Disney Reveals Platinum Plans For Blu-ray

Disney is embracing Blu-ray technology a lot faster than they did DVD. Does anyone remember the bare-bones, overpriced editions of Disney’s movies? I certainly do. Thankfully, the House of Mouse finally came to their senses, releasing some awesome versions of their movies under their Platinum banner. Now the Platinum banner is moving to Blu-ray, and a slate that started with plans for Sleeping Beauty have been rapidly expanded.

Disney Home Entertainment has announced plans to bring five of their animated classics to Blu-ray: Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (the first animated feature), Pinocchio, Fantasia, Fantasia 2000, and Beauty and the Beast, as well as Destino, the unfinished collaboration between Walt Disney himself and Salvador Dali.

Now don’t get too excited. Just because we’ve gotten an announcement doesn’t mean the market is suddenly going to be flooded with Blu-ray Disney titles. The announcement for the release flat out states these titles will be spread out over the next several years. So it’s cool that we’ll be getting Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 on Blu-ray, but your kids will be a few years older by the time they get here, so plan accordingly.

Here’s the timetable for Walt Disney’s animated Blu-ray plans:

  • Sleeping Beauty - October 2008
  • Pinnochio - Spring 2009
  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Fall 2009
  • Fantasia - sometime 2010
  • Fantasia 2000 - sometime 2010
  • Destino - sometimes 2010
  • Beauty and the Beast - Fall 2010