The 1963 Pluto PEZ Dispenser Is the Disney Original That Started a Beloved Collector Legacy
Where It All Began for Pluto
If you've been collecting PEZ dispensers for any length of time, you know that certain pieces carry a weight beyond their size. The 1963 Pluto PEZ dispenser is exactly that kind of piece. Officially introduced by PEZ in 1963, this was the very first Pluto dispenser ever made, and it launched what would become one of the longest-running Disney character lines in PEZ history. Pluto is one of those characters that spans generations of Disney fans, and this original release set the template for everything that followed.
The Dispenser at a Glance
The 1963 Pluto wears the classic look longtime collectors expect from this era: a no-feet stem, made in Austria, featuring Pluto's cheerful golden-tan head with his signature floppy ears. What makes this particular original especially notable is the moving ears feature on select variations, where the ear sculpt actually articulates slightly as the dispenser is used. It's a small mechanical detail that feels impossibly charming for its time, and it's part of why early Pluto dispensers are so sought after by serious vintage collectors.
The head sculpt captures Mickey's loyal hound beautifully: wide-set expressive eyes, open mouth in that perpetual grin, and a simplified but effective nose detail. The color palette is warm and accurate to classic Disney animation, making it an immediately recognizable display piece even out of the box.
"There's something about the original Pluto that collectors return to again and again. It's not just the age, it's the personality in the sculpt, and the fact that PEZ clearly loved this character enough to keep reimagining him for over sixty years."
A Piece of Disney and PEZ History Together
The year 1963 was a meaningful one for both Disney and PEZ. Disney was actively licensing its beloved characters for merchandise, and PEZ was in the midst of expanding its lineup with officially licensed pop culture icons. Pluto was a natural fit: beloved, family-friendly, and visually distinctive enough to translate well into a small-scale candy dispenser head. The Austria marking on these original stems is itself a collector note, placing the dispenser firmly in PEZ's classic manufacturing era before production shifted over the following decades.
It's worth knowing that Pluto would eventually become one of the most varied characters in PEZ history, with multiple stems, reissues, updated sculpts, and special editions appearing across the decades. That long lineage makes the 1963 original the anchor point every serious Disney PEZ collection eventually works back toward.
Collector Notes
- Introduced in 1963, this is the first Pluto PEZ dispenser ever released.
- Made in Austria, no-feet stem, consistent with PEZ manufacturing from the early 1960s.
- Select variations feature moving ears, which are among the most desirable early Pluto finds.
- Pluto went on to appear in numerous subsequent PEZ releases, making the 1963 original the foundation of any complete Pluto run.
- Ideal for collectors focused on vintage Disney, PEZ history, or no-feet era pieces.
- Display nicely alongside other 1960s Disney PEZ characters or early Austria-marked stems to establish a strong vintage Disney shelf.
HAVE / NEED / NEITHER
NEED. The 1963 Pluto is one of those early Disney PEZ dispensers that anchors a vintage collection, and tracking down an original in solid condition with intact paint apps is always a worthwhile goal.
Adding It to Your Display
Vintage Pluto pairs beautifully with other early Disney dispensers from the same era, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and builds a cohesive 1960s Disney PEZ shelf that shows the full scope of PEZ's early relationship with the Mouse House. Grouping by era rather than character is a great display approach for collections like this, letting the Austria-marked stems tell their own story.
Whether you're just starting to chase vintage PEZ or you've been at it for years, the original 1963 Pluto deserves a spot on the shelf. ✨
- 🍬 Callie
