LPWire: Don't Miss "Mickey Gala Premier" During the WDCC Diamond Anniversary Event, Sep 19 - 21

Don't Miss "Mickey Gala Premier" During the Walt Disney Classics Collection Diamond Anniversary Event, September 19 - 21, 2003
Event Will Showcase An All-New Limited-Edition Sculpture Set Celebrating 75 Years With Mickey Mouse

The Walt Disney Classics Collection announces the debut of an all-new porcelain sculpture set celebrating 75 Years of Mickey Mouse during its Diamond Anniversary Sculpture Event, September 19 - 21, 2003. The new sculptures depict Mickey and Minnie Mouse, decked out in glamorous attire, as they step from their sleek limo onto the red carpet to greet their fans and join their Hollywood contemporaries in a delightful scene from Walt Disney’s cartoon classic “Mickey’s Gala Premier” (1933).

The sculptures, entitled “Top Hat and Tails” (Mickey - 4 ½ ” high) and “All Dolled Up” (Minnie - 4” high), are being released as a numbered limited edition of 7,500 and are available only at select retailers during the weekend Diamond Anniversary event. Created by noted sculptor Valerie Edwards, the sculptures feature such “plussing” elements as opalescent paint on Minnie’s shimmering dress and Minnie’s wire eyelashes and Mickey’s wire tail. The sculptures, sold only as a set, feature a 75th anniversary backstamp and have a suggested retail price of $175 (US) / $278 (CAN).

“It’s Mickey’s 75th and we thought there is no better way to portray him and his sweetheart Minnie than as the timeless stars they are,” states Michael Young, director of Walt Disney Art Classics. “Mickey’s Gala Premier’ was an obvious film choice from which to base our new sculptures, both of which effectively convey their Hollywood star status but also their sense of fun and humor.”

“Mickey’s Gala Premier” premiered in theaters on July 1, 1933, at the height of the Great Depression. In the film Mickey and his friends, including Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Horace Horsecollar and Clarabelle Cow are treated to a lavish premiere of their new film at which many of the top stars of the day attend to praise Mickey’s latest screen achievement. But Mickey awakens to find it is all only a dream. The film was originally produced in glorious hues of black and white and was later colorized in 1991. The Walt Disney Classics Collection is renowned for its faithful recreation of unforgettable moments from Disney’s animated films. The collection features a broad array of sculptures ranging in suggested retail price from $50 to more than $2,000. Created by Disney sculptors and artists, each sculpture is meticulously crafted out of fine porcelain or resin and is hand-painted according to the film’s original color palettes. Sculptures are often enhanced with mixed materials such as precious metals, stones, pearls and crystals.

If you choose to purchase your Walt Disney Classics Collection "Mickey's Gala Premier" sculpture set from World of DisneyTM , you will receive an exclusive crystal piece (pictured below), created by Arribas Bros.

Etched crystal piece from Arribas Bros available to those who purchase the sculpture set at Disneyland's World of Disney

The collection is developed and distributed by Walt Disney Art Classics, the art and collectibles division of Disney Consumer Products, which also administrates the popular Walt Disney Collectors Society and oversees the Disney Showcase Collection (a portfolio of high-end licensed Disney collectibles) and the animation art portfolios of The Walt Disney Studios. The Walt Disney Classics Collection is available at fine gift and collectible stores, select Disney Stores, Disney catalog and Disney Theme Parks and Resorts around the world.

For general information, please call (800) 932 - 5749 or visit www.disneyartclassics.com

--Posted September 12, 2003
Source: Walt Disney Art Classics