Where Is Aladdin? The Curious Case of Disney Traditions' Missing Hero

My mum came to visit today.

Whenever she comes over, she likes to have a look at my latest Disney finds -  which seems only fair, considering she is largely responsible for my Disney obsession in the first place. And yes, Mum, I absolutely thank you for it!

This time, she was admiring what I call my “Aladdin corner.”

There are Jasmines. There’s Genie. There’s Jafar. There are pieces showing some of the film’s most memorable moments, including Romance Takes Flight and Group Hug!.

Then Mum looked at it and said something along the lines of:

“But where’s Aladdin?”

I looked at the shelf.

“He's there…”

Well, yes. Technically he was.

He's flying on the carpet with Jasmine. He's hugging everyone. He's appearing in scenes from his own film.

But what Mum actually meant was:

Where is Aladdin on his own?

And I suddenly realised…

I don't have one.

Surely Jim Shore made a standalone Disney Traditions Aladdin?

This sent me down exactly the sort of Disney rabbit hole that I thoroughly enjoy.

Because surely he must have?

Aladdin was released in 1992 and became one of the defining films of the Disney Renaissance. Aladdin is the title character. Jim Shore's Disney Traditions collection has celebrated the film numerous times.

And yet, after searching through the pieces I could find, something rather strange emerged.

I can't find a Disney Traditions figurine dedicated solely to Aladdin.

There are standalone Jasmine figurines.

There are standalone Genie figurines.

Jafar has had his own pieces.

Abu has had his own.

Even Iago has had a miniature figurine.

But Aladdin himself?

Apparently, he needs company.

Aladdin is there – just rarely the star

It's certainly not because Jim Shore has ignored the character.

Aladdin appears throughout the Disney Traditions range, usually as part of a scene or alongside another character.

There is the beautiful Romance Takes Flight, depicting Aladdin and Jasmine on their magic carpet. There are wedding and romantic pieces featuring the couple, and Group Hug! brings Aladdin together with Jasmine, Genie, Abu, Sultan and Magic Carpet. More recently, Jim Shore has paired Aladdin with Jafar in a Good vs Evil design.

So Aladdin is actually quite well represented.

He's just almost always sharing the spotlight.

And when you compare that with Jasmine, Genie and Jafar, it becomes surprisingly noticeable.

Why hasn't there been one?

This is where we move from fact into speculation, because I haven't found an official explanation from Jim Shore or Enesco.

But I do wonder whether it comes down to the way Aladdin is represented in the film.

Jasmine has an instantly recognisable silhouette and costume. Genie is perhaps one of the most visually distinctive Disney characters ever created. Jafar has his dramatic robes, staff and wonderfully villainous presence.

Aladdin's most iconic moments, meanwhile, are often about his relationships and adventures.

Aladdin and Jasmine on the carpet.

Aladdin and Genie.

Aladdin and Abu.

Aladdin facing Jafar.

Perhaps designers simply find those scenes more visually interesting than Aladdin standing alone.

But considering just how many Disney Traditions figurines have been created over the years, it still seems extraordinary that the title character of one of Disney's biggest films appears never to have been given a traditional standalone piece of his own.

And now I can't unsee it

This is the problem with collecting.

You can look at a shelf hundreds of times and think it looks complete.

Then someone asks one innocent question.

Now every time I look at my Aladdin corner, I see the Aladdin-shaped gap in it.

Jim Shore, if you're listening…

I think Aladdin has waited long enough.