SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARVES Review
Disney goes back to the original artwork of their first animated feature to bring SNOW WHITE to 1080p. This first rate transfer brings out the details in this handmade animated film like never before. In many scenes, one can see the brush strokes and ink lines. The colors pops when they need to and the shadowy scenes are filled with rich blacks. For me, the focus wavers at times, but many are dismissing this as a product of the original artwork. That being said, SNOW WHITE has never looked better. And best of all, it retains the integrity of what the filmmakers had in mind. The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtrack stays true to the original soundtrack. Directionality is done well, but the soundscape is left limited. I would have liked a little more rear speaker balance. Diehard fans can even indulge in the original mono track.
As is typical with big Disney animated releases, the extras are delightful. The menuing features the Magic Mirror taping into time and weather features in Blu-ray players to talk directly to the viewer with new messages each time they view the disc. For those who don't like the black bars on the side of their widescreen TV can view the film in DisneyView, which supplies original artwork from Toby Bluth in the empty spaces. I found the feature distracting as the artwork stayed still while the film moved.
The audio commentary weaves comments from film historian/Oscar-winning animation filmmaker John Canemaker with vintage interviews with Walt Disney and Disney's famed animators. The result is a compelling look at the behind-the-scene challenges during production with the historical and artistic context that puts the accomplishments of this landmark film into crisp focus.
Disney takes full advantage of the Blu-ray functionality in the "Hyperion Studios" virtual studio tour. Introduced by Pixar director Andrew Stanton, the feature looks at the studio in Silverlake, California where SNOW WHITE was produced. Fans can move from the Story Room to the Music Room to the Art Department to Character Design to Background and Layout to the Animation Department to Live Action Reference to the Sweatbox (where new shots where critiqued by the staff as they were finished) to Ink and Paint to Camera Department to Sound Stage to even Walt's Office. It really is an innovative way to present rare archival interviews, photos and artwork in a new compelling way. Certainly one of the highlights of the release.
The new "The One that Started It All" featurette is a 17-minute look at the historical impact of SNOW WHITE. It serves as a great supplement to the audio commentary track. From previous DVD releases, featurettes "Disney Through the Decades" and "Animation Voice Talent." are also included on the Blu-ray disc.
As for games, "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall" finds your inner princess, which concludes with a personal phone call from the princess you most resemble. "What Do You See" is a picture scramble game. The highly addictive "Jewel Jumble" is a "Bejeweled"-like game featuring Grumpy. "Scene Stealer" is a BD-Live activity. Games from previous DVD releases include "Dopey's Wild Mine Ride" and "Heigh Ho," a karaoke game.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST producer Don Hahn hosts "Snow White Returns," a new featurette on the planned follow-up to the feature. The sequel would have been a short utilizing the deleted Soup Eating and Bed Building scenes, which are includes in full on the Blu-ray as well. The "Returns" feature uses storyboards, sketches and unfinished animation to recreate the story that was planned, but later abandoned.
Disc also includes Tiffany Thorton's "Some Day My Prince Will Come" music video and a PRINCESS AND THE FROG sneak peek, as well as a DVD and digital copy of SNOW WHITE.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
