Comparing Home Releases Cover Arts

[Disney Duster]

Side note: not just those 4 films... I dont think any of the remakes have been even close to being as good as the originals. If anything, I would say the movie Ever After (with Drew Barrymore) is a very interesting version of the Cinderella story. But it is not a remake of the Disney one at all.

I think the Cinderella remake was the best one, because it tried to balance being a remake and another version of the tale, it didn't have an ending that totally missed the original point and message like The Jungle Book, and you felt the romance. You felt the love between the characters by the end. That's it. All the remakes suck, I just think Cinderella sucked the least. Also, I will admit Ever After is way better than it and is even the second best Cinderella movie ever.

[Marce82]

What''s the #1 Cinderella to u, Disney Duster?

[Farerb]

Tarzan:

UK VHS:


US VHS/DVD:


Collector's Edition DVD:


Blu-ray:


Villains Cover:


Heroes Cover:

[Disney Duster]

Marce82, Disney's animated one of course!

Oooh, I love that UK VHS! I love the cool jungle feel!

Tarzan:
1. Blu-ray - I really like how they laid everything they could fit out into a nice composition.
2. UK VHS - I like the epic feel of the jungle.
3. US VHS/DVD - I like the composition, with all the main focus on the star.
4. Collector's Edtion DVD - So classy!
5. Heroes -Meh.
6. Villains -Meh.

[Mooky]

1. Blu-ray - I like how Tarzan appears to be making eye contact with whoever is looking at the cover
2. UK VHS/DVD
3. US VHS/DVD
4. Collector's Edition DVD

One last thing.... I don't know if it's the design or the voice... or both. But does Mulan remind anyone else of Sandra Bullock???

I didn't before, but now that you mention it she does... Like in this screenshot that D82 posted, on the right:

[D82]

I found some more covers for Tarzan, but the only ones that are quite different from the ones already posted are the following two (as well as some of the combo packs I post further below). The German VHS is the only one to feature Tarzan as a boy, and have you ever seen a more minimalistic cover than this Japanese DVD?



Many of the rest of the covers use the same pose Tarzan has on the US VHS and Blu-ray (from left to right: Zavvi steelbook, DMC Limited Edition tin case, French slipcover, French Collector's Edition slipcover, and MovieNEX Blu-ray).



Here are also some combo packs (German 2-movie collection, UK 3-movie collection, UK 2-movie collection, Tarzan/Tarzan & Jane pack):



And the Read-Along DVD:



Even though Tarzan has great songs, they didn't make a sing-along video for this movie.

[rodis]

OK Tarzan has had some pretty dull covers but here goes.

1. Blu ray - the only one I actually like.
2. UK VHS
3. US VHS
4. DVD
5. Villains
6. Heroes

[Disney's Divinity]

I was never crazy about Tarzan's child design, so I'm not too sad it's used on very few of the covers you posted, D82.

1. Collector's Edition ~ I just love this. Even though it's suppose to emphasize how the film is hand-drawn, it also reminds me of when Jane does the drawing of Tarzan's eyes, too.
2. Zavvi Steelbook
3. French Slipcover
4. Blu-ray ~ I like that picture of Tarzan better when it's alone (depending on the background / colors used), but I do like this cover, too.
5. MovieNEX Blu-ray
6. US VHS
7. Heroes Cover
8. Read-Along DVD
9. Tarzan / Tarzan & Jane 2-Pack
10. Villains Cover
11. German VHS
12. UK VHS
13. UK 3-Movie Collection

I didn't rank all of them, just the ones I liked or that looked different-enough to rank. I'm not surprised they used that picture of Tarzan sliding down the branch so many times. It really does capture the character for me, implies a lot of movement, etc. I wish Kala and Sabor were on more of the covers though. They are the two other characters I remember most when I think of Tarzan.

[D82]

I'll post just my top 10 Tarzan covers:

1. US VHS: This one's my favorite by far. It's the cover we got in Spain as well, though we also got the UK VHS one for our Collector's Edition DVD instead of the US one. Tarzan and the other characters are really well drawn and I like that they show him "surfing" the jungle, which is something exclusive to the Disney version of the character. I also like the details like the shadows of the trees on Tarzan, the effects on the branch caused by him while passing and the effect of movement provided by the blurry leaves at the top. The characters on the logo are also a nice addition, in my opinion.

2. French slipcover: This one and the next two are quite similar to each other. They have the same art as the US VHS, but don't feature the other characters.

3. DMC Limited Edition tin case

4. MovieNEX Blu-ray

5. Blu-ray: I like the composition and the fact that though they've used elements from different sources (clipart, posters, etc.), they more or less succeeded in giving it a unified style. However, I have a couple of issues with it. First, Tarzan's pose. They used the same pose from the US VHS, but they rotated it a bit to the right, probably to follow the shape of the new branch, and it doesn't give the same impression that he's surfing. At least not to me. Plus they didn't add the effects on the branch here. The other issue I have is that if you look up close there is some bad Photoshop in the background, like for instance, the double mountains on the right. And I hope the top half and the bottom one are meant to be two separate drawings, because otherwise Jane, Terk and Tantor would be too small compared to Tarzan.

6. Collector's Edition DVD: It's classy and the sketch appropriate for a collector's edition, but a bit too simple for my taste.

7. Zavvi Steelbook

8. Heroes Cover

9. German VHS: This one's really well drawn, the characters are on-model and the layout and the background are nice, but I prefer to have the adult version of Tarzan on the cover given that he's an adult during most of the movie. Also, if Tarzan is a child, Terk and Tantor should've been too, especially because they're part of the same scene, so that's quite a big mistake.

10. UK VHS: I like Tarzan's pose here, but Jane and the others and the gorillas are badly photoshoped in the background. I wish it featured just Tarzan and with a different background.

I haven't included the Read-Along DVD because it's not a release for the movie itself (I think, I've never owned any of the titles in this series), but that one's not bad, at least for a read-along cover.

As for the worst, in my opinion, it's the UK 3-Movie Collection. Tarzan doesn't look too good there and again they mixed child and adult versions of the characters in the same picture. But the worst thing is that Tantor is tiny there.

[JeanGreyForever]

Tarzan, another one of my favorites. However, as much as I love this film, I'll admit the covers haven't been very interesting.

I like the Collector's Edition DVD cover the most and I own that myself. I'm also fond of the US Blu-Ray/Special Edition DVD cover as the more commercially appealing option. The US VHS cover always looked sloppy to me for some reason with the characters at the top. The rest of those covers with the same Tarzan pose over and over are fine and I'm especially fond of the UK Zaavi steelbook.

And wow, that Japanese DVD cover D82 posted is really something.

[Marce82]

Hey everyone,

A little late to the party, but here I am. First, I echo most of what D82 said... very sharp eye there! You caught a lot of interesting details/flaws.... like the double mountain on the blu ray cover?? NICE!

Now... I have often said that many covers have interesting concepts/layouts, but often have poor execution. Tarzan is the polar opposite of that. Are the covers the most interesting? No, but good enough. A lot of the artwork gets recycled... BUT.... the execution overall is EXCELLENT. This is probably the movie with the (technically) best artwork so far.... as far as on-model, anatomy, linework, shading... it's an impressive collection... but only one or two bad apples, to be described below.

Here we go!

1) Collector's edition: so a mild bias... I happen to think this is an AWESOME drawing, I suspect by Glen Keane, I also suspect part of the artwork done when developing the character (if you recall, one of the trailers actually showed this image being drawn). It makes for a striking cover, and like it's been said, it echos Jane's artistic side. This could be HER drawing of Tarzan.

2) US VHS: Very nice cover. No doubt who the films is about. Strong pose, nice shading (closer to a film frame, not as glossy as most covers, but that's an artistic choice I respect), nice dapple-lighting (the leaves projecting shadows on to Tarzan, D82...), I don't love the characters above the title, but it was the only logical way to include them, and they are laid out nicely. All on model, all well drawn.

3) Blu-ray: Wasn't sure whether to put this one above or below the VHS. The pros: I really like the bottom half... it creates a scene all of it's own, showing the camp, the waterfalls, more side characters.... even Jane and Terk kinda looking like they are riding Tantor, and it KINDA works (tho scale is a lil off). I also like the inclusion of the treehouse. The cons: like D82 said, tilting Tarzan makes for a less dynamic layout, and removing the effect on the treebranch makes it look a little like clipart. Also not a fan of the weird glow the gave him. Don't get me wrong, I really like this cover... it's just a small notch below the VHS.

4) German VHS: I agree that child Tarzan is not the right choice for this. But yes, all characters on-model, well drawn... but it looks like a cover for one of the sequels. Wasn't there a mid-quel for Tarzan as a child?

5) UK VHS: one of the weaker layouts. Tarzan's pose creates a strong oblique line that leads the eye.... nowhere. The other characters are clustered on a branch, disregarding scale, perspective or logic. But yeah... all well shaded and on-model.

6) Heroes: Re-used artwork. Meh. At least he is on model, but they should have picked a different color for the background. Looks VERY washed out.

The bad apples:

7) Villains: I don't like the concept of this cover line. Clayton looks almost on-model, but the expression looks like a villain from a children's tv show. The linework looks like mediocre digital tracing, and the lines are too thin. Meh.

8 ) German 2-movie, UK-3-movie collection: dear GOD. Who okayed that artwork? Tarzan's eyes are super uneven, he looks like he is having a stroke. And the anatomy is... horrendous. Completely deformed chest, his nipple is almost in his armpit, both shoulders are dislocated, his skull is bashed in at the top.... just endless critiques for this one. How does Disney okay this artwork?!!?!?!? Woah.... I just saw the feet... are those human feet????

[Farerb]

I haven't commented on the Tarzan covers yet because they mostly look similar to me, but I think it's a good Tarzan clipart they've been using and I do prefer they reused a good clipart than creating a new bad one. The Collector's Edition is nice as well.

[D82]

First, I echo most of what D82 said... very sharp eye there! You caught a lot of interesting details/flaws.... like the double mountain on the blu ray cover?? NICE!

Thanks for your kind words. As always, you also mentioned several interesting details I hadn't noticed before, and I agree with a lot of what you said too.

1) Collector's edition: so a mild bias... I happen to think this is an AWESOME drawing, I suspect by Glen Keane, I also suspect part of the artwork done when developing the character (if you recall, one of the trailers actually showed this image being drawn). It makes for a striking cover, and like it's been said, it echos Jane's artistic side. This could be HER drawing of Tarzan.

Yes, the drawing is by Glen Keane. I agree that it's really good. It was also used as a theatrical poster.

2) US VHS: Very nice cover. No doubt who the films is about. Strong pose, nice shading (closer to a film frame, not as glossy as most covers, but that's an artistic choice I respect)

It's true, it looks more like a film frame than a typical cover. I actually watched a clip where he's surfing the jungle to check if it was a frame from the movie or not. Do you think it could have been drawn by the artists at Disney instead of by one specialized in home video art?

4) German VHS: I agree that child Tarzan is not the right choice for this. But yes, all characters on-model, well drawn... but it looks like a cover for one of the sequels. Wasn't there a mid-quel for Tarzan as a child?

Yes, Tarzan 2 is actually a midquel. It would've been a good cover for that or for a 2-movie collection. What's interesting is that in Germany not only the VHS featured the child version of Tarzan, but also the theatrical poster and the DVD. I wonder if that's the most popular version of the character there for some reason.

[Marce82]

Fareb: well... like I predicted, from now on, we will have fewer covers to discuss, since most films will have fewer releases as they are newer... and the platinum/diamond titles have been covered already. But I actually think the newer films got better executed covers... so it will be interesting.

D82: Hmmm... I doubt it. I'm pretty sure the home media department is totally separate from the animation department. But I'm sure they may consult or collaborate sometimes. The original rough drawing for that Tarzan pose for the VHS may have been done by one of the animators... but the cleanup and shading wouldn't have. I think the main difference in shading is that most covers go for an airbrush look, and the shading on Tarzan looks more like the film's shading (one dark tone, with a blurry line... no highlights).

I have no idea about younger Tarzan in Germany. But it's sad that the jungle in that poster is recycled from the Tarzan teaser poster... it was that jungle, with a teeny tiny tarzan standing on the moss on that large branch in the middle.

But good for them for the very well drawn artwork!

[D82]

Hmmm... I doubt it. I'm pretty sure the home media department is totally separate from the animation department. But I'm sure they may consult or collaborate sometimes. The original rough drawing for that Tarzan pose for the VHS may have been done by one of the animators... but the cleanup and shading wouldn't have. I think the main difference in shading is that most covers go for an airbrush look, and the shading on Tarzan looks more like the film's shading (one dark tone, with a blurry line... no highlights).

Thanks for the explanation. It makes sense, it must be as you say.

[Marce82]

Its a bit of speculation on my part...

But Disney makes a big deal when Feature Animation collaborates with ANYONE...

When FA collaborated with Imagineering to create Philharmagic.... BIG announcement. When FA collaborated w consumer products for the Animator's Doll line.... BIG announcement. I don't know why they keep their departments all isolated.

I know for sure Disney Store Europe creates it's own artwork.

[Farerb]

You're right, Marce82.
Disney's departments work independently. Moreover, I recently learned that there's a department that handles the release of catalog titles and one that handles new releases. That's the reason why there's so much inconsistency with the covers of Pixar or Star Wars or the Revival film, etc...

[Farerb]

The Emperor's New Groove:

DVD/VHS:


The Ultimate Groove Edition:


New Groove Edition:


Blu-ray:


UK:

2 Movie Collection:


Heroes Cover:


Villains Cover:


The Ultimate Groove Edition )UK):

[JeanGreyForever]

The only cover I really like is The Ultimate Groove Edition. And maybe the Heroes slipcover just because it suits the irreverent tone of this film.

[Disney Duster]

WOW! I actually like almost all of these!

1. The Ultimate Groove Edition (UK)
2. The Ultimate Groove Edition
3. Heroes Cover - OMG! They did the impossible! They made a GREAT Heroes cover! Like JeanGreyForever said, it suits the film so well! It's perfect, because the cover is Kuzco making it all about him, which is exactly what his character was about!
4. DVD/VHS
5. New Groove Edition
6. Villains Cover