You’d expect Disney to provide charming holiday family fun over the holidays, and the studio is delivering just that, not only in theaters with “Tangled” but also on Blu-ray.
Two recent Blu-ray releases offer delightful viewing during the holidays:
*”Fantasia / Fantasia 2000” 4-Disc Special Edition ($45.99) is a gold mine for lovers of Disney, classical music, art, and animation. Here’s why:
— “Fantasia 2000,” at 74-minutes, is most accessible/broadly appealing of the two movies featuring bright colors in various fun animation styles and widescreen presentations set to upbeat and more familiar classical and orchestral music, and entertaining hosts from Steve Martin and Bette Midler to Penn and Teller and Quincy Jones, among others.
— Touching new opening dedication card to Walt’s nephew Roy E. Disney, who championed this production and died Dec. 16, 2009.
— Enormously fascinating 10-minute bonus feature “Musicana: Walt’s Inspiration for a Sequel” on evolution of “2000,” including 1970s proposed-but abandoned project by Mel Shaw including work by Pixar founder John Lasseter on segment with Mickey Mouse as Asian character in Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Emperor and the Nightingale.”
— Amazing “Destino” Oscar-nominated seven-minute animated short created in 2003 from drawings by Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali for Disney in 1946 but never previously animated.
— Riveting 82-minute “Dali & Disney: A Date with Destino” documentary on the early and professional lives of both men and their eventual friendship and brief professional collaboration.
— “Fantasia” in its original 1940 squarish-film frame size never looked better than here in hi-def, including the iconic “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” segment starring Mickey Mouse.
— Fascinating four-minute featurette with Walt’s daughter Diane Disney-Miller providing a video tour of the new “Disney Family Museum” at the old Presidio in San Francisco
— “Shultheis Notebook: A Disney Treasure” is an archivist’s dream as the 14-minute program shows the recently-discovered (in the walls of a convent) technical log created by “Fantasia” animation effects man Herman Schultheis revealing answers to decades-old mysteries of the accomplishments of the movie. Also featured here are intriguing early concepts for “future” Fantasia movies.
— Three engaging audio commentaries by a.) Disney historian Brian Sibley; b.) executive producer Roy E. Disney, conductor James Levine, animation historian John Canemaker, and Scott McQueen, manager of film restoration; and c.) a most tantalizing audio re-creation of Walt Disney providing story notes and giving interviews, hosted by Canemaker.
* “The Search for Santa Paws” ($39.99) from the creator of the Air Bud franchise, Robert Vince, is a charming blend of “Miracle on 34th Street,” “Annie,” and “The Polar Express” in one cute holiday musical movie created for Blu-ray. Parents will have no trouble sitting with kids to watch this well-produced magical story of a stuffed toy dog brought to adorable talking life to help Santa revive the dwindling spirit of Christmas in New York City. Even the dog isn’t enough when Santa takes a fall and loses his memory, sparking the aide of a young orphan girl and her friends. Extras include:
— Interactive animated pop-up book
— Fun and lively music video of “Deck the Halls” by Disney Channel star Ddebby Ryan (“Suite Life on Deck”)
— Sing-along mode for lyrics
— deleted scenes
— By Scott Hettrick