Pan & Scan Releases - Ultimate Guide to Disney DVD

STOP PAN & SCAN - ONLY DVD RELEASES!

In 2002, Disney established a new policy whereby any movies that they feel have limited adult appeal will be released on DVD in Pan & Scan only. No widescreen DVD. They've reneged a bit since then, but many titles from their live action catalogue have made their DVD debuts exclusively in reformatted fullscreen. This affects every unreleased live action Disney film, particularly those that the studio suspects have limited appeal outside of children.

WHAT IS "PAN & SCAN"?

Pan & Scan is the process that takes a widescreen movie and cuts off the sides so that it fills a 4:3 television set. This is detrimental, because it effectively chops off anywhere from 30% to 50% of the picture.

The following link explain the process in more detail and show examples of the same movie in widescreen and pan & scan:

Widescreen.org: The Letterbox and Widescreen Advocacy Page

PAN&SCAN-ONLY DVDS

The following Disney DVDs offer only reformatted fullscreen transfers:
- Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.
- The Million Dollar Duck
- The Barefoot Executive
- Benji, the Hunted (Disney Movie Club exclusive; 1.85:1 non-anamorphic widescreen in Region 2 - UK, Germany)
- Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken (Disney Movie Club exclusive; 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen in Region 2 - UK, Germany)
- The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band
- No Deposit, No Return
- Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1.66:1 non-anamorphic widescreen in Region 2 - UK, France, Germany and Region 4 - Australia)
- Herbie Goes Bananas
- The Strongest Man in the World
- Son of Flubber
- The Gnome-Mobile
- Miracle of the White Stallions
- Night Crossing
- Follow Me, Boys!
- Bon Voyage!
- Midnight Madness
- Operation Dumbo Drop (2.35:1 OAR) (16:9 widescreen in Region 2 - UK, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Italy and Region 4 - Italy)
- Tom and Huck (2.35:1 OAR) (16:9 widescreen in Region 2 - Germany)
- Return to Snowy River (2.35:1 OAR)
- Snowball Express
- Savage Sam
- Man of the House (16:9 widescreen in Region 2 - UK, Germany and Region 4 - Australia)
- Heavyweights (16:9 widescreen in Region 2 - Germany)
- First Kid (16:9 widescreen in Region 2 - Germany and Region 4 - Australia)
- A Kid in King Arthur's Court
- Blank Check (non-anamorphic widescreen in Region 2 - UK, Italy and Region 4 - Australia)
- The Absent-Minded Professor (Update: re-released in USA: 16:9 widescreen black & white Region 1 DVD)
- Gus
- The Moon Spinners
- The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
- The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again
- The Muppet Christmas Carol
- The Muppet Treasure Island (16:9 widescreen, but edited for Region 2 UK, Netherlands, and Germany)
- Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (16:9 widescreen in Region 2 - UK)
- Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (16:9 widescreen in Region 2 - UK)
- Babes in Toyland
- White Fang (16:9 widescreen in Region 2 - UK and Region 4 - Australia)
- Snow Dogs (16:9 widescreen in Region 2 - UK, Germany, and Region 4 - Australia)
- Max Keeble's Big Move (16:9 widescreen in Region 2 - Germany and Region 4 - Australia)
- The Country Bears (16:9 Widescreen in Region 2 - UK, Germany and Region 4)
- Cheetah ( 16:9 widescreen in Region 2 - Germany)
- The Journey of Natty Gann (2.35:1 OAR) (available in 16:9 widescreen in Region 2 - Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, UK)
- Blackbeard's Ghost
- Air Bud
- Air Bud: Golden Receiver
- A Goofy Movie (non-anamorphic widescreen in Region 2 and Region 4 - Australia)
- George of the Jungle (anamorphic widescreen in Region 2 - Germany)
- Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

Pan&Scan-only DVDs from other branches of Disney home video include Three Men and a Little Lady, Taking Care of Business, Can't Buy Me Love, The Scarlet Letter, Ernest Goes to Jail, and Ernest Scared Stupid.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Simple. Call 1-800-72-DISNEY and tell them that you are not interested in buying Pan&Scan-only DVDs. Politely tell them you will only buy DVDs if they are released in their original widescreen ratio. They are very nice, they'll listen, they'll take your name, and make a record of everyone who calls. It's toll-free, it only takes a moment. So call 1-800-72-DISNEY.

It is equally as important to also send an e-mail to [email protected]. This is a way to send something personally that will get to the Marketing Department. You might want to include your name and location in the e-mail. Even if you call, it is a good idea to send an e-mail as well, so that not only is the call recorded, but so is an e-mail detailing exactly what your feelings are.

You can also help by not purchasing Pan&Scan-only DVDs. Show your support of original aspect ratio and do not let Disney cater the DVD format to the people who do not understand widescreen!

With 16:9 television sets clearly becoming the norm, it is ridiculous for Disney to release Pan&Scan-only DVDs and we need to show them that there is a large market for those who do not want their films modified to fit a 4:3 television screen.

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This page was created on April 10, 2002.
Last updated on April 16, 2005.