SLEEPING BEAUTY - 3 video releases

[drsd2kill]

Here are some more comparisons. We have:
A = 1987 CAV Pan/Scan Laserdisc (master released on VHS in 1986)
B = 1997 CAV Widescreen Laserdisc (aspect ratio: 2.26:1)
C = 2003 Anamorphic Widescreen DVD (aspect ratio 2.3:1)

Here's one where the benefit of anamorphic enhancement REALLY shows. Some of the colors and lines around colors do seem duller, but the added sharpness is incredible! The DVD seems cropped at the top and bottom a bit, but I believe it was framed for 2.35:1 anyway. Still, an interesting comparison.

I tried to get the frames as close to exact as possible.

Chuck

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I measured the aspect ratio by cropping off the black at the top and bottom (and a sliver of black from the sides) and then divided the width by the height. I must say I appreciate the sharpness of the DVD now more than ever!

I'll have to compare the widescreen versions of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ALADDIN, THE LION KING, etc. sometime. I'm curious about the fullframe releases as well, though I don't have them on LD. Maybe I can borrow some old VHS copies so the framing can be compared.

Chuck

[Beastboyravenz]

drsd2kill thank you so much. I had compared my vhs to the dvd and thought colors were so accurate. I always wanted to post this sort of comparison. I really love how the film has retained it's original color palette. Textures are so beautifully expressed on dvd. If possible can you do one for Snow White?

[drsd2kill]

Sure, I'll get around to SNOW WHITE Unfortunately, all there is to compare is the 1994 Laserdisc and 2001 DVD - both are from the same computer restoration like SLEEPING BEAUTY. I wish there was an earlier release from the film restoration, scattered cel dust and all.

[Beastboyravenz]

Thank you! I really appreciate it and the hard work you put in to this. I while back I asked someone if they could do some comparisons for snow white, but no reply until now. Again thanks a lot.

[Beastboyravenz]

I thought the 1994 restoration, was done through another method other than computer.

[Disneykid]

Another excellent comparison! It's kinda bizarre how the fuzziness of the 1987 transfer makes everyone's pupils look dilated. I think the DVD restoration is one of the more accurate ones done by Disney. It's remarkably similar to the 1997 one. The 97 one, at first glance, has slightly warmer, friendlier colors, but the 04 one is a more accurate representation of the original cels (which can be seen in the galleries).

[drsd2kill]

The 1997 and 2003 video releases of SLEEPING BEAUTY are from the same computer restoration. It was restored in the same manner as SNOW WHITE, but NOT like the newest wave of "restored" releases done by Lowry Digital (CINDERELLA, BAMBI, etc.). It would make sense that they look very similar, though the newest release is obviously much sharper owing to DVD's superior resolution and anamorphic enhancement.

These comparisons will be ready within the next week:

THE LITTLE MERMAID
* 1990 CLV Laserdisc
* 1998 CAV Widescreen Laserdisc [same master used for 1999 DVD]
* 2006 Anamorphic Widescreen DVD

PINOCCHIO
* 1987 CAV Laserdisc [same transfer used for 1985 VHS release]
* 1992 CAV Laserdisc [same master used for 1999 DVD]
* 2003 UK DVD Special Edition [Digital restoration released internationally, but not in the US yet]

CINDERELLA
* 1989 CAV Laserdisc
* 1995 CAV Laserdisc
* 2005 DVD

SNOW WHITE
* 1994 CAV Laserdisc
* 2001 DVD

LADY AND THE TRAMP
* 1988 CAV Pan/Scan Laserdisc
* 1998 CAV Widescreen Laserdisc [used for 1999 DVD]
* 1998 CLV Full Frame Laserdisc [only release of alternate filmed version]
* 2006 DVD

Remember that the Laserdisc versions were often issued the year after the VHS on the initial releases, though reissues came out usually day and date with the VHS reissue. So far, I've been able to use Laserdiscs for comparison purposes, but I may use VHS for some of the later features for which I don't have full frame versions (ALADDIN, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, THE LION KING, HUNCHBACK, etc.). The quality will be way down if I use VHS, but I don't want to bother tracking down the full frame Laserdiscs of those titles, some of which I am not so sure were ever issued full frame on LD.

[Beastboyravenz]

Oh I see what you mean. How did you do screencaps for the vhs? I noticed that for the Pan and Scan version of Sleeping Beauty, the animation looks as if they zoomed in causing it to look rather soft and blurry.

[drsd2kill]

Well, it is much easier to make screen caps from DVD's for me, so I transfer the Laserdiscs directly to DVD with no changes in color, contrast or brightness. I'd probably transfer VHS to DVD and then capture from that if I needed to, but Laserdisc is of far higher resolution than VHS. Yes, the 1987 Laserdisc looks quite soft, but just imagine how much softer the VHS is. Also, this was defore digital transfers for video.

[QueenRahel]

wow! i absolutely loved this post! thank you so much for comparing these and gathering all of the shots of one of my fav. disney movies...the quality difference is awesome!!!!

[candydog]

Wow - amazing differences!!! One of my favourite films too, good to see it's been restored to almost perfection.

[Super Aurora]

after seeing the comparison it make me wish I could see or gotten the special edition Sleeping Beauty.

[Super Aurora]

after seeing the comparison it make me wish I could see or gotten the special edition Sleeping Beauty.

[SpringHeelJack]

It's also really interesting to me as a WS/FS comparison. It's sad how much you lose, especially considering what a piece of art this movie is. I never noticed that they "squashed" the opening credits to fit a 1.33:1 screen.

[Lars Vermundsberget]

The quality will be way down if I use VHS, but I don't want to bother tracking down the full frame Laserdiscs of those titles, some of which I am not so sure were ever issued full frame on LD.

Which ones are you not sure of? If we're lucky I might be able to fill you in here and there.

[Beastboyravenz]

I am really looking foward to Snow White's comparisons. I've compared my vhs to the dvd, but always wanted somebody to compare it here.

[drsd2kill]

Well, remember I'm using the 1994 Laserdisc and not the VHS. VHS = around 215 lines of resolution, Laserdisc around 400-410, and DVD 480. Here is the same image in VHS, LD, and DVD resolution and then upscaled again to 480. They are all from the same video transfer - it's just the format that changes things. When I compare SNOW WHITE, keep that in mind.

VHS
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LASERDISC
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DVD
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[Beastboyravenz]

Yeah, I'm just glad you're actually going through the "trouble " to doing this comparison. I really appreciate it alot.

[musicradio77]

Thanks for these pics, I have the 1997 VHS release in full screen. I don't the 2003 DVD. The DVD is still out of print, but I have the widescreen version on VCD, rather than the DVD. It has the original Walt Disney Pictures logo shown here in the 1997 Masterpiece version.

[lord-of-sith]

Awesome caps and comparisons drsd2kill. The old VHS pan&scan caps make me want to barf.