Making Her World
Master Replicas Unveils The Little Mermaid Scene Replica

Walnut Creek, CA (March 10, 2006) - A sword, a medallion, a costume - they're all physical objects that can be recreated in precise scale and detail. But how do you replicate the creative filmmaking process itself?

That's precisely what the new line of Disney Scene Replicas from Master Replicas, Inc. does. Known for its authentic film prop replicas, Master Replicas has worked closely with Disney to create an entirely new format in the world of movie collectibles: 3-dimensional recreations of scenes from Disney films, which show the process of making of an animated classic. The line will debut in the Fall of 2006, with The Little Mermaid Scene Replica.

The basic concept of a Scene Replica is not unlike a diorama or a shadowbox, but with a Master Replicas twist. Whereas a shadowbox can only be viewed from one side, a Scene Replica will have more dimensionality, and can be viewed from multiple angles. In the case of The Little Mermaid Scene Replica, these angles give a sense of looking into the ocean depths. Additionally, inside the flowing form, replicas of archival artwork float on rectangular shapes. Concept drawings, character model sheets and background art tell the story of the animation process.

"We have never done anything like this before at Disney," says Disney Creative Director, Dave Pacheco, who worked on the film as a character animator for Ariel, and who was instrumental in the creation of The Little Mermaid Scene Replica.

A near completed Scene Replica, which features a fully realized Ariel and Flounder, as well as collateral materials including rough sketches, backgrounds and concepts from as early as the 1940's, was on display at Master Replica's booth at the 2006 American International Toy Fair - and met with rave reviews.

"The creation of [The Little Mermaid] Scene Replica was amazing to work on," commented Master Replicas' Kevin Eslinger, "How often in our line of work, do you get to be involved in the creation of a brand new form factor? And working so closely with Dave and the team at Disney on such an iconic property... it's just icing on the cake."

Adds Pacheco, "There were so many elements to consider and questions about how to produce this new format. But the end result is very gratifying. It lives up to everything we hoped it would be."

The Little Mermaid Scene Replica will be available this Fall. For more information, please visit www.MasterReplicas.com.