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Revision as of 14:56, 31 May 2012

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Company typeSubsidiary of Walt Disney Studio Entertainment
Founded1978
Headquarters
Burbank, California
,
U.S.
ProductsHome video
RevenueDisney Blu-ray
Disney DVD
DisneyFile Digital copy
OwnerThe Walt Disney Company
ParentWalt Disney Studio Entertainment
Websitedisneydvd.com

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 Entertainment, while Village Roadshow distributed the Disney home video titles in Australia throughout the 1980s, even in the UK, BBC Video / The Video Collection and Rank Video distributed the Walt Disney Home Video library throughout the 1980s. In Belgium and the Netherlands, PolyGram Video distributed the Disney video library throughout the 1980s as well.

Company structure

The company distributes DVDs under the labels Disney, ABC Studios, ABC Family, Touchstone Home Entertainment, and Hollywood Pictures Home Entertainment. With the advent of DVD and eventually Blu-ray, "Home Entertainment" replaced "Home Video" in label names.

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

File:Pete's Dragon front cover (1980 release).JPG
The very first VHS release from Disney

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
File:Robin Hood front cover (1984 release).JPG
The first of the 15 untouchable animated films on videocassette.

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

File:Waltdisneyhomevideo78.jpg
The original logo used by Walt Disney Home Video between 1978 (on Laserdisc, it would not be on VHS and Beta releases until 1980) and 1986. This variant of the "Neon Mickey" logo was introduced in 1983; the original variant read "Walt Disney Home Entertainment" with different fonts.

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, 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 uncancelled. The Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection line were 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 Platinum Editions Diamond Editions Special Editions
Dr. Seuss's ABC 1 April 1992 March 1999 March 2008 Holiday 2012
Dr. Seuss's ABC 2 August 2000
Dr. Seuss's ABC 3 June 2000 Holiday 2015
Dr. Seuss's ABC 4 October 1993 October 2004 February 2013
Dr. Seuss's ABC 5 October 1981 July 1986 October 1994 July 2000 February 2011
Dr. Seuss's ABC 6 January 2002 Fall 2012
Dr. Seuss's ABC 7 September 1989 February 1997 March 2005 March 2011
Dr. Seuss's ABC 8 October 1992 October 2002 October 2010
Dr. Seuss's ABC 9 October 1981 October 1994 March 2001 Holiday 2014
Dr. Seuss's ABC 10 March 2004 Fall 2012
Dr. Seuss's ABC 11 October 1988 October 1995 October 2005 October 2012
Dinosaur January 2001
Dr. Seuss's ABC 12 October 1981 December 1985 October 1994 October 2001 September 2011
Dr. Seuss's ABC 13 November 1991 November 2000 November 2010
Dr. Seuss's ABC 14 October 1981 July 1997 June 2000
Dr. Seuss's ABC 15 February 1998 August 2000
Dr. Seuss's ABC 16 September 2004 July 2012
Dr. Seuss's ABC 17 October 1987 September 1998 February 2006 February 2012
Dr. Seuss's ABC 18 December 2002
Dr. Seuss's ABC 19 June 2000
Dr. Seuss's ABC 20 October 1981 October 1994 July 2000 Holiday 2014
Dr. Seuss's ABC 21 June 1998 June 2000
Dr. Seuss's ABC 22 November 2000 Holiday 2015
Dr. Seuss's ABC 23 February 1999 February 2000 Fall 2013
Dr. Seuss's ABC 24 September 1996 May 2002 Spring 2013
Dr. Seuss's ABC 25 September 1990 March 1998 February 2002 March 2007 Holiday 2014
Dr. Seuss's ABC 26 October 1981 October 1994 January 2001 Holiday 2014
Dr. Seuss's ABC 27 July 1985 March 2000 March 2009 March 2015
Dr. Seuss's ABC 28 February 1996 June 2000 Summer 2012
Dr. Seuss's ABC 29 September 2000 Summer 2012
Dr. Seuss's ABC 30 December 1984 October 1994 July 2000 Fall 2013
Dr. Seuss's ABC 31 May 2000
Dr. Seuss's ABC 32 October 1986 September 1997 September 2003 October 2008 October 2014
Dr. Seuss's ABC 33 October 1994 October 2001 October 2009
Dr. Seuss's ABC 34 July 1986 October 1994
Dr. Seuss's ABC 35 February 2000 Holiday 2012
Dr. Seuss's ABC 36 June 2004 Thanksgiving 2014
Dr. Seuss's ABC 37 May 1999 October 2000
Dr. Seuss's ABC 38 April 1996 April 2000 August 2012
Dr. Seuss's ABC 39 August 1998 October 2000 Fall 2014
Dr. Seuss's ABC 40 May 2001
Dr. Seuss's ABC 41 March 1994 May 2000 August 2011
Dr. Seuss's ABC 42 July 1992 July 2002 Summer 2014
Dr. Seuss's ABC 43 March 1997 March 2002 Spring 2013
Dr. Seuss's ABC 44 May 1991 October 1997 October 2007 Spring 2013
Dr. Seuss's ABC 45 March 1995 October 2003 October 2011
Dr. Seuss's ABC 46 May 1990 March 1998 October 2006 October 2013
Dr. Seuss's ABC 47 October 1981 March 1996 May 2002 Holiday 2012
Dr. Seuss's ABC 48 March 2010 Holiday 2015
Dr. Seuss's ABC 49 September 1992 January 1999 May 2003 Summer 2012
Dr. Seuss's ABC 50 September 1991 August 2000 Summer 2012
Dr. Seuss's ABC 51 March 1986 October 1994 March 2001 Fall 2014
Dr. Seuss's ABC 52 October 1981 October 1994 May 2000
Dr. Seuss's ABC 53 April 2003 July 2012
Dr. Seuss's ABC 54 January 2000

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ Young, Blaine. "MCA DiscoVision". Blam Entertainment Group. Retrieved September 19, 2006.
  2. ^ a b "Disney Releases 10 Titles on Laser Videodisc". Videodisc/videotex. 2 (3). Meckler Publishing: 175. Summer 1982.
  3. ^ Froke, Marlowe (December 12, 1989). "Oral History Collection – James P. Jimirro" (Interview transcript). The Cable Center. Retrieved 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 (February 14, 1981). "Magnetic Video Decision Awaited: Firm's Cassette Rental Policy Expected in 3–4 Weeks". Billboard.
  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 (September 16, 1982). "A wider selection in children's video". The New York Times.
  10. ^ Arnold, Thomas K (April 5, 2007). "Studios keep spotlight on DVD". The Hollywood Reporter. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ http://www.ultimatedisney.com/diamondcollection-pressrelease-0910.html
  12. ^ "'Bambi (Two-Disc Diamond Edition)' Blu-ray Fully Detailed". High Def Digest. December 10, 2010. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
  13. ^ Snider, Mike (February 24, 2011). "Second Screen creates a 'Bambi' for multitaskers". USA Today. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  14. ^ "Disney to Bow a New iPad and PC App with the Bambi Diamond Edition (Blu-ray)". BD-Live News. December 10, 2010. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  15. ^ Lawler, Richard (December 8, 2010). "Disney announces Bambi Blu-ray/DVD combo for March 1st, debuts new Second Screen PC/iPad app". Engadget. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  16. ^ http://www.ultimatedisney.com/releasetypes.htm
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