Which theatrical rerelease decade was the best?

[Jackoleen]

Dear Disney Enthusiasts,

The Disney Company began theatrically rereleasing their movies (both animated and live-action) in the 1940s, and their movies continued being rereleased through about the 1990s.

Which rerelease decade was, in your opinion, the best (Ie: Which decade contained the best rerelease trailers, tie-in toy and product promotions, posters, etc.)?

Which rereleases did you see in a theatre?

I'll get back to you about which decade was MY favorite, but here are the Disney movies that I saw (The ones that I remember having seen, anyway) during some of those famous Disney rerelease years:

"Peter Pan" (1989) (My best friend saw the movie before I saw it, and she told me that Peter Pan's face turned as red as one of my tee-shirts when he blushed, so, of course, I HAD to see the movie. Around that time, I went to Disneyland, and I had a total crush on the guy who was playing Peter Pan in the park! I was 10.)

"The Jungle Book" (1990) (My best friend and I discussed the movie during some type of music practice. I really, really equate that rerelease with laziness, flowers, and a sort of sleepiness. Of course, I equate that entire MOVIE with those things, anyway. I'll never forget lazily lying on my bedroom floor during the hot Summer months, coloring the pictures from my "Jungle Book" coloring book, and then cutting out the characters, so that I could create my own scenes, dialog balloons, etc.)

"Fantasia" (My parents actually INSISTED that I see this movie during its 1990 rerelease, as they said that it was one of the best animated Disney movies ever.)

"101 Dalmatians" (1991) (I can still remember my mother having said "If you don't get redy to go soon, you're going to miss the dalmatians, all 101 of them." I sort of associate that movie's rerelease with the kinds of smart outfits that I was wearing at the time; I was just starting Jr. High, and I had a new wardrobe, which included stirrup pants, hooded MOD-style shirts, black and white hound's tooth checked items, and a red, white, and black color scheme.

"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1993) (My mother hadn't allowed me to see the 1987 rerelease of the movie, because she'd been afraid that I'd have been too scared by it at the tender age of 8. I'll never forget the Summer during which I saw the movie. I was 14, but I'd been a fan of the "Snow White" story (EVERY version) since I'd been super young. I'll never forget waiting in line to get popcorn, alongside the standee. I asked my father which dwarf was Happy at the end of the movie's storyline, or something like that, and when he was stumped, I said "They ALL are!", and laughed. I can still remember lying in the front yard on those Summer nights, in a lawn chair, gazing up at the night sky, feeling glad that I had finally brought home Mattel's Snow White doll!)

Looking back at those years, I feel priveledged to have seen, in a theatre, the movies that contained Walt's favorite male and female characters of all time (Peter Pan and Snow White).

Thank you in advance for your replies.

[Semaj]

The only re-release I saw in theatres was Snow White.

I can't state the 90's as Disney's best re-release period, because with all the films making their way to video, that was basically when theatrical reissues came to an end. But they did such a great job promoting Pinocchio for its 1992 re-release, though it was supposedly a disappointment due to their releasing it on video in 1985. Yet the six-year old me, who had also seen several storybook versions of Pinocchio, each with a slightly different perspective believed at the time that they remade the entire feature!

[Wonderlicious]

I would say the re-releases around the time of the Disney Renaissance (basically the ones just before the films all went to video). No doubt they were also instrumental in fuelling the revival of interest in animation. The campaigns, while appearing modern, capture the spirit of the films perfectly and don't seem to produce trailers that aim to make us believe we're seeing brand new films (like with a lot of the DVD/Blu-Ray re-release trailers today). All the posters have good composition and pleasing colour coordination, and none of the characters really look off model. Plus, seeing the words "Walt Disney's Classic" or "A Walt Disney Classic" above the title is comforting in a weird sort of way.

[Atlantica]

Well, I've only ever seen one Disney re release in the cinema, and that was The Little Mermaid in 1997. I believe it was released to do battle with Anastasia, released at the same time ?

So, being as that is the only one I've been around for, I'd have to say th 1990's !

[carolinakid]

I'd say the 70's...every Disney animated classic received a rerelease during that decade including Dumbo & Alice in Wonderland. Many live action films were also rereleased then including Song of the South, Absent Minded Professor, Shaggy Dog, Swiss Family Robinson, Old Yeller, That Darn Cat, Mary Poppins, etc. A great decade to see classic Disney on the big screen!

[Cheshire_Cat]

Well, I've only ever seen one Disney re release in the cinema, and that was The Little Mermaid in 1997. I believe it was released to do battle with Anastasia, released at the same time ?

So, being as that is the only one I've been around for, I'd have to say th 1990's !

I think the 1997 rerelease of The Little Mermaid was the only rerelease I'd ever seen, too. My mom took me to see it. I really don't remember much about going to see it, though. My dad also bought me the movie on home video around the time it was rereleased.

I also remember seeing Anastasia in theaters. I really liked that movie. In fact, I remember my kindergarten teacher showing the movie to the class. It was fun.

[pinkrenata]

The mid-late 80s/early 90s re-releases were how I saw a lot for the first time, so I'd have to go with those decades.

[VagueSimplicity]

I wish Disney would continue with re-releases, because I think the first Disney movie I ever saw in theaters was-- unfortunately, Chicken Little (in fact I don't ever remember seeing a traditionally, hand-drawn animated Dinsey film in theaters ever! It was always CG or Live Action). We didn't go out much to the movies as you can tell, so I would love to see classics such as Snow White, Pinocchio, and The Little Mermaid on the big screen, now that I'm able to go to the movies whenever.

[milojthatch]

I wish Disney would continue with re-releases, because I think the first Disney movie I ever saw in theaters was-- unfortunately, Chicken Little (in fact I don't ever remember seeing a traditionally, hand-drawn animated Dinsey film in theaters ever! It was always CG or Live Action). We didn't go out much to the movies as you can tell, so I would love to see classics such as Snow White, Pinocchio, and The Little Mermaid on the big screen, now that I'm able to go to the movies whenever.

They do, if you live in LA. At the El Captain in Hollywood, they still show the old classics when they get their various DVD/ Blu Ray releases. But I know what you mean and I agree.


I think the 90's were the best theatrical release decade for Disney. That said, it was with the 80's, the time period I grew up in, so I may be biased.

In the 90's, besides re-releases that happen mostly in the early part of the decade, you had such films as "The Lion King," "Mulan," "Beauty and the Beast," "Toy Story," "Tarzan," "The Santa Clause," Live Action "101 Dalmatians," Angles in the Outfield," "The Mighty Ducks," "Cool Runnings," "Newsies," and a host of other memorable animated and live action films, including one of my personal faves, "Jungles 2 Jungle."

But, I think the 50's and 60's were just a powerful, maybe more depending on one's criteria. It was in these decades that the strong bulks of the classics under Walt were released. Between toughs two, I may have to side with the 50's, which gave us such classics as "Peter Pan," "Sleeping Beauty," 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," "Old Yeller," Darby O'Gill and the Little People," and "The Shaggy Dog."

[Disney Duster]

Walt's favorite male and female characters of all time (Peter Pan and Snow White).

How do you know this?

[merlinjones]

The sheer number of theatrical reissues in the 1960's and 1970's would have to rule - - by then Walt Disney Productions was regularly re-releasing, not only all of Walt's animated classics made between the 1930's and 1960's, but also all of the best live-action features, featurettes, nature films and short subjects (even theatrical reissues of television productions) -- all marketed to us regardless of age as if they were brand new. There were also many double-bill reissues.

By the early-to-mid-1980's, with the advent of home-video, theatrical reissues of live-action films and all but the most popular animated classics slowed to a trickle.

[DisneyAnimation88]

[/quote="DisneyDuster"]Jackoleen wrote: Walt's favorite male and female characters of all time (Peter Pan and Snow White). How do you know this?[quote]

There are different opinions regarding what Walt thought about Peter Pan. It's well known he loved the character and some of the animators who worked on the film saw a similarity between the character and Walt, that both would always be young at heart. However, according to different sources Walt felt the Disney version of the character was cruel and lost the innocence that he had had in the original play. I always assumed Walt's favourite male character would be Mickey Mouse but maybe it was Peter Pan, I don't know.

[Atlantica]

I dont think a lot of the younger posters on here can really comment on which decade was the best, as we havnt been around for most of them .....

At least, for me, my version of rereleases was having the VHS at home on my dinky little tv ! As I said, the only one I remember being allowed to go to was TLM. All the others were original releases, like BATB, Aladdin etc

[Prince Edward]

I remember seeing Peter Pan at the cinema sometime in my childhood, but can't recall any other re-release, though I might have seen more...

[PinkMermaid216]

I would have to say the 80s. The first rerelease I clearly remember seiing was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1987. I was so excited because the theater was giving away 50th Anniversary movie posters. I also remeber seeing Bambi and being traumatized when his mother died! I think I also saw Cinderella and Lady and the Tramp. I definetly remember seeing The Jungle Book as well in 1990. I miss seeing classic Disney movies on the big screen!

[milojthatch]

Walt's favorite male and female characters of all time (Peter Pan and Snow White).

How do you know this?

Somewhere, on one of the documentaries with one of the films, it says that these two stories were Walt's favorites growing up. I guess one can say that because of that, he liked the character best? But I don't remember it saying either way about that.