Thursday Treasures
February 10, 2011 by Shelby Sawyer
"I hope we never
lose sight of one thing - it was all started by a mouse." -Walt
Disney
This famous quote
probably best defines one of the key elements of the now infamous
Vinylmation. If you've been to the parks in the past few years you
may have seen them in the many merchandise locations that sell them.
They are almost always displayed in a clear case right above it's
corresponding trays. They were originally available only in blind
box form, you don't know which of the twelve designs you would get
(eleven are known the 12th is the mystery chaser).

Painting vinyl
figures has been a craze for some time now ranging from action
figures to designer vinyl toys that typically use a single vinyl
shape to host a plethora of designs. Vinylmation provides an
additional sentimental value to the creativity that can be displayed
on vinyl figures. Vinylmation is actually a combination of the words
"vinyl" and "animation," thusly bringing the animated characters
from childhood onto an affordable collectable in a new way. As an
art student and Disney obsessed, I found this concept of combining
Disney with this art form to be very appealing. I tried to resist
this new collectable for some time but, silly me, I ended up with a
full-fledged obsession! What's not to love about conforming all of
those Disney (and non-Disney) themes to a Mickey-shaped vinyl? It's
one of the greatest homages to
Mickey Mouse and the start of the Disney Company possible.
Plus, you can take it home to enjoy (Much like From Screen To
Theme)!

When
Vinylmation started to come out, it started in pin form. The
blind boxes were first available and then Create Your Own
white blank vinyls came out. In the picture above are two
vinyls I have made. The
Minnie Mouse is in a Mouse Gear costume and then I
used a clear yellow (from the clear series) to create Ray.
Then the blind box sets became available and for about a
year that was the only way Vinylmations were available for
retail purchase. Slowly trading began and "open box" sets
and special addition pieces were available. Whenever you
know the design before you buy it due to the window on the
box it is called an "open box." The biggest factor that led
to the increase in Vinylmation collecting was trading in
stores with
cast members.
Let's face
it, if you want one particular design, or even a relatively
narrow range of designs, it is not in your wallet's best
interest for you to start blind boxing for them. Once
trading with cast members began it almost guarantied that
you would at some point be able to get the figures you want.
It
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was a major factor
in what made Disney Pins so incredibly popular! You are never
"stuck" with unwanted vinyls or pins. You can always find something
you will want to trade for.
Unlike the pin
trading where there are very few times when there are "mystery
traders," Vinylmation often gives you a choice of either "mystery
trading" or "clear box trading". In most locations that trade there
is a clear case that usually holds three vinyls that you can see.
These are the "clear box trading." Then there is either a 24 or 15
count black box. This is the "mystery trading" box. Sometimes it is
behind or under the counter, so you may have to ask for it. The
rules vary from location to location but the general gist of it is
you get to choose a number and you trade for whatever that vinyl is.
On occasion you will get cast members that allow you to pick again
if you don't like the number you picked. Be sure to ask the
cast member
about it before hand! This is a great way to help build a fabulous
collection of designs you love while still getting the thrill of
opening blind boxes.
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