Finding Dory: "Come Swim with Me" Book

Here we have Come Swim with Me, an extremely cute and interactive board book based the world of Finding Dory!

There are two main things that caught my attention with this release when I picked it up a couple months ago: first of all, it's illustrated by one of my very favorite Disney artists, Joey Chou. If you remember, he was also the artist behind the three Wonderground Gallery postcards I wrote about earlier this year (see his two The Good Dinosaur prints HERE and HERE as well as his Up piece HERE if you missed them). His illustrations here are just fantastic! His unique style is so charming and fits so well with this colorful underwater world.

The next thing that made this book stand apart from a lot of other Dory books out there is the interactive feature. Just punch out the cardboard Dory from the very first page and help guide her home through the five detailed scenes. This is good for young kids who are developing coordination skills as they have to fit Dory through the different slits which vary in size, shape and placement on the page.

Kids will have fun meeting a lot of her fish friends along the way as well! Take a peek inside below...

As you can see, there is also some simple wording on each page (telling a very basic little story), however no author is credited.

Follow me on Instagram @danthepixarfan

You can pick this up wherever Finding Dory books are sold for around $9.99. I highly recommend it for any young fan of the film! Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

Finding Dory: Summer 2016 Disney Store Cast Member Exclusives

Back in June, in celebration of Finding Dory's theatrical release (as well as the commencement of Summer Play Days), the Disney Store rewarded Cast Members with a couple of fun little treats! Here we have the Cast Member exclusive Finding Dory mini beach ball and inflatable flying disk. Each features some of your favorite characters such as Nemo, Marlin, Hank, Destiny, Bailey and Dory herself, as well as the film's logo and release date.

Of course there's nothing extraordinary about these, as they're pretty basic inflatable toys, but it's honestly just fun for me to have anything limited, rare or exclusive when it comes to Pixar.

Check 'em out!

Ratatouille: Disney Parks Keychain

Bonjour! Over the past couple months, I've been showing you guys some of the Disney·Pixar Ratatouille items that I purchased during our most recent Walt Disney World trip (see the hat, the mug, the sign and the figurine). To wrap all that up, here we have the last item from my loot...this cute Ratatouille "Say Cheese" keychain featuring Chef Remy and [once again] the cheese Eiffel Tower!

Like with the rest of the stuff I've shown, this too can only be found in Epcot at the World Showcase France pavilion in the Souvenirs de France gift shop. It's made from a flexible PVC material and retails for $7.95.

If you're a Ratatouille fan and feel like your collection of related merch is lacking (like me), be sure to pick this up during your next visit to the parks or on the Shop Disney Parks app. 

Finding Dory: Dive Characters Three-Pack (By SwimWays)

Last week I began showing off my collection of SwimWays Finding Dory water toys, starting with the fantastic Hank Pool Shooter. Today we have this really neat Dive Characters three-pack featuring Nemo, Dory and the ever so cranky (yet so lovable) "septopus" Hank!

These figures are made from a soft, flexible plastic and are perfect for the pool or bath (heck, they're cool enough to play with, or display, outside of the water as well). Kids will have a great time diving for and retrieving these, whether it's for swim practice or just for fun.

I brought these in the pool today, to test them out with my nieces and nephews, and they looked like they were having so much fun with them. We made up several games using the characters and I even saw some imaginative play out there as well (where the kids were acting out scenes/ quotes from the film as well as their own made up antics).

For one game, I had all the kids turn around while I threw the characters in different parts of the pool. We then timed how long it would take to find them all!

As usual, you can pick this set up at Target, Walmart, Toys R Us, Amazon (direct link below) or wherever Finding Dory pool toys are sold. Retail is $12.99. For young fans of the film, especially those who want to mix up the old diving stick routine in the pool, I can't recommend it enough. If you haven't already, be sure to snag it before the summer is over!

Finding Dory: Funko Mystery Minis PAGE UPDATE

Today's post is a page update to my Finding Dory Funko Mystery Minis collection. Swim over to my original post HERE to check out who I was able to get this time!

Cars: One Eye Mater

New for 2016, here we have one of Mattel's latest Cars re-releases in the Toys R Us exclusive Radiator Springs Classic collection...One Eye Mater! I missed this one when it was originally available in the 2009 Final Lap Series, so I'm thrilled it's back. As usual, this is a 1:55 diecast.

As shown in the screenshot above, Mater is seen with this one eye expression in the original Cars (when Sheriff asks him if he'd keep an eye on Lightning Mcqueen).

I have to note that I'm loving the new RSC packaging. The new logo, layout and colors make it really fresh!

You also may notice that this release of Mater, when compared to the standard diecast, has a different mouth expression, a lighter paint job and an arched back.

I picked this up at Toys R Us just this past week, so be sure to hit up your store soon to check for availability! If you're having a hard time finding it however, be sure to head to eBay or Amazon using the direct link below. Happy hunting everyone!

Finding Dory: Memory Matching Game

A memory game inspired by a film where the main character has short term memory loss? Yup, that was inevitable! In fact, there are several out there made by different companies, but this particular Finding Dory memory matching game is an exclusive to the Disney Store. It was released on April 18th along with the rest of the mainline Dory merch.

This game includes 32 shell shaped cards to match up featuring seven of your favorite Marine Life Institute characters : Dory, Marlin, Nemo, Hank, Destiny, Bailey and the sea otters. Three and up is the suggested age range. 

Check out all 16 designs below! Very cute, minimal digital artwork (which has been seen on a variety of other products as well). I can highly recommend this to any young fans of the film!

At the Disney Store, you can find this game in the "Souvenir" section by the checkout. Or, if you don't have a store near you, you can pick it up online HERE. Retail is $4.95.

Don't you forget it!

Toy Story: "Galaxy Rescue" (Buddy Figure Gift Pack)

If you've been following my blog for a while, then you probably know I've been an avid fan and collector of the Mattel Toy Story "Buddy Pack" figures since they debuted in 2010 (check out my full write-up on the collection HERE). While I got almost every single one back in the day, there were a few that I just never got for one reason or another.

This fun "Galaxy Rescue" Target exclusive 5-Pack (from 2010) was one of the sets that slipped past me. Though I have Zurg, Grapnel Buzz Lightyear and the two Zurg robots already, it was the Rex with gaming helmet that I was missing (which is only available in this set). So yah, I tracked this down on eBay recently basically just for him! It's my completest mentality, what can I say (plus I figured it wouldn't hurt to have another Zurg and a couple of his evil bots for scene building).

Check them out in more detail below! 

Note: Mattel recently released "Gaming Rex" and "Grapnel Buzz" as standard size figures as well (check it my post HERE). 

Zurg's robots even have rolling wheels underneath. Nice touch!

I wish this line would continue on. There have been scattered new releases and re-releases over the past year or so, but I would love to see new characters in full force. These have been some of my favorite things to collect for their quality and uniquely stylized look! 

Who would you like to see made that hasn't been already? Shout it out in the comments below. 

Finding Dory: Hank Pool Shooter (By SwimWays)

Time for some fun in the sun! After almost a summer's worth of repairs on our pool, it's finally back in operation (hallelujah). You know what that means? Oh yes- lots of swimming and lots of new water toys.

I got this back in May for my birthday (thanks to my in-laws), but I haven't been able to try it out until now. Here we have an awesome pool shooter disguised as Hank from Finding Dory...or is Hank disguised as a pool shooter? Hmmm...interesting (mind blown). Either way, this is a fantastic toy that fans of the film, young or old, will have a swimmingly good time with!

Just dip Hank in the water and pull back on the handle to fill him up. Then lift and push the handle in for wacky squirting action! He'll shoot water all over the place from six, out of his seven, rubber tentacles. Like the packaging says, "a surprise with every spray." Hank was meant to be a pool toy; just perfect.

The handle is made from a hard, light weight plastic and Hank himself is made from soft plastic/rubbery materials. Overall this feels like a very well made toy and fans of the film will have a blast with it in the pool.

SwimWays brand Finding Dory toys were some of the very first products to be released clear back in early February of this year. They made a few other things that I got as well, so look forward to my write-ups on those right here soon. I have to say, they made a lot of cool merch! Well done.

You can pick this up at Target, Walmart, Toys R Us, Amazon or wherever Finding Dory pool toys are sold. Retail is $9.99. 

OK, enough writing for me. It's a gorgeous day outside! It's swimming time...check it out in action below!

My niece Kami and my nephews Luke and Noah having some fun today

Up: Disney Parks Dug with Cone of Shame Plush

"I do not like the cone of shame..."

Currently sold exclusively at Disney Parks, here we have this adorable Dug with "Cone of Shame" plush inspired by Pixar's Up! I was able to grab this during our most recent visit to Walt Disney World at the World of Disney Store in Disney Springs (though I saw him all over the place). Retail was $16.95. 

This is my third Dug plush, following the 2014 Disney Store version and the 2014 ThinkWay Toys talking version, but this one is the first ever to feature the cone of shame. Such a fun new detail that made this version hard to resist!

This is a very soft, well made plush with a nice likeness to the character (though the 2014 Cuddle 'N Talk version is the best, I feel, in that regard). He has embroidered features, his signature collar and yes, his cone is removable. With his cone attached, he stands at about 11" tall.

This is a fantastic Disney Parks souvenir for any Up fan. I mean, who doesn't love Dug? I have just met him and I love him. Be sure to pick this one up during your next visit! 

What are your thoughts? Do you have a favorite Dug plush from over the years? Sound it off in the comments below.

follow me on Instagram @danthepixarfan

Finding Dory: Three Little Words Book

Three Little Words is a beautifully written and masterfully illustrated children's picture book based on the world of Finding Dory. Collaborators Amy Novesky and Grace Lee did a wonderful job at bringing the film to the page with simple wording, a tender message and eye-catching water color style illustrations on each page.

This one, out of all the Finding Dory books out there, is the real stand out for me. The images created here are so soft, yet so vibrant, and are unlike anything I have represented in my Pixar library. Each page, visually, matches with the main story beats of the film; however the text is boiled down to just the main takeaway of the book, which is hope and perseverance. "Just keep swimming", you guessed it, are the three little optimistic words that keep Dory going through both the challenging and joyful times of her adventure.  

I don't want to give too much away, but I did want to give you a peek inside. Have a look below! 

Fantastic right? This 32 page, hardcover book is as classy as they come. If you're a fan of the film, I highly recommended picking this up for your collection! You can find it wherever Finding Dory books are sold (Barnes and Noble for one) or on Amazon using the direct link below.