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Category Archives: Vinylmation
Vinylmation ’55 – The Mickey Mouse Club
Very cool article about the new Vinylmation figures inspired by the 55th Anniversary of Disneyland Resort on the Disney Park Blog:
I love Disneyland! My wife and I spent our honeymoon there, and I’ve visited the Resort nearly every year since the start of the new Millennium. There is something so special about the place where Walt Disney walked. That is probably why I’m excited about the new Vinylmation figures inspired by the 55th Anniversary of Disneyland Resort which we are calling “Vinylmation ’55.” I recently spoke with Susan Foy from Disney Design Group about the first two figures from this series – a 9” plus 3” set celebrating the 55th Anniversary of The Mickey Mouse Club (a television show that also made its debut in 1955).
“I started work on the figures in March 2009,” explained Susan. “I remember watching the original series as a child. The first concept I had was a tribute to the Days of the Week which evolved to the little girl and little boy Mouseketeer figures. I watched the show intro many times and remember seeing their cute faces on the curtains.”
Susan was first hired to work on designing merchandise for the opening of Disney California Adventure in 2001. She also created many outstanding designs for the 50th Anniversary of Disneyland Resort in 2005 (has it really been five year since then?). It only seemed natural to have her work on these first two figures for the nostalgic Vinylmation ’55 collection.
Click here to keep reading.
The Colorful World of Vinylmation’s Oh Mickey! Series
This exciting news comes to us from Disney Parks Blog:
This past Spring we introduced the first of our open window box Vinylmation series called “Oh Mickey!” Featuring several colorful designs, this series was first to incorporate the concept of choice with a splash of mystery. In other words, you can choose your favorite 3” figure and then be surprised by the hidden 1.5” figure that is packaged with it. Like that little extra surprise, you may be surprised to learn the “Oh Mickey!” series is part of a much larger program. I recently spoke with Eric Caszatt and Patty Landing, senior graphic designers with Disney Design Group, about the evolution of this art style.
“I started work in Spring 2009 on the ‘Oh Mickey’ style guide,” explained Eric. “It was part of a much larger Walt Disney Company initiative to reinterpret Mickey Mouse for a whole new generation while keeping nods to Mickey’s past. I developed the style guide for this program that would be used for the entire Disney Parks division.”
“Oh Mickey” is part of a “global program,” and the style guide Eric created would be reference material for multiple categories such as softlines (things you wear) and hardlines (all the other items you use, play with, display, trade, read or watch). You have probably seen these “global programs” before while visiting merchandise locations at Disney Parks and Resorts. They are designed to make statements (merchandise with a common theme) that tell a visual story within merchandise shops.
Click here for more.
Vinylmation Creation Station Coming to D-Street in Florida
A key part of the Vinylmation experience is creative expression. We want our Guests to express their creativity using the blank Create-Your-Own Vinylmation we offer. So, I am particularly excited to announce a destination for Vinylmation creativity – a specially designed “Vinylmation Creation Station” in D-Street at Downtown Disney WestSide in Florida.
The table being used for this Create-Your-Own Station will measure approximately 6’ by 6’ (now that’s a big table!). Under the glass table top, Guests will see a variety of Vinylmation 3” figures arranged to make a stunning backdrop for creative expression.
I’ve discussed before on the Disney Parks Blog some ways in which you can create your own unique Vinylmation masterpiece. With this new station, Guests will be able to create something before leaving the new Vinylmation mothership, D-Street.
Once a blank Vinylmation is purchased (they are offered in a variety of colors and sizes), Guests can stop by the Vinylmation Creation Station. Then it is “go crazy time” — draw on it, have friends and family sign it, keep track of the places you visit during your Disney vacation. Express your “inner Vinylmation” however you see fit. Seriously, it is pretty easy to do.
Bonus video from the D-Street store in Downtown Disney thanks to Jeff Lang DVD
Video of D-Street the New Vinylmation Store in Downtown Disney
This video is of the newly opened store at Downtown Disney, D-Street. Items from the former Adventurers Club and the World of Disney in New York are part of the decor.
For more information on D-Street check out this article from the Daily Disney.
Disney’s Vinylmation Visuals
Another great article from the Disney Park Blog:
One thing I quickly learned in the world of Vinylmation is that Vinylmation isn’t just about the fun Mickey Mouse shaped figures. Granted, our Disney Artists (and some of you) may use that blank Mickey Mouse shaped canvas to create some truly memorable masterpieces. Yet, Vinylmation is more about bringing the art of story telling to life in three dimensions.
With the opening of D-Street at Downtown Disney West Side fast approaching, I thought I’d share some concepts of three-dimensional visual displays. They are however presented in 2-D format as we haven’t perfected that 3-D interface yet (uh, calling Muppet Labs!). You may begin to see these displays and others around Disney Parks soon.
For example, the image at the top of the screen featuring numerous Vinylmation 3” figures will be used in a sign at the new Vinylmation mothership location coming to Florida in April. That sign will feature 81 rods with fifteen and half figures per rod. That’s a total of 1,255 Vinylmation figures used! I can’t wait to see the finished version.
