The seminal Disney musical epic Fantasia is over 80 years old now, but it remains one of the most visually stunning and iconic movies Disney movies ever. We know the line-ups of the first three Disney ULTIMATES! series, and this movie is, appropriately, well represented. Of course, Mickey as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice is up first!
Fantasia is one of those early Disney movies that I did not see until I was a little older. I think I was 11-12 but I had already seen just about every other animated movie from the studio many, many times. So, I did not really know what to expect going into it, and that made the experience all the better in my opinion. This one hits differently than so many of the others from that era, and it is rightfully recognized as a brave piece of silent cinema that gives opportunity to focus on the gorgeous images themselves, as well as the sweeping soundtrack. Choosing the Sorcerer’s Apprentice for this first U! series is a smart move as it allows Mickey to be included in the inaugural wave, but also gives him the opportunity to be featured in a look that is not is most common, but still well known.
We have covered Prince John and Pinocchio already, and I have commented about the sizes and shapes already in this line. Mickey stands in the middle, being significantly smaller than Prince John, but taller than Pinocchio. I mention this again as Mickey is Disney’s most famous, and from a merchandizing perspective, most represented character. So, I almost feel like he is the baseline for how characters are scaled around him. Sure, U! is an (approximate) 1:10 scale line to begin with, so PJ hits the top of that, but there are a lot of characters who will likely be judged via their size relationship to Mickey, so there is a lot of room to play. This is good because it will help balance costs across figures in a single assortment, but will also allow for some cool accessory options.
Like Pinocchio, the Sorcerer’s Apprentice has gotten better in terms of likeness and details since the original renders. The portrait likeness on those original promo pictures lacked a certain something to them in terms of capturing Mickey’s personality, but across all three heads included with this release, the Apprentice really comes through. I feel as though the open-mouthed smile is the most iconic, but I am personally a fan of the frowning face. His frustration with the brooms comes out so well here, I think a lot of collectors will be recreating that scene in their displays. The plastic for the faces has a little bit of a sheen to it, but it is not readily apparent under normal lighting. Each head does have a hat and they are not removable.
Mickey’s small stature still houses the typical U! articulation count, and I think the joint scheme works better here than with Pinocchio. Due to the outfit design and the long sleeves, the joints are able to more more freely here, so there is not challenge in getting Mickey to pose with the axe, or an any of the other iconic poses that are aided by the large assortment of swappable hands. His tail is even articulated at the base, so that can even work an additional support for standing in some of the more extreme stances. I did not have to use it for anything I have done here, but it will work as such. All of the Disney ULTIMATES! have the same neck peg that acts as a partial ball so the sculpting is retained and an actual peg set inside the neck is not used.
Mickey’s tunic is tailored soft goods, and much like Prince John, this is beneficial to the movement and poseablity of the figure. I think that it is COULD have been done via sculpting, but it is formfitting and the material actually adds a visual and textural level to the overall presentation. There is a certain sheen to it that helps to catch the light to make it pop a bit, and it contrasts well with the blues, blacks, and browns throughout. The longer tails don’t interfere with any of the leg articulation (that is the point of the fabric), and the sleeves still allow for the articulated arms beneath to move uninhibited. The belt is also soft goods and does a fairly good job of recreating the “rope” look. This is the spot where I would have probably preferred plastic instead as the tie doesn’t look completely natural. It is not bad, but I think the plastic would have looked better and would have set in place more without adjustment.
Now, the accessories are where this figure really shines, and you know there is a lot packed in before you even open the box and it is HEAVY. There are several swappable hands that include open, grip, fists, and pointing – just about everything you need for the iconic Sorcerer’s apprentice poses. You also get the spell book, and as you can see, it is open so it can be used as a raft atop the flood. You also get and enchanted broom, as well as two buckets of water. Now, the broom is a non-articulated slug piece, but it is still almost like getting a second character in the set, and it can hold the water buckets well. If you decide to take issue with the broom, you also get the axe, so a runaway spell can be fixed with the right amount of frustration.
Overall, this is a fun figure that represents Fantasia well. I probably like Prince John and Pinocchio a bit more, but there might be some movie bias talking there. There is a lot of thought and care put into this release, and I much prefer this to the Herocross figure of the Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Now, as I said, this movie is being presented well in ULTIMATES, and Hyacinth Hippo and Ben Ali Gator are on their way in the next couple of waves. I would still love to see an oversize Chernabog, and even Yen Sid the Sorcerer (with mushrooms). The latter could use a base that would be perfect for Merlin from The Sword in the Stone, so that’s a double win. Expect Mickey to start shipping any day now!
If you have not gotten a pre-order in for Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey, you can head to BBTS. You can also order the latest Disney ULTIMATES! series directly from Super7.
*Thanks again to Super7 for sending this figure along for an early feature.
