Mickey and Minnie Head Out On The Highway
Pete Marching Orders Donald Gets Drafted Donald Duck Basic Training
Opening Title Fantasia
Cinderella Lady Tremaine Spiteful Stepmother
walt disney classics figurines
The Classics Collection started in 1992 with three scenes, Bambi, Cinderella, and Fantasia's Sorcerer Apprentice. Many other series have since been introduced. Some figurines are limited, and some have been retired. Some of these figurines have risen high on the secondary market. The figurines are made of porcelain, and the process is similar to that use to make Hummel figurines. Individual pieces are molded, put together, and fired in an oven. Then they are painted and fired again. Each figurine is marked on the bottom, signifying the year it was produced. The marks represent significant milestones in Disney history. The figurines with the first year mark are usually the most desirable.
collectors society
In January 1993, Disney introduced the Walt Disney Collectors Society. The quality and appreciating values of the limited editions have attracted large number collectors. Collectors are reminded of their youth and their love for the Disney characters. Each collector has a story to tell about his or her collection. The collection has grown to be a hot collectible today.
ENCHANTED PLACES
I From the sparkling wonder of the Seven Dwarf's Jewel Mine to the majestic spires of the Beast's Castle, Disney films have taken us to some of the most wonderful places imaginable. The Walt Disney Classics Collection celebrated these unforgettable settings with Enchanted Places, beautifully crafted sculptures that recreate the worlds where the magic unfolds. Gifted sculptors meet the challenge by studying layout drawings and production design material. Imagining how things not seen in the film would look, they reveal never-before-seen views that remained a mystery. Until now! A miniature character completes the intimate bond between the setting sculpture and the film. Created by reknown miniature sculptor Robert Olszewski, each miniature captures the look and personality of Disney favorites as they welcome us into the 'enchanted place' that is their world.
Walt Disney Classics Collection Signature Marks
For the first production year 1992, the Walt Disney Classics Collection featured a steamboat wheel mark. The wheel honors Mickey Mouse's debut in Steamboat Willie (1928). This first mark is the most desired by collectors.
The1993 production mark is a treble clef. The clef symbolizes the music in the Academy Award winning Silly Symphonies. In them, Walt explored and expanded the artistic, technical and emotional range of animation.
he 1994 mark is a dancing flower. The flower represents Disney's 'Flowers and Trees' (1932). This animated short is the first color cartoon ever created and won the first Academy Award for Disney.
The 1995 mark is a trowel. The trowel was used by Practical Pig in the Academy Award winning 1933 cartoon, 'The Three Little Pigs'. The short was a high point in character development and introduced the song, "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf," which was the first hit song for Disney.
The 1996 mark is a sailor's hat. The hat represents Donald Duck's on-screen debut in 'The Wise Little Hen' (1934). "Who? Me? Oh, no, I've got a bellyache" With these eight words, the worlds most quick tempered duck was born.
The 1997 mark is a music stand. The stand represents Mickey Mouse's first color cartoon, 'The Band Concert' (1935). The cartoon is renowned for its superb character animation of band leader Mickey and mischievous peanut vendor Donald Duck..
The 1998 mark is the pickax. The Dwarfs' diamond mining tool from Disney's first (1st) animated classic 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' (1937), helps celebrate the Diamond (70th) Anniversary of the Walt Disney Company..
The 1999 mark is the Sorcerer's Hat. 'Fantasia' (1940) is recognized as one of Walt Disney's greatest experiments, combining the art of animation with the beauty of classical music. And of course, it's lauded for giving Mickey Mouse his most famous role as the Sorcerer's Apprectice.
The 2000 year mark is a feather--- Dumbo's magic feather from 'Dumbo' (1941).
The 2001 year mark is the butterfly. The butterfly was chosen in honor of the 1942 animated classic 'Bambi.'.
The 2002 year mark is the sombrero. The sombrero was chosen in honor of the 1943 animated classic 'Saludos Amigos,' featuring this years members only figural release, Pedro!
The 2003 he 2003 year mark is the harp. The harp was chosen in honor of the 1947 animated classic 'Fun and Fancy Free,' featuring the Harp from the segment 'Mickey and the Beanstalk' featuring Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Willie the Giant and the Harp.
The 2004 year mark is the bumble bee. The bumble bee is from the 'Bumble Boogie' section of the 1948 animated classic 'Melody Time.' The Bee is the sole character, not so much a character as an 'experiencing object' - for example, he changes color according to the mood of the music and background. He first appears in sections, 'painted in' by an animated paintbrush. Many people believe that 'Bumble Boogie' owes an indirect debt to 'Destino,' the surrealist short which Salvador Dali and Disney attempted unsuccessfully to produce together.
The 2005 year mark is Cinderella's glass slipper. The glass slipper was chosen to honor Cinderella's 55th Anniversary. Released in 1950, it's considered one of Walt's favorite films.
The 2006 year mark is the tea cup. The tea cup was chosen in honor of the 1951 animated classic 'Alice in Wonderland' from the 'Mad Tea Party' sequence featuring Alice, the Mad Hatter and March Hare
The 2007 year mark is the hook. Captain Hook's hook was chosen in honor of the 1953 animated classic 'Peter Pan.'
The 2008 year mark is the crown. Aurora's crown was chosen in honor of the 1959 animated classic 'Sleeping Beauty.'
The 2009 year mark is the paw. A paw print was chosen in honor of the 1961 animated classic '101 Dalmatians.'
The 2010 year mark is the anvil. An anvil was chosen in honor of the 1963 animated classic 'The Sword in the Stone.'
The 2011 year mark is the umbrella. An umbrella was chosen in honor of the 1964 live-action film 'Mary Poppins.' Live action are films that combined both live action with animation.
The 2012 year mark is the palm frond. A palm frond was chosen in honor of the 1967 animated classic 'The Jungle Book.' This was the last film released that Walt Disney was personally involved with. When the Walt Disney Classics Collection made its debut in 1992, the original premise was to only release sculpts from those films that Walt Disney was involved with.
making the sculptures
Choosing The Moment - Once the character and scene are selected, artists pour over original drawings, model sheets, background paintings and finished cels. By studying all the movement detail and subtle cues in line and form, artists can discover the specific film moment that defines the essence of the character, capturing the personality that reaches beyond the one particular scene.
sketching the concept
Working from hundreds of reference materials, artists sketch various angles of the character pose for sculpting. Research and intuition tell them to bend an eyebrow to hint at the thoughts behind it, or stretch the line of a robe to indicate a turn. These drawings go through many critiques and revisions before the final concept is approved.
sculpting the moment
The final drawing - and all the reference material - then go to the sculptor. Meticulously shaping the clay, the sculptor must ask "What does this character look like from every angle - including many that were never drawn before?" Disney animators help find the answer, and like the concept sketch, the clay sculpture is revised again and again before the final form is approved.
creating whiteware
The final clay sculpt is cut into pieces and a plaster mold of each piece is made. The more complex and delicate the sculpture, the more pieces are needed (some Classics Collection sculpts have up to forty pieces). Liquid clay called 'slip' is poured into the molds and partially air dried into 'greenware' pieces, which are then re-assembled using more slip. The greenware is sprayed with a translucent glaze and fired in a brick kiln, creating a glazed whiteware. The whiteware is then painted with a yellow dye to pick up any flaws within the whiteware.
painting
Disney artists hand paint the whiteware using the original colors from the film. The paints are applied to the ceramic sculptures in several steps with a trip to the kiln after every step. Each brushstroke breathes more life into the character and brings the sculpt back to its film origin. Because different ceramic colors react differently to heat, artists must research painting and firing formulas for each sculpt to control all the variables, so that the color is perfectly replicated.
plussing
Finally, many painted sculptures are touched with a unique step, called 'plussing.' Precious metals, crystal or blown glass are added to the sculpt, following special plussing instructions laid out well in advance. Plussing enhances the story and character inspiration that have been the signature of the entire process.
creating whiteware
The final clay sculpt is cut into pieces and a plaster mold of each piece is made. The more complex and delicate the sculpture, the more pieces are needed (some Classics Collection sculpts have up to forty pieces). Liquid clay called 'slip' is poured into the molds and partially air dried into 'greenware' pieces, which are then re-assembled using more slip. The greenware is sprayed with a translucent glaze and fired in a brick kiln, creating a glazed whiteware. The whiteware is then painted with a yellow dye to pick up any flaws within the whiteware.
finished sculpture
Each sculpture bears a backstamp with Walt Disney's signature and an incised or decal production-year mark that symbolizes a milestone in Disney history. Sculptures may carry different production marks if series production continues over several years. Sculptures are released as a Limited Edition or an Open Edition. A Limited Edition can be either a Time Limited (released for a specific time period/year) and/or Numbered. These have been released through Special Events, Conventions (Disneyana and Walt Disney Art Classics) and/or New Product Announcements. Open Editions are met with subsequent "retirement". These retired sculptures can never be reproduced as the plaster molds are destroyed on the day of retirement. Once retired, these figurines can only be found on the Secondary Market.