Dumbo: Big Top Edition DVD Press Release & Discussion

[AwallaceUNC]

Disney sells their DVDs to retailers. The retailers then sell them to you and keep the money (they profit the difference between what they bought and sold it for). When you buy a Disney DVD, you support Disney not by directly giving them $, but by encouraging the store to purchase more copies of the DVD from Disney, which they will do once it is in low stock or out-of-stock so long as they are carrying it.

Of course, there are exceptions to this, but that's generally how it works.

-Aaron

[Lars Vermundsberget]

Based on what I read here I probably won't bother to buy this new release. I'm not convinced that I need this in addition to previous releases. I'll rather buy another movie that I haven't got already. Those whose who haven't got Dumbo should buy it, though.

[MichaeLeah]

I think you guys are being too pessimistic about this release. Press releases don't always include all the details. As the review of Dumbo mentioned, the picture could use some restoration work. If they make it as beautiful as Bambi (which could happen, and we have no reason to believe it won't) then I will buy this new release even though I own the 60th.

There might be more extras on here than you think. The most important thing to me is a high quality (picture and sound-wise) film. I love Dumbo, it has always been one of my favorites.

[BrandonH]

Typically, Disney will put the ambiguous "And More..." at the bottom of the features list if they don't want to say everything in the press release. Given that Dumbo will be out in just a few months, I think it's safe to say that there will be nothing else on the Big Top Edition other than what has already been listed on the press release.

[consultant]

Maybe $15-$20 is a lot more to other people than it is to me but I get the feeling a lot of people that frequent this forum have quite an extensive collection of Disney DVDs probably amounting well into the hundreds of dollars if not over a grand. But my point is, the cost really isn't $15-$20 to get a new version.

Sure there will be things people consider collectibles like Toy Story Toy Box which they think are worth keeping no matter what new versions are released, but considering you can probably get $5 for an old used Dumbo 60th and much more if the DVD is mint, or even still in the shrink wrap, I fail to see why someone with a vast, expensive collection would NOT want the best quality version of the movie possible in their collection, especially a classic like Dumbo. Some could say they are waiting for a bigger incremental improvement, such as a Blu-Ray version, or 2-discs, or whatever, but who knows when, if ever that will happen?

Seems like upgrading to a newer, even if slightly improved version, for a differential cost of $5-$10 is a no-brainer as long as the newer version isn't missing significant extras the old version has. (Signficant being a highly subjective adjective.) I'm pressed for time so I just read the first dozen and the last few posts of this thread but I haven't read anywhere that the 60th version has some singificant amount of cool stuff on it the new version doesn't have. Am I missing something?

[2099net]

Well, most people think the commentary is significant. But that may not be missing, becuase Disney has a record of not listing commentaries. (This goes back to my comments on the Dumbing down of DVD in this thread).

I don't know, the new DVD isn't a disaster, some of the snips are not that important - for example the sound design stuff is on WDT:Behind the Scenes) but I think its the egrigiously kiddie new stuff which is annoying people, who were hoping for a decent 2 disc addition).

At the very least, Disney could include a decent image gallery on the new release, which would hardly take up any space, but keep older DVD purchases happy.

[Lars Vermundsberget]

I base my present position on what I've picked up here so far. I could change my mind and buy it. But it'll take some more convincing.

[DisneZ]

The cover doesn't capture the look and feel of the movie, therefore i don't think it's a good one.
Personally i also like some uniformity in my collection and most of my movies have the "Disney Classics" logo with the arch and the star on top of the front and the side. I already dislike that some of my movies have the "classics" gold-scroll instead of the other logo.
This big top edition has neither and doesn't look like its part of the classics collection.

Looking at the CGI-style cover and the proclaimed extra's i think Disney tries to aim at the mothers-with-young-kids target group.
Making it seem a educationally-justified purchase for the moms as well as giving it a CGI-modern look in the hope todays kids will sooner pick it up in the stores.

I don't think true fans like on this board are really considered a primary target group when it comes to these kind of releases as "we" are not the masses, have most movies already, can never be all satisfied and will still most of the time buy multiple versions of one movie anyway.

All in all i'm glad i already own the 60th ann. edition with the normal "classics" look.

[MouseHouse55]

Dumbo: Big Top Edition is up for pre-order on disneyshopping, featuring a lithograph as usual. It does say digitally restored and remastered.

The only surprising thing on the page was that a Dumbo II trailer is included. I kinda thought this was put on permenant hiatus. No release dates, or even a general time period, was given for Dumbo II, and I certainly hope it stays that way.

[MichaeLeah]

Hey MouseHouse55, thanks for the news. I am not trying to turn this into a discussion about whether or not Disney should release this DVD or if this DVD is worth the purchase; so everyone who reads this, please avoid such a reaction. There is another thread for that.

I looked up the 60th Anniversary Dumbo at DisneyDVD.com and they described that DVD the same way. It was digitally restored and remastered. In theory, Disney could release the film with that description without modifying the film from its previous quality. Hopefully it has undergone another restoration.

I am going to call Disney later today to see if I can find an answer to my question but if it turns out like it normally does, I will know more about it than the Disney employee. I will post the results of my conversation.

[musicradio77]

I was at FYE over the weekend that I've seen the leftover "Dumbo" DVD where it was labeled "60th Anniversary Edition". I didn't get that one until the "Big Top" edition comes around soon. Look at the 60th DVD, there still left over by Best Buy, Target, Barnes & Noble and any other store that has it. I'm not buying it until the "Big Top" version comes out.

[Lucylover1986]

I was at FYE over the weekend that I've seen the leftover "Dumbo" DVD where it was labeled "60th Anniversary Edition". I didn't get that one until the "Big Top" edition comes around soon. Look at the 60th DVD, there still left over by Best Buy, Target, Barnes & Noble and any other store that has it. I'm not buying it until the "Big Top" version comes out.

By the time the Big Top edition comes out there most likely won't be any 60th Anniversary copies left. They'll want to get all of those sold before the next edition comes.

[JiminyCrick91]

I was thinking of buying 60th the other day but then I recalled Big Top. So should I buy 60th or wait?

[Lucylover1986]

Most of the extras are going to be ported over it looks like. It all is going to hinge on the video & audio for most people it seems. The 60th anniversary edition had only an ok video & audio transfer. It would be nice if Dumbo could have a full video & audio restoration. If it gets one for this new re-release then I'd suggest the Big Top edition. If it's the same video & audio ported over I'd go with the 60th anniversary since you'd get slightly more extras.

[BATBfan1]

Where did that come from and what does it mean?

[Luke]

Where did that come from and what does it mean?

<b>big top</b> n.
1. The main tent of a circus.
2. The circus.

Therefore, "Big Top Edition" means "The Main Tent of a Circus Edition" or "The Circus Edition", which in turns means "This is our attempt at a clever edition name. We saw other studios doing it and surely it must work, as people take time to talk about that name, laugh about its connotations, and ponder other naming possibilities. These things wouldn't occur if it were called just a 'Special Edition.' So, to sum up, please buy this DVD. Whether or not you have the old one, this is new. It's the Big Top Edition, you see. Just buy it!"

[2099net]

Luke sat in on the marketing meeting?

How else could he be so accurate?

[BATBfan1]

Where did that come from and what does it mean?

<b>big top</b> n.
1. The main tent of a circus.
2. The circus.

Therefore, "Big Top Edition" means "The Main Tent of a Circus Edition" or "The Circus Edition", which in turns means "This is our attempt at a clever edition name. We saw other studios doing it and surely it must work, as people take time to talk about that name, laugh about its connotations, and ponder other naming possibilities. These things wouldn't occur if it were called just a 'Special Edition.' So, to sum up, please buy this DVD. Whether or not you have the old one, this is new. It's the Big Top Edition, you see. Just buy it!"

OOOHHHHHH I got you!
This edition of the movie is the last one on DVD before Blue-ray to RIP you off and get you to pay more money on a double dip DVD. because its called a big top not a 2-disc DVD but close enough to it crap edition DVD. GOT YA LOL

[Disney Villain]

The DUMBO: BIG TOP EDITION website has opened. You can get a code to put the DVD Trailer in your site.

http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/animatedfilms/dumbo/

[magicalwands]

Oh sure, they don't use the Dumbo picture on the website for the cover! The Dumbo on the website is ten times nicer looking than the Dumbo on the cover.