Disney Signature Edition And Movie Club Exclusive Rant

NOTE: This was originally posted in January 2018. 

Since the 1980's, the Walt Disney company has released their animated classics on whatever home media was popular at time, starting with the Classics line in 1984, then the Masterpiece line in 1994, followed by the Gold Classics editions, Platinum, Diamond, and now the Signature editions which kicked off in 2016. Each of these different lines represents only the best animated films of Disney's catalogue. Some titles started out being released in these lines such as "Robin Hood" and "The Sword In The Stone" but nowadays are considered regular release films. Others have joined the roster of films that go through the Disney Vault process to be released on home media every seven or so years such as the early Renaissance films like "Beauty And The Beast" and "The Lion King". But, overall, the focus of these lines is to preserve the best of Disney animation for multiple generations, which I can say that all of these lines have done a fantastic job at. However, this most recent line, the Walt Disney Signature Collection, is starting to become the most flawed. Let's explain why.

Just recently, "Lady And The Tramp" was announced as the sixth title in this line and is scheduled for release on February 27th of 2018 (an ironic release date considering that's the date the sequel, "Lady And The Tramp 2: Scamp's Adventure", was released back in 2001). From what is being stated about this particular release, there are apparently a load of cool features attached to it such as an early song that was cut from the film, some behind the scenes material including one that goes inside story meetings from Walt's office regarding the film, and some of the original trailers for the film like the 1986 theatrical rerelease which came a year before the film's original Classic release which was in October of 1987. This is all pretty cool stuff, especially the fact that they decided to add three vintage theatrical trailers of the film into the special bonus features. And there will probably be a collectible piece that comes with this package, sort of like what they did with the "Bambi" and "Lion King" releases that included the lithograph and the limited edition film frame, respectively. So, that adds to the whole "collector" appeal to this package. But, one funny thing is... they are announcing all of this only less than a couple of months away from the release date. That's very strange.

Of course, if you're familiar with the former lines of the Disney animated films, you'd figure that "Lady And The Tramp" would be the next film to premiere in this new line considering back in the Diamond Edition days, "Lady And The Tramp" was released after "The Lion King", which followed "Bambi". in that line. I'm very certain that "The Lion King" and other releases at the time such as the second release of "Bambi 2" featured a trailer for the Diamond reissue of "Lady And The Tramp" in the trailers section on the menu. Back in the 1990's, several Disney films had trailers on the videocassettes MONTHS before they were officially released, so people back then knew that these films were coming out again. Particularly "The Aristocats" in the Masterpiece line, which was teased on the original "Lion King" VHS from 1995, and didn't get released until April 1996. That's slightly over a year away! From what I recall, that release was pushed back, but at least we knew it was being prepped up to premiere on home video. "Bambi" was previewed on the original 1996 VHS for "Toy Story", which was released in October of that year, and "Bambi" premiered in the Masterpiece line in February of 1997. Nowadays, if you look in the trailer sections on current Disney DVDs and Blu-Rays, you'll get only two trailers and that's it. An outdated Disney Rewards ad that ironically shows the "Bambi" Diamond Edition release and a trailer for an upcoming movie, sometimes two. The new release of "Bambi" shows a trailer for "Cars 3", and "The Lion King" only has a preview for "Coco". Nothing informing us that "Lady And The Tramp" or any other titles are coming to the Signature collection. Then, in early January, we finally get information and cover artwork and a release date confirming its placement in the line.

I guess this isn't really a flaw that SOLELY applies to the Signature Collection, as it could be going on with other films like current releases, but, this is very troubling. Things are much different than they were in "the good ole days". In the VHS days, there was a lot more excitement and appeal to the contents of the package. The trailers before the movie felt more like an actual short film in itself, which was especially true in the late 90's when Disney started using the company intro that had Beau Weaver's voiceover literally stating that there was always something "new and exciting". And then, you'd go to the previews, which Beau Weaver would introduce (for example, when the trailers for upcoming theatrical releases were coming up, you'd see a shot of a theater while Beau Weaver excitedly prepares to roll out the previews with animation of Tinker Bell helping out). Even when they weren't utilizing this intro and instead the flash-bang or early 2000's scheme bumpers were being utilized, there still seemed to be a real pull to want to watch the trailers instead of just reusing the same overused ad for seven years straight, followed by one measly movie trailer that you can probably watch on YouTube easily. They advertised all sorts of things, from movies, to TV shows, to parks and resorts, to computer/video games, and even music releases. They even kept this method of doing trailers throughout the 2000's and early 2010's when VHS was phasing out and optical media like DVDs and Blu-Rays were taking over. I don't know what happened, but, I really wish that Disney was teasing more releases than they do now. Not everything needs to be unveiled at the last minute. And DVDs don't need to have only one trailer. If the Blu-Rays feature more trailers, please inform me since I do not own a Blu-Ray player; I just collect the Blu-Rays of the films just to have them in my collection, and they often times come with DVDs. However, I really want to see more of an effort to advertise new titles such as the Signature Collection releases in the future. And please, STOP with that Disney Movie Rewards ad that has been playing on DVD releases for seven years straight! Or at least scrap that trailer and make a new one featuring RECENT titles. Not 2010/2011 titles that are probably not being sold anymore.

Now, onto the whole Disney Movie Club Exclusives thing. Again, if you have kept up with Disney, you'll know that whenever a movie like "Lady And The Tramp" or "Bambi" would be rereleased on home media again, the direct-to-video sequel, or sequels, would follow very close behind. Sometimes, they'd be released on the same day or be released in a two-movie package. I realize that the Disney sequels get flak for supposedly being "cash-ins", and there are cases where that's true, but that's not what I'm talking about. I bring this up because when "Bambi" was released in the Signature Collection in June of 2017, its sequel did not get released in stores to accommodate its predecessor. In order to get this edition of "Bambi 2", you have to sign up with this Disney Movie Club thing, or you have to wait for copies to show up on eBay and painstakingly wait for days in order to get it in the mail. Well, according to some sources, "Lady And The Tramp 2: Scamp's Adventure" is going down this sad trajectory as well. Yes, this and the first movie will be released on the same day, but instead of finding the sequel at a store, you need to be a Disney Movie Club member or be willing to shell out dough and potentially lose multiple auctions on eBay before finally getting a copy.

I wouldn't be so mad about this if they were doing this with every sequel that came out. I mean, yeah, the whole Movie Club thing sucks to begin with, but at least Disney would actually be treating EVERY movie in a specific line the exact same, good or bad. But no. To make matters worse, and to propel my fuel for thinking that "The Lion King" was overrated to new heights of intensity, they did not do this with "The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride" and "The Lion King 1 1/2". All three of the movies in that franchise made it on store shelves. So, what Disney is basically saying is this: "Both of "The Lion King" sequels are good enough to be on store shelves, because we have "The Lion Guard" airing on TV now and we're making a remake of the original film. And every fucking Disney fan seems to think either of the two sequels are the best out of the Disney sequel canon. So, you will be seeing those on a Best Buy shelf! But movies like "Lady And The Tramp 2" and "Bambi 2", both of which seem to not get as good of recognition? Screw those films! Let's make it harder to get those films on a physical copy. If you're not a Disney Movie Club member or a sheep person who only watches movies digitally, than fuck off!" And yes, both "Bambi 2" and "LATT2" were and will be released digitally a week earlier. Oh no, not on physical media like the original films (which I don't have a problem with in the slightest since "Bambi" and "Lady And The Tramp" are NOT overrated films; they're just as phenomenal in my opinion). Just digitally. Or if you're a member of the club. No outsiders!

Here is how I feel both of these things need to change. First off, for the trailers section on future releases, add about 5-10 trailers to the mix. One or two upcoming theatrical releases, then a few films coming to any physical/digital media in the future, then one or two shows that are on any of the channels that Disney owns like the Disney Channel or ABC, then an advertisement for a game that's coming out from Disney, then an ad for one of Disney's parks and resorts, and finally, you can have the option to advertise a soundtrack/new album from an artist on Hollywood Records or Walt Disney Records. You don't necessarily need to follow this routine every single time you put together a lineup of trailers, and you can mix the order up a little bit to add some variety, but this is still the recommended way to go. This could even be done in a similar fashion to the 1990's, where you announce before a set of previews which ones are coming to theaters or releasing on store shelves or digital retailers. But please stop the routine where it's just one theatrical trailer and the same advertisement you've been beating the horse's bloody pulp of for a long period of time. People of this generation need some more variety and interest in what's going on. They don't need to go online for every piece of information on an upcoming title in the Signature line. You don't need to drop that information suddenly on consumers not even a full two months before release date. So, that's that. I'd also like to see more booklets and promotional papers and coupons in DVD and Blu-Ray cases, but, that's just me.

Secondly, all of the films in the Disney canon, INCLUDING the sequels, should be released ON STORE SHELVES. Every single movie, from "Snow White" to any current Disney film. That's probably going to irritate and infuriate all of the Disney purists who think that the Disney sequels should be forgotten in a pile of rotten dust in the desert, but all of them have an audience, like it or not. Even critically panned sequels like "Belle's Magical World", "The Hunchback Of Notre Dame 2", and "The Fox And The Hound 2" have fans. While I may agree with most people and say that I don't have much interest in watching much of the Disney sequel library, kids and other people have every right to be exposed to these movies, even if most of them are inferior to their predecessors. And I'm not just focusing on the Disney sequels in this as well, but also the other films that aren't one of the titles that get rereleased in a specific line like "Robin Hood", "The Black Cauldron", "Oliver And Company", and the package features from the 1940's. All of these movies need to be available. I understand if a store can't fit too much content in their inventory, but, for crying out loud, they should AT LEAST be noticed by someone! Movie collectors don't need to be given the finger as eloquently as they are right now, especially in the scheme of Disney movie collecting. The Movie Club Exclusive should ONLY be for bonus exclusive items and merchandise that comes along with the actual movie. Not the actual movies themselves that are seemingly being looked at as "inferior" by Disney.

That's all for now. Sorry if I seemed a bit agitated and irate during this rant, but the reason is because I'm sick and tired of Disney making fatal flaws like this, and I want Disney to keep on being the great company that it is. It introduced us to a lot of good memories, and we should keep these memories alive, even if the memory doesn't age too well within someone's mind. Let's end on a positive note and not bask in agony for too long. Here is a question for all of you reading. What is your favorite line of Disney classics? It can be the Classics line, the Masterpiece line, or any of the subsequent lines that they have done. Leave your responses in the comments below. Other than that, I think I'm going to chill out for now. Take care, everyone.