Sunday, October 4, 2015

Review: Walt Disney Archives Collection - Elephant

When I viewed the Walt Disney Archives Collection at the D23 Expo held in Anaheim, CA. in August, I immediately knew I wanted this sculpture for my collection.

What I like most about this sculpt, it shows what you can accomplish in resin that you lose in porcelain. 

Notice the detail of the backbone (photo at left) and the overall texture of the skin. 

I was glad to see in person, how nicely the Elephant maquette worked with previous Dance of the Hours characters done in the Walt Disney Classics Collection (see photo below). 

I hope future releases work as well and can be blended in existing WDCC setups as the Elephant and Pinocchio maquettes have.

Elephant

Size: 7.5" W x 12" H
Edition Size: 1,940
Price: $ 99.00


Additional Angles



Elephant Maquette with the Walt Disney Classics Collection releases of Hyacinth Hippo and Ben Ali Gator from The Dance of the Hours sequence.


Friday, October 2, 2015

Review: Walt Disney Archives Collection - Pinocchio

I've included in this blog entry, photos of the actual sculpt I received this week.  I went with close-up shots vs. full body since my earlier blog entry included full body shots provided by Enesco LLC.

The sculpture is resin, so doesn't have that smoothness that you might be used to in porcelain figurines. I like that the actual paint palette of the original was used and it captures the roughness of the original.

I displayed my Pinocchio Maquette with the WDCC Pinocchio in Cage with Jiminy Cricket and Blue Fairy Event Sculpture. The maquette blended in very well and complimented the grouping.

Pinocchio
Size: 4.49" W x 9.25" H
Edition Size: 3,500
Price: $ 75.00

Additional Angles





Thursday, October 1, 2015

Walt Disney Archives Collection: Elephant & Pinocchio

Yesterday I received my first maquettes from the new collection, the Walt Disney Archives Collection by Enesco LLC ... The Elephant from Fantasia ('The Dance of the Hours' sequence) and Pinocchio from Pinocchio

Pinocchio (1940) was the first Disney feature to utilize animator models or "maquettes." This skillfully crafted, hand-painted sculpture originates from a late 1930's Pinocchio animation maquette from the Walt Disney Animation Research Library.

The Fantasia Elephant maquette reproduced for this edition was on display at the end of 1966 on the north windowsill of Walt Disney's formal office on the Burbank Studios lot.

I will do a review in a separate entry for each sculpture but wanted to share some photos I took of the maquettes with releases from the Walt Disney Classics Collection.

Pictured below is the Elephant Maquette with Hyacinth Hippo and Ben Ali Gator from The Dance of the Hours sequence.  I thought the Elephant worked in very well with both these sculptures. Unfortunately, I don't own Madamoiselle Upanova to include her in the grouping as well.




Below is the Pinocchio Maquette with the Walt Disney Classics Collection first release of Pinocchio ("Good-Bye Father").




Saturday, September 19, 2015

My Walt Disney Archives Collection Wish List


Coachman from Pinocchio

As you can imagine, I'm really intrigued by the new collection from Enesco that was previewed recently at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, CA.

A recent discussion on the blog, a fellow collector shared some great links on the maquettes (be sure to check them out!) and was thrilled to see some releases I had hoped for under the Walt Disney Classics Collection, maquettes were created for these characters. I couldn't help put a wish list together aka my own personal campaign to hopefully see these considered for future release.

Top of my list is the Coachman from Pinocchio (pictured above).  This was one character from Pinocchio I lobbied hard for. The only villain from the animated classic that was never done.

In an article on Charles Cristadoro, not a familiar Disney artist to many, was involved in the sculpting of the first maquettes done.  In the article was the following:

Of his character models, it is claimed that Cristadoro created the original Geppetto and Pinocchio models. Cristadoro's first assignment was to sculpt fellow Italian and wood carver Geppetto. The carving was of Geppetto sitting on a tool chest, with his hand holding his face, his feet slightly pigeon toed and his face having a casual expression. Cristadoro had done the figure in just eight hours, left his work and went home. Joe Grant and Bob Jones were in the studio after all the artists had gone home. They saw the Cristadoro figure and then Walt walked in. Walt picked up the Cristadoro figure, studying the figure at every angle, examining the tangible image to that in his imagination. Jones and Grant stood there waiting for the verdict. Walt said, "This is it!" Jones recalled, "I'll never forget that day." Walt loved and was fascinated by these little figures.

I'm guessing this is the model they were referring to in the article and would love to see this one done, based on it's back story.


Another film favorite is The Adventures of Mr. Toad.  Came across this maquette of Mole in one of the articles. As you can guess,  another maquette on my list.


I also came across artwork for this beautiful Centaurette during the days of the Walt Disney Classics Collection. Stumbling across this photo, can only hope and dream one day, that possibly she would be considered as a future release.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Walt Disney Archives Collection - Elsa Maquette


Elsa Maquette
'Frozen' (2013)

'Frozen' Art Director, Michael Giaimo supervised the maquette painting of Elsa.

Size: 11.6" H x 15.35" L x 8.57" W
Edition Size: 5,000
Price: $ 350.00

Additional Angles









Walt Disney Archives Collection - Anna




Anna Maquette
'Frozen' (2013)

'Frozen' Art Director, Michael Giaimo supervised the maquette painting of Anna.

Size: 10.24" H x 4.92" L x 4.92" W
Edition Size: 5,000
Price: $ 199.00

Additional Angles





Walt Disney Archives Collection - Elephant Maquette



Elephant Maquette

From 'Fantasia' (1940), this skillfully crafted, hand-painted sculpture originates from an animation maquette in The Walt Disney Archives. The Fantasia Elephant maquette reproduced for this edition was on display at the end of 1966 on the north windowsill of Walt Disney's formal office on the Burbank Studios lot.

Elephant
Size: 7.5" W x 12" H
Edition Size: 1,940
Price: $ 99.00

Additional Angles




Walt Disney Archives Collection - Jiminy Cricket



Jiminy Cricket Maquette

'Pinocchio' (1940) was the first Disney feature to utilize animator models or "maquettes." This skillfully crafted, hand-painted sculpture originates from a late 1930's Pinocchio animation maquette from the Walt Disney Animation Research Library

Jiminy Cricket
Size: 4.13" W x 4.13" H
Edition Size: 3,500
Price: $ 75.00

Additional Angles


Note on the above image the faint WDP for Walt Disney Productions which was on the original maquette.


Note on the above image the faint WDP for Walt Disney Productions which was on the original maquette.




Walt Disney Archives Collection - Pinocchio Maquette



Pinocchio Maquette

'Pinocchio' (1940) was the first Disney feature to utilize animator models or "maquettes." This skillfully crafted, hand-painted sculpture originates from a late 1930's Pinocchio animation maquette from the Walt Disney Animation Research Library

Pinocchio
Size: 4.49" W x 9.25" H
Edition Size: 3,500
Price: $ 75.00

Additional Angles