Beauty And The Beast: Diamond Edition Discussion Oct. 5th!

[nomad2010]

So.....

We will or won't be getting the crappy look from the 2002 DVD? And furthermore, is it really a new and more correct restoration we'll be getting?

From what I can see, we will NOT be getting the look of the 2002 dvd. But, I'm not sure that these colors are completely "correct" either. It doesn't seem anyone knows for certain. That's why it's pointless to argue over them. From what I see though, these colors are much closer to the originals and add the depth that was missing from the special edition. No matter how close they are to the "originals" they are lightyears better than the horrid special edition colors.

[jpanimation]

So.....

We will or won't be getting the crappy look from the 2002 DVD?

We don't really know for sure and probably won't until it comes out.

And furthermore, is it really a new and more correct restoration we'll be getting?

You can't restore this film, it is all digital (that's like saying you restored Toy Story). Then again, maybe "restore" is code for color tampering. I'm sure it's just a marketing term used to get people excited about this release.

[Disney Duster]

In that one comparison of Be Our Guest, the DVD completely changed the lights, look, in the original they were slightly transparent, but in the DVD they are completely solid!

It's also true they messed up the lighting and shadow in the Special Edition Cogsworth, but I even thought the original Cogsworth animation was better.

I think they should re-animate Belle and the Beast for Human Again! Ew!

[DisneyJedi]

I think they should re-animate Belle and the Beast for Human Again! Ew!

Why? I thought they looked pretty good. Were they off-model or something?

[VagueSimplicity]

So the top pictures in each comparisons are the DE version of each frame and the bottom are the SE version? Because, imo, the SE versions look a lot better; the colors aren't all muted and dull, but I don't know... maybe it's just the quality of the DE pictures on the site. :-/

[DisneyJedi]

So the top pictures in each comparisons are the DE version of each frame and the bottom are the SE version? Because, imo, the SE versions look a lot better; the colors aren't all muted and dull, but I don't know... maybe it's just the quality of the DE pictures on the site. :-/

Apparently, the DE ones seem slightly closer in look to the original release than the SE one was.

[SWillie!]

So the top pictures in each comparisons are the DE version of each frame and the bottom are the SE version? Because, imo, the SE versions look a lot better; the colors aren't all muted and dull, but I don't know... maybe it's just the quality of the DE pictures on the site. :-/

No offense, but I can't possibly see how you think the top pictures look better than the bottom. The color scheming is WAY off, and makes it look much cheaper. The epic feel of Beauty and the Beast calls for a darker tone to the look of the film. Aka the bottom pictures.

[VagueSimplicity]

So the top pictures in each comparisons are the DE version of each frame and the bottom are the SE version? Because, imo, the SE versions look a lot better; the colors aren't all muted and dull, but I don't know... maybe it's just the quality of the DE pictures on the site. :-/

No offense, but I can't possibly see how you think the top pictures look better than the bottom. The color scheming is WAY off, and makes it look much cheaper. The epic feel of Beauty and the Beast calls for a darker tone to the look of the film. Aka the bottom pictures.

No, I'm saying I like the bottom ones better. I agree completely with you about the top ones.

[Disneykid]

So here's another summary of everything we know of so far based on the BBFC listings, the press release, and the Barnes and Noble listing. I arranged the bonus features more or less to how I think they'll be categorized based on how Snow White was done, though I know I'm off in a few places.

DISC ONE

Theatrical Version
Special Extended Version

Backstage Disney
* Work in Progress/Storyboard Version
-- Work in Progress Introduction (0:28 )
-- Work in Progress/Storyboard Version (could be different for each release)
* Audio Commentary

Deleted Scenes
* Alternate Story Opening
* Belle in the Library

Music & More
* Beauty and the Beast Music Video by Jordin Sparks
* Demo Recordings
-- Introduction (0:26) 
-- Demo Recordings 

DISC TWO

Games & Activities

~ Bon Jour, Who Is This? A Disney TelePlay Game
~ Enchanted Musical Challenge - A Disney Quest Game

Backstage Disney

~ Beyond Beauty: The Untold Stories of Beauty and the Beast (3:42:02)
* Act I (7:05)
* Disney: A Fairy Tale (8:04)
* Gallery of Laugh-O-Gram Fairy Tales
-- Puss in Boots (10:56)
-- Little Red Riding Hood (6:18 )
-- Cinderella (7:23)
-- The Four Musicians of Breman (8:27)

*Act II (9:22)
* The Purdum Reel (18:54)

* Act III (15:00)
* Ever A Surprise: A Portrait of Howard Ashman (13:25)
* Deleted Scene: Alternate “Be Our Guest” (4:14)
* Deleted Scene: Belle in Library (9:01)
* “Human Again” Reel (7:37)

* Act IV (5:49)
* Animation and Production Galleries
-- Storyboard Art (73 images) 
-- Character Design
----- The Beast (30 images)
----- Belle (32 images)
----- Gaston (9 images)
----- Objects (18 images)
* Character Development
-- The Beast (3:48 )
-- Cogsworth (2:51)
-- Lumiere (2:48 )
-- Gaston (3:11)
-- Mrs. Potts (2:13)
-- New Digital Horizons (4:20)
-- Will vs. Nik (3:13)
-- Acting as a Team: Bringing Belle and the Beast to Life (6:43)
* Cartoons 
-- Silly Symphony: China Shop (8:54)
-- Silly Symphony: Music Land (10:23)
-- Doorknob Clip from Alice in Wonderland (2:12)

* Act V (12:25)
* Frame by Frame: A Thumbnail Sketch of the History of Animation (13:56)
* Backgrounds & Concepts
-- Visual Development (58 images)
-- Backgrounds (30 images)

* Act VI (3:34)
* Full Circle to Broadway (9:56)

~ Composing a Classic: A Musical Conversation with Alan Menken, Don Hahn, and Richard Craft (19:26) 

~ Broadway Beginnings (12:33) 

Classic DVD Bonus Features

~ Story 
* Early Presentation Reel
-- Introduction (0:35) 
-- Early Presentation Reel (2:10) 
* Story Reel
-- Introduction (0:34) 
-- Story Reel
* “Be Our Guest”
-- Introduction (1:10) 
-- "Be Our Guest" Alternate Version  (9:14)

~ Animation 
* Animation Tests (4:51) 
* A Transformation (3:10)
* “The Transformation”
-- Introduction (1:02) 
-- "The Transformation" Pencil Version 
* Camera Move Test
-- Introduction (0:38 ) 
-- Camera Move Test 

~ Music 
* “Human Again”
-- Introduction: Don Hahn (0:43) 
-- Introduction: Alan Menken (0:39) 
-- “Human Again” Deleted Song (6:55) 
* “Death of the Beast”
-- Introduction (0:22) 
-- "Death of the Beast” Alternate Score (1:34) 

~ Publicity 
* Trailers and TV Spots
-- Introduction (0:32) 
-- Trailers and TV Spots 
* “Beauty and the Beast” Music Video
-- Introduction (0:22) 
-- "Beauty and the Beast" Music Video by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson 

~ The Story Behind the Story (23:21)
* Introduction (1:46)
* Cinderella (2:47)
* The Lion King (3:33)
* Pocahontas (3:11)
* The Jungle Book (3:13)
* Sleeping Beauty (2:52)
* Mulan (2:46)
* The Hunchback of Notre Dame (2:54)
* Conclusion (2:16)

~ Chip’s Musical Challenge

This looks like it could be the most comprehensive set Disney's ever put together for a film, rivaling even the Fantasia Anthology and Atlantis: The Lost Empire. It's got pretty much everything (substantial) from the old DVD ported over along a plethora of new material. Hopefully this bodes well for the rest of the Diamond Collection. I'm glad to hear the menus will be CG like on the DVD. To me, that makes them feel more immersive.

And those comparison pics are really interesting. Does anyone who's seen the film on IMAX remember if the color palette was as warm as the DVD's? The color white seems pretty non-existent. The lightest they seem to go is creme. Let's see what the DE has in store for us. I'm not so sure those publicity stills are indicative of the final image. Something tells me we're going to get a midway color palette, which is fine by me. I think either image is a little too extreme (publicity photos too dark, DVD too hot).

[Marky_198]

Well, I'm bored so I'm back at it again with some new color comparisons. Some of these I find VERY intersting, as not only was a red-hue added but some of the lighting was affected in certain scenes (changing the feel and losing some depth). You'll see what I mean.

The first set of comparisons come directly from the Beauty and the Beast Diamond Edition official website's image gallery.

http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/anima ... llery.html









Just look at Lumiere dancing. Look at how screwed up the lighting is with the DVD colors. He no longer glows from the spot light on him, the background dancers no longer are in the shadows, just everything about the DVD version is wrong. No way the directors intended that.

This next set of comparisons are actually publicity images that Disney sent out to the press the promote the IMAX theatrical release.

http://www.awn.com/articles/reviews/bea ... ets-bigger


This first one with Belle and Beast dancing is my ideal color scheme.
This is the one I grew up with, the one with depth. The one with
atmospheric lighting and a dark night sky outside the windows.



These last images are from the same IMAX publicity campaign but are particularly interesting because they are of the "new" Human Again sequence. What this shows is that even this brand new sequence was initially animated with the correct colors before getting that red-hue pasted over it.





What does all this mean? Well it means that the DVD colors are the DVD colors, NOT the Special Edition colors, NOT the IMAX colors, the DVD colors. Disney posted actual shots from Dumbo's restoration in it's image gallery before it was release, matching what was found on the Blu-ray, so we can only hope.

Those screenshots look amazing!!!!! This is what the film should look like. Realistic, depth, atmosphere, it doesn't even look like the same film anymore in the SE version. This is the difference between a Disney Classic look versus a sequel look. I'm so glad they were able to get back to the original look.

And like you said, it not even only about colors, but the Lumiere's flames actually give real light again, and suddenly Belle's skin looks like skin again, and the beast's jacket looks real again, and Lumiere is in the spotlight again, the whole film just comes to life again. That shot of Belle and the Beast dancing almost looks like a real picture.
The difference in the shot of Lumiere "dancing" is stunning. The other pots are in the shade/background now where they should be, with a glow of the spots on them. And the structure of Cogsworth actually looks like wood again.
Also the shot of Belle with the sheep (which are finally white again) it really looks like the wind is blowing through her hair, while in the SE version it's just lifeless. Even the newly animated sequence, Human again, where Cogsworth gets water in his face. The water now actually looks like water. I can't tell you how much I appreciate this restoration, if this is really how it's going to be.

Let's hope the new release will look this way. This is proof that it is possible to get a good quality master that's very close to the original version.

[SWillie!]

No offense, but I can't possibly see how you think the top pictures look better than the bottom. The color scheming is WAY off, and makes it look much cheaper. The epic feel of Beauty and the Beast calls for a darker tone to the look of the film. Aka the bottom pictures.

No, I'm saying I like the bottom ones better. I agree completely with you about the top ones.

Okay wait. Just kidding. After looking at them again I was wrong in my original post. The top pictures are from the DE, and I have to say that in most cases (especially the ballroom scene and the scene with Belle holding the flower thing) the top pictures have much more depth. I brain farted on my first post.

I don't know what the heck I like. hahaha

[blackcauldron85]

I'm also confused about which edition the top pictures are and which the bottom pictures are...

Belle's lipstick seems purplish in the top picture of her & Beast on the balcony...

I don't really have a preference...the bottom ones are just brighter...? I mean, look at the IMAX promotional ballroom scene picture: the blues and golds are muted in the top, and, I don't know, more noticeable in the bottom picture...?

[Prince Edward]

http://www.facebook.com/DisneyBeautyAndTheBeast

On Disney's Facebook-page for BATB they have just posted a picture using the original colors (or at least something closer than what was used on the horrible 2002 DVD-release).

[ajmrowland]

Well, as much as I'd love to hate on the PE release as everyone here seems to be doing, that's the one I remember most and NOT the original.

It's gonna take some getting used to for me to see these DE colors. The one real issue I have with them is the ballroom looks a little too washed out. Depth is there, yeah, but it's just my opinion.

[jpanimation]

Well, as much as I'd love to hate on the PE release as everyone here seems to be doing, that's the one I remember most and NOT the original.

It's gonna take some getting used to for me to see these DE colors. The one real issue I have with them is the ballroom looks a little too washed out. Depth is there, yeah, but it's just my opinion.

I never owned the Platinum Edition, so I only know what I saw in theaters and what was on my VHS. So yeah, when I first saw the Platinum Edition a couple of years ago from my teacher, it was a bit jarring to see colors so vastly different from what I was used to for over 15 years. I just don't ever remember Belle having red hair or Beast being orange or the wood in the movie being red (the tavern where Gaston sings always had brown wood and Cogsworth was brown too). I couldn't understand why the whole movie felt "off" to me but I eventually picked up on the colors.

As long as it's not the Platinum Edition colors, this will be THE set to get.

[jpanimation]

http://www.facebook.com/DisneyBeautyAndTheBeast

On Disney's Facebook-page for BATB they have just posted a picture using the original colors (or at least something closer than what was used on the horrible 2002 DVD-release).

Interesting...

...we can make it a game where we just shout out the changes we spot

BLACK EYEBROWS!

[DisneyJedi]

http://www.facebook.com/DisneyBeautyAndTheBeast

On Disney's Facebook-page for BATB they have just posted a picture using the original colors (or at least something closer than what was used on the horrible 2002 DVD-release).

Interesting...

...we can make it a game where we just shout out the changes we spot

BLACK EYEBROWS!

CROPPED PICTURE IN THE PE SCREENCAP!!

[ajmrowland]

Okay, now both the BR scene and the Lumiere shot actually look comforting to the eyes in original colors. That's more what I want.

But, of course, I just want BatB on Blu-ray!

[Disney Duster]

Interesting...

...we can make it a game where we just shout out the changes we spot

The colored lights in the original are transparent, in the Special Edition they are opaque! The black is colored in!

Also, in the original, I don't want to gauge my eyes out!

[bruno_wbt]

In Germany there will be a DVD Collector’s Edition and the special edition of the sequels in November!