How is Disney going to restore the The Little Mermaid?

[Ernest Rister]

I thought you could select the original version of The Lion King from the set-up menu - the version that begins with the dedication to Frank Wells. I think the only alteration to that version is the crocodiles in "I Just Can't Wait to be King" and the waterfall sequence of "Can You Feel the Love Tonight"

[Jack]

I thought you could select the original version of The Lion King from the set-up menu - the version that begins with the dedication to Frank Wells. I think the only alteration to that version is the crocodiles in "I Just Can't Wait to be King" and the waterfall sequence of "Can You Feel the Love Tonight"

I'm afraid you're wrong - It isn't the "original version" obviously, and there were more than just 2 changes.

To see a complete list of the changes (and why they suck ), check out Luke's excellent review of the DVD

[rodis]

As for The Little Mermaid, I got the impression all the work for an IMAX release had been completed (just like work on Pocahontas has been completed) so I expect the now customary IMAX minor animation changes to be on the DVD.

I really hope so! I want to see the movie in its finest form, just like "Beauty and the Beast" & "The Lion King"... And in my opinion, "The Little Mermaid" could use that kind of restoration more than those two, mainly because it was made during the pre-CGI days. Visually, the film is just fantastic but there's a lot of grain, can't wait to see the IMAX version on DVD

[Loomis]

As for The Little Mermaid, I got the impression all the work for an IMAX release had been completed (just like work on Pocahontas has been completed) so I expect the now customary IMAX minor animation changes to be on the DVD.

I really hope so! I want to see the movie in its finest form, just like "Beauty and the Beast" & "The Lion King"... And in my opinion, "The Little Mermaid" could use that kind of restoration more than those two, mainly because it was made during the pre-CGI days. Visually, the film is just fantastic but there's a lot of grain, can't wait to see the IMAX version on DVD

I also look forward to seieng the IMAX version (even on DVD), but I do worry that it will be at the expense of the original version.

I am lucky enough to have the original DVD release of LM, which I treasure and watch regularly. But not everybody who loves this movie does, and the Platinum release will be the only way to get it for quite some time. The Lion King dropped the ball by not giving us the original version (despite the claims that it does), even though it was magnificent looking transfer. LK was an example of a film not previously released on DVD, and now that is the ONLY version we have.

Let us hope they get it right for Bambi, Cinderella, Aladdin etc...

[Mushu2083]

I hope they do some kind of restoration. I had the DVD (no clue what happened to it) and I thought the picture quality was a tad crappy. I hope we see an SE The Little Mermaid soon. Maybe even right after Aladdin.

[Joe Carioca]

I am also holding to my "Little Mermaid" Limited Issue DVD. Even if the Platinum edition has the original edition (which I know it won't), I will keep it for the sake of completeness (by the way, it was also one of my first DVDs... the third, actualy).
Well, I beleive the version we are going to see on the DVD is the one that was prepared to an IMAX release some time ago... the same case with "Aladdin" and "Pocahontas".

Now, this thing about the shark scene being inserted it is totally inacurate. The guy who posted it probably made a confusion... The shark scene was actualy debated by Jim Hill some time ago. It was never said that it would be inserted back into the movie. If they really do it, it will be even more pointless than "Morning Report"!

[Disney Guru]

I am quite sure that they are going to give it the same great treatment that they gave Alice In Wonderland.

[rodis]

I am quite sure that they are going to give it the same great treatment that they gave Alice In Wonderland.

Alice In Wonderland wasn't restored for an IMAX release, hence it didn't/won't receive the same restoration as The Little Mermaid.

[Mushu2083]

I didn't know The Little Mermaid is going to be released in IMAX theaters. Why am I always the last to know cool stuff? I think I've been living under a rock or something. By the way, who's Frank Wells?(please don't hurt me)

[rodis]

I didn't know The Little Mermaid is going to be released in IMAX theaters. Why am I always the last to know cool stuff? I think I've been living under a rock or something. By the way, who's Frank Wells?(please don't hurt me)

The people at Disney worked hard on preparing the film for an IMAX release but due to the underperformances of "Beauty and the Beast" & "The Lion King" on IMAX theatres, Disney is now holding back on the IMAX releases of Aladdin and The Little Mermaid to examine the ground. I don't think Aladdin would be released to IMAX, though. Don't know about Mermaid...
But people here are assuming that even if Aladdin or Mermaid are not released to IMAX, Disney WILL include their IMAX versions on the DVD which I really hope so... I can't wait to see those films 'touched up' in the same level as "Beauty" and LK.

Frank wells was the head of the company or something... and he died in 1994 in a plane crash. Michael Eisner took his place...

[Lady]

I didn't know The Little Mermaid is going to be released in IMAX theaters. Why am I always the last to know cool stuff? I think I've been living under a rock or something. By the way, who's Frank Wells?(please don't hurt me)

The people at Disney worked hard on preparing the film for an IMAX release but due to the underperformances of "Beauty and the Beast" & "The Lion King" on IMAX theatres, Disney is now holding back on the IMAX releases of Aladdin and The Little Mermaid to examine the ground. I don't think Aladdin would be released to IMAX, though. Don't know about Mermaid...
But people here are assuming that even if Aladdin or Mermaid are not released to IMAX, Disney WILL include their IMAX versions on the DVD which I really hope so... I can't wait to see those films 'touched up' in the same level as "Beauty" and LK.

Frank wells was the head of the company or something... and he died in 1994 in a plane crash. Michael Eisner took his place...

you mean they have ALREADY touched up Aladdin and The Little Mermaid?! what are they waiting for? hell to freeze over?

*calming down*

[rodis]

you mean they have ALREADY touched up Aladdin and The Little Mermaid?! what are they waiting for? hell to freeze over?

*calming down*

Yep, the IMAX versions of Aladdin & The Little Mermaid are all set and ready.
Aladdin is 200% ready because there were previews for the IMAX release on The Lion King DVD (correct me if I'm wrong) and it should have been out in December... The Little Mermaid has been restored and ready for IMAX according to various articles (and it's most likely true since Pocahontas is ALSO APPARENTLY ready and it should be coming AFTER mermaid).
As I said, they're waiting to see how their next, new, feature is gonna do on IMAX and then decide. I'm crossing my fingers to see the IMAX versions on those DVDs, even if they won't be released to IMAX theatres eventually.

[MickeyMousePal]

All Disney DVD's should be restored from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Home on the Range. If they are already restored leave them like that.
Restoring DVD is like getting an updated VHS Video.

The Little Mermaid should have been restored from its Limited Issue but I could wait for the Platinum in 2006.

[Jack]

Aladdin is 200% ready because there were previews for the IMAX release on The Lion King DVD (correct me if I'm wrong) and it should have been out in December

Actually, there wasn't an Aladdin trailer on TLK disc. But Don Hahn confirmed that it was the next film to get IMAX treatment in an article a while back, and its apparent Disney was planning for Aladdin to be released in December, but held back.

As I said, they're waiting to see how their next, new, feature is gonna do on IMAX and then decide. I'm crossing my fingers to see the IMAX versions on those DVDs, even if they won't be released to IMAX theatres eventually.

Yes, they did wait to see how their next feature would do - and that was the brand-new film "Young Black Stallion", which tanked at the IMAX theaters. Therefore, since the re-releases of animated films to IMAX were dissapointing to them, and a NEW film tanked, I'm sure Disney is not going to chance anymore IMAX releases.

On one hand that's sad, because IMAX is cool, and Disney really didn't market the releases properly. On the other hand, it's good because there likely won't be anymore actual alterations to films ala BATB & TLK in the future.

[rodis]

Yes, they did wait to see how their next feature would do - and that was the brand-new film "Young Black Stallion", which tanked at the IMAX theaters. Therefore, since the re-releases of animated films to IMAX were dissapointing to them, and a NEW film tanked, I'm sure Disney is not going to chance anymore IMAX releases.

That's sad I thought maybe they'd release Aladdin or Mermaid to IMAX theatres but now I guess it's not gonna happen.

And as I said, I'm hoping to see alterations on the DVD releases of Aladdin, Mermaid and perhaps Pocahontas. It makes the film as perfect as possible.

And MickeyMousePal... why do you think Mermaid will be released in 2006? According to the FAQ section in the site, it's due for an October 2005 release.

[Joe Carioca]

And MickeyMousePal... why do you think Mermaid will be released in 2006? According to the FAQ section in the site, it's due for an October 2005 release.

Nobody know for certain what the new Platinum schedule is... I think "Little Mermaid" will come out only in 2006, since both "Bambi" and "Cinderella" are both rumoured for international releases, and they are also the only Disney movies which have never been released on DVD.

[Grunches]

There's an online rumour that the Little Mermaid will have an extra scene. It won't be musical, but in it the shark from the beginning returns and chases Ariel and Flounder to the boat (when they try to stall the wedding).

That would be a very interesting scene! I hope they do it

[Prince Phillip]

There's an online rumour that the Little Mermaid will have an extra scene. It won't be musical, but in it the shark from the beginning returns and chases Ariel and Flounder to the boat (when they try to stall the wedding).

That would be a very interesting scene! I hope they do it

UGH! You don't mean that trust me! The reason the scene was originally uncut was because it was thought to be too childish and the animators and other people working on the picture, were going for something a little more mature and serious.

If this scene were added it would completelt ruin the movie!!! It is an unneccesary obsticle that would try to add unwanted humour in the absolute wrong place!!!!

GOD! If Disney does this I will be beyond angry!!! What they need to do is add a new song, that would be more than welcome, and it seems like they have the perfect candidate, Sunshine only Shines on Land, or whatever it is called. Ariel needs a new song to show off her wonderful voice!

I, for one, LOVE the new songs, and hope that both Aladdin and Mermaid are lucky enough to get them!

[rodis]

UGH! You don't mean that trust me! The reason the scene was originally uncut was because it was thought to be too childish and the animators and other people working on the picture, were going for something a little more mature and serious.

If this scene were added it would completelt ruin the movie!!! It is an unneccesary obsticle that would try to add unwanted humour in the absolute wrong place!!!!

I agree! But I still don't understand how can they insert a song in the part where Triton destroys the grotto...

[Mermaid Kelly]

I think it would be easy...first, when she is crying and wispers "just go away" to Sebastian, she will cry for a moment. Then she will stop crying and sing her song. Then, when the song is over, the eels will come in "Poor sweet child...etc.)