Xero’s Heros an Zeros : POTC
This week’s review is going to be a tough one for me. I have looked at all 11 vinyls that make up this set and am not sure which to make my heros and what to make my zeros. I frankly feel that they all look horrible thanks to the new mold, but I must look beyond that. If I do not, I might as well stop writing these things up. But, on the other hand I will continue to voice my displeasure regarding this new mold. First, because I must be true to myself and secondly, I know for fact that higher ups at Disney are checking in and monitoring this website. So they need to constantly be reminded on how bad the new mold is.
Did you read that Mr Disney Suit? The new mold is HORRID
With that being said, Xero’s Heros and Zeros will take a new approach. Until the original mold is phased back in, I will base my review solely on the design and how that design fits into the overall set. If there is a time that the new mold is overly horrible on a design, I may point that out. If there is a time that the new mold actually contributes to the overall beauty of the piece, I may point that out as well. But don’t count on that happening much.
No personal anecdotes today. No witty little stories or tugging at the heartstrings to pull you into this review. Just the cold hard facts. My mood is a bit irate as I write this, but I must get beyond it. Pirates had the chance to be one of the best sets ever produced. A classic Disney ride. Full of classic characters that are recognized by all. Appealing to both the vinyl collector and the generic Disney fan. What could be better? Even a little bit of macabre is inserted into this set. And the dark side typically increases the interest of a set as well. Overall, people like that stuff. And do not even mention the blockbuster movie that is currently on episode 4. The interest in Piratology has never been higher. We are at its peak. It will not last forever. Eventually Vampires, or Zombies or Wizards will become hot again and Pirates will fade a bit. But for now they are the top of the food chain.
So what is gonna hold Pirates back a bit?
Timing. I answer.
Timing? You say. But Xero, you just said that Pirates are the hottest thing out there right now. And I hear that at Walt Disney World you can even get a Pirate makeover.
Yep you are right, Pirates are hot. And, no ladies I am not just talking about Johnny Depp. By the way, I loved 21 Jump Street. Holly Robinson Pete and Johnny Depp. My oh my. That show had it all.
Timing. Back to timing……If this set was produced last year, my oh my, Sales would have been through the roof.
Why is that? You ask.
Plain and simple. It would have been on the original ( I will never call old) mold. Now that would be an epic series.
Enough is enough, let me move into the best and worst designs as I my mind’s eye picture them on the original mold. First as always. The Zeros.
Zero #1
Skeleton Pirate Henchman in the Striped shirt.
The fact that I have to qualify the Skeleton and mention ‘Striped shirt’ at all is the sole reason that this guy slides into this spot. There are 3 of these guys in this set. I actually like the other 2 and am considering making one a hero. But this guy has no real function in this set. As Scuba Owl pointed out in one of his -ions. When you look at a set, you know which will be in the trade box. This one, my friend, will be the most heavily traded of all the Pirates
Zero #2
Eye Patch Pirate
Not sure where this guy is in the ride. Feel free to comment and let me know. And not sure why he is the poster boy for this set. Maybe because generically he just looks like a Pirate. That’s fine. Actually that is all that he is. Fine. Trader #2. Ahoy Matey. You will travel along the seas of the clear trader box for some time. Never knowing where the winds of this hobby will land you.
Zero #3
Dirty Foot Pirate
This is perhaps the most iconic of all the designs in this set and by rights should be a top notch Hero. But there is one reason that he is actually a top notch Zero. Take a look at his picture.
So what ! You say. Let me explain my point. This was the first real picture that was shared of this set. The first good picture that showed off the human form as seen on the new mold. The new mold which was made to better suit the human form. This mold did nothing to improve upon the ‘chunky human’ issue that vinylmations dealt with. And those cheeks. WOW. Those puffy cheeks are atrocious. And whenever I see the Dirty Foot Pirate, that is all I can think of. He was my first great disappointment in the new mold era. I will not even mention Sea Creatures. As far as I am concerned, that set was never produced. But for this Pirate, it should be his dirty foot that stands out to me, not his ” I had too much Pirate Ale and am about to hurl” cheeks. It’s OK Dirty Foot Pirate, you are not alone. I think that all of your friends may have over indulged. Just a bit. Anyone need a bucket?
To quote Wayne and Garth. “If you are gonna spew, spew in this!”
Thank You new mold.
Thank You Wayne.
Thank You Garth.
Wayne’s World
Excellent
Party On
And so we shall……………..
On to the Heros as based on DESIGN
Hero #1
Skeleton PIrate #1
This guy makes my list because it is first and foremost my list, and he is the foremost character of my favorite scene on the ride at Walt Disney World. Sorry to all the Disneyland people out there, but i have only been to DLR once. Back to the WDW version of Pirates. The Wind. The Lightning. The Cool Breeze. It is a very eerie scene in the ride and one that sets the tone for the rest of the Pirates of The Caribbean experience. I love it.
I can feel the wind on my cheeks and the chill down my spine just looking at this photograph. And the vinyl design sets that same tone.
Hero #2
The Auction Lady
“Show em your larboard side, dearie…” That is what you hear as you pass through what is perhaps the most well known scene of the whole ride. Why this lady was produced instead of the Red Head remains a mystery still. “We wants the Red Head” But until then I am very happy with her. My only question is. How much is she worth to you? Auction style. I would guess about 9.95 with free shipping on eBay.
Hero #3
Dirty Pig
Not sure who will agree with me on this one. And I assume that we will see a pig or two end up in the trade box. Not many 12 year old boys will be happy with this one. I can see it now. “Mommy. can you buy me a box of those Pirate Vinylationmatation toy things.” “Well son, I don’t even understand what they are. I just don’t get it, but if you want to that to be your souvenir, then fine I will buy you one.” He opens it up and to his chagrin, the pig. Well Jimmy if I was there I would be happy to trade you which ever other Pirate Figure you want for it. Even Captain Jack. Me loves the Dirty Pig laddy. He just makes me smile when I look at him. And is that not what your collection should be about? If I could wrestle up an entire pen of them I would. I am sure that my 9” Ham and Eggs would not mind.
But we still do wants the Red Head
For completeness sake I have decided to add the Visual Checklist that R2MK produced
As always, feel free to discuss below.
Agree?
Disagree?
I also think Mr Hook hand is a hero. He is very well done, his top hat is top notch and he has a hook for a hand…. which can’t help but make me want a Captain Hook even more. My all time favorite is the pig though
I would remove Bieber Skeleton from your list and replace with Hook Hand.
BTW I think this article would have been a perfect place for my short comic: http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/David_Kramp/Vinylmation/b37d1fed.png
The only upside I see to them not producing the Red Head, is that they didn’t make her look like she was about to upchuck, and kept her as the “sexy” Red Head
There can be a positive side, right?
Love the pig!
Yeah. The pig is on my top picks. i hate the new mold. it feels like i got it out of a happy meal.
but the pig. i want the pig.
I have to Agree with the Hook…He is my Favorite as is the Pig…The Dirty Foot Pirate was up there for me until you broke it down the way you always do…Now you have me thinking as always…Great article! Thanks!
I think ALL POTC are ZERO… I just dont think characters fit that ugly new mold AT ALL!! Maybe new mold may be good on some design but definetely not on POTC. SAD SAD SAD!!!!!
I could not agree more. I hope someone at Disney is reading this. I collected EVERY, and I mean EVERY Vinylmation up until Park #6, when the announcement of the new mold was made. The new mold is terrible. I have since sold off ALL my Urbans on eBay and am not going to be collecting anything other than parks and disney related Vinylmation until the new mold is done away it. It is TERRIBLE. You all should be ashamed of yourselves.
I agree. It is TERRIBLE and disney should be ashamed of just thinking of the bottom line and what the collectors want. I know they are hoping that people will forget their anger over the mold and just start buying them but I am not going to.
Disney think new mold is better and majority think its ugly/terrible… old mold represent VM and everything about Disney and Mickey… with new mold… mean nothing but laziness and stupidity… why not replace Disney icon “Mickey Mouse” to Goofy or Donald Ducks or even Bambi as icon…. thats what they did to VM mold
Barrel Jack is great, Hook Hand is awesome, I even like Tubby Blue Dress, but Pirate Skeleton with the Beads is by far my favorite. The latter is just perfectly pirate to me.
psst… avast there… it be too late to alter course now mateys and there be plundering pirates lurking in every cove… waitin to board!
Are these reviews based upon pictures and artwork or on actually looking and or holding the Vinylmations with one’s eye. While one can make judgement on pictures or artwork, many times you get a different feel/opinion once your are looking at the actual Vinyl.
PS – While I’m not a “fan” of the new mold, I do think the bashing of it..is extreme.
Yes they are. Honestly, I don’t we can bash opinions. Some people collect these just because how they are applied to the Mickey mold. Being that the new mold took away much of the distinguishing characteristics of Mickey for the sake of cost savings, I think those people have a right to be irritated. I have a Sea Creature, CLY, and 8 POTC in hand. The Sea Creature is bland, while the CLY is borderline criminal that they sold it with so many production errors (wasn’t new mold supposed to fix that). The POTC designs are good however it doesn’t change for me that they would be better on the old mold.
In Xero’s column, He has to have 3 Heros and 3 Zeros (yes we intentionally misspell them) so in that regard, it has nothing to do with the mold.
Let me rephrase my last point, I don’t think anyone’s opinion is discredited, to each their own, but I do think that sometimes we “trash” the new mold so much, it hampers the discussion…again JMO.
I agree on the CLY and wonder if a different plant manufactured them because they were so bad and Sea Creatures are just….weird, but the details in a lot of the POTC are so well done, would they have been so detailed on the old mold?
With the more detailed vinyls like POTC it seems that you do really recognize the mold, and one thing I think is actually better then the old mold are the ears.
As far a reasons for the new mold? How is the new mold cheaper to manufacture?
Well allegedly less production mistakes but with CLY that remains to be seen. haha. The vinyl “feels” softer to me so I’m going with cheaper products? And I measured the new mold. They are 1/16th shorter than the others. hahaha kidding on the last part.
But fro a production standpoint, I have heard from the production side that doing all the parts separate now, speeds up time and streamlining so therefore it will save money.
Ahh Thanks..makes sense..
I all fariness, I base my opinions soley on the design, not the mold. Except for the Dirty Foot Pirate. LOL
My disdain for the new mold is so strong that this is the only way that I can do it.
And to answer your question abuot the detail? Sure, why couldn’t that level of detail be done on the original mold. I just got my San Fran Trolly today. It has more fine lines and detail than any of the Pirates. And it is the original mold