Introduced in 1992 at the South Bend Collectible Show, the debut of the Walt Disney Classics Collection (WDCC) was the product of three years of work by Disney animation artists and sculptors to create a line of Disney figurines that would closely resemble their animated counterparts. The incredible detail work on the porcelain figures made them a huge hit with Disney fans and collectors. The first three figures released in the series were scenes from Bambi, Cinderella and the Sorcerer's Apprentice from Fantasia.
To date, there are over 100 different Walt Disney Classics Collection figurines produced and retirements are common, creating a popular secondary market for collectors who desire retired WDCC figures. With each retirement, the molds are actually broken, ensuring that additional figures cannot be created from the same molds. Some figurines are also issued as numbered limited editions and it should be noted that Disney has elected to avoid always starting off their number system with "#1". All WDCC figures carry a backstamp indicating the year of production and they are also issued with a Certificate of Authenticity.
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One year after the collection debut, Disney introduced a collector's club as an adjunct to the Classics Collection. Called the Walt Disney Collectors Society, members pay a year to join and this entitles them to a free membership figurine from the WDCC each year and access to members-only sculptures, as well as a newsletter and magazine and an annual WDCC catalog. In 1993, the year the club was introduced, the special charter membership sculpture was Jiminy Cricket from Pinocchio. The collector's society was the first membership club sponsored directly by Disney.
Currently, both the Walt Disney Classics Collection and the Walt Disney Collectors Society are managed by Disney licensee, Enesco, with some of the original Disney staff involved to maintain production quality and Disney's high standards. The transfer of responsibility took place in 2004.
Disney Collectibles - Collecting Figurines From the Walt Disney Classics Collection
If you are looking to add to your Disneyana collection, you can find both Disney Collectible Figurines, including WDCC, and Disney Pins at Jenni's Disney collecting pages.
Jenni Kerala collects Mickey Mouse and Stitch, her two favorite Disney characters.
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