Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Exclusive Jessica Rabbit Artist Interview - Lisa Temming



So far, there have only been two official Jessica Rabbit dolls ever created. The most recent is by Tonner - but the first was by Mattel back in 1999. If anyone can recall, when a photo was released of the Jessica Rabbit Doll by Mattel - she looked amazing! Then, not too long after, an updated photo replaced the first one and showed that the doll had been changed significantly. This is something that happens for many reasons to products - but as for why it happened to the Jessica doll remained a mystery... Until Now! This exclusive interview with Jessica Rabbit Mattel Doll designer, Lisa Temming, uncovers the real reason the doll was changed, what other plans were supposed to be in store for the doll, the strong opinions Disney and Amblin had about Jessica, and the line of Jessica dolls that never happened. Lisa also shares with us never before seen photos of the original prototype and a special version she created.



ImNotBad.com:
First I'd like to let people know a little more about you. Do you remember what inspired you to become an artist?

Lisa Temming:
My family is a very creative bunch - so, from the moment I could hold a crayon, my Mom and Grandma were teaching me how to draw and design. At age 8, I decided I wanted to be a fashion designer (instead of an astronaut) and my family did everything they could to help me along that path.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Jessica Rabbit Merchandise Review #34 - Snowglobe Frame



Between 2006 - 2007, during Jessica Rabbit's pin collection craziness, a few different collectibles were also released. One being the Roger and Jessica Rabbit Snowglobe Frame. Disney had been plussing and adding to their snowglobes and the new one not only featured our favorite toons, but had some cool extras.


Thursday, April 14, 2011

Jessica Rabbit Premium Format by Sideshow Collectibles

...should be coming soon!

Someone posted a question to Ask Sideshow on April 11th - and a big hint was given away:

Question:
I’m loving your animated Disney line. The Evil Queen and Hook are absolute home runs. Can you give a hint what might be next on the list? We want more!!

Answer:
Some girls aren’t bad they’re just drawn that way. Some are always drawn to apples, juicy delicious and dangerous apples.


So with this juicy bit of information I think we can assume the next two Premium Format figures will be Jessica Rabbit and Snow White. There is no news on when we can expect them, but the San Diego Comic Con is in July so hopfully there will be more news around that time. The Sideshow Collectibles Premium Format line is well known for it's attention to detail and high quality with characters from Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and Marvel - so this could end up being possibly be one of the best Jessica Rabbit collectibles ever.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Trail Mix-UP



Trail Mix-Up was the third and final Roger Rabbit cartoon, released with Disney/Amblin's A Far Off Place on March 12, 1993. By now the relationship between Disney and Amblin had soured and the next short cartoon, Hare In My Soup, had been cancelled. The movie Trail Mix-Up was in front of, A Far Off Place, also does not seem very memorable to me - so this short I did not see in theaters. In Disney's MGM studios however, they did play this while you waited in line for the back lot tour.


Saturday, April 9, 2011

Rollercoaster Rabbit



The next short Roger Rabbit cartoon, Rollercoaster Rabbit, was released on June 15, 1990 in front of the movie version of Dick Tracy. Steven Spielberg originally wanted this short to appear in front of the Amblin Entertainment movie Arachnophobia, but at the insistence of then-CEO of Disney Michael Eisner, it was not. Disney later re-released Rollercoaster Rabbit in front of Toy Story in 1995 to take the place of the canceled Roger Rabbit short, Hare In My Soup. This may have been where all the problems began for the Roger Rabbit franchise, as Dick Tracy did not do well in theaters and may have angered Steven Spielberg that Michael Eisner insisted upon keeping the cartoon exclusively with a Disney feature movie.


Friday, April 8, 2011

Tummy Trouble



Tummy Trouble was the first of three animated Roger Rabbit shorts, created after the Who Framed Roger Rabbit movie. The cartoons were released as a tie-in to other movies showing before the feature film it accompanied. Tummy Trouble appeared before Honey, I Shrunk the Kids on June 23, 1989, a year after the movie was released. This short was also later on the VHS release of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.


Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Park Photos - Pleasure Island and Downtown Disney Marketplace

Before The Jessica's Store

1990


Before becoming the Jessica's store, the building housed the Island Depot from 1989 to 1990, which sold Pleasure Island memorabilia and assorted sundries. The building was originally painted yellow and the small sign for the store was a brown luggage suitcase.

It then became the Dick Tracy store around the summer of 1990, selling merchandise from the film. The color of the building stayed the same, the entrance sign was the Dick Tracy logo, and automobiles from the Dick Tracy film were located around the outside. There was even a large standee of Breathless Mahoney - much like that of Jessica Rabbit from the MGM Studios. (photo via StartedByAMouse.com)

This means the Jessica's store was open less than I had thought. The Jessica Rabbit store was definitely open in winter of 1991, as I was there. It was gone by winter of 1992 when I went to visit again. It's highly possible that the Jessica's store may have only been open around a year and a half.


Breeze Way / The entrance to the Dick Tracy Store



The front of the Dick Tracy Store








The Jessica's Store

1991



Sunday, April 3, 2011

Jessica Rabbit Tonner Doll On Sale

The Jessica Rabbit doll by Tonner is on sale at Entertainment Earth as part of their 15th Anniversary Sale. Receive 15% off this doll and other select merchandise. They originally had the doll for $149.99, and it is now available for $127.49 - which coincidentally is the same price I got it for because Entertainment Earth did a price match when I found it cheaper on another site. Still, if you didn't get the doll yet, you might want to pick it up now!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Jessica Rabbit Merchandise Review #33 - Jessica's Store Glitter Keychain



Back between 1989 and 1992, Jessica Rabbit had her very own store located in the middle of Orlando's Pleasure Island. It was not open for very long and if you are at all a fan of Jessica, it's definitely worth it to collect ANY merchandise from that time - especially with the store logo on it. The Jessica's Store Glitter Keychain is one such item!