Disney Vinylmation

Disney Vinylmation is a brand of 3", 1.5" and 9" vinyl collectibles sold at Disney theme parks and other locations. The figures all have a common shape (that of Mickey Mouse) but have different themed markings, colors and patterns. The first figures were introduced in November 2008.^[1]

Trading of figures is officially encouraged and practiced at Disney locations in a fashion similar to Disney pin trading. There are designated places where guests may trade figures with cast members.

Vinylmation figures are sold in sealed packaging. The purchaser does not know which figure they are buying until they have opened it. Each figure belongs to a series and all of the figures in a series are printed on the packaging for that series and the series comes in a large box . Each series has one unknown figure, termed the chaser. Some come with cards, stickers or another figure to make a set. In addition to being a mystery figure the chaser is also the rarest figure in each series.^[2] Limited edition nine-inch figures are also sold and these are visible without opening the packaging. There is also a 1.5-inch Vinylmation Jr. size.^[3]

There are various series to choose from. Park series vinyls feature designs relating to Disney theme park attractions and characters. Urban series vinyls have designs that are more open-ended than Park vinyls as they do not need to relate to Disney or its theme parks. There are other series such as the Muppets which group together designs based on characters. Similarly, there is a series for Toy Story characters and a Star Wars series. There are also limited edition sets such as Condiments and Billiards.

A creative approach to the series, 3" and 9" Vinylmation figures are also available blank, with no artwork printed on them. These vinyls are available molded in several colors, including red, yellow, pink, purple, black, and white, as well as a glow-in-the-dark green version. Unlike the other series, buyers are aware of the color of vinyl they will buy prior to purchase by way of a window on the packaging. The purpose of blank Vinylmations is, similar to toys like the Munny by Kidrobot, to provide a three-dimensional canvas on which fans can play artist and draw, paint, or otherwise apply their own art or designs to the figure, creating their own one-of-a-kind piece of Disney art. To assist fans in customization, Disney has recently introduced decals, rhinestones, and colored pencils embellished with Vinylmation motifs to use in the creation of their figures. Blank or customized vinyls are not accepted for trade at Disney Parks.

3-inch figures can be purchased by the case. Each case comes with 24 vinyls- 2 of each known design, and 1 mystery chaser. To accommodate the chaser, one of the 11 known designs appears 3 times in each case.

Disney Parks have started allowing people to trade in their Vinylmations for either one out of a mystery box numbered one through 24, or for one in a small clear case. If you do not like the Vinylmation from the mystery box then you may trade with one of three in a clear case that you can see which ones there are. You can trade them in at most stores throughout Walt Disney World, the Disneyland Resort, and in several Disney stores.

References

1. ^ Official Disney Vinylmation FAQ. Retrieved July 29, 2010.
2. ^ vinylnation.net - What is Vinylmation?. Retrieved July 29, 2010.
3. ^ MouseStation 409 - Vinylmation? What's that?. Retrieved July 29, 2010.