Will Don Bluth's animated movies ever become SE?

[Neal]

Yeah, at my Wal-mart they have family fun editions in the $5 bin and then regular editions in the kid sections - I don't follow Bluth like I do Disney, so I find it confusing.


I don't know about family fun editions having the sequels, if so, it's not marked clearly on the box.

As for non-Disney, non-Bluth I'm looking for:

FernGully
Once Upon a Forest
The Swan Princess
Pagemaster
Rover Dangerfield

Then there's Amblin:

Balto
We're Back (I own on DVD)

I own pretty much all of these on VHS, but am now upgrading since I am done upgrading my Disney animation collection.

I care less about having these on Blu than Disney films, but if a Blu is in the immediate future, I'll wait.

Several of these probably did only have one DVD release, as you mentioned.

When I came home for Spring Break 10 weeks ago, my Wal-mart had a lot of these. Now that I'm home for summer, almost all of them are gone - my Wal-mart removed two whole movie racks (space for hundreds of movies) - they have significantly scaled back their selection. Besides that, I have K-mart, which has NEVER had a big selection. I have to drive 35 minutes to get to the next movie store beyond those two - I live in a small, farming community.

[Sotiris]

Yes, the Family Fun editions are the best. Better audio-visual quality and more extras. With the Anastasia Family Fun Edition you also get Bartok the Magnificent on Disc 2. It's the only Family Fun edition that includes the sequel (well, in this case prequel or rather spin-off)

As for the others, I highly doubt they will be re-released any time soon. Most of them only have one release and just the packaging is different so what really differs is the cover. They might get a blu-ray release when DVD becomes obsolete.

Bluth's video games - Dragon's Lair 1 & 2 and Space Ace - are also available on DVD (and the first Dragon's Lair along with Space Ace are also available on blu-ray) in case you are interested.

Also Bluth's short Banjo the Woodpile Cat is available for the first time on DVD as a 30th Anniversary Edition with tons of extras. I'm not sure if this is a wide release so you might not be able to get it retail but you can purchase it on Bluth's site donbluthanimation.com

As for OAR, I don't have a clue so I can't help you with that.

As for non-Bluth films, Ferngully has a Family Fun edition so I'd get that one. Its sequel as I've said is not included but rather is available as a seperate release.

Once Upon a Forest and The Pagemaster are only available as a "Family Feature" release. Swan Princess has been re-released as a special edition along with its sequels. However only the 1st and 3rd movie come as a double feature. You can find all 3 as seperate releases as well.

Balto and its 2 sequels have gone OOP. You can only find Balto as a boxset along with American Tail and The Land Before Time.

Finally, Rover Dangerfield has yet to be released on DVD at all. There only was a VHS release which naturally is no longer available.

[slave2moonlight]

That's great info, thanks. Sorry to hear that only one Family Fun edition has the sequel. I read the back of that one and assumed it was a thing with the line. Oh well. And, actually, I always thought We're Back was a Bluth film. Funny, cause the characters sorta have that "look". Anyway, as for Balto, I think I've seen it and its sequels in five dollar bins still. I'll have to snag them if I see them again and remember to, though that triple feature set works for me too... Yeah, that totally sucks about Rover Dangerfield.

And it's not so much that I need these films on Blu-Ray, but if they do come out on Blu, I'd rather get that edition. Anastasia I'd like to have on Blu-Ray though, and it's probably the first one that would make it there, and yet the first one I am likely to break down and get on standard in the near future. It's quite a miracle I haven't gotten that one yet (and Ferngully, though that's more for Crysta being such a hottie than anything else, but it's okay, but Kayley is definitely the only reason I DID buy Quest for Camelot).

Anyway, wow, I'm realizing how many animated features I'm lacking. Personally, I'm such a big fan of animation that I tend to want a complete library, but after Disney, I definitely would want all the Bluth stuff, then Dreamworks and Amblin. At the moment, I only have these theatrical non-Disney animated features (not including Anime titles or direct to video):

the first release of Secret of NIMH
Charlotte's Web (not sure which release, embossed slipcover I think)
The Last Unicorn (latest release)
Thumbelina
Care Bears 1 and 2
Chipmunk Adventure
Rock and Rule
Heavy Metal
American Pop
Heavy Traffic
The Filmation storybook 3-pack (Journey Back to Oz, Happily Ever After, and A Snow White Christmas)
The Jetsons Movie
A Man Called Flintstone
A Boy Named Charlie Brown
Snoopy Come Home
Shrek 1 (CG)
Mad Monster Party (Stop-Motion)
South Park Movie (Papercuts)
Powerpuff Girls Movie
IGOR on Blu (CG)
Little Nemo
Road to El Dorado
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Nutcracker Prince
Rudpolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (Stop-Motion)
Quet for Camelot
Chicken Run (Stop Motion)
Wallace and Gromit, Curse of the Wererabbit (Stop-Motion)
Star Wars: Clone Wars (CG)
Titan A.E.
The Adventures of Mark Twain (claymation)

Oh, and I do have the Dragon's Lair DVD, but I'd sure like to get that Blu to have Space Ace too!

And, I have a few others on VHS (Anastasia, Ferngully, Balto, and a few others), but not many anymore. I buy so much Disney and horror, and have so many other interests too, it can be hard just to complete a TV show collection or similar multi-volume line, let alone trying to get all the major animated features out there... My DVD collection is all over the map, with a lot of randoms like Animaniacs v. 2, seasons 4 and 5 of Garfield, and things like that. I gotta follow the deals I find when I have the cash to spare, ha. GOTTA start prioritizing some of these Bluth films though, but like I said, I buy the DVD, and the Blu-Ray will be announced the next day. I have that kind of luck.

Incidentally, while discussing this, Rover Dangerfield reminds me, two more I would LOVE to see get a DVD release are Heidi's Song and Raggedy Ann and Andy, a Musical Adventure. But, of course, I'm sure I could think of plenty more. I have a friend dying for Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night to come out, which WOULD be cool, and then there's The Phantom Tollbooth, among others.

[buffalobill]

I would kill for Anastasia, Land Before Time, Secret of NIMH, An American Tale etc.... yet I don't believe a single of his classic animated movies has ever received the high def treatment. There is a goldmine waiting to be drilled. Thoughts?

[jpanimation]

Well, The Secret of NIMH was supposed to have a Blu-Ray release a while back but the whole MGM bankruptcy/restructuring thing has put all home video releases on hold (this includes the other MGM/UA co-productions All Dogs Go to Heaven, Rock-a-Doodle and The Pebble and the Penguin). Universal owns An American Tail and The Land Before Time but I assume it's up to Spielberg as to when they're released (since Amblin Entertainment is involved and Spielberg is notorious for the amount of control he has over his productions). 20th Century Fox owns distribution rights to Thumbelina and A Troll in Central Park but I have a feeling all parties involved just want to forget they ever happened. Now as to why 20th Century Fox hasn't released Anastasia and Titan A.E., two popular all-digital productions that they own complete rights to (considering they were the only two productions out of FOX Animation Studios), I just don't know (just like I don' understand why Warner won't release The Iron Giant, which has a huge following, and was one of the only productions out of Warner Animation Studios).

From the looks of things, the only thing he really has control over is Banjo the Woodpile Cat. It's a shame but it seems a lot of studios are waiting for something (I mean, DreamWorks hasn't released even one of their hand drawn efforts on Blu yet).

[milojthatch]

Because the other people who control the various Bluth films suck?

No, but seriously, I think we are seeing the negative side to Don Bluth going off to so many different studios and not keeping the rights to just one studio, or even writing into his contract that he has full ownership over all of them like Jim Davis does with Garfield. It's too bad, even the DVD's of these film could and should be better then they are. Maybe in time this will change!

[Cordy_Biddle]

Why we haven't yet seen "Anastasia" on Blu is baffling to me, at least, because there seems to have been quite a few DVD releases/re-packages in the last few years.

[Elladorine]

The Secret of NIMH and Anastasia are probably the only ones I'd consider upgrading on, but I really wonder if they'd bother restoring NIMH that extensively when the DVD is available in the $5 bins.

[REINIER]

jpanimation

I fully agree with your statement posted above

I'd like to see them release The land Before Time, Rock a Doodle or Fievel goes West

Also what to think of those seperate independent non-bluth productions

such as...

Animal Farm

Watership Down, ....gastly german bluray

The Plague Dogs

We're back a Dinosaur story

Ferngully

El cid The Legend

The Magic Sword: Quest for Camelot

Cat's dont Dance

Kirikou


I'd love to see these pictures get the right a.k.a definitve treatment

[milojthatch]

jpanimation

I fully agree with your statement posted above

I'd like to see them release The land Before Time, Rock a Doodle or Fievel goes West

Also what to think of those seperate independent non-bluth productions

such as...

Animal Farm

Watership Down, ....gastly german bluray

The Plague Dogs

We're back a Dinosaur story

Ferngully

El cid The Legend

The Magic Sword: Quest for Camelot

Cat's dont Dance

Kirikou


I'd love to see these pictures get the right a.k.a definitve treatment

I think realistically, these films are lucky to be on DVD. Once DVD has stopped being made, or at the very end of Blu Ray's life, maybe these films could end up on Blu Ray. But, the way the powers that be think, they put up the films they feel will sell tons and tons of copy's first as they only release movies to make money first and foremost.

That said, even I would not own all of the films you listed, I would love to see them in their best possible versions released over and over again on whatever the new "it" home entertainment medium is. But, I'd also love to see even more titles that have never been released on anything ever. I'd rather see "Ducktales, Vol. 4" or "Animaniacs, Vol. 4" on DVD more then I care to see "Furngully" on Blu Ray.

[REINIER]

jpanimation

I'd love to see these pictures get the right a.k.a definitve treatment

I think realistically, these films are lucky to be on DVD. Once DVD has stopped being made, or at the very end of Blu Ray's life, maybe these films could end up on Blu Ray. But, the way the powers that be think, they put up the films they feel will sell tons and tons of copy's first as they only release movies to make money first and foremost.

That said, even I would not own all of the films you listed, I would love to see them in their best possible versions released over and over again on whatever the new "it" home entertainment medium is. But, I'd also love to see even more titles that have never been released on anything ever. I'd rather see "Ducktales, Vol. 4" or "Animaniacs, Vol. 4" on DVD more then I care to see "Furngully" on Blu Ray.

I see your point
and more so I know you're right, but still I'd like to own these on blue in the distant future

I too would like my hands on more animaniacs/ducktales/gargoyles or
even gummi bears..

As far as logic goes though I wonder why, if only for pure financial gain disney has yet to release sure cash cows like
disney's aladdin/little mermaid/lion king tv series

Now those are sure to generate enough money to consider producing more tv-material on dvd/blue

[Super Aurora]

If any of these non Disney films get a Blu-ray, they should give better bonus features. One thing about the dvd ones is that they all suck in extras and bonus features. Like we hardly know anything behind production, deleted scenes/songs and shit. I really want to know some of them like Swan Princess etc.

At least Disney has balls to do that.

[jrboy]

Anastasia is coming out March 22nd.

[Sotiris]

Anastasia is coming out March 22nd.

Hopefully, it will come as a combo pack and with new special features.

[Sotiris]

Cover Art??

[singerguy04]

Wow, I'd rather have the anorexic looking Anastasia original print of the current release... I'm not sure what looks worse to me the teal and pink title, or the character's glossy look.

Anyhow, out of all the Don Bluth films the ones I care the most about are Anastasia, The Land Before Time, and An American Tale. All three of these films were very popular upon release and I cannot see why any studio wouldn't see a blu release worthwhile.

Since it was kinda mentioned earlier, Dreamworks really NEEDS to release The Prince of Egypt to blu!

[UmbrellaFish]

Is it really that hard to creat a decent "Anastasia" cover in the 21st century?!?

Of course, I'm not sure that's a new cover. It resembles the old "Family Fun Edition" one so much, I'd half expect it to be an older mock-up.

[jrboy]

[UmbrellaFish]

Maybe it will change...

[yamiiguy]

The Secret of NIMH is out in Germany on April 1st along with Anastasia (no I'm not making an early April Fools Joke)