Comparing Home Releases Cover Arts

[Disney Duster]

I think the Gold Collection one is the best, most awesome, most epic one! The simple, but powerful compostition, great perspective, and look at that lighting! Then the Masterpiece Edition, with the composition, perspective, the swirling magic of the sword and cauldron together, and the Horned King included in it! Then the 25th Anniversary Edition is great!

You know, the Masterpiece Edition cover was holographic, so it was really cool when you had it!

[lord-of-sith]

You know, the Masterpiece Edition cover was holographic, so it was really cool when you had it!

Yes! I remember getting it for Christmas, and having no idea what the movie even was My sister and I watched that VHS a lot back in the day.

I feel like The Black Cauldron has a lot of missed opportunity for cool covers. The movie has a lot of flaws, but it's scope and cool imagery is not one of them.

[UmbrellaFish]

When I was a little boy, I would take every VHS my family bought and I would throw the case in the trash (at least until my mom spanked me after she caught me attempting to discard the Kiki’s Delivery Service clamshell). The sturdiness of VHS tapes made any other extra packaging unnecessary, I thought.

But I remember my Black Cauldron tape had something spilled on it— it was a sticky, brown substance. Probably the remnants of a soft drink or maybe some candy. But the memory of that icky tape always colored my perceptions of the movie.

[Disney's Divinity]

Yes! I remember getting it for Christmas, and having no idea what the movie even was My sister and I watched that VHS a lot back in the day.

I feel like The Black Cauldron has a lot of missed opportunity for cool covers. The movie has a lot of flaws, but it's scope and cool imagery is not one of them.

I agree about missed opportunity.

I can't remember how old I was when my mom bought the Masterpiece VHS, but I remember the morning itself vividly. My reaction was pretty much: a new Disney movie, when did this happen?? I don't even think she knew what it was. She worked night shift (father worked daytime), and really just bought it to shut my sister and me up while she tried to sleep. Animated movies were my babysitters.

But I remember my Black Cauldron tape had something spilled on it— it was a sticky, brown substance. Probably the remnants of a soft drink or maybe some candy. But the memory of that icky tape always colored my perceptions of the movie.

It's funny how those things stick in your memory. Our Cinderella VHS (the tape itself, not the cover) had a pink Kool-Aid stain.

[DisneyBluLife]

The Black Cauldron UK "Villains" cover
https://touch.adverts.ie/dvd/disney-vil ... m/11001175

The Black Cauldron UK "Heroes" cover
https://www.amazon.com/Black-Cauldron-L ... B00NUUD4V4

[JeanGreyForever]

The VHS is what I grew up with and I like the composition and layout but I never realized how off-model Taran and Eilonwy look. The UK VHS many have inaccurate colors but the characters look way more on-model.

The Gold Edition cover is my favorite. This is also how I wish Disney's Peter Pan looked like. The cover just seems very simple and magical and I would definitely want to watch the film just from seeing this. Was never a fan of the 25th Anniversary DVD cover.

[D82]

This is how I'd rank the covers for The Black Cauldron:


1. UK VHS: The colors of the clothes are wrong and the cauldron is too small, but it's where the characters are most on-model and I also like the composition. This was the first VHS cover for Spain too, so I may have some nostalgia for it, but I actually never owned the movie with this cover. The Black Cauldron is one of the Disney movies it took me the longest to finally have on VHS. I didn't buy it when it was first available because I rented it first and my siblings, who are younger than me, were really scared by it. I soon regretted my decision, but it wouldn't be available again until several years later.

2. Gold Collection DVD: This one is quite beautiful and the cauldron is the right size, but Taran could look a bit better in my opinion.

3. 25th Anniversary DVD: It's not too bad, but the characters are not very on-model.

4. Masterpiece VHS: I like the idea, but the characters are unrecognizable here.

Poor Fflewdur is the forgotten member of the group.

Yeah, it's a shame he isn't included in any of the covers.

The Black Cauldron UK "Villains" cover
https://touch.adverts.ie/dvd/disney-vil ... m/11001175

The Black Cauldron UK "Heroes" cover
https://www.amazon.com/Black-Cauldron-L ... B00NUUD4V4

The "Heroes" cover is not bad, but they could've a made a bigger effort with the "Villains" one instead of just choosing a still from the film.

[Disney Duster]

Yes! I remember getting it for Christmas, and having no idea what the movie even was My sister and I watched that VHS a lot back in the day.

I feel like The Black Cauldron has a lot of missed opportunity for cool covers. The movie has a lot of flaws, but it's scope and cool imagery is not one of them.

Me and my one friend were soooo excited for the Black Cauldron just seeing commercial's for it coming to home video! So I knew it was something I wanted and I asked my parents to buy it for me!

Me and my friend were into magic and dark stuff, her and I, so that's why we looked forward to it and even loved it afterward! It's one of my favorite Disney films!

When I was a little boy, I would take every VHS my family bought and I would throw the case in the trash (at least until my mom spanked me after she caught me attempting to discard the Kiki’s Delivery Service clamshell). The sturdiness of VHS tapes made any other extra packaging unnecessary, I thought.

But I remember my Black Cauldron tape had something spilled on it— it was a sticky, brown substance. Probably the remnants of a soft drink or maybe some candy. But the memory of that icky tape always colored my perceptions of the movie.

Dude, it's sad you did that to your tapes, it's sad you got spanked (awww!) and it's sad you spilled something on The Black Cauldron and you liked it less because of that!

[Marce82]

It's nice to read everyone's nostalgic memories of this film. I personally never saw it until I was 16... and.... um... let's just say I was not a fan. I have watched a couple more times over the years... still not a fan. And I doubt I will ever be. That said, that attraction they had in Tokyo until 2006 looked amazing (videos on youtube).

On to the covers... which range from dreadful to barely passable, so this is more of a "which ones are less bad". Yay!

1) Gold collection: very simple layout, but it works. It conveys "Hero's journey". I also like the color and lighting choices. In this case IT MAKES SENSE that Taran is being lit from underneath, since it is coming from the cauldron.... or whoever that random teenager is.... super off model.

2) 25th dvd: bland poses, bland composition.... even the colors look washed out. The cauldron looks like it has no volume.... but I like the font, and this one has the character closest-to-model. Please note how much longer Taran's right leg is than the left... and it's strange shape.

3) Masterpiece VHS: pretty much every character is super off model (even Gurgi!), the poses are awkward.... but I give it points for including the castle (at an interesting angle, though very blurry) and the Horned King, which is the most interesting design in this film. The rendering is pretty bad, it all looks kinda amateurish.

4) UK VHS: Well... Taran's face might be a lil closer to being on-model, but daaaaamn: Taran's has been hitting the gym in this one! His arms are also different lengths, the rendering is a little too soft and makes them all look a little rubbery. Gurgi is off, the girl (dunno how to spell her name) is off (but prettier than she is in the film!)... and there is a darn bland sky in the background! Also, not loving the super bright colors on the characters with the monochromatic blue background.


You'all know the really sad part??? If you guys look up the original poster AND soundtrack cover.... it'd truly BEAUTIFUL artwork!!! I wish they would have used some of that... oh well. I guess they were trying to look kid-friendly with these covers.

[blackcauldron85]

Wow, you have that as a tattoo? I grew up with that cover and it's so nostalgic! Is The Fox and the Hound one of your favorite films?

Yes! It's in my Top 10! I loved it as a kid, but most of my adult life I've been a mom to a bunch of hound dogs, so it has extra meaning for me!
https://imgur.com/a/HF4AnPp

The US VHS & UK VHS are my 2 favorites (they are colorful and have the most going on), & the 25th Anniversary is my 3rd favorite.

I like this alternate Gold Collection cover better: https://www.iceposter.com/posters/The_B ... iL4fKhOn3C

This is one of my absolute favorite TBC posters that I think would make a nice cover:
https://imgur.com/a/VIPgCd7

The Villains cover, while pretty plain, is cool because the Horned King doesn't get enough promotion!

[JeanGreyForever]

Wow, you have that as a tattoo? I grew up with that cover and it's so nostalgic! Is The Fox and the Hound one of your favorite films?

Yes! It's in my Top 10! I loved it as a kid, but most of my adult life I've been a mom to a bunch of hound dogs, so it has extra meaning for me!
https://imgur.com/a/HF4AnPp

The US VHS & UK VHS are my 2 favorites (they are colorful and have the most going on), & the 25th Anniversary is my 3rd favorite.

I like this alternate Gold Collection cover better: https://www.iceposter.com/posters/The_B ... iL4fKhOn3C

This is one of my absolute favorite TBC posters that I think would make a nice cover:
https://imgur.com/a/VIPgCd7

The Villains cover, while pretty plain, is cool because the Horned King doesn't get enough promotion!

Your tattoo is super well-done and really accurate to the original cover! I watched the film for the first time since I was a child recently on Disney+ and I didn't realize how great this movie really is. Do you think that your love of hound dogs as an adult was also perhaps because this was a childhood favorite of yours?

I've seen that alternate Gold Collection cover before and do you know if it was ever released as a proper cover anywhere? Taran is too off-model for my taste but I like the composition and the lighting a lot. It just needs the Horned King in that dark empty spot on the right. It's very apparent that the cover was unfinished and meant to feature someone there.

I always loved the contrast between that poster you linked to and the original theatrical poster. I can see why they rebranded the film with a new title and a less threatening and ominous poster.

[D82]

I've seen that alternate Gold Collection cover before and do you know if it was ever released as a proper cover anywhere? Taran is too off-model for my taste but I like the composition and the lighting a lot. It just needs the Horned King in that dark empty spot on the right. It's very apparent that the cover was unfinished and meant to feature someone there.

I think that cover is fan made. They used the artwork from the back cover of the Gold Collection. That's why there's a dark empty spot; it's where the text was in the original: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088814/me ... m356995840

[blackcauldron85]

Yeah, the alternate Gold Collection isn't complete, but I prefer the idea of it to the plainer one we got, but yes, it'd need something in the open space; Horned King being a great option, JeanGrey!

Thank you for the compliment! My ex husband wanted basset hounds, so that was how I initially became a hound mom, then adopting other types, but my current husband did research when my Oliver (hound mix) passed away and also wanted a hound, so it's been a mix of adopting hounds on purpose (seeking out rescue groups) and coincidentally stumbling across hounds at shelters!

I like the original TBC movie poster very much, but it's too busy for a video/DVD cover, imo.

[Disney's Divinity]

Oh, that pictures is really pretty, blackcauldron85! Never seen it before. I like the Horned King sleeve, too, DisneyBluLife.

While looking through the links posted here, I ended up seeing this poster on Google:

http://dailyspectacle.co.uk/wp-content/ ... Poster.jpg

I’ve never seen this image before, but I like it, particularly the background that includes the castle and the Cauldron-born. I wouldn't have minded if they had used parts of it for a cover. The witches of Morva were always my favorite part of the film so I'm happy they were included, although their absence on most covers or posters doesn’t really surprise me like with Fflewdur. I see Fflewdur as being on equal level with Gurgi and Eilonwy as Taran’s sidekicks, but I know modern Disney likes to boil every story down to protagonist, love interest, and villain—all other characters are irrelevant.

[JeanGreyForever]

I've seen that alternate Gold Collection cover before and do you know if it was ever released as a proper cover anywhere? Taran is too off-model for my taste but I like the composition and the lighting a lot. It just needs the Horned King in that dark empty spot on the right. It's very apparent that the cover was unfinished and meant to feature someone there.

I think that cover is fan made. They used the artwork from the back cover of the Gold Collection. That's why there's a dark empty spot; it's where the text was in the original: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088814/me ... m356995840

I didn't realize it was the back cover so that makes more sense. Thanks for confirming.

Yeah, the alternate Gold Collection isn't complete, but I prefer the idea of it to the plainer one we got, but yes, it'd need something in the open space; Horned King being a great option, JeanGrey!

Thank you for the compliment! My ex husband wanted basset hounds, so that was how I initially became a hound mom, then adopting other types, but my current husband did research when my Oliver (hound mix) passed away and also wanted a hound, so it's been a mix of adopting hounds on purpose (seeking out rescue groups) and coincidentally stumbling across hounds at shelters!

I like the original TBC movie poster very much, but it's too busy for a video/DVD cover, imo.

I'm sure someone good with photo manipulation could probably insert some clipart of the Horned King into that image.

I love how you've been rescuing hounds with your husband! That's such a noble cause especially considering how many dogs are abandoned at shelters for most of their lives and never given a chance. I know Disney has some causes that they use their animated characters to promote (Cinderella for child safety seats in cars, Aurora for deforestation, Ariel for keeping our oceans clean, etc.) but they should really consider using some of their iconic dog characters to promote shelters. Lady and the Tramp come to mind considering it's a key part of their story.

[blackcauldron85]

JeanGrey: Thank you! My dogs are my kids. Actually, with the live-action L&tT, Disney posted an animal adoption-focused video on YouTube! I was super impressed. And they used rescue dogs in that film (I still haven't seen it though).

Disney's Divinity: I love that poster, too! I think it may be a tad too busy for a DVD cover, but I like that it does have more characters (+ Cauldron-Born) than we usually see.

[DisneyBluLife]

I've seen that alternate Gold Collection cover before and do you know if it was ever released as a proper cover anywhere? Taran is too off-model for my taste but I like the composition and the lighting a lot. It just needs the Horned King in that dark empty spot on the right. It's very apparent that the cover was unfinished and meant to feature someone there.

I think that cover is fan made. They used the artwork from the back cover of the Gold Collection. That's why there's a dark empty spot; it's where the text was in the original: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088814/me ... m356995840

If it would be used for a front cover, and fill the empty black area. The easiest things to do would be to have the movie title there.

Click the link, scroll down and you see what I mean:
https://www.hidefninja.com/community/th ... 9/page-105

[blackcauldron85]

^ That's a great cover!!! It's not the most elaborate, but still better than what we got, IMO.

[DisneyBluLife]

Cinderella Japanese Laserdisc Collector's edition gift set
I really like the artwork from picture 4 (Cinderella running down the stairs leaving the glass slipper behind)
And
Picture 6 (The logo uses the "Black Diamond " VHS Artwork but has Cinderella in her ballgown instead of the Pink dress)
https://m.ebay.ie/itm/Rare-2-Disc-Comme ... 3345466521


Just imagine, a lenticular slipcover with the "Black Diamond" VHS artwork of Cinderella. Switching from her pink dress to her ballgown from the artwork of the Japanese Laserdisc

[JeanGreyForever]

JeanGrey: Thank you! My dogs are my kids. Actually, with the live-action L&tT, Disney posted an animal adoption-focused video on YouTube! I was super impressed. And they used rescue dogs in that film (I still haven't seen it though).

I'm glad to hear that Disney made a video like that! And I remember that they announced that all the dogs used in the film were rescue dogs. That's really neat and I love when Disney does stuff like that. I saw about the first half of the film but it didn't really interest me. It felt like I was watching The Lion King remake all over again, the same exact movie and story but without most of the charm. And unlike TLK in theaters, here I had the chance to turn it off and switch over to the animated film lol.

I think that cover is fan made. They used the artwork from the back cover of the Gold Collection. That's why there's a dark empty spot; it's where the text was in the original: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088814/me ... m356995840

If it would be used for a front cover, and fill the empty black area. The easiest things to do would be to have the movie title there.

Click the link, scroll down and you see what I mean:
https://www.hidefninja.com/community/th ... 9/page-105

I remember seeing some fanart covers like that. It's clever to use the title in that empty region instead.