Thumper and His Siblings : Walt Disney Classics Collection

By Nick

Today I share Classics Collection figures of Thumper and his sisters.
Thumper measures 3″ high.



Like the Flower figure, I’ve had Thumper since 1993.

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The figure is titled “Hee! Hee! Hee!…”, because, if memory serves, Thumper finds it amusing that Bambi has referred to his young skunk friend as a flower.



I think the paint on these actually give a feeling of texture. Just beautiful.



For the first production year, 1992, the Walt Disney Classics Collection featured a steamboat wheel mark, honoring Mickey Mouse’s 1928 debut in Steamboat Willie. There is also a special Bambi 50th Anniversary mention on this piece, that the Bambi and Flower pieces I have do not carry.



Doing a Google search, I found that Thumper has 4 sisters, named Trixie, Daisy, Ria, and Tessie. But, unfortunately, there is no indication as to which 2 are portrayed here.



This was an early gift from my wife, who felt that Thumper would like to have family with him.

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Titled “Hello, Hello There”.

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This also has the steamboat wheel mark, indicating it was made in 1992, as well as the 50th Anniversary tag.

Flea Market Find: Vintage Disney Christmas Stocking

By Nick

We bought this vintage Disney Christmas stocking at our local flea market, Columbus, for $7.

It measures about 9 1/2 x 15 inches and is in really great shape considering it is likely from the 1960s.

I'm pretty confident saying it's from the mid 60's based on the fact that one side features Merlin from The Sword in the Stone, which was released on Christmas day in 1963. The next animated feature wasn't released until The Jungle Book in 1967!

There is a lot happening on this stocking! In fact, there is something I didn't notice until taking photos. Is this Peter Pan below? It's pretty vague.

Donald is painting candy canes.

I'm not exactly sure what Dwarf this is, but I'm thinking Happy as he has a big smile on his face as he paints a train.

Clearly this is Dopey, though I am not sure of who put him in charge of the lights.

Is this Huey, Dewey, or Louie? On Duck Tales, Dewey wears blue, so we'll go with that.

This is Thumper?

This is certainly Bambi being decorated by Mickey and Alice.

They look like they are all well on their way to finishing decorating for Christmas. How about you?

Bambi and Flower: WDCC

By Nick

The very first movie I can recall seeing was “Bambi” in my hometown movie theater. Some of the images and emotions of this classic have remained with me my entire life, and it is near the top of my all time favorites. I have several Bambi items in my collection, and I am happy to share one I just recently added. 

Back when the Walt Disney Classics Collection started, I was much younger, and didn’t have the resources to buy many of the WDCC figures I so desired.

Fast forward almost 20 years (!), and my finances have improved, while, often, the prices for WDCC figures have come down, and are more in a price range I’m comfortable with.
Such is the case with this Bambie figure.

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]This is one of those pieces that makes me smile every time I look at it, and makes me ask myself why I waited so long to get him.

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He stands 6″ high, and carries the 1993 Treble Clef production mark. The official title of this piece is “Purty Flower”.


 
Who is Bambi looking for? Why, the Purty Flower of course!



And here he is now!



I’ve had Flower since 1993. I picked him up because he was a more affordable price, with the hopes that I’d be able to get Bambi at some point in the future.

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Watch it!

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Flower stands 3″ high, and also carries the 1993 Treble Clef production mark. “Oh…Gosh” is his response to Bambi’s “Purty Flower” comment.



And here they are together, finally, after almost 20 years!

Defending Walt Disney's Classic, Bambi

By Nick

Why am I writing an article defending my love of Bambi, a true Disney classic, and one of my favorite animated movies of all time? I'm asking myself that very question to be perfectly honest. I'm only too happy to do so, as it deserves praise, but I'm just shocked I have to.

If you've listened to Episode 11 of The Disney Exchange, (If you haven't, you should, it's great, but, really, they all are.) then please go ahead and do so, and then come on back here.

Back? Good, then you heard Dave and Lisa criticize my choice for favorite Disney film pre my birth year, Bambi.

Were you as surprised as me to hear it being described as "cheesy?"

I chose Bambi for a few reasons.

It was my first movie, or at least the first movie I remember clearly. I can picture very distinctly Bambi and Thumper's banter, Bambi's father telling him "Your mother can't be with you anymore,"  the forest fire, and Bambi's standing on a cliff with his father at the end. (Excuse me a moment, I need to compose myself. -sniff-)

Bambi is a very well balanced film of beauty and darkness, with happiness, sadness, laughter, and love.

It's beautifully animated. In the early 90's, I had the opportunity to work at an Animation Art Gallery in Philadelphia, Pa. I got to see some of the inspirational art by Tyrus Wong, as well as animation sketches and production work. I am, in fact, the proud owner of an animated sketch of Bambi, from the "twitterpated" sequence, and a Sericel of Thumper.

A lot of Tyrus' work, along with many works from other animation legends can be found in the excellent book "Walt Disney's Bambi, The Story and the Film" by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, two of Walt's "Nine Old Men."

Believe me, if I could afford it, I would have many more animated pieces from this wonderful movie.
I do have many collectibles around the home representing Bambi, however, such as several Walt Disney Classics Collection pieces.

What are your thoughts on Bambi? Please leave a comment telling why you enjoy it, or just tell Lisa and David they are wrong, either is fine.

This article was originally posted on The Disney Exchange, a blog and podcast which write and co-host with Lisa Green and David Hodges.

McDonalds 100 Years of Magic Disney Glass Set

by Nick

In 2001-2002, Disney celebrated what would have been Walt Disney's 100th birthday with the 100 Years of Magic Celebration.

McDonald's released this glassy, er, classy, set of glasses to commemorate this occasion.

Each of the four glasses featured a park icon, with movie and character trivia, and even a quote from Walt!

This first glass features Spaceship Earth.
Park Trivia: EPCOT originally stood for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow
The Walt Disney quote: "Today we are shapers of the world of tomorrow."


Movie Trivia: Buzz Lightyear said "To Infinity and Beyond" only 2 times in "Toy Story"


Character trivia: Belle is the French word for beauty.


The inside bottom of the glass.


This glass displays Cinderella Castle.
Park trivia: Tinker Bell starts the fireworks nightly at the Magic Kingdom.
The Walt Disney quote: "Fantasy...lies beyond the reach of time."


Pinocchio had to be "brave, truthful and unselfish" to become a real boy.


Dumbo's real name was actually "Jumbo Jr.".

Bambi was taught that "twitterpated" meant falling in love.


Park Trivia for this next glass: There are 325 animal carvings on The Tree of Life at Disney's Animal Kingdom
The Walt Disney quote: "...nature herself writes the most interesting stories"


Goofy-first known as "Dippy Dawg"-stars in "Mickey's Jammin' Jungle" Parade.


"Simba" is the Swahili word for "lion".


The outside bottom of the glass.


Mickey's Sorcerer Hat at the Disney Studios is 122 ft. tall.


"Kiss Me" were the only words ever spoken by Pluto.
Donald's middle name is "Fauntleroy."


"...it was all started by a mouse." Walt Disney



Happy New Year, and here's to the next 100 years of Disney Magic!