Vinylmation adventure grew to what it is today. Boasting a massive list of series' available including, but not limited to, 101 Dalmatians, Alice in Wonderland, Parks, Clear, Celebration and much, much more and they can certainly be classed as a collectibles line. What is a Vinylmation you ask? Well that’s simple. A Vinylmation is a basic 3D vinyl figure of Mickey Mouse that is painted and at times accessorized. With every figure being designed by one of Disney’s talented artist they are created in three sizes, the 9”, 3” (the most popular) and the 1-1/2” also known as the Vinylmation Jr. With every figure having the famous Mickey Mouse ears.
Vinylmations are available as a mystery blind box - this is where you don’t know what you will get until you open it or in a window boxed package. The 9" figures are always in the window boxed package whilst the 3 inch is the sealed blind box. A select few 3” series come in the window boxed pack with a Vinylmation Jr. Most figures come with an artist’s card which shows an image of the figure though these are being phased out.
All the blind boxes come with images of all the figures in that particular series as a design on the box, with exception to one that is “the chaser”. All Vinylmations are available in selected stores with some only being available in particular locations. The Disney store on-line is the easiest place to purchase them. The typical price range is from $9.95 to $12.95 for the 3”, $39.95 to $48.95 for the 9”, combo sets that contain both the 3 and 9 inch vinyls are from $74.95 and the Vinylmation Jr. blind boxes and CYO 3” are from $8.95. Special edition and chasers vary in price. These days, if you hunt for it, you can also grab a bargain perusing online auction sites as well. As part of some series there are also Vinylmation Variants. These are another form of the chaser concept. This means that one or more designs in a blind box series have different variants but they are not found in every case of 24 vinyls. For example Pinocchio has variants of him with donkey ears and tail and in the rarer form of a real boy.
It’s hard to say how many non-chasers and non-variant vinyls Disney produce but they designate each series or particular figure as limited edition, limited release or open edition with only the numbers of limited edition vinyls being known to the general public. The only exception is with the 9” CYO and two of the limited release vinyls (exclusively sold in the Manhattan Disney Store) that have the numbers of those produced printed on the box and on the bottom of the figures' feet. All 9” vinyls are limited editions.
This brief "101" introduction to Vinylmation is just to show you what is out there to be collected. Over the coming weeks we will be looking into what Vinylmation series are available and expand on this -- and then look at particular figures that stand out from the crowd. So if this is something that sparks the fireworks of interest in you then stay tuned and until next time, happy collecting.
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