Disney DVD Question

[Ernest Rister]

The Platinum Titles are:

Snow White (1937)
Pinocchio (1940)
Fantasia (1940)
Bambi (1942)
Cinderella (1950)
Peter Pan (1953)
Lady and the Tramp (1955)
Sleeping Beauty (1959)
101 Dalmatians (1960)
The Jungle Book (1967)
The Little Mermaid (1989)
Beauty and the Beast (1990)
Aladdin (1992)
The Lion King (1994)

That's 14 titles. 2 a year gives you a 7 year cycle, similar to the old theatrical distribution model.

If Disney released 4 a year, then the company's crown jewels will have been dumped on the market in a span of 42 months. I don't see that happening.

I think for the time being, we're going to see the same Platinum 2-a-year model...BUT think about all the great audio/visual wonders that await Blu-Ray outside of the Fabled 14.

In 1990, The Rescuers Down Under knocked me off my feet with its score and visuals. There has never been a decent DVD release of this title. I can't wait to see a Blu-Ray version. That's going to be a personal "must have" the moment it is announced.

Ditto The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Aside from its problematic Gargoyles, this was perhaps the most visually accomplished Disney animated feature since Sleeping Beauty, with an ambition to the staging and layouts not seen since Pinocchio. It's also a must have.

And then there's all the remaining Pixar titles (Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles), plus Tron, Tarzan, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Dumbo, Mary Poppins, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Treasure Island, Treasure Planet, The Three Caballeros, Alice in Wonderland, The Black Cauldron (never released with 16:9 enhancement), The Nightmare Before Christmas, Mulan, Hercules, Fantasia 2000, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Darby O'Gill, and scores upon scores of others.

It's more likely we're going to see 4 animated features + Disney live action catalog + 2 platinum titles every year -- like adding whipped cream and sprinkles onto a rich hot chocolate.

So even though I believe we won't be seeing 4 "Platinum" titles a year, we're going to be seeing some fantastic things from Disney Blu-Ray.

Criticism of the 7 year vault cycle is unfounded, in my opinion. Disney has been very aggressive in releasing big name titles on Blu-Ray, with vast and rich supplements. They have a massive catalog of titles outside those 14 animated cultural milestones.

Besides, does anyone else remember Disney's first year of DVD titles? True, you got 101 Dalmatians, Little Mermaid, Jungle Book, Pinocchio and Peter Pan. You also got old transfers, no 16X9 enhancements on wide-screen titles, and supplements that included "Full Color Artwork Printed on the Disc".

[w_tanoto]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

The Platinum Titles are:

Snow White (1937)
Pinocchio (1940)
Fantasia (1940)
Bambi (1942)
Cinderella (1950)
Peter Pan (1953)
Lady and the Tramp (1955)
Sleeping Beauty (1959)
101 Dalmatians (1960)
The Jungle Book (1967)
The Little Mermaid (1989)
Beauty and the Beast (1990)
Aladdin (1992)
The Lion King (1994)

That's 14 titles. 2 a year gives you a 7 year cycle, similar to the old theatrical distribution model.

If Disney released 4 a year, then the company's crown jewels will have been dumped on the market in a span of 42 months. I don't see that happening.

I think for the time being, we're going to see the same Platinum 2-a-year model...BUT think about all the great audio/visual wonders that await Blu-Ray outside of the Fabled 14.

In 1990, The Rescuers Down Under knocked me off my feet with its score and visuals. There has never been a decent DVD release of this title. I can't wait to see a Blu-Ray version. That's going to be a personal "must have" the moment it is announced.

Ditto The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Aside from its problematic Gargoyles, this was perhaps the most visually accomplished Disney animated feature since Sleeping Beauty, with an ambition to the staging and layouts not seen since Pinocchio. It's also a must have.

And then there's all the remaining Pixar titles (Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles), plus Tron, Tarzan, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Dumbo, Mary Poppins, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Treasure Island, Treasure Planet, The Three Caballeros, Alice in Wonderland, The Black Cauldron (never released with 16:9 enhancement), The Nightmare Before Christmas, Mulan, Hercules, Fantasia 2000, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Darby O'Gill, and scores upon scores of others.

It's more likely we're going to see 4 animated features + Disney live action catalog + 2 platinum titles every year -- like adding whipped cream and sprinkles onto a rich hot chocolate.

So even though I believe we won't be seeing 4 "Platinum" titles a year, we're going to be seeing some fantastic things from Disney Blu-Ray.

Criticism of the 7 year vault cycle is unfounded, in my opinion. Disney has been very aggressive in releasing big name titles on Blu-Ray, with vast and rich supplements. They have a massive catalog of titles outside those 14 animated cultural milestones.

Besides, does anyone else remember Disney's first year of DVD titles? True, you got 101 Dalmatians, Little Mermaid, Jungle Book, Pinocchio and Peter Pan. You also got old transfers, no 16X9 enhancements on wide-screen titles, and supplements that included "Full Color Artwork Printed on the Disc".

beauty and the beast is 1991. I'm not sure, but I've heard 101 Dalmatians is 1961, and Cinderella 1951

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by w_tanoto

beauty and the beast is 1991. I'm not sure, but I've heard 101 Dalmatians is 1961, and Cinderella 1951

Cinderella 1950
Beauty and the Beast 1991
101 Dalmatians 1961

And then, we get into the issue of why some titles were "Platinum", and others merely "Gold"...

Well, it's obvious. The 14 Platinum titles are the 14 highest selling titles on home video. It's that simple. I wish it was based on artistic merit. If that were true, Pinocchio would have been the first Platinum title.

Me, I'm still waiting for an upgraded "Hercules", now that theatrical flop is actually popular on video again, and I'd wager we'd see one years before anyone even remembered Roy's Folly...And for reasons I'm still not quite sure of, I'd also wager we'd see "Dumbo" long before that.
And sorry, I'm afraid widespread studio love for "Hunchback" left with Michael Eisner...He lived for that movie, and few other people at the studio know why.)

Well, if he lived for that movie, it didn't show in the treatment of the film on DVD. It wasn't a direct-from-digital transfer (just like Rescuers Down Under) and the supplements were ported over from the deluxe laserdisc edition...and to add insult to injury, they only ported over some of the laserdisc supplements. I also have to believe there is admiration for the craftsmanship of the film at Disney. It's the high-water mark of modern Disney animation (in terms of staging, art direction, ambition, character animation and design). The only thing that comes close to it is Tarzan. The Rescuers Down Under has ambitious visuals, too - the actual character animation comes up short compared to the original. Despite the lavish praise for their songs and story, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast are more perfunctory and workmanlike in their staging than inspired. In fact, in all three, there are moments that are downright sloppy. I don't think that's because of a lack of talent. It's more likely due to a rushed production schedule. The difference between Disney and Pixar is that modern Disney made movies to fit a release date, while Pixar made movies and only released them when they felt the movie was ready. This is why Pixar has earned four Oscar nominations for Screenplay (Toy Story, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille). Disney Feature Animation has never earned an Oscar nomination for writing.

[Wreck]

I remember the first year of DVD, I came in right after those were all gone and could never get them,they were selling high on ebay ever since. I got an oringal Snow White and Beauty And The Beast though, and like 30 other disneydvds ;p My Black Cauldron is aspect ratio 2:35:1

[Jeff Swearingen]

Originally Posted by BigBLUballz

My Black Cauldron is aspect ratio 2:35:1

It's supposed to be 2.35:1 - that was Black Cauldron's OAR. The release was non-anamorphic, which is the main problem. It'd be wonderful if they could include all the footage that Katzenberg excised before it was released at least as a deleted scene.

[DOPEY]

disney's 101 dalmation platinum edition scheduled to be released on dvd in march

[w_tanoto]

Originally Posted by DOPEY

disney's 101 dalmation platinum edition scheduled to be released on dvd in march

done my pre-order. wish it on blu-ray. I owned it on VCD. Also recently pre-ordered Aristocats special edition (I owned Aristocats DVD - regular edition)

[yeslek]

Originally Posted by DOPEY

disney's 101 dalmation platinum edition scheduled to be released on dvd in march

theres a limited edition book version with a book inside (sorta like the collectable snow white dvd release) thats coming out - its £17.99 at most places though, but its a couple of quid for a more collectable version

aristocats is out in april i believe - no idea on special editions or versions, just a standard two disc at the moment

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by Jeff Swearingen

It's supposed to be 2.35:1 - that was Black Cauldron's OAR. The release was non-anamorphic, which is the main problem. It'd be wonderful if they could include all the footage that Katzenberg excised before it was released at least as a deleted scene.

Actually.. It would have been shown in 2.40 in 35mm prints and 2.20 in 70mm prints. It was shot in Technirama

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

The Platinum Titles are:

Snow White (1937)
Beauty and the Beast (1990)
The Lion King (1994)
Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Cinderella (1950)
Bambi (1942)
Aladdin (1992)
Lady and the Tramp (1955)
The Little Mermaid (1989)
Peter Pan (1953)
The Jungle Book (1967)
101 Dalmatians (1960)
Fantasia (1940)/Fantasia 2000 (2000)
Pinocchio (1940)

(List corrected for proper cycle chronology)

That's 14 titles. 2 a year gives you a 7 year cycle, similar to the old theatrical distribution model.
I think for the time being, we're going to see the same Platinum 2-a-year model...

(At least, for the time being, as long as they're widescreen--Or remastered with greater hi-def detail for earlier IMAX engagements...
By then, they'll have conquered their fears of older titles, or have remastered new prints of pre-Blu Platinums.)

In 1990, The Rescuers Down Under knocked me off my feet with its score and visuals. There has never been a decent DVD release of this title. I can't wait to see a Blu-Ray version. That's going to be a personal "must have" the moment it is announced.

And then, we get into the issue of why some titles were "Platinum", and others merely "Gold"...
(Me, I'm still waiting for an upgraded "Hercules", now that theatrical flop is actually popular on video again, and I'd wager we'd see one years before anyone even remembered Roy's Folly...And for reasons I'm still not quite sure of, I'd also wager we'd see "Dumbo" long before that.
And sorry, I'm afraid widespread studio love for "Hunchback" left with Michael Eisner...He lived for that movie, and few other people at the studio know why.)

It's more likely we're going to see 4 animated features + Disney live action catalog + 2 platinum titles every year -- like adding whipped cream and sprinkles onto a rich hot chocolate.
Besides, does anyone else remember Disney's first year of DVD titles?

Remember? I remember them literally giving old Limited Edition copies away for FREE, as a bonus for buying the first Snow White platinum (think I've even still got that old "Lady/Tramp" copy somewhere on a back shelf). Ah, sweet revenge.

True, you got 101 Dalmatians, Little Mermaid, Jungle Book, Pinocchio and Peter Pan. You also got old transfers, no 16X9 enhancements on wide-screen titles, and supplements that included "Full Color Artwork Printed on the Disc".

Actually, it was just "Full color artwork on disk"...
And I don't know how many fans returning the "defective" disks to the company ("I can't find the artwork!!") may have been deliberate sarcasm, but it may very well have been influential in pink-slipping the DVD-phobic Disney exec who gave us those "Limited Editions" in the first place.

[jw]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

The Platinum Titles are:

Snow White (1937)
Pinocchio (1940)
Fantasia (1940)
Bambi (1942)
Cinderella (1950)
Peter Pan (1953)
Lady and the Tramp (1955)
Sleeping Beauty (1959)
101 Dalmatians (1960)
The Jungle Book (1967)
The Little Mermaid (1989)
Beauty and the Beast (1990)
Aladdin (1992)
The Lion King (1994)

That's 14 titles. 2 a year gives you a 7 year cycle, similar to the old theatrical distribution model.

If Disney released 4 a year, then the company's crown jewels will have been dumped on the market in a span of 42 months. I don't see that happening.

I think for the time being, we're going to see the same Platinum 2-a-year model...BUT think about all the great audio/visual wonders that await Blu-Ray outside of the Fabled 14.

In 1990, The Rescuers Down Under knocked me off my feet with its score and visuals. There has never been a decent DVD release of this title. I can't wait to see a Blu-Ray version. That's going to be a personal "must have" the moment it is announced.

Ditto The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Aside from its problematic Gargoyles, this was perhaps the most visually accomplished Disney animated feature since Sleeping Beauty, with an ambition to the staging and layouts not seen since Pinocchio. It's also a must have.

And then there's all the remaining Pixar titles (Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles), plus Tron, Tarzan, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Dumbo, Mary Poppins, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Treasure Island, Treasure Planet, The Three Caballeros, Alice in Wonderland, The Black Cauldron (never released with 16:9 enhancement), The Nightmare Before Christmas, Mulan, Hercules, Fantasia 2000, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Darby O'Gill, and scores upon scores of others.

It's more likely we're going to see 4 animated features + Disney live action catalog + 2 platinum titles every year -- like adding whipped cream and sprinkles onto a rich hot chocolate.

So even though I believe we won't be seeing 4 "Platinum" titles a year, we're going to be seeing some fantastic things from Disney Blu-Ray.

Criticism of the 7 year vault cycle is unfounded, in my opinion. Disney has been very aggressive in releasing big name titles on Blu-Ray, with vast and rich supplements. They have a massive catalog of titles outside those 14 animated cultural milestones.

Besides, does anyone else remember Disney's first year of DVD titles? True, you got 101 Dalmatians, Little Mermaid, Jungle Book, Pinocchio and Peter Pan. You also got old transfers, no 16X9 enhancements on wide-screen titles, and supplements that included "Full Color Artwork Printed on the Disc".

all of these are on dvd at this time, but some are oop at the current time

[photoginit]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

Ditto The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Aside from its problematic Gargoyles, this was perhaps the most visually accomplished Disney animated feature since Sleeping Beauty, with an ambition to the staging and layouts not seen since Pinocchio. It's also a must have.

I am glad I am not the only one who thinks Hunchback is one of Disney's best animated movies. Unfortunately, the dvd for it is not that great. It is one of the few modern Disney animated DVD's that did not get a straight from digital transfer. It does have a great commentary track. But to get a new transfer and and upgrade in the audio would be awesome.

I would not be surprised if we get Toy Story 1 and 2 next spring cause Toy Story 3 will be coming to theaters in Summer 2009. However, I can't wait for The Incredibles. That was my demo disk when I wanted to show people how awesome my home theater projector is. I can't wait to see what that movie would look and sound like on Blu Ray.