The Lion King 4K UHD (1994)

[Prompto]

This would be the perfect time for Best Buy to make amends for the Blu steelbook exclusive. Though, since Canada's BB page is already listed, who knows if that'll be a thing.

Either way, the standard issue slip is beautiful. Can't go wrong with that old movie poster cover art. I always hope for something original or consistent. As long as it's beautiful, I'm good.

This has got to be the oddest mid-cycle transition though. Like, what? We just released this last year launching the buzz for the live action remake, and now we're double-up-to-quadruple dipping (as far as US releases go) depending on your collecting habits for this same Signature line release. I wonder if they'll back track for the other films or if this is just a special release because of the 2019 film.

This news is still not as exciting or as timely as Fantasia would have been, and honestly I still hope we get an official press release for a different film in the lineup to be released before the year is over, but I don't really see it happening.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by davlee1991

Never understood those who want grain on their animated titles. Yes, some of these were shot on film, but I feel like it’s something that’s unavoidable in the filmmaking process.

Me personally? I’d like these presented as if we were looking directly at the original artwork pre-filmic artifacts. But, that’s an unpopular opinion around here.

[Agent Kay]

We won't get grain, but I will settle for the 35mm colours, No DNR and EE

[Lnds500]

Hmmm.. Curious how the CAPS films will look on UHD.

[nick4Knight]

Better than on blu-ray? It will be opened up to 10 bits, less compression, WCG and HDR. These things really still need to be said is odd We're years into seeing the benefits of every transfer on 4K UHD, despite a handful of howlers excepting.

I was looking at threads yesterday from 2014 and 2015 when I was tracking the UHD "hype" (as naysayers on here would call it... it was the spec, and it came to fruition) and discussing the advantages to very mixed reception. From many users I see a lot of in these threads with big collections. Classic times.

[Agent Kay]

Did these have banding issues on BD?

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Will be interesting to see reviews for this.

Im guessing it will be their current HD transfer from digital files Upscaled to 4K

Right?

Just wish we had ghe actual 35mm film prints scanned at 4K as an option.

Back in 1994, the film interpositives used for theatrical projection were struck from dupes of a film negative created by writing the CAPS files to film using argon gas lasers for the three color exposures. One could reasonably argue that writing the digital files to a film negative for protection, then duped to make the film available for gear-and-sprocket distribution, is where any film grain appeared in the film at all. The digital source doesn't have any. Obviously, people have their preferences...the original film print look, or going straight to the source.

The only things I'm curious about:

* Is this going to follow the practice of all the other titles in the Signature Line, which is to simply re-use the existing 2K masters created for Blu-Ray, or if a new master will be created (doubt it, figure they'll upscale).

* How they'll handle the bonus features, which at this point stretch back to Laserdisc box set release, the DVD Platinum Line, and the Blu-Ray Diamond Release (which had tons of material never before released via the Second Screen feature), then the Signature Line release from last year...if they follow the Signature Line pattern, a healthy chunk of all that will be streaming, while new content will be slight. Could actually be the exact same release, only now with a 4k gloss.

* The film last came to Blu a year ago...I'm glad Disney feature animation is finally coming to the 4k market, but it seems a little soon to ask people to double-dip (or in my case, counting VHS, sextuple-dip), even for such a prestige title.

[starkrogersthor91]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

* How they'll handle the bonus features, which at this point stretch back to Laserdisc box set release, the DVD Platinum Line, and the Blu-Ray Diamond Release (which had tons of material never before released via the Second Screen feature), then the Signature Line release from last year...if they follow the Signature Line pattern, a healthy chunk of all that will be streaming, while new content will be slight. Could actually be the exact same release, only now with a 4k gloss.

My guess is that, following Disney’s past 4K releases... 4K disc will be void of all special features and the Blu-ray it’s bundled with will simply be the previous Diamond release re-packaged. So, I’m assuming all our features will be streaming again.
Of course, I hope we get them physically on the format finally — but I don’t see this happening. Looks more like a cash-grab than anything actually prestigious.
I’ve been wrong before and I’d be happy to be wrong again.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by davlee1991

My guess is that, following Disney’s past 4K releases... 4K disc will be void of all special features and the Blu-ray it’s bundled with will simply be the previous Diamond release re-packaged. So, I’m assuming all our features will be streaming again.
Of course, I hope we get them physically on the format finally — but I don’t see this happening. Looks more like a cash-grab than anything actually prestigious.
I’ve been wrong before and I’d be happy to be wrong again.

Davlee, I don't think you're going to be wrong. If there's any new content, maybe a trailer or promotional feature for Favreau's Lion King adaptation.

[RalphoR]

So both TLK and The Little Mermaid are releasing in 4k in December? Hope they fix all the issues that occurred during the blu-ray releases. Seems like a waste of time getting corrected discs now but hoping the uhds will be worth the upgrade.

[Elbie]

My fave Disney movie.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by davlee1991

Never understood those who want grain on their animated titles. Yes, some of these were shot on film, but I feel like it’s something that’s unavoidable in the filmmaking process.

Me personally? I’d like these presented as if we were looking directly at the original artwork pre-filmic artifacts. But, that’s an unpopular opinion around here.

I'm okay with the idea of removing grain from animation, but if the Sword in the Stone caps are anything to go by it still destroys detail and looks like shit, so... nah.

[Leviathan]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

* Is this going to follow the practice of all the other titles in the Signature Line, which is to simply re-use the existing 2K masters created for Blu-Ray, or if a new master will be created (doubt it, figure they'll upscale).

Does Disney have a history of doing upscales for their 4K sets? Just curious.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Leviathan

Does Disney have a history of doing upscales for their 4K sets? Just curious.

They have released 2k DIs to UHD, like every studios has, if that's what you're asking. If you mean have they remastered old movies in 2k for UHD then no, but A) no one really is doing that, and B) Disney haven't released much catalog material.

[Leviathan]

I mean, have they ever upscaled an old 2K master of a catalog title for a UHD disc?

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by Leviathan

I mean, have they ever upscaled an old 2K master of a catalog title for a UHD disc?

No. The closest is films that were already finished with 2K DIs.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by Leviathan

I mean, have they ever upscaled an old 2K master of a catalog title for a UHD disc?

Disney doesn't exactly have the deepest bench when it comes to UHD, let alone catalog animation in UHD, so I'm going to say no re: UHD catalog titles. I saw Fantasia projected via a 4k projector theatrically for the 75th anniversary. It was the exact same 2k master as the Blu-Ray from eight years ago, right down to the soundbar-friendly audio remix. The only thing different was the removal of the Intermission, and a short recent fluff piece of (I think, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra) playing a kind of medley from both Fantasia and Fantasia/2000. And by short, I'm talking maybe five minutes, if that.

EDIT

There was grousing The Incredibles UHD utilized the 2k DI, which Pixar defended, that's the only title that rings a bell right now. Go check out the Incredibles 4k thread for the discussion.

[Leviathan]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

Disney doesn't exactly have the deepest bench when it comes to UHD, let alone catalog animation in UHD, so I'm going to say no re: UHD catalog titles. I saw Fantasia projected via a 4k projector theatrically for the 75th anniversary. It was the exact same 2k master as the Blu-Ray from eight years ago, right down to the soundbar-friendly audio remix. The only thing different was the removal of the Intermission, and a short recent fluff piece of (I think, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra) playing a kind of medley from both Fantasia and Fantasia/2000. And by short, I'm talking maybe five minutes, if that.

EDIT

There was grousing The Incredibles UHD utilized the 2k DI, which Pixar defended, that's the only title that rings a bell right now. Go check out the Incredibles 4k thread for the discussion.

So, we're looking down at the business end of an upscale.


I have to question what is the point, if the UHD is not going to yield any quality improvements.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by Leviathan

I have to question what is the point, if the UHD is not going to yield any quality improvements.

You can get a better bitrate for starters, better color handling, improved detail, etc. Just because a film had a source or finish of "only" 2K it doesn't mean it won't improve.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by Leviathan

So, we're looking down at the business end of an upscale.


I have to question what is the point, if the UHD is not going to yield any quality improvements.

4k mastering can yield amazing results with a 2k digital source. It isn't all about the pixels, it's how you use them. That's where the human element comes in.