Looking Back: The Headless Horseman and Ichabod Crane

Click Image for Larger View

"When thundering hoofs echo through the darkness in the tiny valley of Sleepy Hollow, fearful farmers pull the covers over their heads.

The only man foolish enough to be on the roads on such a night is Ichabod Crane. But is that ghastly figure bearing down on the teacher a wrathful spirit -- or just a jealous prankster?"

Click Image for Larger View

In my recent blog entry, fellow collector Mark mentioned displaying the Haunted Mansion tombstones with the Headless Horseman and Ichabod Crane set.  Honestly, had not thought about the tombstones with this set, so took some pictures yesterday and thought they worked really well. Hoping they do additional tombstones to display both with my Halloween Lilo and Stitch display and the Headless Horseman set.

This set is one I have displayed all year round.  One of the Walt Disney Classics Collection best releases.  In this set you have both an animated style horse and the sculpting of a life-like horse plus the look of utter fear in both Ichabod and his horse's face (and body expression) and true terror embodied by the Headless Horseman and his horse.

The Headless Horseman ("Haunting Horseman") and Ichabod and his Horse ("Terrified Teacher"), a NumberedLimited Edition (NLE) set of only 3,500, plussed with a stainless steel sword were sculpted by Kent Melton. 

Redemption forms were sent to active Walt Disney Collector Society members in July, 2000. Orders were taken on a first come-first serve basis. Sculptures began to ship in Fall, 2000.

Click Each Image for a Larger View

Looking Back: 'Trick or Treat' with Lilo & Stitch

Click Image for Larger View

Next to Christmas, Halloween is my favorite holiday, not to mention Fall being one of my favorite times of the year. This past weekend, we got out the Halloween decorations and always look forward to the WDCC Halloween releases that I only display seasonally

I was especially looking forward to this year, as I recently purchased the Haunted Mansion tombstones from Disney Shopping and wanted to work them into my set up featuring Vampire Stitch and Witch Lilo.

The Haunted Mansion tombstones, made of resin are sold as a three-pack (I purchased mine thru Disney Shopping) and very nicely done.  Very pleased with the decal, sizing and quality.  They worked in nicely with two resin tombstones I purchased a few years ago thru Target.

"Trick ..." (Stitch) "... or Treat" (Lilo), sculpted by Patrick Romandy-Simmons were released in July, 2005 as Open Edition releases and retired in December, 2009.  The Halloween scene from Disney's Lilo and Stitch was a brief moment during the closing moments of the film.  Being a fan of both this film and Halloween, was very happy when the Walt Disney Classics Collection released these sculptures.  Patrick did a great job capturing both the essence of these characters and the holiday season.

Click Each Image for a Larger View

WDCC Announces Lilo and Stitch's 'Space Adventure' has Sold Out!

Click Image for Product Detail
& Additional Angles

The Walt Disney Classics Collection announced on Monday, the Sold Out status of Lilo Stitch.

"Storefront Spaceship" sculpted by Bruce Lau commemorating the 10th Anniversary of Disney's Lilo and Stitch, a Numbered Limited Edition (NLE) of 750 was released in May, 2012.

Please contact your Authorized Walt Disney Classics Collection retailer for availability.

Looking Back: Blue Fairy

Click Image for a Larger View

Some days its nice to just take in your collection and appreciate some of the older releases that we many times forget about.

One such piece is the Blue Fairy from Pinocchio.  The Blue Fairy has been represented twice in the line and this is my favorite of the two.  The sculpture captures the 1940's coloring and film effects in her face and features.  What really stands out is the use of opalescent paint that was used in her gown.  Notice how they've captured the translucent look of the sleeves on her gown and you can see her arms beneath the fabric just as you do in the film.  She is poised perfectly, ready to bring the little wooden boy to life.    

The Blue Fairy was the 1997 Fall Event featured sculpture.  At that time, the events ran for a period of time vs. the same day or event weekends as we know them now.  The 1997 Fall Event period ran from 09/20/97 - 11/15/97.

"Making Dreams Come True" was sculpted by Kent Melton.  Gift with Purchase included an Official Conscience Pin and Blue Fairy & Pinocchio Litho.  In addition, depending where you purchased your sculpture, there were other event gifts available.

Click Each Image for a Larger View

Looking Back: Pinocchio & Blue Fairy

Click Image for a Larger View

A possible hint in the release of the Blue Fairy was the litho depicting her with Pinocchio in Stromboli's Cage given as a Gift with Purchase during the event.  

Following the release of the event sculpture, members of the Walt Disney Collectors Society in 2000 where offered the chance to purchase Pinocchio in Cage with Jiminy Cricket. The pairing with the Blue Fairy sculpture makes a perfect display.  I have the sculpture resting on a clear acrylic riser to give it height.  

This memorable scene was selected by legendary animator Frank Thomas, who was honored with this beautiful sculpture of one of his favorite film moments as part of the Animators Choice Series.

"I'll Never Lie Again..." sculpted by Kent Melton was the 2000 Animator Choice Series and available to active Society members from 01/01/00 - 03/31/01 with redemption certificate.  

The sculpture was plussed with a brass cage (with porcelain bottom), pewter lock and Pinocchio's nose (along with the leaves and Jiminy Cricket).  The sculpture also included a lithograph featuring model sheet sketches of Pinocchio.

Click Each Image for a Larger View

Updated Facts & Firsts for 2012!

An updated edition of the Walt Disney Classics Collection Facts & Firsts for 2012 has just been finalized and available for download (click on image at right).

This update includes all releases including the Fall 2012 Releases plus the recent retirements and suspensions.

Should you catch any errors, please email me at wdccduckman@aol.com so we can be sure to get those corrected in the next update.

'Fall 2012 Favorite' Poll Results Are In!

Favorite Choice of the Fall 2012 Releases Poll has ended. The winner of this poll was Snow White and Prince from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs!

The results to see where your favorite came in are as follows: 

41.18% Snow White and Prince 
25.00% Scrooge and Tiny Tim
23.53% Summer Fairies
10.29% Harlequin Demon

I will leave the results up for a few days for anyone who wants to see/compare the final results. 

As with previous polls, Blogger results never add exactly to 100%, so the accountant in me recalculated the results based on the number of people who voted in each category to the total :) 

Thanks to all who participated!

WDCC Announces 'Sold Out' Status on 3 NLE's!

  Click Image for Additional Angles
& Product Detail

The Walt Disney Classics Collection is pleased to announce the Sold Out status of several Numbered Limited Editions:

• Hercules & Pegasus
• Grandma Fa & Cri-Kee 
• Maleficent & Diablo

Hercules & Pegasus ("Defiant") from Hercules, sculpted by Dusty Horner was a Numbered Limited Edition (NLE) of 2,000 released in September 2004.

Pegasus's legs are plussed with bronze and pewter and Hercule's sword is plussed with zinc.

Click Image for Additional Angles
& Product Detail

Hercules & Pegasus were the 2nd release in the Heroes & Heroines Series.

Grandma Fa & Cri-Kee ("I've Got All the Luck We Need!") from Mulan, sculpted by Patrick Romandy-Simmons was a Numbered Limited Edition (NLE) of 500 released in May 2009.

Grandma Fa is plussed with pewter hands and legs. Cri-Kee is pewter with brass antennae.

Maleficent & Diablo ("Sinister Sorceress") from Sleeping Beauty, sculpted by Ruben Procopio was a Numbered Limited Edition (NLE) of 750 released in June 2012.

Click Image for Additional Angles
& Product Detail

Maleficent's hands and Diablo's feet are plussed with bronze.  

The Disney animators designed this wicked fairy to resemble a vampire bat, and so it is fearfully fitting that her magnificently malevolent throne has a macabre bat-wing motif.  

Please contact your Authorized Walt Disney Classics Collection Retailer for availability.

Dreams Do Come True!

Click Image for a Larger View

A little girl used to sit in front of the TV watching the Mickey Mouse Club and dreaming one day of visiting Disneyland.  'Dreams Do Come True' as that little girl, years later finally made it to Disneyland and it was all she had dreamed and hoped it would be.

Sharing that story (hearing for the first time) as we planned our trip brought back both a nostalgic and sentimental memory of watching the Mickey Mouse Club and upon returning home, took stock of what Walt Disney Classic Collection pieces we had and what we were missing.  Fortunately, we kept up with the Mickey Mouse Club releases but missed out on the last release ... Goofy!

Luckily we were able to still order one and add to our collection last night!  This sculpture has a lot of detail plussed with nine separate pieces of pewter and nylon hairs. 

"One-Man Band" sculpted by Bruce Lau was a Numbered Limited Edition (NLE) of 1,000 released in March, 2009.

Click Each Image for a Larger View

Goofy joins Mickey’s parade of animated superstars from the Club

‘that’s made for you and me!’ 

'What's Your Favorite of the Fall 2012 Releases?' Poll

The Walt Disney Classics Collection announced their Fall 2012 Releases a couple weeks ago.  

As with previous announcements this past year, within days of the announcement, product was ready to be shipped and should be arriving at your doorstep, if it hasn't already.  

Well, Scrooge & Tiny Tim are wondering ... 'What is your favorite release of the 2012 Fall Announcement?'

Poll Choices

• Harlequin Demon from Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
• Scrooge and Tiny Tim from Mickey's Christmas Carol
• Snow White and Prince Charming from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
• Summer Fairies from Fantasia

The poll (at your left) will run through next Saturday night (September 14th).

Time to Vote!

Review: Final Release in 'Tinker Bell Seasons' Series

Click Image for a Larger View

For fans of Tinker Bell, this coming weekend is the 4th (and Final) release in the Tinker Bell Seasons Series. The final release is Summer Tinker Bell.

Celebrating summer while sitting pretty on a blossom in full bloom, Tinker Bell shows all the sunniness and sass that has made her so irresistible ever since she first flitted onto the scene in Walt Disney’s Peter Pan.

Pretty as a posy, this twinkling pixie lights up with a pert smile for a ladybug who lights on her shoulder. The piece is plussed with pewter leaves, hair ribbon and ladybug, and specially designed by Disney Master Artist David Pacheco.

'Enchanting Encounter' sculpted by Jacqueline Perreault Gonzales is the fourth and final release of the Tinker Bell Seasons Series (and the seventh release in the Disney Artist Series) is the showpiece of the 2012 Enchanting Encounter Premiere Event to be held September 07-09, 2012.

Find a Participating Walt Disney Classics Collection's Retailer!

Click Each Image for a Larger View

Tinker Bell ("Enchanting Encounter") is the fourth release in the Tinker Bell Seasons Series. Images above and below depict her with the previous three releases. 

• Fall ("Blithe Spirit") was the 1st release in the series (1st release in Disney Artist Series as well), a Numbered Limited Edition (NLE) of 2,000 sculpted by Margi Wray and the 2008 Fall Premiere Event Sculpture.  
• Winter ("Delicate Daydreamer") was the 2nd release in the series (4th release in the Disney Artist Series), a Numbered Limited Edition (NLE) of 3,000 sculpted by Margi Wray and the 2011 Winter Premiere Event Sculpture. 
• Spring ("A Splash of Spring") was the 3rd release in the series (6th release in the Disney Artist Series), a Numbered Limited Edition (NLE) of 1,500 sculpted by Jacqueline Perreault Gonzales and the 2012 Fall Premiere Event Sculpture.

When Art Imitates Life :)

Click Image for Larger View

Summer is coming to a close, Fall is right around the corner. Not to rush the seasons, this weekend we started to slowly put away summer and look forward to fall, one of my favorite times of the year!  

Some of our Walt Disney Classics Collection (WDCC) sculptures we consider seasonal, so are only displayed during the holidays or a specific time of the year.  One of our seasonal pieces is Chip 'n Dale from Working for Peanuts (1953).

As I took the piece from the box, something made me chuckle in how much this piece reminded me of Mary and myself.  Mary is much like how Chip is portrayed in this sculpture, very calm and patient. When we're working on a project, she's much like Chip in how he's holding the peanut, standing calm, steady & patient.

Whereas, I'm more like Dale (calm & patient being two words never in my vocabulary), the expression on his face and how he's grabbing at the peanut with full force is how I typically take on a project.   When I pointed this out to her, we got quite the chuckle and decided this piece really should be displayed all year round vs. just on a seasonal basis.

Chip 'n Dale have rarely been portrayed in the Walt Disney Classics Collection.  Prior to this release, they were released as part of scene releases from Pluto's Christmas Tree (1952) and Two Chips and a Miss (1952) either in Christmas attire or top hat and tails.  This sculpture truly captures their personalities.

Chip 'n Dale ("Determined Duo"), sculpted by Bruce Lau was released as an Open Edition release in October, 2005 and retired in May, 2012.

Click Each Image Below for a Larger View

Mary as Chip

Don as Dale