WDCC Disney MICKEY THROUGH THE YEARS 70th Anniv SET OF 4 Figures/Bases + 10 PINS

IT ALL STARTED WITH A MOUSE. THIS FAMOUS QUOTE FROM WALT DISNEY PERFECTLY HONORS THE CONTRIBUTION THAT MICKEY MOUSE MADE TO THE DISNEY LEGACY. AND THIS SET OF FOUR FANTASTIC FIGURINES IS YOUR WAY TO HONOR HIM AS WELL. The "MICKEY THROUGH THE YEARS" Collection was released in 1998 to commemorate Mickey's 70th Birthday.

It includes four different figurines of Mickey in some of his iconic roles, as well as separate bases that include the title of the movie and help the pieces stand out even more. Whether you're a Mickey Mouse fan or just love everything Disney, this special collection of Mickey Mouse figurines is sure to hold a special place in your displays.

You can pair them together or with other pieces from the same movie. So many different display possibilities.

It's truly a magical mix of Mickey memorabilia that will surely delight you for years to come! THE "MICKEY THROUGH THE YEARS" COLLECTION INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. PLANE CRAZY "HOW TO FLY" -- (WDCC, 1998) This black and white version of Mickey Mouse is the first release in the "Mickey Through the Years" series and is approximately 4.75 high and expertly sculpted by Disney Artist Bruce Lau. It includes a special teal black print message "Mickey's 70th Birthday" backstamp on the bottom (only available for sculptures crafted in 1998).

The figurine comes in its original box with a Certificate of Authenticity. About the movie: Plane Crazy is a 1929 American animated short film directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. The cartoon, released by the Walt Disney Studios, is the first finished project to feature appearances of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, and was originally a silent film. It was given a test screening to a theater audience and potential distributors on May 15, 1928.

An executive from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer saw the film, but the film failed to find a distributor. Later that year, Disney released Mickey's first sound cartoon, Steamboat Willie, which was an enormous success; Plane Crazy was officially released as a sound cartoon on March 17, 1929. It was the fourth Mickey film to be given a wide release after Steamboat Willie, The Gallopin' Gaucho and The Barn Dance (1929). THE BAND CONCERT "FROM THE TOP" -- (WDCC, 1998) This colorful figurine of Mickey in his Concert regalia is the second release in the "Mickey Through the Years" series and is approximately 5.5 high and expertly sculpted by Disney Artist Bruce Lau. The batton is made of real metal.

About the movie: The Band Concert is a 1935 American animated short film produced in 3-strip Technicolor by Walt Disney Productions and released by United Artists. The 73rd short film in the Mickey Mouse series, it was the second release of the year, and notable as the first in the series to be produced in color. Directed by Wilfred Jackson, with music adapted by Leigh Harline, the action follows a small music band, conducted by Mickey Mouse, which struggles through a distraction-filled public performance. Clarence Nash provides the voice of Donald Duck, the only speaking character. The film remains among the most highly acclaimed of the Disney shorts.

FANTASIA "SUMMONING THE STARS" -- (WDCC, 1998) Perhaps the most famous depiction of Mickey Mouse, as the Sorceror's Apprentice, is the third release in the "Mickey Through the Years" series and is approximately 5.5 high and expertly sculpted by Disney Artist Bruce Lau. About the movie: Fantasia is a 1940 American animated musical anthology film produced by Walt Disney Productions, with story direction by Joe Grant and Dick Huemer and production supervision by Walt Disney and Ben Sharpsteen. It consists of eight animated segments set to pieces of classical music conducted by Leopold Stokowski, seven of which are performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Music critic and composer Deems Taylor acts as the film's Master of Ceremonies who introduces each segment in live action. Disney settled on the film's concept in 1938 as work neared completion on The Sorcerer's Apprentice, originally an elaborate Silly Symphony cartoon designed as a comeback role for Mickey Mouse, who had declined in popularity. As production costs surpassed what the short could earn, Disney decided to include it in a feature-length film of multiple segments set to classical pieces with Stokowski and Taylor as collaborators. The soundtrack was recorded using multiple audio channels and reproduced with Fantasound, a pioneering sound system developed by Disney and RCA that made Fantasia the first commercial film shown in stereo and a precursor to surround sound. THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER "LONG LIVE THE KING" -- (WDCC, 1998) This royal version of Mickey is the 4th and final release in the "Mickey Through the Years" series and is approximately 4.25 high and expertly sculpted by Disney Artist Bruce Lau.

The crown and scepter are made of real metal. About the movie: The Prince and the Pauper is a 1990 American animated comedy action adventure short film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and directed by George Scribner.

Featuring the voice of Wayne Allwine as Mickey Mouse, it is based on the 1881 novel of the same name by Mark Twain. It was Disney's final use of the traditional ink-and-paint and camera process for a theatrical product, before the CAPS digital-ink-and-paint process rendered the traditional techniques and equipment obsolete.

It's also the final Mickey Mouse short to use the APT process. Some objects, such as the carriage, were created on computers before being printed out on paper and photocopied onto animation cels. The animation was given a watercolor look and based on Disney's style from the late 30s, influenced by Fred Moore. The film was released on November 16, 1990, as the first animated short produced by Disney to accompany the original release of a Disney animated feature, accompanying the original release of The Rescuers Down Under.

SET OF FOUR "MICKEY THROUGH THE YEARS" BASES -- An accessory base, with a plaque with the film's title, was made available in 1998 for each release in the'Mickey Thru The Years' Series. They were only produced in 1998 and had no production mark. They come in their original box. "MICKEY THROUGH THE YEARS" PIN SET -- Mirroring the pieces in the set, these pins are a perfect companion to the series. They come in their own black velvet designer box and include a pin for each of the sculptures, as well as an extra pin featuring Mickey as we know him today.

Different pins were released weekly and these five pins highlighted some of Mickey's famous features. Here's a little about Mickey Mouse I found on Wikipedia. Mickey Mouse is an American cartoon character co-created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. The longtime icon and mascot of the Walt Disney Company, Mickey is an anthropomorphic mouse who typically wears red shorts, large shoes, and white gloves. He is often depicted with a cast of characters including his girlfriend Minnie Mouse, his pet dog Pluto, his best friends Donald Duck and Goofy, and his nemesis Pete. Mickey was created as a replacement for a prior Disney character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

The character was originally to be named "Mortimer Mouse", until Disney's wife, Lillian, suggested "Mickey". Mickey first appeared in two 1928 shorts Plane Crazy and The Gallopin' Gaucho (which were not picked up for distribution) before his public debut in Steamboat Willie (1928). The character went on to appear in over 130 films, mostly shorts as well as features such as Fantasia (1940).

Since 1930, Mickey has been featured extensively in comic strips (including the Mickey Mouse comic strip, which ran for 45 years) and comic books (such as Mickey Mouse). Here's a little about the Walt Disney Classics Collection from their website.

The Classics Collection started in 1992 with three scenes, Bambi, Cinderella, and Fantasia's Sorcerer Apprentice. Many other series have since been introduced.

Some figurines are limited, and some have been retired. Some of these figurines have risen high on the secondary market. The figurines are made of porcelain, and the process is similar to that use to make Hummel figurines.

Individual pieces are molded, put together, and fired in an oven. Then they are painted and fired again. Each figurine is marked on the bottom, signifying the year it was produced. The marks represent significant milestones in Disney history. The figurines with the first year mark are usually the most desirable.