The first-ever animated feature comes home in high definition for the first time this week as Disney releases Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Diamond Edition (Disney, $39.99 Blu-ray and DVD combo pack).
The release is a major upgrade for the classic film, which gets a restored picture and a new 7.1 DTS Hi-Def Surround Sound track. The film also is the first to feature Disney View, which uses original watercolors to fill in the otherwise blank areas on a widescreen TV around the film’s original aspect ratio. The process used more than 18 panels of artwork created by artist Toby Bluth.
The film also is packed full of bonus features, including a look back at the original Disney home of Hyperion Studios, a Magic Mirror ‘host,’ a BD-Live feature called ‘Mirror, Mirror on the Wall,’ as well as various games and puzzles.
The Blu-ray and DVD combo pack features the film in both formats; a stand-alone DVD version of the film is set for release on Nov. 24.
Also out this week is a pair of releases heralding the upcoming Astro Boy feature: Astro Boy: The Beginning (Widowmaker Films, $12.99) and Astro Boy Box Set Vol. 1 (Geneon Entertainment, $49.99).
Fans of more modern anime will surely be interested in Naruto Uncut: Season 1, Vol. 1 (VIZ, $39.97), while Aardman-philes will want to check out Chop Socky Chooks Vol. 1 (Fox, $19.98).
And with Christmas just around the corner, the holiday release are out in full force. Chief among them is the Blu-ray releases of A Charlie Brown Christmas (Paramount, $29.98 Blu-ray) and Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! (MGM-Warner Bros., $29.99 Deluxe Edition Blu-ray). Another Seuss classic, Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who! (Warner Bros., $14.98 DVD, $29.99 Blu-ray) also is due out.
Other animated holiday releases out this week include: A Miser Brothers Christmas (Warner Bros., $19.98), HIT Favorites: Frosty Friends (HIT, $14.98), Veggie Tales ‘ Saint Nicholas: A Story of Joyful Giving (Big Idea, $14.93), and Animated Christmas Tales Collection (MGM, $34.98), which contains An All Dogs Christmas Carol, Olive: The Other Reindeer, Christmas Carol: The Movie and Pink Panther: Pink Christmas.
