Pin Preview - Jessica Rabbit As Halloween Series

Halloween creeps in early this year at the Disney Soda Fountain and Studio Store with a new Jessica Rabbit As Halloween Series on Saturday, October 5th 2013. The first character is one we have not seen Jessica dressed as before - Cruella De Vil. Jessica is dressed in the familiar fur coat and holding a purse and long cigarette in one hand. She has a black dress and also the signature black and white hair - though the style of the hair is Jessica's and not Cruella's crazy look. Perdita and Pongo are also next to her on this pin. The next two pins might have people talking - one is Jessica as Maleficent and the other as Ursula. Jessica has already been dressed as these characters before from the Disney Store Collection (Maleficent in 2007 and Ursula in 2009). Both pins sold out very fast and have since been the most sought after Jessica As Halloween pins. Jessica As Maleficent is very different here, she's holding the magic staff and wearing horns, but she is wearing long flowing robes unlike the form-fitting black dress from the 2007 version. There are also the stone wings from Maleficent's throne behind her. Jessica As Ursula is also different, this time she is standing up - in the 2009 version she was sitting. She's wearing a long dress with one leg showing and the dress ending in purple tentacles. There is also a big ocean wave behind her. It's worth noting this pose has been copied from the Jessica Rabbit Medicom statue which has been reused in various artworks online.

There is much speculation that there could be a fourth "Surprise" pin released on this day - though which character Jessica would be dressed as is a mystery. DSF did something similar with the Jessica Dancing series by releasing three and a fourth pin as a surprise release. These pins will sell for $16.95 and are a Limited Edition of 400 each.

(Previous Disney Store Jessica As Maleficent 2007, and Ursula 2009)
To see all of the Jessica Rabbit Halloween pins - Click Here

The Cultural Impact Of Roger Rabbit Part 2

Musa Publishing touched on some very important factors of Roger Rabbit's impact in their first article, and now they continue the series looking at Roger Rabbit's influence on society.

After the huge success of the film, it didn’t take long for Roger Rabbit fever to take hold. And what was not to love? A zany hare with a zest for life—you couldn’t help but root for the guy.

Musa Publishing: Rabbit Fever: Roger Rabbit: A Cultural Impact, Part II by Andrea Blundell

Pin Preview - Jessica Rabbit Salute

The popular Jessica Rabbit Salute shirt design will be making its way to pin form on October 31 in Disney World and Disneyland. This will be an Open Edition Pin, selling for $9.95 and features Jessica Rabbit and the Salute banner from the shirt. The pin also has movement in Jessica's left arm so she can salute!

Was Jessica Rabbit Inspired By Vikki Dougan

There was a recent buzz around the internet claiming the real inspiration for Jessica Rabbit was found - former pin-up model and actress Vikki Dougan. There was a full article about this stating the real-life version of Jessica was Miss Dougan, and that her look was used to create the famous Toontown diva. Twitter was flooded with this new information, but upon checking the articles, there isn't much to back up the claim. In the past, starlets like Veronica Lake and Marilyn Monroe have been attributed to the look of Jessica Rabbit - but it was at the recent Comic-Con this past summer where Roger Rabbit producer, Don Hahn, revealed photos of actress Rita Hayworth, in her movie role Gilda, and noted that she was the real inspiration for Jessica Rabbit.

Kitsch-Slapped was the site to find the video below, where you can watch an interview with Vikki Dougan. She only mentions she was told by someone she was the inspiration for Jessica. So, needless to say this is still quite the rumor, as we've not heard anything about this in past 25 years (although it's worth mentioning it was recently revealed that actress Alyssa Milano served as the inspiration for Ariel, the Little Mermaid.)

(Vikki Dougan, left, and the earliest concept art for Jessica Rabbit, right)
There was original Roger Rabbit concept art on eBay that appeared to be authentic based on all other characters, but it also revealed what may have been the very first Jessica Rabbit art ever. You can see Vikki and Jessica are quite similar from the photos. Take a look at the form and shape of Miss Dougan, she certainly has a Jessica Rabbit appeal, so anything is possible. However, the movie filmmakers themselves have always credited Rita Hayworth as Jessica Rabbit's inspiration.

Jessica Rabbit Halloween Makeover Tutorial

Are you looking for some top-notch Jessica Rabbit make-up tips? Then look no further - AndreasChoice posted this great video on how to get the perfect Jessica look to compliment your Halloween costume.

Pin Release - Remember When Jessica Rabbit

A surprise Jessica Rabbit pin was released today, September 19th, in Walt Disney World. This pin is fourth in the Remember When series, featuring older Disney attractions which no longer exist. This pin shows the Disney Hollywood Studios (formerly the Disney MGM Studios) and part of the Roger Rabbit themed area from the park, with Roger's silhouette blasting through the brick wall and the cut-out of Jessica Rabbit. This is a fully sculpted metal relief pin and is a Limited Edition of 750.

The Cultural Impact Of Roger Rabbit

While we know the character of Jessica Rabbit certainly had an impact on the world of animation (and great influence on animated women since then) the movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit as a whole added a great deal the the industry in general, not to mention revitalizing the Disney company.

Here's a great article by Andrea Blundell at Musa Publishing taking a closer look as just how important Roger Rabbit really was to the world:
Musa Publishing: Roger Rabbit: A Cultural Impact: Part 1 by Andrea Blundell

Official Who Wacked Roger Rabbit Cover Revealed

The official Who Wacked Roger Rabbit novel cover has been revealed. The book will be released on November 29, 2013. The cover has been created by an animator from the Who Framed Roger Rabbit movie, Jacques Muller. Don't forget to check out the Who Wacked Roger Rabbit Facebook page for the ongoing contests.

Jessica Rabbit Look-A-Like Contest

The Who Wacked Roger Rabbit Facebook page is onto it's next contest, this time it's for all the Jessica Rabbit cosplayers and look-a-likes.

"Okay, all you Jessica Rabbit Fan Gals...get ready to show us your best Jessica!!! That's right, a Jessica Rabbit Look-a-Like contest will kick off here on September 15th after the cover reveal for Who Wacked Roger Rabbit! So get that red dress and camera ready and watch for details!"

Check out the Official Facebook page and remember to check often for the latest contest.

Jessica Rabbit Merchandise Review #63 - Britto Bust

In January of 2013, it was announced that neo-pop artist Romero Britto would be adding Jessica Rabbit to his catalog of Disney characters recreated in his bright, energetic style. Known for his use of bold colors, graffiti patterns and elements of cubism, Jessica joins the growing list of Disney characters recreated by Britto, such as the Little Mermaid, Tinker Bell and Mickey Mouse. How does this statue look in person? Read on to find out!

Exclusive Jessica Rabbit Doll Artist Interview - Robert Tonner

It's said that at one time Robert Tonner considered becoming a surgeon, and then turned his interests to fashion design. Perhaps his study of the human body lead to the rave reviews by the National Institute of American Doll Artists (NIADA) for a model-like fashion doll he created for critique. Working for designer Bill Blass lead to the launch of his own fashion label, and over time, Tonner combined his love of fashion and his sculpture of dolls to form his very own company, well known to doll collectors everywhere.

Tonner's original creation, Tyler Wentworth, is based on a fictional 7th Avenue fashion designer. Tonner created her wardrobe using materials you would find in closets of Hollywood royalty - silk, cashmere, and brocades which are all topped off by the quality and details the company has become known for. Other licenses soon followed with characters from DC Comics, Marvel, The Wizard of Oz, Harry Potter, The Muppets, Twilight, and Disney all masterfully recreated in Tonner's signature style. Tonner also furthered his own catalog of creations with Antoinette, Cami and Jon, and he released a new series called Déjà Vu.

I was honored to receive an interview with Robert Tonner himself, who created his amazingly detailed 17 inch Jessica Rabbit doll in 2010 - as part of the Walt Disney Showcase Collection. Which comic characters are his favorite? What other plans were there for the Jessica Rabbit doll? Here is what he had to say:


ImNotBad.com:
What were some toys/figures/statues that you liked the most as a child?

Robert Tonner:
I was a child of the late fifties and sixties and the toy companies hadn’t yet caught up to the fact that we wanted to see our favorite comic and cartoon characters in toy form—so I had to make do with what was out at the time. I liked both dolls and action figures and played with both—Barbie and G.I. Joe. Mostly, however, I loved my art supplies and I spent hours drawing superhero’s and comic characters.

Pin Release - Hooray For Hollywood Jessica Rabbit

A new Jessica Rabbit pin was released at the Disney Soda Fountain and Studio Store for September 2013. This one is titled Hooray For Hollywood Jessica. Jessica Rabbit is posed with her arms over the El Capitan Theater marquee. Her hair is flowing and she's giving her very best diva look. The marquee below her has a lot of printing work on it for the lettering and small light bulbs. The sign on the marquee in blue script reads Hooray for Hollywood. The good news is these pins are an Open Edition and sell for $6.95 each.

Pin Release - Jessica September Calendar

The surprise Jessica Rabbit September Calendar pin was released on September 5, 2013 at the Disney Soda Fountain and Studio Store. A quarter shot of Jessica is on the front of the calendar. The background this time is a green glitter fill. Jessica's signature and "2013" are there as usual. The inside of the pin when opened shows Jessica Rabbit dressed as a teacher, holding a book in one hand and a ruler in the other. She's wearing a white shirt and long black dress. The letters of the alphabet are around her. The background behind Jessica is a giant red apple, surrounded by green glitter fill. The bottom half has the month of September printed on, the days of the week, and the full dates for the month - made like an actual calendar, though no special markings this time with no major holidays in September. They sold for $16.95 each and are a Limited Edition of 300.

Who Wacked Roger Rabbit Contest - Week Two

The next Roger Rabbit contest is up.
Head over to the Who Wacked Roger Rabbit Twitter page to find out how YOU can enter. Don't let it pass you by. Each week there will be a new contest, new ways to enter and new prizes.

Academy Event To Honor Richard Williams

Roger Rabbit Animator, Richard Williams, will be honored with a special event on Friday, October 4, 7:30 p.m. Presented as part of the Marc Davis Celebration of Animation, Williams will discuss his impressive catalog of works with clips from The Little Island, The Charge of the Light Brigade, A Christmas Carol, The Return of the Pink Panther, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Circus Drawings and the first theatrical trailer for The Thief and the Cobbler, as well as a preview of his work-in-progress, Prologue. Tickets go on sale September 3rd and can be ordered here.

Richard Williams' work will also be on display for visitors until December, with the Academy stating:

"A new exhibition will open Friday, October 4, in the Academy Grand Lobby Gallery, in conjunction with the Marc Davis Celebration of Animation.

Take an exciting visual tour through Richard Williams's career and experience his master class approach to the art of animation through this dynamic exhibition. Twelve unique zones, accompanied by matching chapters from Richard Williams's new iPad App, show aspiring animators and pros alike how to direct animation and how Williams approaches character movement, dialogue, animal action and more. On view through December 22, 2013, Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends noon to 6 p.m."

To read more about the event, visit the Academy's website.

Pin Release - Back To School ID Jessica

The Disney Soda Fountain has released the Back To School ID card series on Saturday, August 31st. Each is a Limited Edition of 400 (which is a higher number than usual) and sold for $14.95 each. The characters in this series are Chicken Little, Sulley, Vanellope von Schweetz and Jessica Rabbit. It appears both the character picture and the crest will be a pin-on-pin element. Jessica's headshot is to the bottom right of the pink ID card. She's looking very studious in her white collared shirt. Above her photo reads "Acme High School." The crest off to the left features Roger's ears, hearts and a blue letter "J." Jessica Rabbit's name is printed in white at the bottom.