Disney Unveils Blu-ray Slate for 2009
By amoody
Created 01/07/2009 - 01:00
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE) is introducing its new Blu-ray + DVD Combo Packs and has announced a Blu-ray release date for SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, A BUG'S LIFE and MONSTERS, INC.
Disney's Combo Pack will be extended across a new slate of Disney-branded theatrical and Platinum titles releasing on Blu-ray between February and October of 2009. Some of the upcoming Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack titles include HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3: SENIOR YEAR (February 17), Walt Disney's animated classic PINOCCHIO: 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition (March 10) with the highly anticipated release of SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS Platinum Edition coming in October.
WDSHE first introduced a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack (entailing of a Blu-ray disc and DVD in a single package) with the release of SLEEPING BEAUTY's 50th Anniversary Platinum Edition in 2008 across limited markets. The inclusion of the feature film on standard definition DVD allowed consumers without Blu-ray players to "future proof" their collections.
In addition, WDSHE North America will be packaging 14 of its new Blu-ray titles releasing in the U.S. and Canada with a DisneyFile digital copy of the movie for consumers to enjoy anytime, anywhere on their Mac, PC or compatible portable devices. Digital copies will be made available in both iTunes and Windows Media file formats and are set to be included with such titles as HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3: SENIOR YEAR, BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA, MONSTERS INC. and A BUGS LIFE.
As part of its continued worldwide Blu-ray release efforts, WDSHE is adding new titles to the line-up in North America, Europe and Asia. Titles include new theatrical releases, catalog, direct-to-video, television series and some of America's most requested movies.
WDSHE North America will be releasing several new theatrical titles to Blu-ray day-and-date with the DVD including SWING VOTE (Touchstone Pictures) on January 13; MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA (Touchstone Pictures) on February 10; HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3: SENIOR YEAR (Walt Disney Pictures) on February 17; BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA (Walt Disney Pictures) on March 3; MORNING LIGHT (Walt Disney Pictures) in summer of 2009; as well as a new direct-to-video SPACE BUDDIES (Walt Disney Pictures) on February 3.
In addition, WDSHE North America will also be expanding its Blu-ray catalog library with more than 30 releases including titles like PRETTY WOMAN (Touchstone Pictures) on February 10; HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL REMIX EDITION (Walt Disney Pictures) on February 17; MONSTERS INC. (Disney/Pixar); A BUGS LIFE (Disney/Pixar); MICROCOSMOS (Miramax); ROUNDERS 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION (Miramax); LOST: THE COMPLETE FIRST AND SECOND SEASONS (ABC); SIN CITY (Miramax); MIRACLE (Walt Disney Pictures); SLING BLADE (Miramax); THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED (Walt Disney Pictures); PULP FICTION SPECIAL EDITION (Miramax); GOOD WILL HUNTING SPECIAL EDITION (Miramax) and many more to follow in 2009.
In Europe/Australia, WDSHE will roll-out the following Blu-ray titles beginning with SPACE BUDDIES (Walt Disney Pictures) and HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3: SENIOR YEAR (Walt Disney Pictures) in February; PINOCCHIO: 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition (Walt Disney Pictures) in March and BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA (Walt Disney Pictures) in April; and MONSTERS INC. (Disney/Pixar) sometime in 2009.
Japan will see the following WDSHE Blu-ray releases starting with PINOCCHIO: 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition (Walt Disney Pictures) in March; TINKER BELL (Walt Disney Pictures) and WALL-E (Disney/Pixar) in April; and HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3: SENIOR YEAR (Walt Disney Pictures), MONSTERS INC. (Disney/Pixar) and BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA (Walt Disney Pictures) to follow at later dates.
