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.

The Little Mermaid WDCC: Seaside Serenade

By Nick

While these pictures were  obviously not taken at the Seaside, looking at this terrific Walt Disney Classics Collection piece, I can hear the waves crashing on the rocks, and hear Ariel singing of her longing to be part of our world.

This was the 2006 Walt Disney Collectors Society Membership Sculpture.

Her tail is painted with opalescent paint.

She measures 6 inches tall.

I think this may be one of the finest WDCC sculpts, as I feel it captures the emotion of this pivotal scene perfectly.

I am not sure why this sculpt doesn’t have a production mark.

I really don’t have enough Little Mermaid pieces, despite it being one of my favorite Disney movies, so I was really happy to find this on eBay for a very reasonable price, and make her part of my world.

Walt Disney Classics Collection Grumpy

By Nick

These Grumpy Walt Disney Classics Collection pieces are from 1995.

Grumpy bears the trowel production mark, in honor of the Academy Award winning 1933 cartoon, “The Three Little Pigs”. 

The official title of the Grumpy sculpt is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs “Humph”.

The pipe organ is made of resin, carved with woodland creatures such as frogs, owls, fish, rabbits and a baby bird in its nest. Rabbits support the organ and race across the front, and squirrels are at each end.

It measures 7 1/4 inches (18.4 centimeters) tall.

I won this on eBay, and it didn’t come with a box. What it did come with, however, was pads on the bottom of the pipe organ. I’m not at all sure if these were original to the piece. I’ve searched online, and can’t seem to find any pictures proving it one way or the other. This also has the trowel production mark and is titled Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Pipe Organ.

Grumpy is seated on the bellows for the pipe organ.

He is 4 1/2 inches (11.4 centimeters) tall.

I better stop here, my typing is interrupting the music, and Grumpy is giving me an angry stare. Did he just say humph?!

Mrs. Potts Walt Disney Classics Collection

By Nick

I got this Mrs. Potts on eBay several years ago, for a really great price. She came without her box, which was no big deal, but what I didn’t realize when I bought it, she is part of a set! Originally, she came with her son Chip.

She is clearly looking at Chip, and saying “Good Night, Luv.” Which happens to be the name of this piece.

She is 4 1/2 inches tall.

This piece has the pickax production mark, from 1998, in honor of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

I may not have the Chip WDCC piece that accompanies Mrs. Potts, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a Chip in my collection.

For Chip, along with some other members of the Beauty and the Beast cast, please check out yesterday's post.

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.

Walt Disney Classics Collection Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Brave Little Tailor

By Nick

These Mickey and Minnie, Brave Little Tailor Walt Disney Classics Collection pieces are among my favorite collectibles.

Mickey stands 7 1/4 inches tall. Plussing includes a matte platinum finish on his scissors.

 

Titled "I let him have it", it is the 1993 Animators Choice Figurine, and the first year redemption sculpture for the Walt Disney Classic Collection. It bears the Treble Clef production mark, symbolizing the music in the Academy Award-winning 'Silly Symphonies'.

Minnie stands 6 1/2 inches tall. Her veil is painted with opalescent paint, and her shoe buckles are painted gold.

 

Titled "Princess Minnie", this piece was the 1996 Animator's Choice sculpt.

She has the Sailor's Hat production mark, which represents Donald Duck's on-screen debut in 1934 animated short, 'The Wise Little Hen'.

 

 

They perfectly capture 2 beloved characters in a beloved scene from a (Is he going to say it again? Yes!) beloved animated short.