The Little Mermaid (1989) (Anniversary Edition) (The Signature Collection)

[Prompto]

OP:

[Show spoiler]Even though we're holding out for news of a fall release in the Signature Collection line, I've noticed some of these Signature Collection threads start a little premature of preorder availability. I'm going to go ahead and open this topic anyways with the notion that we'll be seeing this within the next year for several reasons:

News:

• The Walt Disney Signature Collection's Official Website
  
  [Show spoiler]
  
  - TLM is included on among the titles listed in the side-scrolling menu on the homepage. It's worth noting that while it's under 'Other Classics' several other titles have since migrated to the 'WDSC - Now Available' section since the site was last updated.
• Tribeca Trailer
  - One of many Signature Collection trailers showing TLM's inclusion, this trailer heralding The Lion King's release displays the text for The Little Mermaid @2:04 in the upper, right corner.
• Twitter
  - A tweet straight from the horse's mermaid's mouth clues us in on new bonus features for the rerelease. She also blatantly says it's slated for 2019 and that it aligns with the 30th anniversary of the film, so an anniversary banner is likely, akin to BatB, Bambi and Peter Pan.

+ Official Website: https://movies.disney.com/the-little-mermaid

+ Press Release:

[Show spoiler]

BURBANK, Calif. (Jan. 11, 2019) — In honor of its 30th anniversary, two-time Academy Award®-winner (Best Original Score and Best Original Song “Under the Sea,” 1989) “The Little Mermaid,” dives into the highly celebrated Walt Disney Signature Collection with all-new bonus features and a sing-along mode. The magical, musical tale of mermaid princess Ariel — along with loveable sidekicks Sebastian and Flounder, and the love-to-hate sea witch Ursula — is shore to make a splash with all generations when it comes home for the first time Digitally in HD, 4K Ultra HD™ and Movies Anywhere on Feb. 12, and on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray™ on Feb. 26.

The Signature Edition of “The Little Mermaid” showcases its award-winning musical score and iconic songs such as “Under the Sea” and “Part of Your World” with a sing-along mode allowing you to accompany this beloved cast of characters on their journey. Never-before-seen bonus features bring legendary composer Alan Menken and some of Disney’s most recognizable leading ladies together around a piano to reminisce, sing and celebrate “The Little Mermaid.” The latest installment of “Stories from Walt’s Office” compares Walt and Ariel’s love of collecting treasures. Viewers will also receive an inside look at the “The Little Mermaid” cast in their original recording sessions, explore hidden treasures and fun facts from the film, and enjoy a special performance of “Part of Your World” by a cappella singing sensation DCapella. Plus, fans will have access to hours of additional classic bonus features!

Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale about a beautiful mermaid princess who dreams of becoming human, “The Little Mermaid” was directed by John Musker and Ron Clements (“Aladdin”). It features the voice talents of Jodi Benson (“Toy Story 2,” “Toy Story 3”) as Ariel, Pat Carroll (“Laverne & Shirley”) as Ursula, Samuel E. Wright (Broadway’s “The Lion King”) as Sebastian, Christopher Daniel Barnes (“The Brady Bunch Movie”) as Eric, Kenneth Mars (“Young Frankenstein”) as Triton, Buddy Hackett (“The Music Man”) as Scuttle, Jason Marin (“Back to the Future”) as Flounder and René Auberjonois (“The Patriot”) as Chef Louis. The film was originally released in theaters on Nov. 15, 1989 and is the 28th film from Walt Disney Animation Studios, and the first in what many described as a new Disney animation renaissance.

“The Little Mermaid” is the seventh title to join the Walt Disney Signature Collection, which includes groundbreaking films created or inspired by the imagination and legacy of Walt Disney, featuring timeless stories and characters that have touched generations. The film takes its place alongside “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Pinocchio,” “Bambi,” “The Lion King” and “Lady and the Tramp.”

ALL-NEW BONUS FEATURES: *

BLU-RAY & DIGITAL

• Sing-Along Mode – Sing along to the movie in this sing-along version of the film.
• Alan Menken & the Leading Ladies Song – From the voice of a mermaid to the tunes of a muse, the music of Alan Menken has scored the soundtrack for some of Disney’s most iconic leading ladies. Join Alan, Jodi Benson (Ariel), Paige O’Hara (Belle), Judy Kuhn (Pocahontas Singing Voice), Lillias White (Calliope) and Donna Murphy (Mother Gothel) as we celebrate the music of their films in honor of the one that started it all … “The Little Mermaid.” In this discussion, the ladies will share their memories of musically creating their characters with Alan, discuss what it means to be part of the Disney Princess/leading lady legacy and create new memories as they sing with Alan around a baby grand piano.
• “What I Want From You…Is YOUR VOICE” – Enter the recording studio and get an inside look at the cast of “The Little Mermaid” in their original recording sessions.
• Stories From Walt’s Office – Gadgets & Gizmos – Like Ariel, Walt Disney was a collector of many different things from miniatures to early mechanical characters that inspired the invention of audio-animatronics. We take a look at some the collections that Walt kept in his office in the third episode of this series.
• #TreasuresUntold – Join Ruby Rose Turner and Olivia Sanabia from the Disney Channel Original Series “Coop and Cami Ask the World” as they take a deep dive to explore some hidden treasures and fun facts about Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.”
• DCapella “Part of Your World” Music Video
• Classic Bonus Features – revisit four exciting bonus features from previous releases including:
  • Deleted Character: Harold The Merman
  • Under The Scene: The Art Of Live Action Reference
  • Howard’s Lecture
  • Audio Commentary With Ron Clements, John Musker and Alan Menken

DIGITAL EXCLUSIVES

• “Part of Your World” - A 30-Year Retrospective – Songwriter Alan Menken and Jodi Benson, the acting and singing voice of Ariel, sing the epitome of Disney “I Want” songs “Part of Your World” and discuss its impact since it was first heard 30 years ago.
• Classic Bonus Features – Over 3 additional hours of previously released classic bonus features including Deleted Scenes, Easter Eggs, Music Videos and more!

*Bonus features may vary by retailer

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS:
Product SKUs: Ultimate Collector’s Edition (4K UHD+Blu-ray+Digital Code); Multi-Screen Edition (Blu-ray+DVD+Digital Code), Digital UHD/HD/SD, DVD and On-Demand

Feature Run Time: Approximately 83 minutes
Rating: G in U.S. and Canada
Aspect Ratio: 16x9 1.78

Audio:
4K UHD BD: English Dolby Atmos, Latin Spanish, & French-Canadian 5.1 Dolby Digital
Blu-ray: English 7.1 DTS-HDMA, Latin Spanish and French-Canadian 5.1 Dolby Digital
DVD: English, Latin Spanish, and French-Canadian 5.1 Dolby Digital
4K UHD Digital: English Dolby Atmos (some platforms), English 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, English Descriptive Audio 2.0 Dolby Digital
HD Digital: English 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus (some platforms), English 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, English Descriptive Audio 2.0 Dolby Digital

Languages/Subtitles:
4K UHD BD Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish & French
BD Subtitles: English SDH & ESL, Spanish & French
DVD Subtitles: English SDH & ESL, Spanish & French
Digital Subtitles: English SDH, French Canadian, Latin Spanish
Digital & DVD Captions: English

*

+ Release Date:

• Digital: February 12th
• Physical: February 26th

+ Release Notes:

• 30th Anniversary
• 4K Format Debut

+ Pre-Order:

• Amazon: Blu-Ray Combo Pack
• Best Buy: Blu-Ray Combo Pack, 4K Combo Pack
• Disney Movie Club: Blu-Ray Combo Pack, 4K Combo Pack
• Target: Blu-Ray Combo Pack, 4K Combo Pack

+ Exclusives:

• Best Buy: 4K Combo Pack Steelbook
• Disney Movie Club: Pre-Order Lithograph(s)
• Target: 4K Combo Pack Digibook (Filmmaker Gallery & Storybook)

+ Cover Art: Standard Blu-ray Combo Pack

[Show spoiler]

* PR announced this as 7th in the Signature Collection when it's the 8th, omitting "Peter Pan" from the sequence of predecessors.

[Worship.my.wreck]

I thought this was an announcement........

[dig311dug]

4k or bust

[shinobipopcorn]

I really wish they would start new 4K transfers on some of these, because The Little Mermaid and Cinderella are two that I will rebuy. Mermaid if only because I have the DVD case version w/o digital. Its transfer is okay for me. (I know some people get militant when it comes to the tail color...)

Cinderella on the other hand...

[PrueFever]

Hopefully Disney will release this one in 4K when its released next year

[jeremyparker84]

There have been 4K murmurings...

Disney's Little Mermaid & Lion King 4K & 3D Ultimate Collector's Editions?

[shinobipopcorn]

Originally Posted by jeremyparker84

There have been 4K murmurings...

Disney's Little Mermaid & Lion King 4K & 3D Ultimate Collector's Editions?

Ugh, that thread has the Cinderella picture... It really is as bad as Sword in the Stone...

But good news for the others if it's true.

[gwfb5]

Originally Posted by shinobipopcorn

Ugh, that thread has the Cinderella picture... It really is as bad as Sword in the Stone...

You mean this one?

[Show spoiler]

I've also found this but I'm not 100% sure what the image on the left is from. (35mm print maybe?)
(This one on the right is the Blu-ray)

[shinobipopcorn]

Originally Posted by gwfb5

You mean this one?

[Show spoiler]

I've also found this but I'm not 100% sure what the image on the left is from. (35 MM print maybe?)

[Show spoiler]

(This one on the right is the Blu-ray)

Yup. The ones on the left in that big pic are all from the VHS (which I am actually watching right now, coincidentally) or possibly the LD. The second could be the LD also, or possibly a 35mm. I just know the BD took out a lot of dress detail, turned the king pink, and changed most of the colors to match the Disney marketing.

[The Snowy Owl]

MINE! That is all.

[goofystitch]

It looks like the winter issue of Disney Twenty-Three confirms Little Mermaid for 2019 Signature Collection release. https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news...ction-release/

[WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW]

Originally Posted by gwfb5

You mean this one?

[Show spoiler]

I've also found this but I'm not 100% sure what the image on the left is from. (35mm print maybe?)
(This one on the right is the Blu-ray)

wow, shocking that a company like Disney could put out such sloppy butcher jobs of their famous works

[jazzontherocks]

Originally Posted by goofystitch

It looks like the winter issue of Disney Twenty-Three confirms Little Mermaid for 2019 Signature Collection release. https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news...ction-release/

Looking forward to the cover revelation. Hope this new one is loaded with great bonus features.

[svenge]

Meh. Considering that I went to all the trouble to get the fixed replacement copy of Diamond Edition release when it came out, I think I'll pass on the Signature Collection.

The only potentially enticing thing about this upcoming release would be the digital copy, but I really don't care much for those to begin with.

[samadams12pack]

So on his Instagram story, user Reel Cinematics said he thinks it’s unlikely and “doubtful” that The Little Mermaid will have a standard Blu-ray release and that it will only have a 4K re-release judging the 4K releases of The Incredibles, Wreck-It Ralph, and The Lion King. What do you all think? I personally find it hard to believe since Blu-ray releases of the previously mentioned films have already been out there and still in print.

[svenge]

As long as it's a 4K + BD combo pack, it really doesn't matter.

[shinobipopcorn]

Nah. Disney is still releasing DVD only versions, and they've only just released their first cel 4K. Those other 4K movies are different because they're real people and CGI. We don't know how people will flock to 4K animation yet. Besides, 4K is niche. A regular blu is another source of profit for them.

[storythecorgi]

Glad it's coming out again. Now where's Aladdin?

[Prompto]

Aladdin was the last of the Diamond Editions to be released and just went back in the vault last year. It's safe to say it's going to be a while before the good news.

Let's nail down a release date for what's confirmed first: TLM~

[svenge]

Originally Posted by storythecorgi

Glad it's coming out again. Now where's Aladdin?

Still in print and readily available on a region-free BD in the UK. You can even get it bundled with the 2 direct-to-video sequels for a few quid more...