Walt Disney Classics: Difference between revisions
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===Background=== | ===Background=== | ||
'''Walt Disney Classics''' was a brand name of [[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment|Walt Disney Home Video]], created in 1984 to release films of the [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Disney Animated Canon]] on VHS and | '''Walt Disney Classics''' was a brand name of [[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment|Walt Disney Home Video]], created in 1984 to release films of the [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Disney Animated Canon]] on VHS and LaserDisc. The first release from the line was ''Robin Hood'' (1973), and more soon followed, including ''Pinocchio'' (1940), ''Dumbo'' (1941), ''The Sword in the Stone'' (1963), ''Alice in Wonderland'' (1951) and others, to great success. In 1990, following the box office success of ''The Little Mermaid'' (1989), the Classics line released said film on video and began releasing a mix of both older and more recent animated films. In 1994, after the video release of ''The Fox and the Hound'' (1981), the Classics series was discontinued and replaced with the [[Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection]]. Tapes released in the Classics series are often referred to as "Black Diamond Classics" by VHS collectors, in reference to the black diamond logo on the spine of each release. | ||
Although the Walt Disney Classics series was discontinued in North America in 1994, its international counterparts (which include select live-action/animated hybrid films as well) remain active in their respective countries to this day. The line currently exists in the UK and Europe as '''Disney Classics'''; however, the number of films included in the lineup is different, mainly due to it including ''The Wild'' (2006) despite it not being produced by WDAS, and leaving ''Dinosaur'' (2000) and ''Winnie the Pooh'' (2011) out of the lineup. In France, the lineup features films produced by [[Pixar Animation Studios|Pixar]], [[Disney Television Animation|Walt Disney Television Animation]] and [[DisneyToon Studios]], in addition to the Disney Animated Canon. In Germany, the Classics line features all films in the Disney Canon, while in Spain, ''Piglet's Big Movie'' (2003) is included in the Classics line in that region. | Although the Walt Disney Classics series was discontinued in North America in 1994, its international counterparts (which include select live-action/animated hybrid films as well) remain active in their respective countries to this day. The line currently exists in the UK and Europe as '''Disney Classics'''; however, the number of films included in the lineup is different, mainly due to it including ''The Wild'' (2006) despite it not being produced by WDAS, and leaving ''Dinosaur'' (2000) and ''Winnie the Pooh'' (2011) out of the lineup. In France, the lineup features films produced by [[Pixar Animation Studios|Pixar]], [[Disney Television Animation|Walt Disney Television Animation]] and [[DisneyToon Studios]], in addition to the Disney Animated Canon. In Germany, the Classics line features all films in the Disney Canon, while in Spain, ''Piglet's Big Movie'' (2003) is included in the Classics line in that region. | ||
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'''Variants:''' | '''Variants:''' | ||
*A <u>prototype version</u>, originally seen on the 1988 U.S. retail VHS release of ''Cinderella'' exists, which has the background as a dark/light blue gradient, a more shiny, silver, metallic diamond, and a sky blue spark, with the text sporting a purple color scheme and rougher animation; this variant was also filmed, compared to the final version being videotaped. Also, the light from the starburst is not reflected on Mickey. The logo made sporadic reappearances after the revised logo was introduced on tapes from the Classics line that didn't open with previews; these include the 1992 | *A <u>prototype version</u>, originally seen on the 1988 U.S. retail VHS release of ''Cinderella'' exists, which has the background as a dark/light blue gradient, a more shiny, silver, metallic diamond, and a sky blue spark, with the text sporting a purple color scheme and rougher animation; this variant was also filmed, compared to the final version being videotaped. Also, the light from the starburst is not reflected on Mickey. The logo made sporadic reappearances after the revised logo was introduced on tapes from the Classics line that didn't open with previews; these include the 1992 LaserDisc and demo/French Canadian VHS prints of ''The Rescuers'' (''Les aventures de Bernand et Bianca''), the later Canadian print of ''The Rescuers Down Under'', a 1992 Descriptive Video Service (DVS) VHS of ''Dumbo'', the later Canadian/USA print of ''Robin Hood'' (''Robin does Bois''), the French Canadian VHS releases of ''Pinocchio'', ''Bambi'', ''101 Dalmatians'' (''Les 101 Dalmatiens'') and ''The Great Mouse Detective'' (''Basil, détective privé''), and the demo/French Canadian VHS copies of ''Beauty and the Beast'' (''La Belle et la Bête''). It also appears at the beginning of the VHS ''Fantasia: The Making of a Masterpiece'' (which was included as part of a "Deluxe Collectors' Edition" box set of the movie). In most cases, the logo is off-center, with the diamond positioned further to the right, while ''Cinderella'' had the diamond centered properly. One of the last (if not ''the'' last) videos to feature this version of the logo was the DVS VHS release of ''Aladdin''. | ||
*On the 1989 variant, the spark is now gray and white and the diamond has a flamingo pink tint on its edges, while the 1988 and 1992 variants show it with a purple tint. Also, the light from the starburst is now reflected on Mickey, just like the 1986 WDHV logo. | *On the 1989 variant, the spark is now gray and white and the diamond has a flamingo pink tint on its edges, while the 1988 and 1992 variants show it with a purple tint. Also, the light from the starburst is now reflected on Mickey, just like the 1986 WDHV logo. | ||
*On the <u>1991 VHS releases of ''Robin Hood'' and ''The Brave Little Toaster''</u>, the Mickey scene is cut, and the logo starts off with the spark writing the words. On <u>both tapes</u>, this version is shown before a preview for ''The Jungle Book'', and is accompanied by Brian Cummings saying, "Look for these animated Disney classics on videocassette." On the <u>''Robin Hood'' VHS</u>, the same variant appears again before the film begins, but without the voiceover. | *On the <u>1991 VHS releases of ''Robin Hood'' and ''The Brave Little Toaster''</u>, the Mickey scene is cut, and the logo starts off with the spark writing the words. On <u>both tapes</u>, this version is shown before a preview for ''The Jungle Book'', and is accompanied by Brian Cummings saying, "Look for these animated Disney classics on videocassette." On the <u>''Robin Hood'' VHS</u>, the same variant appears again before the film begins, but without the voiceover. | ||
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*On a <u>trailer for ''The Great Mouse Detective'' seen on the 1992 VHS releases of ''So Dear to My Heart'' and ''The Rescuers''</u>, a shortened version of the 1992 variant is used. It starts as the comet flies around the diamond, with Mark Elliot announcing, "From Walt Disney Home Video!" over it. The closing credits music from ''The Great Mouse Detective'' plays over this version of the logo, as well as the trailer. UK releases with this trailer feature the 1992 distorted variant playing at the beginning, with the Mickey scene cut. After the comet flies around the logo, a British announcer says, "From Walt Disney Home Video!" and the rest of the trailer continues. This version of the trailer can be found on the 1992 UK VHS releases of ''The Prince and the Pauper'' and ''Robin Hood''. However, certain UK versions of the trailer (like the 1992 UK VHS of ''Cinderella'') replaced the Classics logo with the tail end of the 1986 WDHV logo. | *On a <u>trailer for ''The Great Mouse Detective'' seen on the 1992 VHS releases of ''So Dear to My Heart'' and ''The Rescuers''</u>, a shortened version of the 1992 variant is used. It starts as the comet flies around the diamond, with Mark Elliot announcing, "From Walt Disney Home Video!" over it. The closing credits music from ''The Great Mouse Detective'' plays over this version of the logo, as well as the trailer. UK releases with this trailer feature the 1992 distorted variant playing at the beginning, with the Mickey scene cut. After the comet flies around the logo, a British announcer says, "From Walt Disney Home Video!" and the rest of the trailer continues. This version of the trailer can be found on the 1992 UK VHS releases of ''The Prince and the Pauper'' and ''Robin Hood''. However, certain UK versions of the trailer (like the 1992 UK VHS of ''Cinderella'') replaced the Classics logo with the tail end of the 1986 WDHV logo. | ||
*The tail end of the 1989 variant (with the logo "shining") also makes an appearance at the beginning of a video promo for ''Bambi'', which is seen on several international Disney VHS releases (with the exception of the UK and Brazil). | *The tail end of the 1989 variant (with the logo "shining") also makes an appearance at the beginning of a video promo for ''Bambi'', which is seen on several international Disney VHS releases (with the exception of the UK and Brazil). | ||
*Similarly, the tail end of the 1992 variant (with the logo "shining") also makes an appearance at the beginning of a 1996 Japanese video trailer for ''The Rescuers Down Under'', which can be found on the 1995 Japanese | *Similarly, the tail end of the 1992 variant (with the logo "shining") also makes an appearance at the beginning of a 1996 Japanese video trailer for ''The Rescuers Down Under'', which can be found on the 1995 Japanese LaserDisc releases of ''The Lion King'' and ''101 Dalmatians'' (both of which mark the only LaserDisc appearances of the 1992 variant in any form). | ||
* A series of Japanese VHS releases released by Bandai Video on July 10, 1988 (under the "Dreams and Magic" banner) use a still variant for a closing promo featuring the diamond reading "THE CLASSICS" on an animated starry sky with a thicker, more glass-like frame. This can be found on the 1988 Japanese VHS releases of ''Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day'', ''Pinocchio'', ''Mary Poppins'', and three cartoon compilations dedicated to Mickey ("Good Luck Mickey"), Donald, and various characters ("Disney Friends"), respectively. The music that accompanies the closing promo is the "Spoonful of Sugar" portion of the ''Mary Poppins'' main title overture. An animated variant featuring the logo flying onto the screen and shining is featured at the beginning of the U.S. VHS release of ''Pinocchio''. | * A series of Japanese VHS releases released by Bandai Video on July 10, 1988 (under the "Dreams and Magic" banner) use a still variant for a closing promo featuring the diamond reading "THE CLASSICS" on an animated starry sky with a thicker, more glass-like frame. This can be found on the 1988 Japanese VHS releases of ''Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day'', ''Pinocchio'', ''Mary Poppins'', and three cartoon compilations dedicated to Mickey ("Good Luck Mickey"), Donald, and various characters ("Disney Friends"), respectively. The music that accompanies the closing promo is the "Spoonful of Sugar" portion of the ''Mary Poppins'' main title overture. An animated variant featuring the logo flying onto the screen and shining is featured at the beginning of the U.S. VHS release of ''Pinocchio''. | ||
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*The first two releases with this logo, ''Cinderella'' and ''Bambi'', feature the diamond print logo (with WDHV text) on a Betamax-sized sticker label like the previous logo. Later releases typically used a white ink label, though some rarer copies use a sticker label instead (like some copies of ''The Little Mermaid'', ''The Jungle Book'' and ''The Rescuers Down Under''). | *The first two releases with this logo, ''Cinderella'' and ''Bambi'', feature the diamond print logo (with WDHV text) on a Betamax-sized sticker label like the previous logo. Later releases typically used a white ink label, though some rarer copies use a sticker label instead (like some copies of ''The Little Mermaid'', ''The Jungle Book'' and ''The Rescuers Down Under''). | ||
*While the logo was rarely used internationally, it made a few appearances. The 1989 version can be found on the 1990 European VHS releases of ''Lady and the Tramp''; the 1992 version can be found on the Bulgarian VHS release of ''Pinocchio'' from [[Alexandra Video]]; and the 2003 UK VHS of ''Pinocchio'' features the 1992 logo before and after the tape's opening previews, in the PAL format. | *While the logo was rarely used internationally, it made a few appearances. The 1989 version can be found on the 1990 European VHS releases of ''Lady and the Tramp''; the 1992 version can be found on the Bulgarian VHS release of ''Pinocchio'' from [[Alexandra Video]]; and the 2003 UK VHS of ''Pinocchio'' features the 1992 logo before and after the tape's opening previews, in the PAL format. | ||
*The last release overall to use the logo was the 1994 U.S. | *The last release overall to use the logo was the 1994 U.S. LaserDisc release of ''Aladdin'' (which was produced in 1993, but held over to September 1994 for piracy reasons), which uses the 1989 version and was the only LaserDisc release to do so. Early printings of the 1996 Masterpiece Collection VHS release of ''Pocahontas'' (from before December 17, 1995) use the 1989 version of the logo instead of the Masterpiece Collection logo. | ||
*This logo is not included on the UK or Australian VHS releases from the early to mid-90's released under the label "Walt Disney Classics"; they just used the 1986 "Sorcerer Mickey" WDHV logo (and later, the "Disney Videos" logo, starting in 1995), which would also be used on Spanish-language VHS releases. | *This logo is not included on the UK or Australian VHS releases from the early to mid-90's released under the label "Walt Disney Classics"; they just used the 1986 "Sorcerer Mickey" WDHV logo (and later, the "Disney Videos" logo, starting in 1995), which would also be used on Spanish-language VHS releases. | ||
*It can also be found on some mid-1990s reprints of ''The Sword in the Stone'' and ''Dumbo'', among possible others. | *It can also be found on some mid-1990s reprints of ''The Sword in the Stone'' and ''Dumbo'', among possible others. | ||