Telecine transfer of CAPS movies directly to DVD

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Today, master files are used when transferring a film in digital form to physical formats like DVD or Blu-ray. But, when Disney’s CAPS movies were first released on DVD, Disney initially relied on the established telecine process, where analog film prints were scanned and transferred to physical media. This also applied to CAPS films, which were originally created digitally but then printed out to analog 35mm film using a laser film recorder before being scanned back to digital for DVD release.

As a result, these originally digital animated films were released on DVD with an analog intermediate step. This meant that the films contained analog imperfections such as film grain, dust particles, and occasionally minor scratches—just as the films appeared when shown in cinemas on 35mm film. But after a few years, Disney phased out this analog intermediate and began using the original master files directly for DVD and Blu-ray transfers. It is doubtful that these “analog” DVDs from the CAPS era will ever be reissued, which makes them collectors’ items—especially since many have likely discarded their copies in favor of newer releases that lack these imperfections.

At the time, CRT TVs were still common, and compared to VHS tapes, the quality of these DVDs was vastly superior and more than good enough for most viewers.

There are essentially two versions of these CAPS films on home media: those transferred directly from analog film prints, and those that have undergone digital restoration first, such as the initial DVD release of Aladdin. While the restored versions are also collectible, they are less authentic than the direct analog transfers and not as crisp as releases based purely on the original master files (I suppose all the analog transfers are available only on DVD, not Blu-ray, and that the same probably goes for those who are digitally restored?).

Is there a list available that specifies which CAPS movies are based on analog film transfers, which have been digitally restored to remove analog imperfections, and which rely solely on the original master files? And what about the first movies from Pixar, and possibly DreamWorks? Or Disney's Chicken Little?

[Haralampos]

All I know is that from Tarzan onwards, all the new films were original digital transfers downscaled to SD for DVD. TRDU was released on every home video using a film source master, probably digitally remastered. I guess they couldn't locate or have access to all the CAPS files. I read somewhere that they were still in beta at the time, and those files were unusable on later versions. The first 90's films on DVD were from film masters, some good, some not that good. BatB was first released using the new IMAX digital remaster, straight from CAPS. Same for Aladdin and TLK. RDU, Pocahontas, THoND, Hercules, and Mulan were first released on DVD using a film-sourced master, with Pocahontas and Mulan sourced from CAPS masters for their re-release on DVD (I have to mention that Pocahontas was remastered as they did a special edition version exclusively for the DVD). HoND and Hercules were first released on their Blu-ray debut using the CAPS system transfer for the first time. Also, we have seen CAPS scenes for RDU in a documentary.

[Haralampos]

Rescuers Down Under:
Gold Classic Collection DVD - telecine transfer
2-Movie Collection Blu-ray - New film-to-digital transfer/remastered

Beauty and the Beast:
IMAX/Special Edition/Platinum Edition DVD - New sequence - CAPS transfer/remastered
Diamond Edition Blu-ray - CAPS transfer/new digital master/remastered
3D theatrical release/Diamond Edition 3D Blu-ray - RAW CAPS/mastered for stereoscopic 3D/no 2D version available*

*not available at the original Diamond Edition release, created in a hurry, after the success of TLK 3D re-release.

Aladdin:
Cancelled IMAX/Platinum Edition - CAPS transfer/remastered

The Lion King:
IMAX/Special Edition/Platinum Edition DVD - New sequence - CAPS transfer/remastered
Diamond Edition Blu-ray - CAPS transfer/new digital master/remastered

Pocahontas:
Gold Classic Collection DVD - telecine transfer
10th Anniversary/Special Edition DVD - New previously deleted sequence - CAPS transfer/remastered

The Hunchback of Notre-Dame:
Gold Classic Collection (spine) DVD - telecine transfer
2-Movie Collection Blu-ray - CAPS transfer/remastered

Hercules:
Gold Classic Collection DVD - telecine transfer
Special Edition Blu-ray - CAPS transfer/remastered

Mulan:
Gold Classic Collection DVD - telecine transfer
Special Edition DVD - CAPS transfer

Every new release since their last on the list is basically the same transfer in higher quality (Blu-ray, 4K, for example). Also, I'm pretty sure that all the releases from Tarzan onward were their main CAPS masters, with no remastering unless it's a minor fix.

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Thanks. So it's Rescuers Down Under, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, Hercules and Mulan that are telecine transfers (first DVD-releases). The list is a little shorter than I had expected, but still an interesting product of its time.

[Farerb]

Basically any movie that was released here:
https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Walt_Dis ... ted_Issues
https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Walt_Dis ... Collection

It was the beginning of the format and there wasn't much thought other than to put old masters on a digital disc. Take into consideration that VHS was still more sold at that time too and there was no reason to create two different masters.

[Vlad]

When it comes to Beauty and the Beast's Special Edition, if you compare the footage from the DVD to the footage in the IMAX trailer, the ones from the trailer look so much better.

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Seems like even the first three Pixar movies are on the list. In the early days, buyers couldn't compare them with anything anyway, except VHS, so they were happy. And later they had an excuse to buy them again when Disney used a digital master.

Not sure why the IMAX trailer of The Beauty and the Beast looks better the DVD did not use a telecine transfer, but the IMAX still used traditional film.