Inside the Collection: Meet Tom Margarites
This collection is extra animated! Take a look!
Aug. 24, 2025
Tom has gone above and beyond, filling his home with over 3,000 statues and figurines of cartoon characters both iconic and obscure.
Tom started collecting around 1993, when he first discovered his passion for displaying toys and statues. That love traces back to his father, who passed along a lifelong appreciation for cartoons.
He still watches cartoons, though not nearly as much as he collects them. You could say he’s drawn to the art of collecting.
From Walt Disney’s Pinocchio to The Simpsons; tap into your inner child and take a look at this animated collection!
1. Tex Avery Chess Set
These pieces come from a Tex Avery chess set and feature a variety of characters—some you might even recognize!
Avery worked on Bugs Bunny and was instrumental in creating Porky Pig, Droopy, Daffy Duck and more.
The set includes many favorites, including Droopy, who Tom did a perfect impression of, and was Lisa Whelchel approved.
He found the chess set on eBay around 2011 and won the auction for $180.
Our expert estimates a complete set could be worth $500. Checkmate!
2. Woodsy Owl Statue
This collectible statue is a hoot—literally! His name is Woodsy Owl, who starred in the PSA campaign with the famous phrase: "Give a hoot, don’t pollute."
Whether a cartoon came from a TV show, movie, or commercial, if it was well-known, Tom wanted it.
Woodsy Owl was made for the U.S. Forest Service and used to teach kids to care for the land.
According to Tom, he has never seen another statue like it and doesn’t believe he ever will. It’s incredibly rare, even our expert has never seen one.
The statue is made of plaster and was likely produced for people involved with the campaign. It was created in 1972, giving it historical significance.
Today, it would be worth around $500. It’s a blast from the past and a PSA on why you should start collecting!
3. Wally Gator and Hardy Har Har Prototypes
Tom found these prototypes on eBay, complete with a Don Winton signature. Winton was a sculptor best known for cookie jars and figurines in the 1960s.
Tom believes someone tried to produce these figurines, commissioned by Winton, but that’s where the story ends. They were never mass-produced.
The figures feature cartoon characters Hardy Har Har and Wally Gator. Tom’s love of cartoons began with Hanna-Barbera, so these pieces mean a lot to him.
These cartoons first aired in the 1960s and remain popular today.
Prototypes can be especially valuable and one-of-a-kind. According to our expert, these stand out because of their large size.
Today, the set would be worth around $1,200.
4. Geppetto's Workshop
We’re not lying when we say this is a beautiful piece!
It was produced by the Walt Disney Classic Collection, a line of high-end porcelain statues. This one was number 146 out of 1,000 pieces, making it very rare.
According to our expert, it’s the third statue in the signature Pinocchio series—and Tom has all of them, of course. It truly brings the cartoon to life.
Today it would be worth around $1,500.
5. Bullwinkle and Friends Figurines
Here are some fan favorites: Rocky and Bullwinkle and Mr. Peabody!
Tom has more of these figurines, 11 in total, and they are porcelain, produced around 1993.
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends first aired in 1959, while Peabody’s Improbable History debuted in 1959 as well.
According to our expert, the full set would now be worth around $2,000.
Who’s your favorite cartoon character? Bonus points if it’s Rocky and Bullwinkle or Mr. Peabody!
6. Deputy Dawg and Heckle and Jeckle Figurines
These are some lesser-known cartoon characters: Deputy Dawg and Heckle and Jeckle from the early 1960s.
To Tom’s knowledge, a Mighty Mouse statue was also made, but unfortunately, he didn’t buy it when he had the chance. He’s still on the hunt today.
Tom discovered them at the Viacom Store in Chicago, which wasn’t open for long. They are a piece of history in more ways than one!
He bought them mint in box, which makes a big difference for collectors.
According to our expert, they’re now worth about $500 each, or $1,000 together. Talk about a mighty fine find!
7. The total value of Tom's collection:
