If a movie mentions that it belongs to Pixar, I’m there the first day that I can make it. Sure, the ground-breaking computer animation is gorgeous to look at, but it’s the stories that have me ponying up a ten spot for admission. From Toy Story to Finding Nemo, all of the Pixar films are filled with heart and enduring characters – something their parent company, Disney, seems to have largely forgotten in recent years.
Already a fan of Upper Deck’s Disney Treasures line, I was initially excited by a set dedicated to Pixar. However what sounded like a good idea fell into the pitfalls of what’s plaguing the sports card hobby – shortprinted base cards that are really inserts except for their numbering.
Disney Pixar Treasures covers the entire line of Pixar films released thus far: Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo and The Incredibles. The shell set largely revolves around story cards that run through each film. The Incredibles is given particular attention with a 48-card subset – understandable considering the set was released to coincide with The Incredibles’ theatrical run. Card design for the shell set is solid, although I would have preferred it stayed consistent with previous Disney Treasure sets.
Where this set fails in my eyes is the many short prints. They look great, especially the Reel Piece of History film cards that have frames from the actual film embedded in them. But because they’re numbered as a part of the regular set, the completist side of me makes me want to track them down. Otherwise I won’t have a set. This gimmick has been used in sports cards for the past five years or so. And while it may give the set some ‘value’, it’s somewhat false. In all previous Disney Treasures sets, the Reel Piece cards have been inserts. Why the change now? As a collector, it’s annoying. For the most part, the value of the box would have held if these shortprints were numbered as inserts. But collectors wouldn’t be left with a bunch of holes in their wantlists. I guess it’s a trade off that I’m not a big fan of, but its worked for Upper Deck in the past with other products that have balls (and pucks).
My box went exactly as one might expect. I got a few more Incredibles doubles than I would have liked, but in the end it gives me a few extra traders to fill those shortprint holes.
Because it’s a continuation of the Disney Treasures line, I’ll plug away at finishing the set. However, if this were released as strictly a Pixar set, the one box would have been enough for me.
2004 Upper Deck Disney Pixar Treasures Box Breakdown:
Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 5
Total cards: 120
Cards in set: 175
Singles: 105
Doubles: 15
Subsets:
The Incredibles Memorable Scenes (2:1): 48
Outtakes (1:3): 8
Now You Know (1:6): 4
Reel Piece of History (1:24): 1
