Getting Your Vinyl On

Kelly Firth shares what you 'must-know' to start collecting Vinylmation

- by Kelly Firth, February 27, 2011

One of Walt Disney's most famous and beloved quotes was: "I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse."

In the case of Vinylmation, one of the newest and increasingly popular line of Disney collectibles, that is still quite true. Literally! These vinyl figures in the shape of Mickey Mouse have taken the parks and the Disney Stores by storm.

Welcome to Vinylmation

Not quite sure what Vinylmation is? New to collecting, but clueless about where to start? Familiar with the craze, but always eager for tips and useful information?

You're in the right place!

Today, we'll begin with the basics, and then in future weeks tackle specific topics such as how to start collecting, how to start trading, and how to collect on a budget.

If you're like me, when you first discovered Vinylmation, you probably asked yourself: "What are these things? What makes Disney think I would spend all this money on a vinyl figure? Are they kidding me?"

I asked those questions in early 2009, just after the debut of the first Vinylmation set, Park 1. Two years and over 200 Vinyls later, I have officially given into the craze!

Collecting artistic interpretations of favorite Disney characters and park attractions in a 3D, uniform shape proved too tempting for me - and for thousands of others! - to resist.

Ready to join us?

Vinylmation Basics

The best way to get started is with a baseline of Vinylmation know-how.

Here's what you 'must-know' before becoming a serious collector.

What's a Vinylmation? A Vinylmation is a painted and possibly accessorized vinyl figure in the basic 3D form of Mickey Mouse. Each design is created by one of Disney's talented artists. The term 'Vinylmation' is a play on words combining the type of material each figure is made from (Vinyl) and the most famous Disney artform (Animation).

What sizes do Vinyls come in? Vinyls are produced in three sizes: 9-inch, 3-inch, and 1-1/2-inch (also known as a Vinylmation Jr.). The three-inch Vinyls are by far the most common.

What are some of the Vinyl series that have been released? Love Disney theme parks? The Park Series is right up your alley. Like a little more unusual art in your collection? Try the Urban Series. Adore animated Disney characters, especially ones not typically featured on merchandise? Check out the Animation or Villains Series. Love the Toy Story movies and the Muppets? They both have their own series, too! There are even series for sports lovers, Star Wars fans, and more.

How are Vinyls packaged? Vinyls are sold either in a mystery blind box (you don't know what you're getting until after you purchase it and open it) or a window-boxed package. The 9-inch Vinyls have always been sold in open window boxes. Most 3-inch Vinyl series are blind-boxed; some are window-boxed. Three of the 3-inch window-boxed series (Oh Mickey!, Sports, and Occupations) come with a single mystery Vinylmation Jr. per box. Most Vinyls also come with Artist Cards, though the cards are being phased out.

Where can I buy Vinyls? At Downtown Disney on both coasts, you can buy Vinyls at D-Street. These stores, now nearly one year old, carry new releases and virtually every available Vinyl. You can also buy many blind-boxed Vinyls, CYO (Create Your Own) Vinyls, and a few of the 9-inch Limited Editions throughout Disney theme parks and at resort gift shops.

Beginning last year, select Disney Stores began carrying some Vinylmation series. The Villains 1 blind-boxed series, released January 31st, 2011, is a Disney Store exclusive. Be aware that the Park Series vinyls are not for sale in Disney Store locations. You can also buy many Vinylmation series and products at the on-line Disney Store.

(In the weeks ahead, we'll discuss how to collect Vinyls if you don't live near the Disney Parks, including how to use eBay wisely for both buying and selling.)

What do Vinyls cost? Prices vary by size and series. Blind-boxed 3-inch Vinyls cost between $9.95 to $12.95, 9-inch Vinyls between $39.95 to $48.95; combo sets (containing both 3-inch and 9-inch Vinyls) $74.95, and Vinylmation Jr. blind boxes and CYO three-inch Vinyls $8.95. The cost of special edition Vinyls varies.

Vinylmation Chasers

All of the blind-boxed series feature a set of known designs previewed on the outside of the box, except for one design - the Chaser - which is shown in the shape of a black Mickey with a white question mark. Chasers are much rarer than regular Vinyls.

Blind-boxed Vinylmation series come in cases (also called trays) of 24 blind boxes. In the typical series, a case would contain two sets of the 11 previewed Vinyls, plus a third copy of one of the previewed Vinyls and a single Chaser. So, if you buy one blind box from a newly opened case, you have a 1:24 chance of getting the Chaser.

The odds of getting the Chaser in the Vinylmation Jr. series are different. In that series, each tray contains 36 blind boxes and one of two Chaser designs. For example, the Chasers in Series 2 are Chip and Dale. You'd have a 1:36 chance of getting Chip, a 1:36 chance of getting Dale, and a 1:18 chance of getting either of them.

Vinylmation Variants

Disney debuted Variants last month with the Animation 1 Series. So far, Variants are also part of the Star Wars Series and the Cutesters Too Series.

A Variant is a twist on the Chaser concept. One or more designs in a given blind-boxed series have one or more variants - but they are not found in every case of 24 Vinyls.

For example, the Chaser for Animation 1 is a Clear Dark Pink Elephant in tribute to the 'Pink Elephants on Parade' sequence in Dumbo. Three variants of this Chaser exist: a Purple Clear Elephant, a Dark Pink Solid Elephant, and a Light Pink Solid Elephant.

The same series also contains a variant of the Pinocchio Vinyl. In the common form, Pinocchio has donkey ears and a tail. In the less common Variant form, Pinocchio is portrayed in Real Boy form.

How rare are each of these variants? We don't know. Disney won't tell.

Vinylmation Production Numbers

So how many non-Chaser, non-Variant Vinyls does Disney make? Hard to say.

Disney designates each series and/or specific figure as either Limited Edition (LE), Limited Release (LR), or Open Edition. We only know production numbers for LE Vinyls.

Except for the CYO 9-inch Vinyls and two of the LR Vinyls sold exclusively at the Manhattan Disney Store, all 9-inch Vinyls are LE. The box as well as the bottom of each 9-inch Vinyl's feet will tell you how many of that particular design were made.

Edition sizes have ranged anywhere from extremely low (LE 150 of the Haunted Mansion Shag set) to extremely high (LE 1500 of Toy Story's Little Green Man). Several special 3-inch Vinyls sold alone or in sets have also been Limted Editions, such as the LE 4800 D23 Expo 2009 Vinyl.

Limited Release Vinyls include all blind-boxed sets. Disney orders a certain amount, and once they're sold out, they're gone for good.

Open Edition Vinyls are usually 3-inch and window-boxed, and include series such as Big Eyes and Nightmare Before Christmas. Like Open Edition pins, eventually Disney will stop making them, but they are meant to stick around for awhile.

Mark Your Calendars

Wednesday, March 2: Tale Spin scheduled for release on DisneyStore.com. This window-boxed set contains two 3-inch Vinyls, Baloo and Kit Cloudkicker. LE 1000. Retail price: $24.95.

Friday, March 4: Occupations Series scheduled for release at both D-Street stores. These Vinyls are part of a 3-inch window-boxed series celebrating various careers and packaged with a related mystery Vinylmation Jr. Open Edition. Retail price: Unknown.

On the last Sunday of every month, I'll devote this column to your questions and my answers. You can leave questions here as comments or else send them directly to me.

For more, visit the homepage of VINYLMATION 360