Looking Back: Pinocchio And A Few 'Friends'

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Pinocchio happens to rank in my Top 5 favorite Disney films.  The story takes place in Italy, is a great story (the puppet Pinocchio's adventure to become a real boy) which involves many encounters with some unsavory characters...the conniving Honest John  (John Worthington Foulfellow) & Gideon, the puppet maker Stromboli and Lampwick, a naughty boy Pinocchio meets and befriends on his way to Pleasure Island.

The Walt Disney Classics Collection released these characters thru different formats between 1996 and 2006.

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Pinocchio ("Good-bye Father") sculpted by Kent Melton was released as an Open Edition release in September, 1996 as part of a scene that included Geppetto ("Good-bye Son"), Jiminy Cricket ("Wait for Me, Pinoke!"), Figaro ("Say Hello to Figaro") and an Opening Title.  The scene (all except the Opening Title) was retired in November, 1998.

The sculpture captures the innocence of Pinocchio after he has been brought to life by the Blue Fairy and skips off to his first day at school.  Little did he know the adventure (or trouble) he would come to face.

However the naive Pinocchio is spotted by con artist Honest John and Gideon who quickly decide to sell the living puppet for money!

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John Worthington Foulfellow (better known as Honest John) and Gideon were released in April 2003 as the Fourth (and Final) release in the Duos Series.

"Felonious Fox" (Foulfellow) and "Feline Flunky" (Gideon) sculpted by Kent Melton were Limited to Production Year 2003.

This was easily my favorite release of this short-lived series.  Both characters personalities were captured perfectly, Honest John's sly, ever thinking ways to trick the poor, innocent Pinocchio and Gideon, the simple side-kick, who like Dopey, never uttered a word in the film.

Special Note: Foulfellow & Gideon were packaged and sold separately differing from previous year releases.  The Walt Disney Art Classics originally had targeted to sell these pieces as a set and at a suggested retail price that was in line with past releases in the Duo Series. However, in order to create the characters properly and do them in the true Walt Disney Classics Collection quality, the development of the sculptures came in at a higher cost. Therefore, not wanting to compromise on quality in order to reduce the cost, Walt Disney Art Classics decided to offer the pieces individually so as not to make them prohibitive cost-wise for collectors to purchase.

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Stromboli, the bearded puppet maker forces Pinocchio to perform onstage in order to make money. He speaks in an Italian accent, though he is identified as being a gypsy. He is the only villain of the film to be part of the official Disney Villains line-up. He is not seen again after the scene when Pinocchio is locked up, so his defeat remains unknown, but it is likely that his career suffered a slump without Pinocchio.

Stromboli made his WDCC debut as part of the Villains Series in 2002.  "You Will Make Lots Of Money For Me" sculpted by Dusty Horner, was available to active Society members by Special Order with Redemption Certificate from 05/15/02 thru 09/30/02.

This was one villain I actively campaigned for and couldn't have been any happier. The release wasn't like the majority of previous Villains Series releases, where the villain and environment (turret, bed, throne, etc.) were all one sculpture.  Stromboli came with a Table Accessory but was separate of the sculpture and allowed for more display possibilities or as in my case, just kept the table in the box and was able to work the stand alone Stromboli sculpture in with my other releases from that film.

Special Note: With Stromboli, collectors noticed the Stromboli and Table Accessory set were not numbered and wondered if there would be dealer displays available as with past Villains Series releases. Due to the complexity of matching numbers for both the sculpture and table accessory, they were not numbered and dealer displays (marked with a DD denoting Dealer Display) were made available.

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Lampwick meets Pinocchio on the Coachman's stagecoach, and the two quickly become friends. Though Lampwick has never been to Pleasure Island, he has heard great things about the fun they can have there.

Lampwick ("Screwball in the Corner Pocket"), sculpted by Dusty Horner was released as an Open Edition release in September, 2006 as part of the Pool Table Scene (complete scene retired in March, 2011) which also included Pinocchio ("He's My Conscience"), Jiminy Cricket ("It Wouldn't Hurt You To Take Orders From Your Conscience") and Pool Table Base. 

I like how Lampwick's cocky, 'I don't care' attitude was captured and the sense of movement in the way he's holding the cue stick behind his back.  In recent years, there has been the removal of cigarettes in some Disney films, so was glad they didn't worry about political correctness and left him smoking on the cigar.  I like the detail of the cigar band which I never noticed until photographing the sculpture.  It's this attention to detail that sets the Walt Disney Classics Collection from other collectibles.

Nothing would make this Pinocchio fan any happier than if the Walt Disney Classics Collection would release the Coachman and Alexander :)

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WDCC 'Sold Out' Status Update!

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The Walt Disney Classics Collection announced the Sold Out status of the following: 

* Roger, Anita, Pongo & Perdita from 101 Dalmatians
* Cyclops from Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas

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"Tangled Up Romance" sculpted by Kent Melton was a 2006 Gold Circle Exclusive released in August, 2006 with an edition size of 1,000.  

This romantic entanglement featured a 45th Anniversary backstamp in honor of the film's release.

"Myopic Monster" sculpted by Patrick Romandy Simmons was Limited to Production Year 2011.

Please check with your Authorized Walt Disney Classics Collection Dealer for Availability.

Looking Back: 'Lost Scene' Dancing Snow White & Prince

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The Walt Disney Classics Collection released the second of two 'lost scene' moments from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in March, 2006. 

The first was the Soup Scene (2000 Signature Series release) and another scene was deleted after the concept art phase.  The sequence was for the song "Someday My Prince Will Come." The artists had planned a fantasy scene where Snow White imagines herself waiting on a cloud when Prince Charming suddenly appears in a swan-shaped boat guided by cherub-like stars.  He steps out of the boat and onto the cloud where he dances with Snow White and the stars encircle them and shoot love arrows at them.  Finally, they kiss then together they climb into the swan boat and sail away.  

The song remained with Snow White sitting before the fire singing about her prince.  Without the clouds, stars, boat and Prince, we still see how she loves him and understand her desire to be reunited with him.

"A Dance Among the Stars" sculpted by Kent Melton was released as an Open Edition release capturing this deleted concept moment.  Snow White's veil and gown are plussed with opalescent paint. Her crown is painted with a shiny gold paint. 

This lost scene of Snow White and her Prince was profiled as part of the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Platinum DVD bonus features. The sequence was abandoned but was revisited in "Dance In The Clouds" in Sleeping Beauty.

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Looking Back: The Headless Horseman and Ichabod Crane

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"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?"

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.