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This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original article was at Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. As with MOVIEPEDIA, the text of Wikipedia is available under the The Film Guide:GNU Free Documentation License|GNU Free Documentation License.

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (also known as Buena Vista Home Entertainment) is the home video distribution division of The Walt Disney Company. Disney began distributing videos under its own label in 1978 under the name Walt Disney Home Video.

Company structure[]

The company distributes DVDs under the labels Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Touchstone Home Entertainment, Hollywood Pictures Home Entertainment, and formerly Miramax Home Entertainment before it moved with Lionsgate & Echo Bridge and Dimension Home Video, before it moved with The Weinstein Company, which acquired 25% of Starz Media on January 4, 2011, in which Anchor Bay Entertainment became the DVD and Blu-ray distributor for their films. Ironically Starz, which is owned by Starz Media (Liberty Media - 75%; The Weinstein Company - 25%) airs Disney movies. With the advent of DVD and eventually Blu-ray, "Home Entertainment" replaced "Home Video" in label names. In South America, also distributes the titles from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (with exception of Lionsgate Home Entertainment) and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The creation of the DVDs and BDs for South America and Jamaica is outsourced to AVH San Luis in Argentina.

MCA DiscoVision releases[]

Before Disney began releasing home video titles itself, it licensed some titles to MCA Discovision for their newly-developed disc format, later called Laserdisc. According to the Blam Entertainment Group website,[1] which has extensive details of DiscoVision releases, only seven Disney titles were actually released on DiscoVision. One of these was the feature film Kidnapped. The others were compilations of Disney shorts. The first titles released in 1978 included: On Vacation with Mickey Mouse and Friends (#D61-503), Kids is Kids (#D61-504), At Home with Donald Duck (#D61-505), Adventures of Chip 'n' Dale (#D61-506), and finally The Coyote's Lament (#D61-507) which was released in May 1979. Disney's agreement with MCA ended in December 1981.[2]

Walt Disney Home Video releases[]

In 1980, Disney established its own video distribution operation as part of Walt Disney Telecommunications and Non-Theatrical Company (WDTNT) with Jim Jimirro as its first president.[3] Home video was not considered to be a major market by Disney at the time. WDTNT also handled the marketing of other miscellaneous ancillary items such as short 8 mm films for home use.

First releases on Beta and VHS[]

Disney's first releases on tape were 13 titles that were licensed for rental to Fotomat on March 4, 1980,[4] initially in a four-city test (Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, and San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose), to be expanded nationwide by the end of 1980. The agreement specified rental fees ranging from $7.95 to $13.95. This first batch of titles on VHS and Beta included 10 live action movies: Pete's Dragon (#10), The Black Hole (#11), The Love Bug (#12), Escape to Witch Mountain (#13), Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier (#14), 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (#15), Bedknobs and Broomsticks (#16), The North Avenue Irregulars (#17), The Apple Dumpling Gang (#18), and Hot Lead and Cold Feet (#19); and three of the compilations of short cartoons previously released by DiscoVision: On Vacation with Mickey Mouse and Friends (#20), Kids is Kids starring Donald Duck (#21), and Adventures of Chip 'n' Dale (#22). Later, on December 30, 1980, Mary Poppins (#23) was added to make 14 titles in all.

Authorized Rental Dealers[]

No new titles were released for half a year after Mary Poppins, but Walt Disney Home Video announced an expanded program for "Authorized Rental Dealers" in December 1980, and began to expand its dealer network during the first part of 1981.[5] From January 1 to March 31, 1981, Disney had a "License One — Get One Free" promotion to encourage dealers to sign up. They also offered free rental use of a 7-minute Mickey Mouse Disco videocassette for customers who rented any title from an Authorized Rental Dealer from February through May 1981.

Disney was unusual among the major studios in offering a program for authorized rentals. Most of the other studios involved in the videocassette market at the time were trying to find ways to stop dealers from renting out their movie tapes. Magnetic Video (with titles from 20th Century Fox and others) ceased doing business with Fotomat after Fotomat began renting Magnetic Video cassettes without authorization.[6] Disney's rental cassettes in blue cases looked completely different from sale cassettes, which were in white cases. That was designed to make it easy for Disney representatives to tell if dealers were violating their dealer agreements by renting out cassettes intended for sale, and it continued until 1983 or 1984, when they stopped doing so.

Animated features[]

Main article: Walt Disney Classics

The first of the Disney animated features canon to be released on videocassette was Dumbo on June 28, 1981,[7] for rental only. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh was released for rental and sale at the same time. Alice in Wonderland was released on October 15, 1981, for rental only.[8] Disney films were so appealing to audiences and Walt claimed that he wanted the magic to be experienced at home on their TV and locally. Reissues were now and then every few years -about four times in a decade for classic confirmation and anniversary.

First Walt Disney Home Video laser videodiscs and animated features for sale[]

Their agreement with DiscoVision having ended in 1981, Disney began releasing Laserdiscs under the Walt Disney Home Video label to their own network of distributors and dealers. The first five titles were shipped in June 1982: The Black Hole, The Love Bug, Escape to Witch Mountain, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck Cartoons, Collection One. Five more titles shipped in July: Pete's Dragon, Dumbo, Davy Crockett and the River Pirates, On Vacation With Mickey Mouse and Friends, The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band, and Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck Cartoons, Collection Two.[2]

Disney released more cartoon compilations (pre-Walt Disney Cartoon Classics in 1983) in late 1981, including Goofy Over Sports and A Tale of Two Critters.

Dumbo was released for sale on tape in summer 1982, while Alice in Wonderland was released for sale in November 1982.[9] The next major animated feature to be released (excluding the "package" anthology features) was Robin Hood on December 6, 1984, starting the Walt Disney Classics collection. By 1982, all the video releases were for sale and rental, along with newer releases, but at high prices.

To market these new video releases, the company produced an exclusive promo seen after various Disney video films. The promo was nicknamed "Walt Disney and You" by fans on account of the customized tune in the promo. The promo also featured clips from the various releases and ended with a video-freeze of the then-current Walt Disney Home Video opening sequence (known as the "Neon Mickey"; a screenshot from this can be seen above).

July 16, 1985 saw the home video premiere of Pinocchio which became the bestselling video of that year.

Disney later produced the Disney Sing-Along Songs collection of videos for young children in association with Harry Arends and Phil Savenick. The series first hit stores on December 23, 1986.

Disney DVD[]

Disney DVD is the brand name under which Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases its Disney-branded motion pictures. In 1997, Disney began releasing titles on DVD although they were not released in the UK until 2000, with VHS releases well stop at Bambi II was released in 2006. The brand launched a loyalty program called Disney Movie Rewards in October 2006. Participants can collect points by submitting ticket stubs from Disney feature films, "magic codes" from Disney home video purchases and Disney CDs. The points can be redeemed for prizes like games, DVDs, books, posters, and collectibles.[10]

Platinum Editions[]

Main article: Walt Disney Platinum Editions

The Platinum Editions are a line of special edition DVDs released by Disney. Originally, the line comprised the company's ten best-selling VHS titles and was released in October of each year. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first film to receive this honor in 2001. The two following titles, Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King were released in IMAX and other giant screen theaters during the holiday season before its October DVD release. Due to underperforming box office results, this tradition was terminated after Aladdin. In May 2003, Disney announced that they would be adding the next four best-selling titles to the collection. Starting in 2005, a Platinum Editions was released in October and February/March. Another tradition practiced for these released are gift sets. These gift sets contain supplements such as original animation sketches, a film frame, and a companion's book.
The current list of Platinum Editions includes: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Aladdin, Bambi, Cinderella, Lady and the Tramp, The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, The Jungle Book, 101 Dalmatians, Sleeping Beauty, and Pinocchio. The original plan for the Platinum Editions was that they would be released ten years after they are put in the Disney Vault. Since then, this time has been shortened to seven years.

Diamond Editions[]

Main article: Walt Disney Diamond Editions

Beginning with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in October 2009, Disney began re-issuing Platinum Editions titles under a new Diamond Editions classification on Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack seven years later.[11] Disney plans to release all the Platinum Edition titles once again.

Disney Blu-ray[]

Disney Blu-ray is the brand name under which Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases its Disney-branded motion pictures in High-Definition. In late 2006, Disney began releasing titles, like the Pirates of the Caribbean films, the National Treasure films and the first two Narnia films, on Blu-ray Disc.

Disney Blu-ray 3D[]

In late 2010, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment began releasing their first Blu-ray 3D, starting with A Christmas Carol.

Disney Second Screen[]

A new feature that was included in the Diamond Edition of Bambi on March 1, 2011,[12] "Disney Second Screen" is a feature accessible via a computer or iPad app download that provides additional content as the user views the film.[13] Disney Second Screen syncs along with the movie, and as the film plays, interactive elements such as trivia, photo galleries, and animated flipbooks appear on the iPad or computer screen.[14] As of December 10, 2010, it is scheduled to be available in the United States and English-speaking Canada.[15]

Notable releases[]

Main article: List of Walt Disney and Buena Vista video releases

The brand name first used by Walt Disney Home Video on their American home video releases of Disney animated features was Walt Disney Classics. The last title in the Classics line from 1984-1994 was The Fox and the Hound. With the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, all the existing titles in the Classics line were replaced with the Masterpiece Collection line and the Classics line was unofficially cancelled. The Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection line was released by Walt Disney Home Video from 1994-1999. Starting in October 2001, the Platinum Editions and Diamond Editions line are released by Walt Disney Home Entertainment. The series features restored digital versions of several of the most popular Disney animated features.[16]

Following are the movies that have been released in the various collections, with the original release date in each category:

Movie Title Home Entertainment The Classics Masterpiece Collection Gold Collection Collector's Edition Platinum Editions Diamond Editions Non-Diamond Editions Signature Collection Disney Movie Club Sing Along Edition release Home Video Masterpiece Edition Super Stars Edition 90 Collection Edition
One Hundred and One Dalmatians October 2002 April 1992 March 1999 December 2000 March 2008
101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure January 2003 April 2006
A Bug's Life April 1999 August 2000 May 2003 September 2014
A Goofy Movie September 1995 June 2000 August 2008 March 2011
Aladdin August 2008 October 1993 March 2001 October 2004 Spring 2013
Alice in Wonderland October 1981 May 1986 October 1994 July 2000 September 2006 February 6, 2011
Atlantis: The Lost Empire January 2002 October 2008 Fall 2013
Bambi August 2002 September 1989 February 1997 July 2000 March 2005 March 2011
Beauty and the Beast May 2003 October 1992 April 1997 September 2000 October 2002 October 2010 August 2012
Bedknobs and Broomsticks October 1980 October 1994 March 2001 June 2007
Brother Bear March 2004 March 2013
Cinderella September 2001 October 1988 October 1995 February 2001 October 2005 October 2012
Dinosaur January 2001 March 2005
Dumbo June 1981 November 1985 October 1994 December 2000 July 2004 September 2011
Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 September 2004 November 1991 March 1995 November 2000 May 2007 November 2010
Fun and Fancy Free November 1982 September 1993 July 1997 June 2000 May 2005
Hercules December 2006 February 1998 August 2000 April 2002
Home on the Range September 2004 August 2008 July 2012
Lady and the Tramp August 2004 October 1987 September 1998 April 2000 February 2006 February 2012
Lilo & Stitch December 2002 March 2009
Make Mine Music October 1991 April 1999 June 2000 January 2005
Mary Poppins December 1980 October 1991 October 1994 July 2000 March 2008
Melody Time November 1992 June 1998 June 2000
Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas November 1999 November 2000
Mulan September 2008 February 1999 February 2000 October 2004 Fall 2013
Oliver & Company December 2008 August 1991 September 1996 October 2000 April 2001 October 2000
Peter Pan October 2005 September 1990 March 1998 February 12, 2002 May 2009 February 2013
Return to Never Land August 2002 September 2007
Pete's Dragon October 1980 August 1991 October 1994 January 2001 March 2004 October 2012
Pinocchio September 2005 July 1985 September 1996 March 2000 March 2009
Pocahontas February 1996 June 2000 January 2005 August 2012
Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World August 1998 September 2000 January 6, 2009 August 2012
Robin Hood December 1984 October 1994 July 2000 April 2002 Fall 2013
Saludos Amigos March 1991 August 1998 May 2000 September 2007 2014
Sleeping Beauty October 1986 September 1997 November 2000 October 2008
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs May 2003 October 1991 October 1994 May 2000 October 2001 October 2009
So Dear to My Heart June 1986 September 1992 October 1994 February 2001
Tarzan February 2000 March 2009 2014
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad April 1992 May 25, 1999 October 2000 September 2007
The Aristocats November 20, 1992 April 1996 April 2000 March 2006 August 2012
The Black Cauldron September 1993 August 1998 October 2000
The Emperor's New Groove May 2001
The Fox and the Hound March 1994 September 1996 May 2000 May 2002 August 2011
The Great Mouse Detective July 1992 August 1999 July 2002 September 2003 September 2012
The Hunchback of Notre Dame March 2002 March 1997 January 2000 January 2005
The Jungle Book May 1991 October 1997 June 2000 October 2007 February 2014
The Jungle Book 2 June 2003 June 2008 March 2014
The Lion King March 1995 September 2000 October 2003 October 2011
The Little Mermaid September 2010 May 1990 November 1998 February 2001 October 2006 Fall 2013
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh June 1981 October 1990 March 1996 May 2002 Spring 2013
The Nightmare Before Christmas 1994 September 2005 September 2013
The Princess and the Frog March 2010 September 2013
The Rescuers September 1992 January 1999 May 2003 July 2007 August 2012
The Rescuers Down Under September 1991 March 1997 August 2000 May 2003 August 2012
The Sword in the Stone September 2007 March 1986 October 1994 March 2001 Apirl 2005
The Three Caballeros November 1982 October 1987 October 1994 May 2000 August 2005 October 2013
Treasure Planet April 2003 September 2007 July 2012
Toy Story October 1996 January 2000 September 2005
The Tigger Movie August 2000 September 2003

See also[]

Notes and references[]

  1. Young, Blaine. MCA DiscoVision. Blam Entertainment Group. Retrieved on September 19, 2006.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Citation.
  3. Froke, Marlowe (December 12, 1989). Oral History Collection – James P. Jimirro (Interview transcript). The Cable Center. Retrieved on September 19, 2006.
  4. "Walt Disney – Fotomat Announce Video Tape Programming Pact", Dow Jones News Service – Ticker, March 3, 1980. 
  5. "Studios hamstrung as rentals of videocassettes trim profits", Wall Street Journal, March 27, 1981. 
  6. Kopp, George. "Magnetic Video Decision Awaited: Firm's Cassette Rental Policy Expected in 3–4 Weeks", Billboard, February 14, 1981. 
  7. "(Title unknown)", Billboard, August 15, 1981. 
  8. "Disney releasing six video titles", The Globe and Mail (United Press International), October 14, 1981, p. 15. 
  9. Wollman, Jane. "A wider selection in children's video", The New York Times, September 16, 1982. 
  10. Citation.
  11. http://www.ultimatedisney.com/diamondcollection-pressrelease-0910.html
  12. "'Bambi (Two-Disc Diamond Edition)' Blu-ray Fully Detailed", 10 December 2010. Retrieved on 20 December 2010. 
  13. Snider, Mike. "Second Screen creates a 'Bambi' for multitaskers", 24 February 2011. Retrieved on 25 February 2011. 
  14. "Disney to Bow a New iPad and PC App with the Bambi Diamond Edition (Blu-ray)", 10 December 2010. Retrieved on 10 January 2011. 
  15. Lawler, Richard. "Disney announces Bambi Blu-ray/DVD combo for March 1st, debuts new Second Screen PC/iPad app", 8 December 2010. Retrieved on 10 January 2011. 
  16. http://www.ultimatedisney.com/releasetypes.htm

External links[]

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