WDCC : Walt Disney Classic Collection

About The Walt Disney Classics Collection

The Walt Disney Classics Collection is the only collection of fine animation art sculptures created using the time-honored principles of Disney film animation. As a result, each sculpture captures all the emotions and magic of the unforgettable characters and settings created by Disney.

The very first WDCC piece 'The Fieldmouse' from Bambi

To earn their place in the Collection, sculptures are reviewed and revised by animators, sculptors and painters at the Disney Studios in Burbank, California. Countless materials, including character model sheets, storyboards, layout drawings, and original film cels are referenced during the creation of each sculpture. Many sculptures are "plussed" with metal, crystal or blown glass to further enhance the Disney "illusion of life." And each sculpture carries a signature backstamp with the production year mark, and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity imprinted with the signature of Roy E. Disney.

The Collection is divided into three groups, based on the film inspiration for each character and setting:

Timeless Treasures
The Early Features personally touched by Walt Disney. From the first ever animated feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) through The Jungle Book (1967), Timeless Treasures lifted Disney magic to new Heights and established an unparalleled legacy in motion picture history.

Modern Masterpieces
This group begins with The Aristocats (1970) and show that the legacy endures, touching the hearts- both young and old- of today's audiences. The highlight of this modern era is undoubtedly the feature film renaissance that began with The Little Mermaid (1989).

Cartoon Classics
Including all the early animated short films, through which Walt created the cast of characters who would introduce Disney magic to the world. At the heart of this segment is, of course, Mickey Mouse and his friends from the very beginnings to today.

The Collection is supported by the Walt Disney Collectors Society, the first membership society established by Disney. The Society offers an annual Membership Gift Sculpture and other, periodic Members-Only pieces.

We hope you enjoy this celebration of the characters and settings that live at the heart of our fondest Disney memories!

The Making of the Walt Disney Classics Collection

From its very beginning Disney animation has had one purpose, to create the "illusion of life." Now that passion is passed down to the Walt Disney Classics Collection in the creation of stunning sculptures that bring the magical Disney film moments and characters to three-dimensional life.

Subscribing to the same painstaking principles as animation, the creation of each sculpture is a labor of love and rare craftsmanship. Using originals animation drawings and model sheets, Disney artists select a pose that epitomizes a beloved film moment. The animation reference goes to the sculptor who becomes the "animator's hands," creating a sculpt that captures the characters movement, personality and emotion. Next, skilled artisans craft final porcelain sculptures from the originals--- a process that involves multiple moulding, firing stages and meticulous hand detailing. Each sculpture is then hand-painted using colors and textures that match the original animation art and techniques.

Finally, the pieces are "plussed" with precious metals, crystals or blown glass for that extra touch of believability. As a last "plus," an official backstamp and a Certificate of Authenticity, signed by Roy E. Disney for The Walt Disney Studios, symbolize the care which has gone into making each sculpture a bit of Disney animation magic and a fine work of art itself!

Sculpting: The Illusion Takes On Dimension

Animation sculptures capture the fluidity of movement and ephemeral emotion of two-dimensional animated characters and scenes. But the transition from on-screen movement to the stillness of porcelain is challenging.

To begin, Disney artists view videotapes to choose the film characters and scenes which will awaken old memories and spark new ones as animation sculptures. Is it Captain Hook lunging for Peter Pan, Snow White dancing, or an out-of-step mushroom?

Then, the artists examine original film references, including sketches, Maquettes, production drawings, video prints from the film and pointed cels. One of the latest additions in the WDCC

Now, the artists may draw concept sketches to convey' the characters' most definitive poses and expressions or salve special problems with odd angles or size relationships.

These drawings, plus the original reference materials and video go to the sculptor, who makes rough sculpts to establish the character's line of action and proportions. Becoming the animators' hands, the sculptor refines the sculpt until it captures the character's physical look, movement, personality and emotion. At every stage, animators advise and critique the work.

Sculpture prototypes go next to Disney Ink and Paint. Here, experts paint them using original animation paint formulas and color model sheets from the film to ensure complete fidelity to the original film colors.

Next, painted prototypes travel to the production studio where artists experiment with ways to translate cold-paint animation colors into lustrous fired ceramic colors. They must also find ways to suggest textures, painted effects and finishes - matte, half-matte and shiny. Because different ceramic colors require different firing temperatures - and because pieces have a variety of finishes and textures - they go through multiple paintings and firings. Sometimes Five or six trips to the kiln are required.

The painted, fired prototype is approved when the artists have captured the elusive "illusion of life" so perfectly you can almost hear Fifer Pig tooting his flute and see Peter Pan flying

Production: The Final Stage of Creation

Each stage in the production of a Walt Disney Classics Collection animation sculpture demands painstaking craftsmanship. Once a final sculpt is approved, multiple resin duplicates are cast. Some duplicates will be used to create porcelain production molds; others are saved for comparing to the final porcelain sculpture.

Dedicated artisans with generations of experience first cut one resin into separate pieces to make plaster molds. Complicated sculptures may require many molds. Pecos Bill, for instance, needed over thirty.

Next liquid porcelain, called "slip," is poured into the molds and allowed to partially air dry. Artisans remove the air-dried pieces or "greenware" and reassemble the pieces by hand, using fine calibrating tools, jigs and supports. Sculpts are checked against duplicate resins to ensure an exact match to the originals. Artists hand-detail each piece to add back features and textures or to remove marks from the molds.

The reassembled greenware sculpt is fired, with some shrinkage as the remaining moisture bakes out. This porcelain "whiteware" is now glazed and refired - sometimes several times - to produce "glazed whiteware."

Now, artists apply the final colors according to the formulas developed earlier. Each sculpt has its own palette, texture and finish requirements, making each one an individual painting and firing challenge. The tiny variations of hand painting lend a special magic to each piece.

Finally, the pieces are "plussed" with precious metals, crystal or blown glass for that extra touch of believability.

As a last "plus," the piece receives an official Walt Disney Classics Collection Backstamp. A Certificate of Authenticity signed by Roy E. Disney for The Walt Disney Studios symbolizes the care which has gone into making each sculpture a bit of Disney animated magic - and a work of fine art.

Backstamps: The Mark of Authenticity

Each Walt Disney Classics Collection sculpture bears a backstamp with Walt Disney's signature and incised production year marks symbolizing major chronological milestones in Disney history. A production year mark represents the calendar year during which the particular piece was made. Individual sculptures of an open edition may carry different marks when production continues over many years.

	For it's premier year- 1992- the Walt Disney Classics Collection featured a steamboat wheel mark. The wheel honors Mickey Mouse's debut in Steamboat Willie (1928). This first mark is the most desired by collectors.
	The 1993 production mark is a treble clef. The clef symbolizes the music in the Academy Award winning Silly Symphonies. In them, Walt explored and expanded the artistic, technical and emotional range of animation.
	The 1994 mark is a dancing flower. The flower represents Disney's Flowers and Trees (1932). This animated short is the first color cartoon ever created and won the first Academy Award for Disney.
	The 1995 mark is a trowel. The trowel was used by Practical Pig in the Academy Award winning 1933 cartoon, Three Little Pigs. The short was a high point in character development and introduced the song, "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf," which was the first hit song for Disney.
	The 1996 mark is a sailor's hat. The hat represents Donald Duck's on-screen debut in The Wise Little Hen (1934). "Who? Me? Oh, no, I've got a bellyache" With these eight words, the worlds most quick tempered duck was born.
	The 1997 mark is a music stand. The stand represents Mickey Mouse's first color cartoon The Band Concert (1935).
	The dwarfs' diamond mining tool helps celebrate 1998, the Diamond Anniversary of The Walt Disney Company. In addition, this production mark serves as a tribute to the artisans who use many tools to bring the Walt Disney Classics Collection to life.
	Fantasia (1940) is recognized as one of Walt Disney's greatest experiments, combining the art of animation with the beauty of classical music. And of course, it's lauded for giving Mickey Mouse his most famous role as the Sorcerer's Apprentice. That's why Mickey's hat was chosen as mark for the 1999 Classics Collection.