Medicom VCD Modern Pets Mickey Mouse (2006)

There's been a lot of re-imagining of Mickey Mouse going on in the last few years, and this vinyl figure is one of the most successful examples. This toy is a nice merging of the Modern Pets style with classic Mickey - it still feels like the character, even though it's a significant departure from the current design.

It's very appealing, and like most Medicom toys, extremely well made! The sculpted pose is really strong, and the color work is a terrific combination of tight paint passes and different colors of vinyl. It all comes together to form an attractive 3-D version of stylized cartoon design.

I think I originally paid around $40 for this figure. It's been out for a couple of years now, so its price has climbed to $68.99 + shipping at yesasia.com. Get on it!

Toy OTD: Dell Mickey Mouse Squeak Toy

I've had this toy since I was a kid - I think my folks bought it for me at a flea market. The squeaker still works, and it still stands on its own, even though I'm assuming it's around forty years old.

In spite of my love for the improvements in production technology, there's a lot to be said for the charm of a limited paint palette and a little overspray. Black, white and red are a classic color combination, and the off-white helps keep the toy warm and friendly.

It's a curious pose for a figure - it feels like Mickey is waiting or reacting to another character, as if a Minnie Mouse had been made as part of a set. Still, there's a real sweetness to the sculpt, even though Mickey isn't on-model in the strictest sense. His look and clothing are not exactly what we expect when we picture a Mickey toy, but it has its own consistent design integrity.

I have no idea what was paid for this 'originally' (i.e, in the early '70s when my parents bought it for me - probably less than a dollar. I don't see these for sale all that often, but you can buy one at whatacharacter.com for $55 + shipping.

Toy OTD: Medicom Vinyl Collectible Dolls: Fantasia Mickey

This one's just out of the park - it's one of my favorites and a bunch of categories: Medicom toys, Disney toys, Mickey toys. It's simply stunning - a fantastic sculpt of a terrific pose. It may not be spot on from the film, but it's been tweaked in a really good way to allow for a great figure!

Most of the color is in the vinyl rather than paint, which helps make it look gorgeous. It balances well, and the pose holds up great over time. The only bad thing about this toy is that you can't buy it on the primary market! You'll have to try to find it at a boutique toy website, or on eBay. I can't find it online anywhere, so I'd suggest cranking up the Favorite Search. Good luck!

Toy OTD: Tomy Magical Collection Figures: 'Runaway Brain' Mickey, Pablo The Cold-Blooded Penguin, Bullseye

I'm generally not a big fan of small PVC figures, but this line is so well sculpted, a lot of them are too good to resist! Here's a few stellar examples.

The sculpts are typically very strong, with good posing and a nice sense of the character's personality. The paint work is also pretty tight, especially considering the size of the figures. If the character needs it, it'll be packaged with a small stand.

Some mini-figures get a little carried away in an attempt to create a background, the result becoming cluttered and busy. For the most part, though, the Magical Collection line ignores backdrops completely, keeping things nice and simple.

The best thing about this series is that it has no focus - any character from any Disney film (feature or short) could be made into a figure. While there's not a lot of really obscure characters, there are plenty of unintuitive ones.

These have all been out for a little while, so you'll have to do some digging to find them. Runaway Brain Mickey is for sale on eBay for $26.99 + $7.99 shipping - yikes! There's a monochrome version of Bullseye available at Toyzz.com for $11.99 + shipping, but I can't find the regular version. I can't find Pablo anywhere, so warm up those eBay Favorite Searches!

Sometimes, Progress Is Good

The new Disney character costumes have articulated mouths and working eyelids - it certainly helps bring them to life! Check out these video clips from the Dream Along With Mickey show. I'd post the footage instead of a link, but YouTube isn't cooperating right now...