Kim's Corner: 75 Mickeys Auction
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I was enchanted by them the moment I saw them - all 75 of them. But then, I’m a Mickey fan. I have been since before I can remember and am likely to be until I’m a memory myself. There’s just something about him that appeals to me. There’s a simplicity to the mouse. He’s emotionally available and there’s an underlying sincerity that gives him a broad-range appeal. From kids to those whose childhoods are well behind them, he’s their guy. He exudes a respect for others - loyalty to his friends - a feisty “little guy�? ready to go up against whatever needs to be done with a level-headed determination and a real belief in his own ability and in the help of his friends and the affection of his girl. A hero in shorts. My kinda guy.

So, bright and early on the morning of November 18, 2003 I was on my way to Downtown Disney. With a short stop to get my wrist band for the four limited edition pins that would be released at opening - I was on my way to the World of Disney. Just a quick stop to pick up my 75th Birthday goodies and play with my friends and enjoy the birthday of a good friend - an animated friend - but a good friend none the less. And there they were - 75 18-inch tall Mickeys, each wonderfully costumed and encased in Plexiglas boxes - each of them smiling at me from the store’s front windows. I was sold. As I spoke with a couple of members of the DLR’s merchandise team, it was clear that they had enjoyed this particular project.

When I first heard that - as part of the Resort’s Mickey’s 75th Birthday Celebration - there were plans in the works for the creation - and marketing - of 75 differently dressed Mickey statues - themed to his movies or shorts or to “theme park memories�? through the years - culminating in a strange combination 75th birthday tribute/doll show/collectables merchandise event/one-of-a-kind auction I was skeptical. Not unusual for me when it comes to just about any promotion by the DLR’s merchandise, specialized businesses or merchandise special events these days. I wondered if it were possible to generate the kind of excitement necessary to sell them to a rather limited audience in about 2 ½ months.

To their credit - and the amazingly bottomless limited edition Disney branded collectors marketplace - the whole thing worked. It’s not like there aren’t millions of Mickey fans who would want to add a one-of-a-kind piece to their collections or with the wherewithal to be able to afford to do so. It’s just that Mickey has undergone so many permutations and design variations over his 75 years that some collectors get a bit refined in their tastes. There are Mickey collectors that want only Bill Justice’s Mickey Mouse Club era Mickey - or Mickey as he appeared in Steamboat Willie - or Mickey styled as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice - or Pie-eyed - or black & white only - from “classic�? to “modern�? every variation of Mickey has it’s fans and collectors.

Like most - if not all - serious “character�? collectors - those who decide to purchase their favorites for more emotional than economic reasons - Mickey collectors are very - oh yeah, very - finicky about their mouse. Every single facet of his intrinsic Mickey-ness is scrutinized. They’ll check to see if the piece has too much face and not enough fur - too much fir and not enough face - ears too big - ears too small - proportions not quite right - too tall - too short - too plump - too skinny - any variation from their favorite version of Mickey’s many character models can be a deal-breaker for the serious Mouser. It’s a tough audience.

Mouse collectors are also very - oh, yeah VERY - protective of their Mouse’s image. Some would argue that they are more protective than the Disney Company is these days. For them it’s all about what Mickey would do - what he would wear - what he would say. Would he wear “that�?? Would he “say�? that? Would he really “be�? a Cowboy? Can he really “be�? a Disneyland Railroad Conductor? Would he “wear�? a leather jacket? Or a turban? Or blue jeans? Or a pair of shades? It’s a tough market to sell as each collector’s Mickey-factor must be met or the sale is off. A Mickey collector needs to “buy�? Mickey on a purely emotionally level in order to buy Mickey on a purely economic level. It’s what I like to call collecting with your heart - when your hand doesn’t reach for your wallet, your heart does.

Choosing John Loter - a relatively unknown - in collector’s circles - Los Angeles based freelance artist - was a bit of a gamble. But, with his experience as a Character Art Director and with his 19-year-long relationship with the Disney Consumer Products division - John was the perfect guy to sculpt the two different poses used. John’s long experience in standardizing the drawing style for Mickey and the rest of his pals for different Disney Company divisions was a great resume. There are certainly Disney artists with more ardent collector bases, but John’s designs took Mickey and made him as versatile as he needed to be to “suit�? the suits he was to wear.