Tuesday, July 17, 2012

A Seamingly-Perfect Ornament Is Ruined By An Obvious Seam! Disney’s Tangled It’s All About The Hair Ornament.


The Good: Great sculpt, Generally good coloring, Comparatively inexpensive, Generally good balance
The Bad: A VERY obvious seam on hair.
The Basics: The 2012 "It’s All About The Hair" from Tangled ornament is robbed of perfection by an unsightly seam in the hair.


I think that those who read my reviews regularly are going to rapidly tire of my refrain for ornaments in 2012. But, given that the 2012 Tangled It’s All About The Hair ornament is the first time I am actually referencing this, that point has not yet been reached: 2012 is likely to be known as the Year Of The Seam for lovers of Hallmark Christmas ornaments. More than any other year, I am finding more and more ornaments that have very obvious seams with separation between parts of the ornament. I’ve never seen this with so many ornaments and it seems unfortunate at best, sloppy at worst. The It’s All About The Hair suffers pretty much exclusively from an unsightly seam on Rapunzel’s hair.

For those unfamiliar with Tangled (reviewed here!), it is the musical story of Rapunzel. Kept in a tower by the woman who abducted her as a baby, she has exceptionally long hair that is the source of the magic that keeps her "mother" young. It’s All About The Hair features Rapunzel and one of the floating candles lit for her for the 2012 Tangled ornament.

Basics

The "It’s All About The Hair" ornament recreates Rapunzel, as she appeared in Tangled with her long hair back and her standing on her toes reaching up for one of the lanterns that is descending. The ornament, released in 2012, is a very cool and accurate sculpt of It’s All About The Hair in her pink and purple dress, though her hair seems short, even in its very braided form.

Hallmark clearly made quite an effort on It’s All About The Hair as she has great detailing on the eyes and with the lacing up the front of her bodice. Measuring four and one quarter inches tall, two inches wide and one and one-quarter inches deep, the "It’s All About The Hair" ornament is one of the larger Disney character ornaments this year, though it is in scale with prior Tangled ornaments. As well, it is surprisingly affordable at only $14.95.

The Hallmark "It’s All About The Hair" ornament is made of a durable plastic and has Rapunzel looking giddy. The ornament is incredibly detailed in the sculpted details and the colored details are generally good. It’s All About The Hair escapes the usual critique about the lack of realism to the skin tones, because she is an animated character. The ornament's eyes are bright green and wonderfully detailed. The hair is beautifully colored and I was especially impressed by the flowers molded and colored into Rapunzel’s hair. The paint job on the floating lantern is very intricate and it looks very much like the designs seen in the film.

As well, the coloring detailing on Rapunzel’s chameleon, who sits on her right shoulder on this ornament, looking upward, is very cool. Outside that obtrusive seam that almost makes it look like they swapped out the hair for a different style of hair, the ornament is amazingly well detailed.

Features

As a Hallmark Keepsake ornament, "It’s All About The Hair" could have a sound effect, but it does not. Instead, this is a less-expensive option that is just the character.

Balance

As with all ornaments, the intent of the Hallmark Keepsake "It’s All About The Hair" ornament is to be hung on a Christmas Tree. And for those creating the ultimate Disney movie Christmas Tree, the "It’s All About The Hair" ornament is a surprisingly affordable option that can only enhance the tree of those who love Disney. The ornament has the standard brass hook loop embedded into the top center of Rapunzel’s head. This is fairly obvious and necessary for the ornament. It’s All About The Hair hangs perpendicular to the ground when properly hung from that hook point and she has generally good balance.

Collectibility

Hallmark Keepsake began delving into the collectibles market in 1991 with Star Trek when it introduced the exceptionally limited edition original U.S.S. Enterprise ornament (click here for that review!). Within a few years, every major franchise from Star Wars to A Nightmare Before Christmas to Indiana Jones started making Hallmark ornaments. "It’s All About The Hair" is one of only a few Tangled ornaments on the market and at least the second of Rapunzel (I’m thinking this is actually #3). Mandy Moore fans and fans of Disney movies are very happy about the "It’s All About The Hair" ornament. They have a lot to be happy with with this one. This ornament has not sold out at any of the Hallmark stores I have been to, yet, but the season is still young!

Overview

Fans of Tangled, Disney, Rapunzel, Mandy Moore, and Hallmark ornaments are likely to be very happy with the “It’s All About The Hair” ornament, though many are likely to be irked by how an ornament, so close to perfection, could be robbed of it by such an obvious fault as the big honkin’ seam this ornament possesses!

For other Disney-themed Hallmark ornaments, please check out my reviews of:
2011 Rapunzel Tangled ornament
2011 CLU’s Light Cycle from Tron: Legacy ornament
2011 Up ornament
2011 A Snowy Surprise The Nightmare Before Christmas ornament
2011 Captain Jack Sparrow Pirates Of The Caribbean ornament
2010 Tron: Legacy Light Cycle ornament

8.5/10

For other ornament reviews, please visit my index page on the subject by clicking here!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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