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Pocahontas Arrives With New Song for 10th Anniversary DVD

For its 10th anniversary collectors edition DVD, POCAHONTAS (Walt Disney Home Ent., $29.99, released May 3, 2005) offers a new version with the deleted song If I Never Knew You, performed by Mel Gibson, which reinforces the bond between John Smith and Pocahontas. The song (written by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz) is seamlessly integrated into the movie with never-before-seen animation. Also included is the original theatrical version.

Following the phenomenal success of THE LION KING, POCAHONTAS was considered a major disappointment at the time, yet viewers may be more receptive to its gentle, adult departure. POCAHONTAS was co-directed by Eric Goldberg (LOONEY TUNES: BACK IN ACTION and animator on HERCULES and ALADDIN) and Mike Gabriel (LORENZO), produced by James Pentecost and Baker Bloodworth and scripted by Carl Binder, Susannah Grant and Philip LaZebnik. It should also be noted that Disney legend, Joe Grant, who passed away May 6, contributed to the story.

Bonus features include:* Audio commentary from producer Pentecost and directors Goldberg and Gabriel.* Making of doc hosted by Irene Bedard (Pocahontas).* Early Presentation Reel* Storyboard-to-film comparison* Production progression* Nine deleted scenes* Making of If I Never Knew You and how it got reinstated* Design galleries (early concepts of all the major characters, including the deleted Redfeather), with several animators discussing their work and spotlighting early tests for various characters* Art design, layouts and backgrounds gallery featuring a wider range of artwork

Bill Desowitz's picture

Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.