Fantasia/F2K: 2-Movie Collection Discussion: Nov. 30, 2010

[Raphdude]

They will be region locked.

Scamander,

Thanks for the info. By the way, as reflected on blu-ray.com, I've read a lot of your posts and your english is very good! Keep it up!

[miniroll32]

Just going back to the original post I made about the response I got from Disney (RE: release strategy), I'm surprised no-ones picked up on the 'Platinum' title yet. Sure enough, there could just be an error in her response (though unlikely), but its interesting because Fantasia was actually meant to be scheduled for a Platinum release when the line was running between 2001 and 09, yet Disney dropped it from the schedule. Why would they do this?

And furthermore, if the 'Diamond' series is literally just the Platinums re-branded, then did she mean to say 'Diamond' instead?

It's still very possible that some regions may get a Diamond release, some will get the Special Edition release as seen on the cover art posted before.

Either way, a look on Wikipedia suggests that the Diamond series has 2 x B.Rays and 1 x DVD as standard. Perhaps this is where the tier system kicks in, because from what I've bought so far the Special Editions only ever have 2 discs, no seperate extras disc.

And don't forget - Fantasia is a bit over 2 hours long! It surely deserves a separate disc, unless they skimp on extras and cram it all in one disc

[UmbrellaFish]

Platinum is the new special edition. The DVD version of Snow White was branded as such, and I think the US version of Dumbo was going to be, too.

[geniuswalt]

"The original classic" is referring to it being the first (the original) film.

If what you say is true then what is Snow White or Pinocchio for that matter?

[miniroll32]

If what you say is true then what is Snow White or Pinocchio for that matter?

There were no sequels to those films though. Therefore, there is no need to highlight they are the 'original'.

[miniroll32]

Platinum is the new special edition. The DVD version of Snow White was branded as such, and I think the US version of Dumbo was going to be, too.

But what about Dumbo that got released over here (U.K)? That was a Special Edition, and it got released after the Snow White Platinum.

[geniuswalt]

[miniroll32]

The Snow White feature film was 19.7GB in total, so if anyone wants to work that out, it would leave much room for extras on the Fantasia disc given thats significantly longer. Or to help more, Dumbo is 18.5GB and thats an hour long, so Fantasia will be double that

[tlc38tlc38]

So...does this mean that the US will receive separate packaging of the titles? I'm praying for a separate package and not just a 2-movie collection.

[miniroll32]

I would say so, but at the end of the day more news will appear. On Amazon.co.uk, we only have the two different Blu-Ray + DVD packs (with the pointless choice of DVD or B.R packaging) just like Beauty and The Beast does, and yet Fantasia 2000 nor the combo pack is on there yet

There is one glimmer of hope that this could be a Diamond Edition however; Beauty&B has that choice of DVD/Blu-ray packaging just like the Fantasia's listed. Yet the last Special Editions to be released, such as Dumbo and the Toy Story's never had this option

[zackisthewalrus]

You know what I just realized? This could end up being like "The Fantasia Anthology" in the way that both movies are released separately, and then there's a multi-disc set that includes both films and a Bonus Disc! I could be wrong, but I hope I'm right.

[miniroll32]

But then that would cancel out that press release that suggested there was a "4-Disc" pack on the way, which realistically would be the 2 films on both Blu-Ray and DVD.

On the other hand, you could be absolutely correct. Because what better incentive could there be to buy the combo pack (thus paying more) than to have that extra disc you get on neither separate release? Plus, I'm sure they would make it work out better value to get this than just getting one single edition...

Hmmm

[tlc38tlc38]

You know what I just realized? This could end up being like "The Fantasia Anthology" in the way that both movies are released separately, and then there's a multi-disc set that includes both films and a Bonus Disc! I could be wrong, but I hope I'm right.

This is what I've been hoping and suspecting would happen from the beginning.

[miniroll32]

Maybe Disney are just being like Apple, they just want to keep this release [if it was a new Anthology] hush-hush? If so, then thats fine - adds to the excitement! [/i]

[Disneykid]

I love the one for Fantasia, though I think the Pastoral Symphony is given a little too much prominence. It'd be perfect if the cupids were replaced by the Ave Maria procession, and if either Bacchus or the pegasus were replaced by the T-Rex from Rite of Spring. The Fantasia 2000 one looks good, but I'm hoping they'll redo it to better match the original's new cover. The use of stock photos with the new Sorcerer Mickey airbrushed image is a bit jarring.

And I used to care about what label Disney gave their collections...up until around 2005 or so. The Platinums/Diamonds may be considered the most prestigious titles in Disney's library and as such, they probably go a little out of their way to make these releases special, but that doesn't mean titles outside those collections can't be strong. Fantasia, Alice in Wonderland, Pocahontas, and every film from Mulan to Lilo & Stitch has received two-disc DVD sets that rival some of the Platinums (most notably Peter Pan, which was rushed to coincide with the first Tinker Bell film, and that film ended up getting postponed, anyway).

The Platinums started out as groundbreaking and immersive, and as they progressed, they started becoming more and more generic. I won't be surprised if that happens to the Diamonds, too. Snow White and (by the looks of it) Beauty and the Beast are phenomenal releases, but let's see how long it takes before the collection releases titles that satisfy but don't push the envelope of the format. As we long as get excellent video and sound and a strong collection of extras, I won't complain nor do I care what edition titles they're given.

[pick]

Disney in Brazil just confirmed today that here, they'll be released December 8.

[miniroll32]

I got in touch again (don't you just love pestering??) and got this reply;

Hi Tom,

A Diamond release is the re-release of the title released on blu ray i.e the second Diamond release will be Beauty and the Beast the first being Snow White.

A Special Edition generally has more features than the normal release.

I hope this helps.

Kind regards

Kathie

Couldn't make a head and tail of that, but it does somewhat suggest there is a tier system

[Rudy Matt]

That makes absolutely no sense.

Nice of them to write you back, though, even if they don't know what they are talking about.

[miniroll32]

LOL maybe they were all getting high of some fumes in the air ducts

On a more serious note... I think what she's trying to say is that a Special Edition has more features than a 'standard edition' product (ie, 'Classics' range? Such as Robin Hood etc), but the Diamond Edition is a release that was previously a Platinum? Even that doesn't make sense because they've changed various films. Oh I give

[magicalwands]

Couldn't make a head and tail of that, but it does somewhat suggest there is a tier system

Or at least, advertising the idea of a tier system in buyers' minds. Even though some Special Editions have had way better features than Platinums, the name makes it superior in my mind. It helps push numbers with these titles. Ridiculous mind I have, I know.