Looking Back: Pumbaa & Timon

The Walt Disney Collectors Society introduced a new Members Only offering in 1999, a Scene Completer.  A scene was announced and one of the pieces within the scene was available to active Society Members only.

In 1999, a scene from The Lion King was released that included Simba ("Simba's Pride"), Nala ("Nala's Joy"), Rafiki ("The Circle Continues"), Zazu ("Major Domo"), an Opening Title and Pumbaa & Timon ("Double Trouble").  

Simba, Nala, Rafiki and the Opening Title were Open Edition releases, Zazu was Limited to Production Year 1999 and Pumbaa & Timon were available to active Society Members from 05/01/99 - 04/30/00.

Though a good film, The Lion King isn't one of my favorites and prefer Simba and Nala younger vs. adults, so initially passed on this scene at the time of its release.

My only representation from this film consisted of Mufasa & Simba (1995 Tribute Series release), Timon (1998 Membership Gift) and the Opening Title.  During the 20th Anniversary Reunion Weekend a few weeks ago, I purchased the Watering Hole Scene (2003 Numbered Limited Edition set) consisting of Simba, Nala, Zazu and Watering Hole Base sculpted by Patrick Romandy-Simmons.  14 years later, the time had come to finally search out Pumbaa & Timon to compliment the Watering Hole Scene and have Pumbaa represented in my collection.

Pumbaa & Timon were sculpted by Kent Melton.  I hadn't seen this piece in person in years.  It's a really great sculpt that could easily stand on its own.  Love the pose chosen, the expression on Pumbaa's face and the detail in the Timon miniature.  Unfortunately for now, both the Watering Hole Scene and Pumbaa & Timon will remain in their Green Box Prison until we settle on a new curio that will allow us more display space to finally get my Lion King pieces on display.

In the meantime, the thrill of the hunt has been a lot of fun the past few weeks seeking out these older pieces we initially passed on.

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Disney Interactive Announces "Disney's Planes" Video Game

TAKE TO THE SKIES WITH “DISNEY’S PLANES”

VIDEO GAME

High-Flying Adventure Game Inspired by Upcoming Disney Film

Available Exclusively for Nintendo Platforms this Summer

Star-Studded Talent Lend their Voices to In-Game Characters

 

BURBANK, Calif. — (April 10, 2013) – Disney Interactive today announced that “Disney’s Planes,” a flying adventure video game inspired by the upcoming Disney animated comedy adventure film, will be available exclusively for Nintendo platforms including the Wii™ and Wii U™ systems as well as the Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ handheld devices on August 6th, just a few days prior to the film’s August 9th opening in theaters nationwide.  The game will expand beyond the storyline of “Disney’s Planes,” offering players the opportunity to enjoy the thrill of flight as one of the popular characters from the film.

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From above the world of “Cars,” “Disney’s Planes” video game takes players on a high-flying, action-packed, fun-filled adventure with Dusty, a big-hearted, speed-loving crop duster who is voiced by actor and comedian Dane Cook.

Players will take to the skies with Dusty and other characters, including Ishani, voiced by actress Priyanka Chopra; Echo, voiced by actor Anthony Edwards; and Bravo, voiced by actor Val Kilmer, as they embark on global missions, air races and grand adventures around the world.

In “Disney’s Planes” video game, players travel through breathtaking environments and play as one of 10 cast of characters on console and one of 6 cast of characters on handheld in either single-player, on all platforms or race against one another in two-player drop-in and drop-out gameplay on console.  

Players will roll, turn and loop their way through mission-based objectives in exciting modes of play including a narrative based Story mode and a score-based mini-game that challenges the player’s precision flying skills called Balloon Pop.  The exploratory Free Flight mode and racing based Air Rallies mode are exclusive to the consoles and the objective achieving Challenge mode is only offered via the handheld platforms.

“Disney’s Planes” video game is currently rated ‘E’ for Everyone by the ESRB.  For additional information about the video game, please visit the official site at http://www.disney.com/planesvideogame and like “Disney’s Planes” on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/disneyplanes.

Wii and 3DS Screenshots

About The Movie
From above the world of “Cars” comes “Disney’s Planes,” an action-packed 3D animated comedy adventure featuring Dusty (voice of Dane Cook), a plane with dreams of competing as a high-flying air racer. But Dusty’s not exactly built for racing—and he happens to be afraid of heights. So he turns to a seasoned naval aviator who helps Dusty qualify to take on the defending champ of the race circuit. Dusty’s courage is put to the ultimate test as he aims to reach heights he never dreamed possible, giving a spellbound world the inspiration to soar. “Disney’s Planes” takes off in theaters on Aug. 9, 2013. For more information, check out Disney.com/Planes, like us on Facebook: facebook.com/DisneyPlanes and follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/DisneyPictures.

Meet The Characters

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Looking Back: Mice in Basket & Tiny Tailors

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My previous blog entry looked back at Cinderella's Dress Mannequin and Dress.  Keeping with a Cinderella theme, this entry looks back at the Mice in Basket and the Tiny Tailors.

Mice in Basket ("Surprise!"), sculpted by Chris Peterson was an Open Edition release, released in February, 2005 (retired August, 2007) as part of a scene consisting of Cinderella, Lucifer and the Dress Mannequin.

Gus & Jaq ("Tiny Tailors"), sculpted by Jacqueline Perreault Gonzales was an Open Edition release, released in February, 2006 (retired December, 2012) as an add-on to the Cinderella Scene released the year before.  Something I liked that the WDCC did, was to periodically add new releases to add and/or compliment an existing scene.  

The basket was made of resin, the mice bronze (in both releases) and the measuring tape pewter.  Mary is a huge fan of miniatures and not really sure why we didn't pick up both these pieces at the time of their release.  

Gus & Jaq were very easy to find but was giving up hope on the Mice in Basket.  A special thanks to Kenneth at Enchanted Gardens Florist & Gifts for locating one for us.  It was the first time that we saw this piece in person (Mice in Basket) and was simply blown away by the detail of it, from each of the mice faces (love the sleepy-eyed look of the mouse standing on the scissors), to the contents of the sewing basket and how the sewing tape is draped around the one mouse's neck.  It really makes you appreciate the artistry of miniatures and the level of detail that the Walt Disney Classics Collection put into these.

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Looking Back: Cinderella's Dress Mannequin & Cinderella's Dress

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Since last fall, I've been focusing on going back, picking up pieces that I passed on over the years that would compliment and/or complete existing scenes in our collection.

One piece I added this past wee was the Dress Mannequin from Cinderella. Sculpted by Chris Peterson, the Dress Mannequin was released in February, 2005 (in honor of Cinderella's 55th Anniversary) and retired in March, 2009.

The Dress Mannequin was part of scene release that consisted of Cinderella ("Oh, Thank You So Much!"), Lucifer ("Catnap Interrupted") and Mice in Basket ("Surprise!").

The stand is made of brass and includes Cinderella's Sewing Book as part of the sculpture.

The Dress Mannequin makes a nice backdrop for Cinderella's Dress.  Cinderella's Dress was part of the 1st releases of the Walt Disney Classics Collection in October, 1992.

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To many, Cinderella's Dress is the pinnacle of any WDCC collection. 

Cinderella's Dress ("A Lovely Dress for Cinderelly") was a Numbered Limited Edition (NLE) of 5,000 that consisted of Cinderella's Dress, separate Floor Base and Jaq Miniature.  

Each sculpture came with a stained wood base and glass dome for display purposes. For these photos, I removed the sculpture from the wooden base and glass dome to fully see the detail in the sculpture.

No sculptor credit has been given for this sculpture though Robert Olszewski's name has been associated with the miniatures (Gus, Jaq, Suzy and the Birds).

Each miniature is hand-painted bronze (made in the USA) and then placed on the piece.  The mouse tails are solid brass wire, hand-shaped, fitted and soldered to the bronze body before painting.  Jaq and Sewing Shoe is a separate piece but numbered to match the Dress.  Tiny metal scissors dangle from a spool of real pink thread draped over the dressmaker form.

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Enesco Announces Two Additional Sell-Throughs!

Enesco announced the recent sell-throughs on the following pieces from the Walt Disney Classics Collection:

Mulan - Matchmaker Mulan was an Open Edition release, released in September 2007.  

"Perfectly Poised" retired December 2012 was sculpted by Margi Wray.  Mulan is plussed with a pewter right hand & fan and left earring.  Many wondered if part of the Leading Ladies Series at the time of her release but it was confirmed she was not.

Opening Title - The Opening Title from Dumbo was released in September 2003 and suspended in December 2012.

The Opening Title features artwork from the opening credits of each film and/or animated short.

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

Enesco Announces More WDCC Sell-Throughs!

Enesco announced the recent sell-throughs on the following pieces from the Walt Disney Classics Collection:

Wardrobe - Open Edition released June, 2002. The Wardrobe is made of resin and comes with a glass gemstone, two (2) pullout drawers, doors that open and close and removeable dresses.

"You'll Ravishing In This One" was sculpted by Valerie Edwards was retried 12-31-12.

Babette (in Human Form) -  Part of the Numbered Limited Edition (NLE) 2007 Signature Series from Beauty and the Beast.

Sculpted by Dusty Horner, the 2007 Signature Series captured the rarely portrayed moment when all the Enchanted Objects returned to their human form.

A NLE set of 1,000, broken sets were salvaged and sculptures were made available to collectors individually in June, 2010 vs. destroying them.

Undersea Gal - Limited to Production Year 2010, was released in November of that year.  

"Briny Beauty" plussed with pewter arms and necks was sculpted by Patrick Romandy-Simmons.

Please contact your Authorized Walt Disney Classics Collection retailers for availability as quantities are limited.