Xero’s Heros and Zeros : Wonderland
Weird week. Busy week. I do not think that I have enough time to complete my VK assignment. It is not right not to do it. I need to get it done. But how am I going to manage an entire review in such a short time? I hope the professor will not be upset with me. I hope that he does not find out what I did. But I am in a pinch and just can not get through Alice in Wonderland in such a time frame.
So I will have to break out………………..
… the Cliffs Notes.
Yep. Zeros and Heros will be abridged this week. But there are some themes that I would like to touch on before we start this shortened review. It is interesting to me that through the story of Alice, she struggles with the problem of shifting identity. and her final triumph occurs when she outgrows nonsense. Hmmm….are vinyls taking a similar path? And here is a question sure to evoke much thought and discussion. “Explain the sentiment of the Mouse’s long tale, the Mock Turtle’s story and the “Lobster-Quadrille.” or you could just “Relate aspects of enchantment to the nostalgia that Alice experiences in Wonderland”
Good luck. I fully expect your answers in the comment section of this article. For now just read on as…………
…………I bring you Xero’s Heros and Zeros : Alice in Wonderland Cliffs Notes Edition.
First up. The Zeros
Zero #10,974
Alice
I can hear the clammering already.
“What do you mean Alice?” You ask.
“How can Alice be a Zero, she is not even in this set?” You say.
Well that is the reason. There is NO Alice. The name of this set is “Alice in Wonderland” Seems wrong to me NOT to have an Alice in “Alice in Wonderland”. If there is no Alice, why not just name it “Wonderland”? You know what, I am going to edit the title of this review right now. OK done. Now let’s go on
Zero # -3
Caterpillar
Insert Cliffs notes edtion abridged comment here…….All I can see when I look at this one is this
Or this
Moving on
Zero #F
Hedgehog
Just looking at this design makes me want to repeatedly smack it across the room. I can see why the Queen of Hearts does what she does with the Hedgehogs. If that is the look and the feel the artist was going for than congrats, you nailed it. I would actually consider liking this design if it was included in a 9”/Jr set. The Queen of Hearts being a 9” holding a croquet stick looking down at the poor little scared Hegdehog just waiting to send him screaming across the garden. Now that would be cool. I have plenty of awesome ideas like this, so Thomas Scott if you want to get in touch with me, I am an active member of these VK boards. The name is Xero. Just sign up and pm me. I would be happy to get back with you. We could even keep it hush hush. We would love to have you and some of your artist friends join us.
Now, shall we stroll into the Hero section of our Garden? Come. Come. Look around.
Hero #G60s
Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum
No way that these could be left out. I would have loved to see these as variants however. But not like in a hard to get Purple Bubbles or Yellow Candy way. Make the case so neither one is more rare than the other. Maybe instead of 2 Dums and 2 Dees in a case of 24. Cut that in half and only make 2 Tweedles per case. Only have one of each. One Tweedle Dee and one Tweedle Dum. That would leave room for a 13th design. Uhhhh….maybe like, uhhhh …………Alice.
Hero #1,000,000,000,001 +1/2
Quick question Mr President. Who do you think is a better design? Mad Hatter or the Queen of Hearts? You only have 20 seconds for your answer. And you can pick just one
Just not sure how to answer this one, huh Mr President? Well hurry up, we only have 7 seconds remaining
This is a tough decision.The Queen or the Madhatter? Oh, you know what Mr President, this is Wonderland, there are no rules, So we will have 2 #2′s this week. So sir, you are off the hook. But in true Cliffs Notes fashion I gotta make it brief.
Love the Hat on the Hatter with the tufts of hair sprouting out. And arms not coming out of ears is always a plus
As far as the Queen goes.
Love almost everything about this one. It all starts with her facial expression. Although I am disappointed that she does not hold an accessory. Maybe a croquet stick so she can smack that stupid hedgehog around, a septor or maybe even a painted rose.
Writers note – Did a quick google image search on “Queen of Hearts” and all I can say is “Oh My!!!!!!!!!!” Never will I look at the Queen of Hearts the same again. I had no idea. I will leave it at that
Hero #The Last Hero
Cheshire Cat
What can I really say about this one? It is good. The fluffy tail makes it great. And that smile goes from ear to ear to ear to ear. Not sure that it could be any bigger. Which is both awesome and awful. Let me explain. I will say that the smile seems to accentuate the broad flatness that is the new mold. But at this point, it is what it is. The Cheshire Cat looks good. I am still loving my Bakery Cheshire a tad bit more, but that’s just me. I just love frosting. Can’t resist the stuff. Whipped. Creamed. White. Chocolate. Sprinkles. Confetti. Whatever. I love me some Frosting.
But just like the Cheshire Cat it is time for me to dis…..a……pear
Good Bye
Poof
Thomas Scott says that this was always meant to be an extension of his Alice from Animation 1. Same Artist. Different Mold. I kind of get his reasoning. do we really need another Alice? we all felt that way about banzai from Lion King.
Did we need another Banzai? They made it anyway. Alice though is the main character. They created another Simba because you couldn’t have a Lion King set without Simba. Not having an Alice is utterly ridiculous. Even Casey Jones at TFP said he couldn’t wait to redesign Alice on the new mold.
Now I think the REAL reason we don’t have an Alice is because it exists in the combo set that is coming out. They didn’t want to cut into the 9 inch combo set which is supposed to have Alice and more in it.
I agree Matt. The 9″ Junior Super combo has plenty of Alice to go around. In retrospect, probably would have saved themselves some grief by releasing those images officially. With so many Simbas produced, (Simbo–animation topper, Simba–Jr, and 2 Simbas in LK), I am surprised they restrained themselves in this instance.
Love the review of this set, this is the first set on the *** mold that I may just have to get a few. The only disagreement that I have with your review lies not in the set itself, but your love of whipped frosting. I too am enamored with frosting. It’s the best part of a cupcake, and one of the reasons I wanted to teach. All those birthdays to celebrate. I cannot however agree with whipped frosting. I can’t stand the stuff, I can see it a mile away sitting on top of the beautiful cupcake. It should have never been made created. So instead of the mold debate, I invite everyone into a new one:
Buttercream or Whipped?
Pick your side, make your choice, you know which one is better!
Are you a BCF (buttercream frosting fanatic) or a WT(whipped topping taster)?
BCF Forever
The Real Frosting of Cupcake Connoisseurs
Some design of this serie just lame and boring, however the best design piece still cheshire cat, it’ll be great this series came with invisible cheshire cat with glow in dark face as variant that’ll make this serie much better
Wow, this is the first time I’ve ever read this site’s reviews (and probably the last)… don’t you understand that these artists are people? They give their artwork life, and certainly while some figures are standouts, this kind of set is designed to be looked at as a WHOLE. To bash a design, or the lack of a figure, is just rude.
By the way I think the caterpillar is a GREAT design, and probably the best use of the neck extension yet, or at least tied with the giraffe.
Also, Thomas Scott has said REPEATEDLY that Alice already exists, and there is no reason to do another. Furthermore, there is a 9/3 combo coming out of Alice, so if you really are hell-bent on getting Alice in this set, there you go. No reason to bash.
And yet you found it okay to bash. Gotta love that double standard. I think if you had read all the Alice reviews, you would see that it was gushed over repeatedly as one of the best series ever. This one reporter has a column (not a review) when he rates his favorite and least favorite designs. So thanks for your input.
Regardless of the reason given for Alice not existing, it fails to make sense when you consider how many duplicate vinylmation designs that have existed in different series.
First and foremost RM. Love the passion. Thanks for your frank response. Please come back and check us out again. There are a lot of good people on this site that love vinylmation,like you, and have for a very, very long time. Many of us share your passion for this hobby.
Sorry that I offended you, but my article showcases the top 3 and the bottem 3 designs as I see them. Everyone is encouraged to state their opinions on my choices. In fact, I welcome it.
As with any art, we all will see certain designs differently. And we are all entitled to our opinions. This is a set, you are right, but is not sold as a set. It is blind boxed and I am sure that most people have some favorites that they would prefer to blind box.
All sets are this way. That is why Park 5 Stitch goes for so much. He is popular. There will always be homeruns in a set. As well as strikeouts.
I know that there is an older version of Alice and a 9/Jr set coming out, I just think it is a money grab to make people buy that set in order to get the Alice. It should be in the set.
Thanks again RM. You are always welcome to descend from heaven and comment on my stuff. And for the record, I look forward to hearing more of what you have to say. Rainbows, unicorns and sunshiney days always make me happy too.
This hobby needs passionate people like yourself.
Welcome to the site
Yikes!!!!! Ryan take a pill or something, you came out with both arms swinging but something you forgot to address in your comments
Buttercream or Whipped frosting?
Which is better?
Crazy, I have to say that Buttercream has to be the best frosting. Whipped frosting is really not frosting, but sugar flavored AIR. If you couldn’t see it, you wouldn’t even know it was there. I like the substance like you get with buttercream frosting.
.
Since Disney has released the JingleSmells series, that smells, I mean, has an aroma to it. I wished they had made the Bakery series as the BakeryTaste series, where you could lick them in addition to looking at them. Cheshire Cat could have been berry flavored buttercream frosting. YUM!!
Brad glad to see you made the right choice, you are so right! Whipped frosting might as well not even be on the cupcake. Oh what could have been with the bakery series! I was so excited first when they were announced, then even MORE excited when I found out the frosting was removable, and I would have been SO HAPPY if disney would have taken your idea and made them flavored. I could hear my wife now. . .
ARE YOU LICKING YOUR VINYLMATIONS AGAIN!?!
Glad you joined the BTC club!
Wow. No whipped cream frosting love? You guys are harsh.
I will say that I left out my fav frosting – Cream Cheese Frosting. Yum Yum. Nothing better than a thick heavy cream cheese frosting on a carrot cake.
Or maybe A German Choc Cake with that Special coconutty frosting
Oh and BTW Crazy – QUIT LICKING YOUR VINYLS !!!!!!!!!!
Wow, we do share a lot in common, our love for the old mold, and our obsession about frosting.
I do love me some cream cheese frosting, especially on carrot cake, no raisins please.
And a triple layer of german chocolate cake with that oh so tasty frosting between each layer.
I know when I go to Chicago next Friday I have to stop somewhere for some frosting!
wow RM ?? a little “site envy” perhaps?
this remains, in my opinion the best site out there for vinyls fans. At least here you dont have to pretend to like the new mold for fear of stepping on peoples toes.
Keep up the great work everyone!
Frosting and Queen of Hearts… Hmmmmm… HAHAHA! O Xero, this column is amazing, and I agree with the “stupid hedgehog”!!!
Love love love the cheshire cat (first one I blind boxed)…….as an OMC this series is againest my rules but it is sooooo cute not to have a couple lol……..and Crazy4vinyls Funfetti icing in the pilsbury can lol……..best icing ever!!!!!!!!!
I am glad I am not the only OMC member that is thinking about getting a few of these. Funfetti is wonderful isn’t it, those crunchy little sprinkles, best part is when you get some that are mixed into the frosting and bite into them. Yum! Yum!
Funfetti is right. YES. Then when the frosting and crunchies mix in with the edge of the cake and make a perfect mushy/crunchy mix. YUM YUM.
I still have no desire to add any of these Wonderland vinyls to my collection.
I have one last comment on this. If you want to find over the top gushing for the Alice series, just do a search:
http://vinylmationkingdom.com/?s=alice
For one specific, read this: http://vinylmationkingdom.com/?p=7007.
There isn’t a series ever created that has been highly praised as Alice. Now, some people I know just like to rant and complain. That’s their right. Some people like to start a column, write two or three articles and then stop. That’s cool too. Even others ass kiss everybody they can at Disney and then bad mouth in private messages on Facebook. Again, that’s his choice.
Xero’s column (consistently published since March of this year) always is about his favorite 3 and least favorite. In no way does it mean it’s a shot at the artist. It just means that it is his least favorite. Sometimes you have to read deeper than the article title which is a play on his name. If you disagree with his choices, I’m okay with it too. However, if you don’t want to read an article, do like I do. Don’t read it. That’s what I do.
If this site does anything, it doesn’t blatantly attempt to curry favor. I also don’t stop columnists from writing something that could be negative. My goal isn’t to make internet friends. It’s just to express what people think. Again, if you read this site for more than 30 seconds, you’ll realize there are many different points of view. Xero and I disagree more than we agree. That’s how the real world is. If you only want one side of a story, then I apologize. We will always welcome all mature people.
I disagree with you Baltar about us disagreeing more that we agree. LOL
I will never once apolize for my opinions. That is what they are, my opinions. And frankly, I was in no way overtly negative in this article and, as a matter of a fact, I wrote 2 Park 7 pieces that had no Zeros. So, whatever.
I have always encouraged opinions and discussion about my choice and I would love to hear more peoples opinions. That is what makes all of this fun. Hearing what people have to say.