Disney is bringing two unusually specific pieces of park history to the D23 Marketplace: an interactive Fuzzball plush with authentic sounds and a José animatronic figure based on Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room.
Both collectibles debut during D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, August 14 through 16 in Anaheim. Online sales begin August 17 through the Disney Store D23 shop. Prices have not been announced.
Fuzzball Plush with Sound
The orange flying creature has oversized ears, a long tail and authentic character sounds.
José Animatronic Figure
The red-and-yellow macaw appears in a miniature Tiki Room setting with tropical flowers and a pineapple.
Where Fuzzball comes from
Fuzzball is one of the small alien crew members in Captain EO, the 17-minute 3D musical science-fiction film starring Michael Jackson. George Lucas served as executive producer and Francis Ford Coppola directed it. Fuzzball joined Hooter, the Geex, Major Domo and Minor Domo aboard EO's ship.
The film opened at EPCOT's Journey Into Imagination pavilion and Disneyland's Tomorrowland in September 1986, followed by Tokyo Disneyland in 1987 and Disneyland Paris in 1992. After Michael Jackson's death, Captain EO returned to all four resorts between 2010 and 2015. EPCOT hosted the final U.S. performances through December 6, 2015.
The plush is a rare modern product for a character whose major park appearances were tied to those theater runs. The sound feature also suits Fuzzball better than a silent shelf piece. In the film, the creature communicates with squeaks and chirps while darting around the crew.
José gets a miniature Tiki Room
José is the red-feathered host who opens Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room alongside Michael, Pierre and Fritz. The D23 figure places him inside a small thatched setting labeled for the attraction, giving the original Audio-Animatronics show a display piece of its own.
Sources: Disney's August 5 D23 collectibles preview and the D23 Captain EO archive.
Images: Disney Parks Blog.