The latest Disney animated feature, “Raya and the Last Dragon,” will be available to download on digital platforms today (like Amazon) and available on Blu-Ray and DVD starting May 18. The new release will include never-before-seen bonus footage and deleted scenes. The movie is also… Read More »Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon has arrived on home video
Thanks to some very kind individuals I knew, I was able to hangout with the “Pocahontas” crew at Walt Disney Feature Animation a couple times and was invited to the wrap party for the movie. I got a close look at some of the politics… Read More »How internal rivalry at Disney animation impacted The Lion King and Pocahontas
The movie “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” went through a couple of development cycles before landing on the final 1988 version that was a collaboration between Speilberg’s Amblin Entertainment and the Walt Disney Studios. Some new test footage from the version that was being worked on… Read More »Early Test Footage Reveals Very Different Roger Rabbit
It’s safe to say that movie studios feel under siege these days. Poor box office performances from supposed blockbusters, more families downloading movies and watching them at home, and competition for attention with that omnipresent handheld internet device are challenges that any studio must overcome to survive. The Walt Disney Studios is not giving in easily and has announced a new experience where animation fans can join a new interactive theatrical event for the whole family: “Second Screen Live: The Little Mermaid.”
Beginning September 20, this beloved musical adventure returns to select theaters for a special limited engagement, only this time viewers are encouraged to become a part of the story. This unique engagement marks the debut of Disney Second Screen Live, a new second-screen technology that allows audiences to engage with the film, each other and their fellow audience members.
By simply downloading the free “Second Screen Live: The Little Mermaid App” to an Apple iPad or iPad mini and bringing their Mermaid-loaded devices to participating theaters, fans and families can interact with the film, play games, find hidden treasure, sing along, and compete with the audience for the chance to win great prizes!
This brand new, magical theatrical experience starts on September 20 at the following theaters:Read More »Disney testing Second Screen App with The Little Mermaid Re-Release
Before a film can enter production at Disney animation, it first has to be pitched. A small number of those films make it into pre-production, and then an even smaller number actually make it into full production. At that point, the film is most likely… Read More »Un-seen Disney Animation: My Peoples, plus the saga of Disney’s Florida Animation Studio
In 2006, Animator Chris Sanders was forced out of Walt Disney Animation Studios when John Lasseter removed him as director of the American Dog movie, which eventually became Bolt. Sanders had previously directed the beautiful and touching Lilo & Stitch and many fans were looking… Read More »Former Disney Animator Speaks Out Against Management
The Florida Film Festival will have two showings of the documentary – “Waking Sleeping Beauty” this week in Orlando. A great chance to see this award winning look at the second golden era of animation at Walt Disney Studios. It’s directed by Don Hahn who… Read More »See “Waking Sleeping Beauty” this week in Orlando
Walt Disney’s Animated Masterpiece Sleeping Beauty 50th Anniversary Platinum Edition has been remasterd and re-released on DVD and Blu-Ray. Each frame of the original fairy-tale classic has been painstakingly recreated to Walt’s original specs. That means you’ll get to see the movie in a way hidden from audiences since the original theatrical release.
On the plus side this means that you get to see characters and detail that were previously cut from the widescreen version of the film. On the bad side, that means that the letterboxing is extreme. So unless you have a fairly good sized TV, you’ll be squinting a bit to take it all in.
Also updated were the rich color palette of the original film. We’ve all grown used to a somewhat dulled version with deep blues and greens. But the remastered version reveals purples, reds, bright greens, and other amazing colors that add a whole new depth to the film. I do have to big complaints in this area however. The greens tend to be a little on the puke green side and the pinks now tend to be more red. This is particularly bad in the famous pink or blue dress fight.
That said, the small errors are mostly overwhelmed by how rich and detailed this restoration is. To see the master animators at work, the detail of the backgrounds, and the hear the masterful soundtrack in a whole new level of high definition makes all the difference.
Even if you already own Sleeping Beauty, which we did, there are plenty of new extras that make this worth adding to your collection. My number one favorite is the featurette on the Original Disneyland Sleeping Beauty Walk-Through Attraction With Walt Disney Imagineering. It’s a fully-immersive 3-D experience recreating the original Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk-Through that Walt supervised over 50 years ago.
Do yourself a favor and buy the Blu-Ray edition even if you don’t own a Blu-Ray player yet. It comes with the normal DVD and you never know when you might own a Blu-Ray player.
The full DVD details are below the cut:
Read More »Sleeping Beauty: Remastered, Reissued, Really Good