Oliver & Company Blu-ray?

[blurayboy]

I noticed over on ultimatedisney.com they have a press release for Oliver & Company and although it has only been announced for DVD right now, at the top of the press release it says "for the first time EVER in high definition". It looks like we may actually get this movie on Blu-ray after all.

http://www.ultimatedisney.com/oliver...ease-0203.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Finally Releasing from the Disney Vault on DVD and
for the First Time EVER in High Definition!

Walt Disney's
Oliver & Company: 20th Anniversary Edition

Available on DVD with New Bonus Features including Animated Shorts
and an All-New Game on February 3, 2009

Preorder Oliver and Company: 20th Anniversary Edition DVD from Amazon.com

BURBANK, Calif., October 20, 2008 – Fall in love with Oliver & Company’s adorable gang of animal outcasts all over again on February 3, 2009 from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. Disney’s 27th full-length animated film celebrates its 20th anniversary in a special edition DVD with enough fun and laughter for the whole family.
Brilliant animation, a fantastic soundtrack and the amazing voice talents of Billy Joel, Bette Midler, and Huey Lewis, put Oliver & Company on track to win the hearts of a whole new generation. The 20th Anniversary Edition comes with animated shorts, behind–the-scenes featurettes and an all-new game that the parents and kids will love to play together.

Inspired by the classic Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist, the film boasts a lovable cast of characters and five infectious original songs from top-tier contemporary talents including Billy Joel, Bette Midler, Huey Lewis and Barry Manilow. Oliver & Company: 20th Anniversary Edition is filled with hilarious animal antics and high-energy adventures as one clever kitten leads a pack of resourceful pups against a would-be kidnapper! This timeless classic lights up the screen with a story of courage and heart, friendship and loyalty and a songbook filled with unforgettable tunes.

Disney presents an unforgettable musical adventure as Oliver, an adorable stray kitten (voiced by Joey Lawrence), takes Manhattan by storm! When Dodger (Billy Joel), a street-smart mutt with a weakness for mischief, befriends the homeless tabby, he introduces his new pal to his pack of pickpocket pooches, run by the nefarious Sykes (Robert Loggia). Just as Oliver is about to begin a life of crime, he is rescued by a rich girl named Jenny, who takes him home to live in luxury with her and her spoiled poodle Georgette (Bette Midler). But when Sykes finds out about Oliver’s new benefactor, he hatches a plot to abscond with the little girl and hold her for ransom. The courageous kitty and his newfound friends must race to the rescue in an electrifying chase through the city's labyrinthine subway system in order to bring Jenny home. Brimming with music, humor and adventure, Oliver & Company is sure to delight the entire family.

BONUS FEATURES
Games & Activities
• All-New Game


Backstage Disney
• The Making of Oliver & Company
• Puss Café – A delightful animated short starring Disney favorite Pluto and friends
• The History of Animals in Disney Films – A Disney animated featurette
• Return of a Classic – A look at the 1996 theatrical re-release of Oliver & Company
Bonus Short
• Lend a Paw — Pluto rescues a kitten and saves the day in an Academy Award® (1941 Short Subject -Cartoon) winning animated short.

Oliver & Company: 20th Anniversary Edition has a suggested retail price of $29.99 (U.S.) and $35.99 (Canada).


Preorder Oliver and Company: 20th Anniversary Edition DVD from Amazon.com

STREET DATE: February 3, 2009
Direct prebook: December 9, 2008
Distributor prebook: December 23, 2008
Suggested retail price: DVD: $29.99 U.S., $35.99 Canada
Feature run time: Approx 84 minutes
Rated: US: ‘G’; Canada ‘G’
Aspect ratio: 1.66:1; enhanced for 16 x 9 televisions
Sound: 5.1 Dolby Digital
Languages: English, French, Spanish

[Blu HD DEFENDER]

i will be very happy if this is the first non platinum disney bluray animated release

Originally Posted by blurayboy

I noticed over on ultimatedisney.com they have a press release for Oliver & Company and although it has only been announced for DVD right now, at the top of the press release it says "for the first time EVER in high definition". It looks like we may actually get this movie on Blu-ray after all.

http://www.ultimatedisney.com/oliver...ease-0203.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Finally Releasing from the Disney Vault on DVD and
for the First Time EVER in High Definition!

Walt Disney's
Oliver & Company: 20th Anniversary Edition

Available on DVD with New Bonus Features including Animated Shorts
and an All-New Game on February 3, 2009

Preorder Oliver and Company: 20th Anniversary Edition DVD from Amazon.com

BURBANK, Calif., October 20, 2008 – Fall in love with Oliver & Company’s adorable gang of animal outcasts all over again on February 3, 2009 from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. Disney’s 27th full-length animated film celebrates its 20th anniversary in a special edition DVD with enough fun and laughter for the whole family.
Brilliant animation, a fantastic soundtrack and the amazing voice talents of Billy Joel, Bette Midler, and Huey Lewis, put Oliver & Company on track to win the hearts of a whole new generation. The 20th Anniversary Edition comes with animated shorts, behind–the-scenes featurettes and an all-new game that the parents and kids will love to play together.

Inspired by the classic Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist, the film boasts a lovable cast of characters and five infectious original songs from top-tier contemporary talents including Billy Joel, Bette Midler, Huey Lewis and Barry Manilow. Oliver & Company: 20th Anniversary Edition is filled with hilarious animal antics and high-energy adventures as one clever kitten leads a pack of resourceful pups against a would-be kidnapper! This timeless classic lights up the screen with a story of courage and heart, friendship and loyalty and a songbook filled with unforgettable tunes.

Disney presents an unforgettable musical adventure as Oliver, an adorable stray kitten (voiced by Joey Lawrence), takes Manhattan by storm! When Dodger (Billy Joel), a street-smart mutt with a weakness for mischief, befriends the homeless tabby, he introduces his new pal to his pack of pickpocket pooches, run by the nefarious Sykes (Robert Loggia). Just as Oliver is about to begin a life of crime, he is rescued by a rich girl named Jenny, who takes him home to live in luxury with her and her spoiled poodle Georgette (Bette Midler). But when Sykes finds out about Oliver’s new benefactor, he hatches a plot to abscond with the little girl and hold her for ransom. The courageous kitty and his newfound friends must race to the rescue in an electrifying chase through the city's labyrinthine subway system in order to bring Jenny home. Brimming with music, humor and adventure, Oliver & Company is sure to delight the entire family.

BONUS FEATURES
Games & Activities
• All-New Game


Backstage Disney
• The Making of Oliver & Company
• Puss Café – A delightful animated short starring Disney favorite Pluto and friends
• The History of Animals in Disney Films – A Disney animated featurette
• Return of a Classic – A look at the 1996 theatrical re-release of Oliver & Company
Bonus Short
• Lend a Paw — Pluto rescues a kitten and saves the day in an Academy Award® (1941 Short Subject -Cartoon) winning animated short.

Oliver & Company: 20th Anniversary Edition has a suggested retail price of $29.99 (U.S.) and $35.99 (Canada).


Preorder Oliver and Company: 20th Anniversary Edition DVD from Amazon.com

STREET DATE: February 3, 2009
Direct prebook: December 9, 2008
Distributor prebook: December 23, 2008
Suggested retail price: DVD: $29.99 U.S., $35.99 Canada
Feature run time: Approx 84 minutes
Rated: US: ‘G’; Canada ‘G’
Aspect ratio: 1.66:1; enhanced for 16 x 9 televisions
Sound: 5.1 Dolby Digital
Languages: English, French, Spanish

[*TIMMIE*]

Hopefully it is true, and it get a Blu release (also in Europe). I really loved this movie when I saw it at the cinema 20 years ago.

[AaronSCH]

Not every Disney animated fiilm is considered platinum material. I have no doubt this one will be on Blu-ray when the DVD is released. Though it is a minor effort from the studio, I'll be adding it to my collection..

[Ernest Rister]

This film is bottom-5 Disney, meaning, one of the five worst animated features in their library. If it is indeed coming to Blu-Ray, then I'm glad to get it out of the way now so we can move on to the other catalog titles that should be stunners on Blu-Ray (i.e. Rescuers Down Under, Hunchback, Hercules, etc.)

[nerdboyrockstar]

I will buy this FOR SURE if it comes out on Blu. I used to love this when I was little.

I said wooo hooo hooo hooo.. I'm street smart.. I got New York City heart..

[commandercool]

ah man i loved oliver and company i do hope they do release this on blu all i have is the worn out vhs copy lol

[Lucy Diamond]

This one was dopey and quirky but it had a lot of heart.

I really liked Oliver and Company and I hope it gets its due.

[PowellPressburger]

This website updated the title in their listings... I woudl almost guess they would sale it on Blu-Ray since they sale direct to video badness like Tinkerbell. UGH .... still waiting for Aladdin 4: Jafar May Need Glasses.

[hardcorefrokid]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

This film is bottom-5 Disney, meaning, one of the five worst animated features in their library. If it is indeed coming to Blu-Ray, then I'm glad to get it out of the way now so we can move on to the other catalog titles that should be stunners on Blu-Ray (i.e. Rescuers Down Under, Hunchback, Hercules, etc.)

Bottom five

[Whytewash]

i can only hope!

lets get an official BD announcement soon!

[prankster]

wow, i havent seen this since the 80's. i hope this gets released!

[fighthefutureofhd]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

This website updated the title in their listings... I woudl almost guess they would sale it on Blu-Ray since they sale direct to video badness like Tinkerbell. UGH .... still waiting for Aladdin 4: Jafar May Need Glasses.

there isn't an aladdin 4. they stopped at the last one. i googled aladdin 4: jafar may need some glasses, but all i got was some fat dude with green pants. don't know what that's about. it has nothing to do with aladdin. unless they were talking about the fat dude in the second aladdin movie.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger
This website updated the title in their listings... I woudl almost guess they would sale it on Blu-Ray since they sale direct to video badness like Tinkerbell. UGH .... still waiting for Aladdin 4: Jafar May Need Glasses.

Originally Posted by fighthefutureofhd

there isn't an aladdin 4. they stopped at the last one. i googled aladdin 4: jafar may need some glasses, but all i got was some fat dude with green pants. don't know what that's about. it has nothing to do with aladdin. unless they were talking about the fat dude in the second aladdin movie.

My mention of Aladdin 4 which is a Family Guy reference when Stewie takes over the world one thing he orders done is that Disney can NO longer release direct to video sequels and states they went too far with Aladdin 4: Jafar May Need Glasses and then shows a farce of this title. It is a joke. Meaning direct to video Disney films are crap and not one is worthy of being watched. I actually act as if none of them exist.

[Joe Cain]

From WDHE:

Thank you for your e-mail regarding OLIVER & COMPANY. We appreciate your interest.

The scheduled Feburary release is for DVD only; we do not have a Blu-ray release date at this time.

I would have been greatly surprised to hear otherwise.

[PowellPressburger]

Yet they can release crap like Tinkerbell... oh well. Go figure. I'm not buying another standard def DVD for Oliver & Company. I said the same thing to Universal's new nice packages for Psycho Vertigo Rear Window, and Touch of Evil. I will wait.

[P@t_Mtl]

No BD, no big deal for me. This is one of Disney's release I will never bother getting. Not a great movie for me.

[Joe Cain]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Yet they can release crap like Tinkerbell... oh well.

Well, Tinkerbell has probably never come within spitting distance of a piece of actual film, so it's undoubtedly easier to prepare for BD release than anything 20 years old requiring any degree of restoration. If WDHE maintains the level of quality we've seen from their BD releases so far, I'd like to think we'll have to resort to counting discs and bonus features to tell the difference between Platinum Editions and more run-of-the-mill releases from the animated canon.

[CptGreedle]

Actually, with John Lasseter heading this project (He's the head of Disney Animation Studios, AND Pixar), Tinkerbell has been getting better reviews than I expected. It looks like this Direct to Video release is not that bad. The PQ and AQ have been getting amazing reviews.
So it is not crap. Cinderella 3 is crap. But not this one.
I know.. i think this is a first for Disney. A DTV that doesn't SUCK. But then again, they had to get the head of PIXAR to make it for them.

Still, it seems to me that without any further ads or news, this might just be an error, a mistake. There is no Blu-ray link. No listing for it. Nothing to indicate that Blu-ray is involved. They didn't actually mention Blu-ray either, which is strange.
It is possible there will be a Blu-ray release, but they have yet to mention it in the press release, and such. We still have 4 months to go, so anything could happen.

I hope it does, cause I watched it as a kid and would love to at least rent it again, plus any new Blu-ray is a welcome Blu-ray.
And if Disney treats it the way they have been treating it in the past, it will be a very nice release afterall.

We'll see... but it doesn't look promising to me.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by Joe Cain

Well, Tinkerbell has probably never come within spitting distance of a piece of actual film, so it's undoubtedly easier to prepare for BD release than anything 20 years old requiring any degree of restoration. If WDHE maintains the level of quality we've seen from their BD releases so far, I'd like to think we'll have to resort to counting discs and bonus features to tell the difference between Platinum Editions and more run-of-the-mill releases from the animated canon.

Well they should have restored and then released both DVD and BLU day and date. Oliver always looked a bit .... well not clean to say the least.. it would never look like Sleeping Beauty. They shouldn't tease consumers with re-releases most already own on the DVD format.

I wouldn't expect every Disney animated film to recieve Platinum Edition status just as standard DVD releases never always get Platinum ed. releases. So I would expect standard releases to be released on Blu Ray as they do so on DVD. At least one would suspect?