Incredibles 2: Disneyland Promotional Button (Pixar Fest 2018)

Remember that time when Pixar Fest was happening at Disneyland and I couldn't be there? I know, such a bummer. Luckily I have some AMAZING and thoughtful friends who help me feel like I'm there by periodically sending me over some exclusive goodies! Once again, I have my friend and fellow Disney fan Paulina (Twitter @HeartDisney10) to thank for sending me this Incredibles 2 opening day promotional button! These were given out on the film's release day (June 15th) to guests visiting either of the Disneyland Resort parks. You'll also notice that the button is in celebration of Pixar Fest as well! So cool—I feel lucky to have this. Gotta love free Disneyland handouts.

Each button is about 2 7/8" in diameter and features a condensed version of the film's action packed theatrical poster as the image. I love it!

Like this button wasn't enough, I was also sent some of the newly designed Disneyland and California Adventure park maps showcasing the brand new Pixar Pier and Pixar Fest. As a park map collector (who else save theirs from each Disney trip?), I very much appreciated this. 

If you'd like one of these buttons for your collection, be sure to head over to eBay using this direct link to current listings while there are still tons of people selling them. The average price right now ranges around $3- $5.

So what are your thoughts? Were you able to pick this button up there at one of the parks? What's your Pixar Fest experience been like so far? Let me know in the comments below!

As a side note, today I celebrated 5 YEARS of danthepixarfan.com! I can't believe I've been writing daily posts here for that long (it's crazy to say it's been half a decade). Thank you to all who visit and read my content regularly... the support means so much and keeps me going! Here's to another year. 🎉

You can read my full celebration post on Instagram HERE

Final side note: I was just reviewing what I posted on LAST year on this day and it was ALSO a Disneyland exclusive release day promo button (the Cars 3 one)! I guess it's a new tradition to celebrate my blog's birthday by posting about a Disneyland button. I just found that too funny not to share—what are the chances?!

Incredibles 2: PEZ Assortment

Here comes...THE INCREDIPEZ! Or perhaps, THE INPEZIBLES! Either way, check out these new Incredibles 2 PEZ dispensers, which I found last month at JoAnn Fabrics in their Incredibles themed section (see my in-store report HERE). Dash and Jack-Jack here are both brand new sculpts, while this is the first ever PEZ release of Violet! For whatever reason, she was not included in the original 2004 The Incredibles PEZ lineup—so that makes her a long time coming! PEZ collectors have only been waiting 14 years for the Parr family to be complete in candy dispenser form. Pretty crazy.

These are the first Pixar themed PEZ since Finding Dory in 2016.

My write-up on the original Incredibles PEZ assortment was one of my very first blog posts on here EVER—clear back in July of 2013! Check it out HERE. Below I've included some comparison pics so you can see the old Dash (left) next to the new Dash and the old Jack-Jack (left) next to the new Jack-Jack! Just like in the the new film itself, you'll notice the character sculpts are vastly improved.

Do you like how they gave Dash and Violet little torsos? Or do you prefer just the heads like with the originals? 

Like I mentioned, I found these at JoAnn Fabrics (they were $2.49 each), but I'm sure they can be found elsewhere (sometimes Michael's Crafts has PEZ, or even pharmacies like Walgreens or CVS). I also noticed that some retailers are selling these exact same dispensers, only they're in bags rather than cardbacks (seen HERE).

Lastly, there is also a boxed gift set [3-Pack] out there (though I'm not sure where it's sold other than online) with an exclusive mini Jack-Jack dispenser. That's pretty cool! Maybe I should have gone for that, but oh well. You can view and purchase that set on the PEZ site HERE for $7.99 or on Amazon using the direct link below.

And here's today's Instagram pic showing off the completed family at last! Be sure to leave all your thoughts and/or any questions you might have down in the comments.

Follow me on Instagram @danthepixarfan

Wall·E & Eve Wooden Collectibles—Limited Edition

Wow—I feel like almost every other day this month we've been celebrating another Pixar film anniversary! This one is a big one because, as of today, it's officially been 10 years since Wall·E hit theaters; an entire decade already since these two lovable robots won over our hearts. Happy birthday to this instant classic! Pixar at its best.

Over the past few months, I've been reviewing these Pixar character wooden collectibles sets and thought today would be the perfect time to share this Wall·E inspired 2-pack! What's cool is that the packaging here with this set even acknowledges Wall·E's 10th anniversary with the little icon down in the left hand corner (seen in my closeup below). I thought that was a pretty awesome detail.

OK let's get into it. If you haven't read my previous posts, here's a little background for this collection. If you have read them, most of this will sound awfully familiar...

Last summer during the 2017 D23 Expo, Disney & Pixar (with creative guidance from John Lasseter) debuted a new collection inspired by traditional Japanese wooden collectibles known as Kokeshi dolls. The collection began with three Disney Store D23 Expo exclusive sets: Buzz & Woody (which I picked up of course, see my full blog post HERE), Anna & Elsa and Moana & Maui—each set limited to only 300 units produced. 

A few months after that, ShopDisney.com released (to my surprise) two more wooden collectible sets: a Cars 3 one (featuring Lightning McQueen & Cruz Ramirez; see post HERE) and a Monsters Inc. one (featuring Mike & Sulley; see post HERE). I realized then that this collection was really becoming a thing and it seemed as though even more sets would be released in the future. Could every Pixar film be eventually represented? Time would tell. Now flash forward to early 2018, and once again we were treated to yet another two surprise sets of Pixar friends—this Wall·E inspired set (featuring Wall·E himself & Eve) and an Up one (featuring Carl & Russell; see post HERE). I was ecstatic! 

As usual, this set is a limited edition of only 400 and is sold only on the ShopDisney website HERE (not sold in stores). I LOVE the way these characters are stylized and they will display perfectly next to all the others. Just look at them! So simple, yet so effective (it's so cool how they're broken down into they're most basic geometric shapes). My hat goes off to the designer, Jen Tan (Creative Director of Consumer Products at Pixar), who created the signature look of each and every one of these wooden collectibles. She did a fabulous job. In fact, you can see the entire character lineup she illustrated on her Instagram HERE. The designs have even been utilized on shirts (one from last year's D23 Expo and a couple available now only to annual pass holders during Disneyland's Pixar Fest) and Dooney and Bourke bags. 
 

As with the others in this collection, the packaging is clean and minimal—they were definitely marketing to adult collectors like myself (these are certainly not toys). You can tell right away from looking it it that this is a special item. The box is basically one big clear plastic case with a scenic cardboard stand/ backdrop that can be easily removed (as seen below). The Disney Store logo is featured in the top left corner. The backdrop art is amazing and I love the fragmented, minimalist style (and the use of texture is outstanding). I wonder who did it? It makes for a solid display piece in or out of the package.

Now let's take a look at these guys out of the packaging! I'm obsessed; they're seriously just too charming.

These are maliciously designed, quality crafted and hand painted (made entirely out of solid wood; both are decently heavy for what they are). As far as their size, Wall·E is 3.5" tall and Eve is 4" tall. The dimensions of the packaging are 6'' H x 9" W x 4'' D. Retail price for this set, like the others, is $59.95 (which yes, is extremely pricey, but hey, it's Disney and a limited edition—it's what I expect at this point).

Underneath them, you'll find the Disney/Pixar copyright and the "limited edition number of 400" wording. And maybe you're thinking this too, but I thought it was kind of funny that these Japanese inspired collectibles were actually made in China ;)

No limited edition item is complete without a certificate of authenticity! My edition number is 98/400 (not too shabby). The certificate can be found under and within the cardboard base and can be a little difficult to remove—so don't forget it! The art on the certificate is fantastic as well; love the colors and the use of the iconic Axiom design.

As a big fan of Wall·E, this is a most welcomed addition to my collection (especially since any new Wall·E items are few and far between these days). I highly recommend it to any and all Disney collectors who love these classic characters! If you're interested in this set, I wouldn't hesitate too much. It's still in stock on the ShopDisney site HERE (which I'm really surprised about after all these months), but once it's gone, it's gone.

Be sure to let me know your thoughts or any questions you might have in the comments below! Which characters would you like to see made next? I know there's an Incredibles wooden collectibles 3-Pack on sale at Disneyland right now for $100, but I haven't figured out how to get it yet. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: SOLD OUT.

Incredibles 2: Disney Store Collector's Coin (Fan Thursdays 2018)

Here's a fun little something that most people aren't aware of! This Incredibles 2 collector's coin is a Disney Store exclusive and was given out only to guests who participated at an in-store Incredibles 2 "Fan Thursday" trivia event this month. And the best part? It's free! Be sure to call your local Disney Store to find out if this upcoming Thursday (June 28th) at 7pm will be the last fan event this month (I believe it is) and if they have any more of these coins on hand.

Speaking of "on hand", I placed the coin on my hand in the pic below to give you the sense of its scale. It's about 1.5" in diameter and is certainly made out of some kind of solid metal; there's a decent weight to it as well. The front of the coin features the Incredibles 2 logo (as well as its June 15 release date) and on the back you'll find the Disney Store logo, the Incredibles icon and "2018 Series Coin 2". So what was "Coin 1" you might ask? Well that was the coin based on Solo: A Star Wars Story that was given out at last month's "Fan Thursdays" trivia event. You can check that one out on my Star Wars Instagram HERE.

If you missed out on this super cool coin and would like to add it to your collection, you can always purchase it from eBay using THIS DIRECT LINK. What do you think? Were you able to claim one of these at a Fan Thursday event this month? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below!

Incredibles 2: Diecast Vehicle Collection (by Jakks Pacific)

Tonight I'm taking a look at these four awesome, highly detailed 1:64 scale diecast vehicles inspired by the amazing world of Incredibles 2! These were released with the initial launch of Jakks Pacific's Incredibles 2 toys back in April and can still be found at Walmart, Target and (if you still have any open near you) Toys R Us.

In this collection there is Mr. Incredible's Incredibile, the Underminer's Tunneler, the Incredibile (Boosted version—flames coming out the back) and a police car. Retail for each car is $3.99. Small scale diecast cars have been a huge hit with kids and adult collector alike since the 50's and 60's (made popular by Matchbox and Hot Wheels), so you know I always like when toys these days have that old school flare and timelessness. The retro mid-century designs of the vehicles in both Incredibles films were already awesome, so it's really neat to see them here translated into diecast for play or display. Perfect pairing. 

Check them all out below! These are about 3" in size, have real rolling wheels and are made of diecast metal and plastic. I love these iconic designs!

The Incredibile

Underminer Tunneler

Boosted Incredibile

Police Car

Jakks Pacific also released a larger 1:24 diecast version of the Incredibile (purchase HERE). There's also a gift set you can buy on Amazon down below (or on ShopDisney.com) featuring three of the cars you see here in this post.

Every one of these cars looks and feels great! Well done. Be sure to let me know your thoughts down below. And lastly, a huge thanks to my friends over at Jakks Pacific for sending these over to me! Very much appreciated.

Monsters Inc: M is for Monster (Little Golden Book)

Mike Wazowski teaches you the ABCs in M is for Monster, an adorable rhyming Monsters Inc. inspired Little Golden Book released in 2014! This is something that I had been meaning to get for a while, but was unintentionally put on the back burner (simply meaning, I forgot about it—Whoops!). Not too long ago though, I came across it again and didn't hesitate to snag it for my collection this time. As someone who's a big fan of the Pixar Little Golden Book series, and an even bigger fan of Monsters Inc., this was instantly dubbed a "must have" for me.

Each page is dedicated to one or more letters of the alphabet, of which the film's characters (and scenarios) are then tied in. For example, of course "B is for Boo" and "C is for Celia", but then there's also "P is for Paperwork" (featuring Roz) and "Q is for Quittin' Time" (hearkening back to one of Mike's quotes in the film). Plus, as mentioned, this is also a rhyming book, so there's that aspect too. It's simple, but it's all very cleverly written and everything flows nicely!

What's funny is that there is no real author credited anywhere in the book—only that it's written by Mike Wazowski! My wife and I had a good laugh about that. As far as the illustrations, what's neat is that they're actually done by Pixar artist Ricky Nierva (who was the lead character designer on Monsters Inc.). I find that so cool, especially considering he's one of my favorite artists there at the studio. The art in this book alone makes the purchase worth it; it's all so sweet and charming!

Let's take a peek inside at some of the 23 pages...

This is obviously aimed at very young kids (ages 2-5), but us older fans of Monsters Inc. can appreciate the tasteful illustrations and the memories associated with all of these classic and iconic characters. So go ahead and grab this one for your kids, but there's also no shame in just grabbing it for yourself as well—I can't recommend it enough!

You can pick this up on Amazon (direct link below) or Barnes and Noble for around $4. Digital Kindle and Nook versions are available as well. Let me know what you think down in the comments!

Incredibles 2: The Incredibile Tin Pullback

Currently available at the Disney Store and ShopDisney.com, here we have their exclusive Incredibles 2 Incredibile Tin Pullback toy car! If you've followed me here for a while, you probably know I'm a sucker for good ol' fashioned toys—especially tin toys (to this day, it's still a tradition for me to get some unique tin toy for Christmas each year). When I saw this tin Incredibile hit the Disney Store last month (a design I've loved since the first film; a total retro throwback to mid-century modern style, which fits this retro type toy), I snagged it without hesitation! I knew it would be a great little gem for play or display.

Like any simple pullback vehicle, just pull it back on any hard surface to wind up and watch it take off! And boy does it take off—this thing is speedy. Size is 1 3/4'' H x 2 1/2'' W x 6'' L and retail price is $9.95.

Whether you're a kid or a kid at heart, if you love The Incredibles films, you just might want to pick this up for your collection! Again, grab it at your local Disney Store or on the ShopDisney site HERE. Let me know what you think in the comments below! Do you plan on picking this one up?

Up: Carl & Russell Wooden Collectibles—Limited Edition

Welcome Wilderness Explorers to tonight's post!

Last summer during the 2017 D23 Expo, Disney & Pixar (with creative guidance from John Lasseter) debuted a new collection inspired by traditional Japanese wooden collectibles known as Kokeshi dolls. The collection began with three Disney Store D23 Expo exclusive sets: Buzz & Woody (which I picked up of course, see my full blog post HERE), Anna & Elsa and Moana & Maui—each set limited to only 300 units produced. 

A few months after that, ShopDisney.com released (to my surprise) two more wooden collectible sets: a Cars 3 one (featuring Lightning McQueen & Cruz Ramirez; see post HERE) and a Monsters Inc. one (featuring Mike & Sulley; see post HERE). I realized then that this collection was really becoming a thing and it seemed as though even more sets would be released in the future. Could every Pixar film be eventually represented? Time would tell. Now flash forward to early 2018, and once again we were treated to another two surprise sets of Pixar friends—this Up inspired Carl and Russell 2-Pack and one featuring Wall·E & Eve (which I'll be showing off soon). I was ecstatic! 

As usual, this set is a limited edition of only 400 and is sold only on the ShopDisney website HERE (not sold in stores). I LOVE the way these characters are stylized and they will display perfectly next to all the others. Just look at them! So simple, yet so effective. My hat goes off to the designer, Jen Tan (Creative Director of Consumer Products at Pixar), who created the signature look of each and every one of these wooden collectibles. She did a fabulous job. In fact, you can see the entire character lineup she illustrated on her Instagram HERE. The designs have even been utilized on shirts (one from last year's D23 Expo and a couple available now only to annual pass holders during  Disneyland's Pixar Fest) and Dooney and Bourke bags.

As with the others in this collection, the packaging is clean and minimal—definitely marketing to adult collectors like myself (these are certainly not toys). You can tell right away from looking it it that this is a special item. The box is basically one big clear plastic case with a cardboard stand/ backdrop that can be easily removed (as seen below). The Disney Store logo is featured in the top left corner. The backdrop art is amazing and I love the style. I wonder who did it? It makes for a solid display piece in or out of the package.

Take a look at these guys out of the packaging! I'm obsessed; they're seriously just too cute.

These are maliciously designed, quality crafted and hand painted (made entirely out of solid wood; both are decently heavy for what they are). As far as their size, Carl is 4" tall and Russell is 3 1/2" tall. The dimensions of the packaging are 7 1/2'' H x 7 1/2'' W x 4 1/2'' D. Retail price for this set, like the others, is $59.95 (which yes, is extremely pricey, but hey, it's Disney and a limited edition—it's what I expect at this point).

Underneath them, you'll find the Disney/Pixar copyright and the limited edition number of 400. And maybe you're thinking this too, but I thought it was kind of funny that these Japanese inspired collectibles were actually made in China ;)

No limited edition item is complete without a certificate of authenticity! My edition number is 134/400. The certificate can be found under and within the cardboard base. Don't forget it!

As a big fan of Up, this is a most welcomed addition to my collection (especially since any new Up items are few and far between). I highly recommend it to any and all Disney collectors who love these classic characters! If you're interested in this set, I wouldn't hesitate too much. It's still in stock on the ShopDisney site HERE (which I'm really surprised about after all these months), but once it's gone, it's gone. Be sure to let me know your thoughts or any questions you might have in the comments below! 

Inside Out: Bing Bong "I Cry Candy" Men's Tee (Fifth Sun)

"I cry candy! Try the caramel, it's delicious." Three years ago today, Pixar's instant classic Inside Out leapt off the screen and into our hearts. Can you believe how fast the time goes by? Tonight I'm celebrating its anniversary by taking a look at this colorful men's tee from Fifth Sun featuring everyone's favorite imaginary friend who likes to play—Bing Bong! Bing Bong! Another big thanks to my wife who surprised me with this (and a bunch of other Pixar shirts) for my birthday a few weeks back. Still more to come.

Bing Bong certainly makes an impression in the film and is, in my opinion, one of the most memorable Pixar characters to date. He's one of my personal all time favorites! So much of the heart of the film can be traced back to this odd yet lovable cotton candy, part cat, part elephant, part dolphin hybrid. I'm excited to finally have him on a shirt after all these years! I'm going to rock this my next Disney trip. An awesome suggestion Fifth Sun gave me was to wear this to the brand new Bing Bong's Sweet Stuff Confectionery at Pixar Pier!

My wife ordered this shirt from the Fifth Sun website for $19.95, though it can also be found at Hot Topic HERE, Amazon using the link below and also some smaller sites as well. It seems to be a pretty popular design! And for good reason—the Bing Bong and candy graphic here is pretty adorable. I always wonder who the artist is who designs these types of t-shirts as I'd love to give them credit.

If you love Bing Bong, this is the tee for you (especially if you're a Disney/Pixar t-shirt collector)! It's 100% cotton and feels and fits great. I really like the charcoal gray color too. I don't think anyone would be disappointed here. Let me know your thoughts down in the comments! And if you have any special memories you'd like to share in regards to Inside Out in general, I'd love to hear them.

Catch you tomorrow for another post right here! Be sure to check back daily for more from my ever expanding Pixar collection.