Dumbo: Special Edition Blu-ray and DVD Discussion

[Sotiris]

A new "Art of" book about Beauty and the Beast has been put up for pre-order at Amazon with the release date being February 2010. Does that signify the period of the B&tB Blu-ray release? Why else would they release a new "art of" book if not to coincide with the Blu-ray release?

[yukitora]

Someone suggested this earlier... that maybe

a) diamond edition will replace the PE line, ie it will consist of the same 14 movies, minus aladdin or so... and
b) that platinum edition will replace 'special edition'. IE they could potentionally make any film a PE.

I honestly wouldn't mind this.

[Rudy Matt]

So, it is one of the highest selling, most popular home video titles of all time, but it isn't a classic film that appeals to everyone? Look - no film appeals to everyone. Fantasia crosses boundries and as such it appeals to different audiences. I object to your suggestion that Fantasia doesn't fit the "Platinum" line.

Dude, did you not read my post? Stop putting words in my mouth. That's not what I said.

You said this:

"The Platinum line was created to give the bestsellers the deluxe treatment, something that had already been given to Fantasia on DVD when it started in 2001. The thing is that outside of Disney fans, the Platinum line has come to mean classic films that everybody will enjoy, and Fantasia doesn't really fit into that idea."

So I said this, and I stand by it:

"So, it is one of the highest selling, most popular home video titles of all time, but it isn't a classic film that appeals to everyone? Look - no film appeals to everyone. Fantasia crosses boundries and as such it appeals to different audiences. I object to your suggestion that Fantasia doesn't fit the "Platinum" line."

And by the way, Fantasia came to DVD in the year 2000. Not 2001.

[goofystitch]

So, it is one of the highest selling, most popular home video titles of all time, but it isn't a classic film that appeals to everyone? Look - no film appeals to everyone. Fantasia crosses boundries and as such it appeals to different audiences. I object to your suggestion that Fantasia doesn't fit the "Platinum" line."

That's the part where yes, you did put words in my mouth that I didn't say.

And just as the level of quality in the Platinum Edition line has fluctuated, so has it's meaning. We, the home video fans, know that they were originally meant to be the best selling titles, but that was never advertised to the public. So I stand by what I said. To most consumers, Platinum Edition means a film that kids are sure to enjoy that parents will enjoy too. Fantasia does not fit that widely held view of what a Platinum Edition movie is because most kids don't enjoy Fantasia. They may fast forward to a few segments, but they aren't going to sit down for 2 hours and watch it.

[PatrickvD]

A new "Art of" book about Beauty and the Beast has been put up for pre-order at Amazon with the release date being February 2010. Does that signify the period of the B&tB Blu-ray release? Why else would they release a new "art of" book if not to coincide with the Blu-ray release?

Beauty and the Beast is back in theaters in february 2010. So that's why there's a new art of book.

My guess is the Blu-Ray will come in the fall.

[BrandonH]

I love how people are assuming that Disney has a long-term marketing plan for their DVD releases that they will stick to and that makes sense. The wrong-numbered anniversary editions, expanded Platinum line, abandoned Masterpiece line, and many other factors highlight that Disney does not have everything all worked out. You can trust information for six months out at the most. Everything after that is quite tentative and subject to change.

I'm curious to see what changes or additions are made to the Dumbo bonus features for the new release.

For those wanting DVDs of Beauty and the Beast or Fantasia, great editions are still out there. Use your eBay-fu and find them for a decent price. Those who want the Blu-Rays are in the same boat as those waiting for hundreds of other classic films to hit the format.

[kbehm29]

Here is my take on this. From what Disney wrote to UD they said Dumbo was the next "Platinum" title. It is also releasing in February NOT March as Fantasia was. My guess.. Fantasia is still coming March 2010 either as a Diamond Edition or else it is coming as something else, neither platinum nor diamond because they feel it is not a "story" so it should get a different kind of release. Personally I like the thought of getting 4 big titles a year, 2 Platinums, which would be titles that have NOT received a Platinum Edition release. Then all titles which HAVE received Platinum Editions when re-releasedwill be known as Diamond Editions.

This makes a lot of sense to me. Snow White already has a Platinum Edition, which is why the one coming out in October is "Diamond". Pinocchio and Sleeping Beauty did NOT have Platinum Editions already released. Neither does Dumbo.

[The_Iceflash]

Here is my take on this. From what Disney wrote to UD they said Dumbo was the next "Platinum" title. It is also releasing in February NOT March as Fantasia was. My guess.. Fantasia is still coming March 2010 either as a Diamond Edition or else it is coming as something else, neither platinum nor diamond because they feel it is not a "story" so it should get a different kind of release. Personally I like the thought of getting 4 big titles a year, 2 Platinums, which would be titles that have NOT received a Platinum Edition release. Then all titles which HAVE received Platinum Editions when re-releasedwill be known as Diamond Editions.

This makes a lot of sense to me. Snow White already has a Platinum Edition, which is why the one coming out in October is "Diamond". Pinocchio and Sleeping Beauty did NOT have Platinum Editions already released. Neither does Dumbo.

Actually that does make more sense. I just wish Disney adjusted their priorities a bit. (By releasing Platinum Editions of DAC's that haven't had a release since their Gold Classic Collection release.)

[akhenaten]

disney please include leonard maltin's fav DUMBO'S CIRCUS episode !!!!!!! and 2 hrs of lasseter's ranting on why he superloves dumbo.

[2099net]

Well, I'm majorly disappointed by this news... I've been waiting for a Fantasia rerelease for a while now, only having gotten a one-disc copy with crappy video quality.

Are you referring to the 60th Anniversary Edition as having "crappy video quality"?

I believe PAL countries got a different release. It was certainly shorter. I'm not sure if the video quality was the same as the R1 release or not.

[ajmrowland]

At least the praise-fest has some historically accurate technical info. Just not many reflections of the times.

But the Circus episode would be a nice addition.

[Rudy Matt]

I love how people are assuming that Disney has a long-term marketing plan for their DVD releases that they will stick to and that makes sense. The wrong-numbered anniversary editions, expanded Platinum line, abandoned Masterpiece line, and many other factors highlight that Disney does not have everything all worked out. You can trust information for six months out at the most. Everything after that is quite tentative and subject to change.

I'm curious to see what changes or additions are made to the Dumbo bonus features for the new release.

For those wanting DVDs of Beauty and the Beast or Fantasia, great editions are still out there. Use your eBay-fu and find them for a decent price. Those who want the Blu-Rays are in the same boat as those waiting for hundreds of other classic films to hit the format.

Incorrect -- we were told Fantasia was coming to Blu next Spring. Hardly the same thing as "in the same boat" as people waiting without answer for Blu-Rays of other films.

[Wonderlicious]

I believe PAL countries got a different release. It was certainly shorter. I'm not sure if the video quality was the same as the R1 release or not.

IIRC, the UK at least got the 1991 version of Fantasia (which minus a method of editing a scene in the Pastoral Symphony scene) is animation-wise the same, though the Deems Taylor segments are slightly shorter. I'm not sure, but I also believe that there are no credits and opening titles on the Region 1 version.

[Rudy Matt]

There weren't any credits or title cards on the original, either.

[PixarFan2006]

I am a bit torn on this announcement. I am happy that Dumbo is now getting a proper DVD/Blu-Ray release (Probably to make up for that preschooler-friendly Big Top Edition), but I am disappointed that Fantasia got pushed back yet again. It has not had a release since the 2000 dvd.

[Rudy Matt]

You said this:

"The thing is that outside of Disney fans, the Platinum line has come to mean classic films that everybody will enjoy, and Fantasia doesn't really fit into that idea."

So you're saying Fantasia isn't a classic film everybdoy will enjoy. That's your own words. No one put words in your mouth, you said it yourself.

No film is enjoyed by everyone. But Fantasia is one of the biggest selling hmoe video titles of all time, so implying that it's some sort of niche, avant garde title is completely wrong. I don't care if toddlers and others don't like it. There's a big audience of kids, teenagers and adults who do. Animation is not a medium for children, and Disney doesn't make movies for kids, they make movies for everyone. Fantasia is no different.

[kenai3000]

I will pick this one up as I didn't bother to pick up the last 2 releases due to the horrible transfers. I think Dumbo is deserving of the Platinum title as it is one of Walt's first 5 as I call them. It's only fair that Dumbo gets a Platinum as Snow White, Pinocchio & Bambi all had Platinums with Fantasia up in the air for now.

[ohmahaaha]

So when are we going to see "Fantasia" on a new DVD release?!?

[goofystitch]

You said this:

"The thing is that outside of Disney fans, the Platinum line has come to mean classic films that everybody will enjoy, and Fantasia doesn't really fit into that idea."

So you're saying Fantasia isn't a classic film everybdoy will enjoy. That's your own words. No one put words in your mouth, you said it yourself.

No film is enjoyed by everyone. But Fantasia is one of the biggest selling hmoe video titles of all time, so implying that it's some sort of niche, avant garde title is completely wrong. I don't care if toddlers and others don't like it. There's a big audience of kids, teenagers and adults who do. Animation is not a medium for children, and Disney doesn't make movies for kids, they make movies for everyone. Fantasia is no different.

I meant that Fantasia doesn't have the same appeal as a Disney animated film with a linear story from start to finish, not that it isn't a classic.

[TheSequelOfDisney]

I meant that Fantasia doesn't have the same appeal as a Disney animated film with a linear story from start to finish, not that it isn't a classic.

Yet it is one of the 14 top selling animated Disney films of all time. I guess you're right, there is no appeal whatsoever...

This still makes me pretty furious. Fantasia/2000 definitely should have been re-released by now and yet it has to be pushed back because it is the Pixar man's favorite film. I never liked Lasseter taking over Disney, and now I dislike him even more.