DISNEY VINYLMATION: STAR WARS Series #1
For nerds of a galaxy far, far away and Disney’s avant-garde collector’s items known as Vinylmations the highly anticipated release of the first series of Star Wars themed 3″ figurines is finally upon us, uh, I mean… them.
On Sunday, January 16th at D-Street at Anaheim’s Downtown Disney throngs of would-be Jedi’s will gather (hopefully in costume for our amusement) to snatch up as many innocuous little play-things as possible. The store opens at 8am with an artist signing scheduled from 2-5 pm. Below are some some artist rendering the collection.
So, what the heck are these things and why do people collect them? Well, let me tell you a little story – Originally I mocked and scorned the idea of collecting the Vinylmations since their 2008 inception I finally succumbed to the propaganda this past summer and now have a budding little army of plastic mickey mouse shaped… things, lined up neatly on shelf in the spare room. Actually, this is how it all came about – My friends and I have had annual passports to Disneyland for some time now. We go to the park frequently and recently started to feel a little… less excited about our visits (we realize we’re very spoiled). So, in an effort to spice up our trips to the Happiest Place On Earth I talked them all into buying a new Vinylamtion each time we went to Disneyland. The fun part is that when you pick out your Vinylmation you don’t know which one you are going to get. The boxes are sealed shut with no indication of what’s inside except for what general theme or series that particular box contains.
Each series is made up of 11 known designs and one mystery design known as a “chaser”. So now, before we leave the park at night we each pick out a box that contains what we hope is the missing piece to the series we each collect. Then, one-by-one we stand on the steps of the Disneyland Casting, Co on Main Street USA and open the boxes with as much fanfare and enthusiasm as we can muster. The quiet deepens as the cardboard rips and the plastic wrapping tears before it’s revealed what’s inside. The thrill quickens the heart and the anticipation is daunting. However, once the secret is out we can either revel in our newest addition or be disgruntled if we opened a duplicate or other unwanted design destined to be traded or sold on eBay. Either way we the adventure is well worth the trouble.
If you need me this coming Sunday, I’ll be in line at D-Street hoping the Force is strong with me as I pick out my first unknown Star Wars Vinylmation. (don’t judge me)
