Walt Disney Classics

The Walt Disney Classics was a series of VHS releases of Disney animated features that spanned from 1984, with its very first release being Robin Hood, to 1994, with The Fox and the Hound; VCDs of this series were released from 1998 to 2003. Many Disney animated features made their home video debuts through this series. It is often referred to by fans as the "Black Diamond" collection, referring to the shape of the black diamond-shaped "Classics" logo seen on the spine of each video's case and at the beginning of each tape.

Although the series initially consisted entirely of older Disney animated features from before the mid-1970s, the success of The Little Mermaid led to more then-recent films being released as part of the collection as of 1990.

History

Walt Disney Home Video released the Classics line in 1984 to release their animated films on home video in a brand name. Before resigning, then-current Disney CEO, Ron Miller, had plans to release their animated classics on home video. The older Disney executives still believed that releasing their animated films on home video would be a little bit risky, despite having released Dumbo, Alice in Wonderland, Fun and Fancy Free, and The Three Caballeros on home video around the early 1980s. The "untouchable" Disney Classics would usually be re-released in theaters around 7-10 years. And the executives thought that if they had the film on videocassette already, they would not go to the movie theater to see it anymore. Plus, it would gamble away from future theatrical revenue.

But by 1984, Walt Disney Home Video was getting increasingly popular, so they decided to release Robin Hood on home video to begin their new Classics line. It was chosen because Robin Hood wasn't one of the more popular Disney animated classics at the time, so it wouldn't be too much of a risk to release it on home video. Robin Hood was released with a suggested retail price of $79.95 on VHS and Betamax and $34.95 on Laserdisc. The tape was also part of Disney's wrap and ready-to-give promotion, since it was released a few weeks before Christmas Day. The release of Robin Hood was a small success, eventually becoming one of the best-selling home video titles in 1984.

Releases

Robin Hood (first release)December 3, 1984

Pinocchio (first release)July 16, 1985

Dumbo (first release)November 6, 1985

The Sword in the Stone (first release)March 25, 1986

Alice in Wonderland (first release)May 28, 1986

Sleeping BeautyOctober 14, 1986

Lady and the TrampOctober 6, 1987

CinderellaOctober 4, 1988

BambiSeptember 28, 1989

Dumbo (second release)September 28, 1989

The Sword in the Stone (second release)September 28, 1989

The Little MermaidMay 18, 1990

Peter PanSeptember 21, 1990

The Jungle BookMay 3, 1991

Alice in Wonderland (second release)July 12, 1991

Robin Hood (second release)July 12, 1991

The Rescuers Down UnderSeptember 20, 1991

FantasiaNovember 1, 1991

101 DalmatiansApril 10, 1992

The Great Mouse DetectiveJuly 17, 1992

The RescuersSeptember 18, 1992

Beauty and the BeastOctober 30, 1992

Pinocchio (second release)March 26, 1993

AladdinOctober 1, 1993

The Fox and the HoundMarch 4, 1994

Gallery

Logos

The first logo, which features the Walt Disney Home Video text underneath. This is an early logo, as the more prominent Diamond logo would be introduced shortly afterwards. It is found on Robin Hood, Pinocchio, Dumbo, The Sword in the Stone, Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty, Lady and the Tramp, and a demo-tape of Cinderella.

The Portuguese variant with "Os Classicos" in place of "The Classics".

A Japanese variant on a starry sky with a thicker, more glass-like frame and not a blue aura to surrounds it here.

Intro to the second logo, similar to Walt Disney Home Video's 1986 logo.

The 1989 Sorcerer Mickey intro.

The 1992 Sorcerer Mickey which is the last Walt Disney Classics logo.

The 1988 prototype variant of the second logo, only found on Cinderella. Oddly enough this variant was later found on re-prints of The Jungle Book, Alice in Wonderland, Robin Hood, and The Rescuers Down Under. It also appeared on a LaserDisc and the demo-tapes for The Rescuers and Beauty and the Beast in 1992.

The 1989 variant, starting with Bambi. Also, it was seen on the 1991 VHS of The Jungle Book. A short version, without the Sorcerer Mickey intro was used on the 1991 release of Robin Hood. (Surprisingly, this was also found on the 1991 LaserDisc of Robin Hood, the 1992 LaserDiscs of Mary Poppins, 101 Dalmatians, and The Great Mouse Detective, the 1992 VHS of 101 Dalmatians, The Great Mouse Detective, The Rescuers, and Beauty and the Beast, the 1993 VHS of Pinocchio and Aladdin, the 1993 Deluxe Edition LaserDisc of Beauty and the Beast and a demo-tape of Aladdin, the 1994 VHS and LaserDiscs of The Fox and the Hound and Aladdin, and the 1996 VHS prototype copies of Pocahontas.)

The 1992 original clean variant, from 101 Dalmatians and The Great Mouse Detective. Starting with The Rescuers, the music became distorted.

The 1992 distorted and muffled variant, from The Rescuers, Beauty and the Beast, Pinocchio, Aladdin, and The Fox and the Hound.

An entirely different logo for UK trailers. Used from 1993-1996.

Another different logo for UK promos. Used in 2000.

The normal print logo used on UK VHS Covers from the late 1980s

The normal print logo used on UK VHS Covers from 1991 to 1996

The normal print logo used on UK VHS Covers from 1996 to 2000

The alternative print logo used on UK VHS Covers from 2000 to 2001

The normal print logo used on UK VHS and DVD Covers from 2001 to 2008

The normal print logo used on UK DVD and Blu Ray Covers from 2014 to present

Trivia

• The very first version of the Walt Disney Classics logo from 1984 (a.k.a. "Walt Disney Home Video The Classics" logo) seen on the tapes from Robin Hood 1984 VHS up until Lady and the Tramp 1987 VHS was animated using simple computer techniques. Subsequent versions of the Walt Disney Classics logo from 1988 onwards are however animated with more elaborate CGI animation, much like the then-recent 1986 Sorcerer Mickey Walt Disney Home Video logo.
• Although the Black Diamond edition of Aladdin was first released on September 29, 1993, it was not officially advertised until October 1.
• Beauty and the Beast was the first Disney animated film to have a widescreen Laserdisc release (albeit letterboxed), in contrast to other Disney animated films produced in widescreen, such as Sleeping Beauty, Lady and the Tramp, The Little Mermaid, The Great Mouse Detective, and The Rescuers Down Under, which were previously released in this home video collection in pan-and-scan versions only on both their respective VHS and Laserdisc releases.
  • The version of Lady and the Tramp used in the VHS and Laserdisc release in this collection is a cropped pan-and-scan version from it's theatrical CinemaScope release version, rather than it's alternate theatrical Academy ratio version, which wouldn't see a home video release until at least 1998.
• Aladdin was released on Laserdisc on September 21, 1994 in both alternate both letterboxed widescreen and pan-and-scan formats.

See also

• Walt Disney Mini Classics
• Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection
• Walt Disney Gold Classic Collection
• Walt Disney Platinum Editions
• Walt Disney Diamond Editions
• Walt Disney Signature Collection

External links

• Article about the videos at DVDizzy.com
• History from Preview of Imaxination's Guide to Disney Videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qbirIwLQh4&t=12s

v - e - dWalt Disney home video releases

Editions Walt Disney Classics • Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection • Walt Disney Limited Issues • Walt Disney Gold Classic Collection • Walt Disney Platinum Editions • Walt Disney Diamond Editions • Walt Disney Signature Collection • Disney Special Edition releases • Disney 2-Movie Collections • Disney 3-Movie Collections • Disney 4-Movie Collections • Disney Movie Club DVDs • Walt Disney Treasures • Disney Blu-ray 3D • Disney·Pixar Classics • Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection • Ghibli ga Ippai Collection • Studio Ghibli Collection (North America) • Collection Studio Ghibli (France) Animated Films Walt Disney Animation Studios films Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) • Pinocchio (1940) • Fantasia (1940) • Dumbo (1941) • Bambi (1942) • Saludos Amigos (1942) • The Three Caballeros (1944) • Make Mine Music (1946) • Fun and Fancy Free (1947) • Melody Time (1948) • The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949) • Cinderella (1950) • Alice in Wonderland (1951) • Peter Pan (1953) • Lady and the Tramp (1955) • Sleeping Beauty (1959) • One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) • The Sword in the Stone (1963) • The Jungle Book (1967) • The Aristocats (1970) • Robin Hood (1973) • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977) • The Rescuers (1977) • The Fox and the Hound (1981) • The Black Cauldron (1985) • The Great Mouse Detective (1986) • Oliver & Company (1988) • The Little Mermaid (1989) • The Rescuers Down Under (1990) • Beauty and the Beast (1991) • Aladdin (1992) • The Lion King (1994) • Pocahontas (1995) • The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) • Hercules (1997) • Mulan (1998) • Tarzan (1999) • Fantasia 2000 (1999) • Dinosaur (2000) • The Emperor's New Groove (2000) • Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) • Lilo & Stitch (2002) • Treasure Planet (2002) • Brother Bear (2003) • Home on the Range (2004) • Chicken Little (2005) • Meet the Robinsons (2007) • Bolt (2008) • The Princess and the Frog (2009) • Tangled (2010) • Winnie the Pooh (2011) • Wreck-It Ralph (2012) • Frozen (2013) • Big Hero 6 (2014) • Zootopia (2016) • Moana (2016) • Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) • Frozen II (2019) • Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) • Encanto (2021) • Strange World (2022) • Wish (2023) • Moana 2 (2024) Pixar films Toy Story (1995) • A Bug's Life (1998) • Toy Story 2 (1999) • Monsters, Inc. (2001) • Finding Nemo (2003) • The Incredibles (2004) • Cars (2006) • Ratatouille (2007) • WALL-E (2008) • Up (2009) • Toy Story 3 (2010) • Cars 2 (2011) • Brave (2012) • Monsters University (2013) • Inside Out (2015) • The Good Dinosaur (2015) • Finding Dory (2016) Cars 3 (2017) • Coco (2017) • Incredibles 2 (2018) • Toy Story 4 (2019) • Onward (2020) • Soul (2020) • Luca (2021) • Turning Red (2022) • Lightyear (2022) • Elemental (2023) • Inside Out 2 (2024) Disney Princess films Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) • Cinderella (1950) • Sleeping Beauty (1959) • The Little Mermaid (1989) • Beauty and the Beast (1991) • Aladdin (1992) • Pocahontas (1995) • Mulan (1998) • The Princess and the Frog (2009) • Tangled (2010) • Brave (2012) • Moana (2016) • Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) • Moana 2 (2024) Disney Fairies films Tinker Bell (2008) • Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure (2009) • Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue (2010) • Secret of the Wings (2012) • The Pirate Fairy (2014) • Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast (2015) Blue Sky Studios films Spies in Disguise (2019) Other Animated films A Christmas Carol • A Goofy Movie • The Jungle Book 2 • The Nightmare Before Christmas • Piglet's Big Movie • The Pirate Fairy • Pooh's Heffalump Movie • Planes • Planes: Fire & Rescue • Return to Never Land • Secret of the Wings • The Tigger Movie • Tinker Bell • Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue • Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast • Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure • The Wild Direct-to-Video films 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure • Aladdin and the King of Thieves • Atlantis: Milo's Return • Bambi II • Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins • Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Magical World • Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas • Brother Bear 2 • Cinderella II: Dreams Come True • Cinderella III: A Twist in Time • An Extremely Goofy Movie • The Fox and the Hound 2 • The Hunchback of Notre Dame II • Kronk's New Groove • Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure • Leroy & Stitch • Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch • The Lion King 1½ • The Lion King II: Simba's Pride • The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning • The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea • Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas • Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas • Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers • Mulan II • Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World • Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin • Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie • The Return of Jafar • Stitch! The Movie • Tarzan II • Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year • Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving • Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo Non-Disney films The Brave Little Toaster • Valiant • The Bob's Burgers Movie Studio Ghibli films Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind • Castle in the Sky • My Neighbor Totoro • Kiki's Delivery Service • Porco Rosso • Pom Poko • Whisper of the Heart • Princess Mononoke • My Neighbors the Yamadas • Spirited Away • The Cat Returns • Howl's Moving Castle • Tales from Earthsea • Ponyo • The Secret World of Arrietty • The Wind Rises • Miscellaneous Live-action feature films 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea • Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day • Alice in Wonderland (2010 film) • Aladdin (2019 film) • Alice in Wonderland (2010 film) • Alice Through The Looking Glass • A Wrinkle in Time • Beauty and the Beast (2017 film) • Bedknobs and Broomsticks • The BFG • Bedtime Stories • Beverly Hills Chihuahua • Bridge to Terabithia • Christopher Robin • The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian • The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe • The Country Bears • Cinderella (2015 film) • Cruella • The Devil and Max Devlin • Dumbo (2019 film) • Enchanted • Escape to Witch Mountain • The Finest Hours • Freaky Friday (2003 film) • G-Force • The Game Plan • The Greatest Game Ever Played • The Haunted Mansion • Haunted Mansion (2023 film) • Holes • Into the Woods • James and the Giant Peach • John Carter • The Jungle Book (2016 film) • Jungle Cruise • The Lion King (2019 film) • The Little Mermaid (2023 film) • The Lone Ranger • The Love Bug • Herbie Rides Again • Herbie Goes Bananas • Maleficent • Maleficent: Mistress of Evil • Mary Poppins • Mary Poppins Returns • Max Keeble's Big Move • McFarland, USA • Million Dollar Arm • Mulan (2020 film) • The Muppets • The Muppet Christmas Carol • Muppets Most Wanted • Muppet Treasure Island • National Treasure • National Treasure: Book of Secrets • The Nutcracker and the Four Realms • Old Yeller • Oz the Great and Powerful • The Parent Trap • The Parent Trap (1998) • Pete's Dragon • Pete's Dragon (2016 film) • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End • Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest • Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales • Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl • Pollyanna • Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time • The Princess Diaries • The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement • Queen of Katwe • The Santa Clause • The Santa Clause 2 • The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause • Saving Mr. Banks • Snowball Express • So Dear To My Heart • The Sorcerer's Apprentice • Swiss Family Robinson • The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men • Tomorrowland • Tron • Tron: Legacy • Who Framed Roger Rabbit Disneynature films African Cats • Bears • Born in China • Chimpanzee • The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos • Monkey Kingdom • Oceans • Wings of Life Disney Channel Original Movies Camp Rock • The Cheetah Girls • Descendants • Halloweentown • High School Musical • Twitches • Zombies • Miscellaneous Lucasfilm films Rogue One: A Star Wars Story • Solo: A Star Wars Story • Star Wars: The Force Awakens • Star Wars: The Last Jedi • Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker • Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Marvel Cinematic Universe films Ant-Man • Ant-Man and the Wasp • Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania • The Avengers • Avengers: Age of Ultron • Avengers: Endgame • Avengers: Infinity War • Black Panther • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever • Black Widow • Captain America: Civil War • Captain America: The Winter Soldier • Captain Marvel • The Marvels • Deadpool & Wolverine • Doctor Strange • Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness • Eternals • Guardians of the Galaxy • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 • Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings • Spider-Man: Far From Home • Spider-Man: Homecoming • Spider-Man: No Way Home • Iron Man 3 • Thor: The Dark World • Thor: Love and Thunder • Thor: Ragnarok 20th Century Studios films X-Men: Dark Phoenix • The Art of Racing in the Rain • Ad Astra • Ford v Ferrari • Underwater • The Call of the Wild • The Creator • The New Mutants • Free Guy • West Side Story • Death on the Nile • Avatar: The Way of Water • A Haunting in Venice • Poor Things • The First Omen • Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Animated shorts Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck Cartoon Collections • Cartoon Classics (Limited Gold Editions) • Mini Classics • Favorite Stories (UK Equivalent: Storybook Favorites) • Classic Cartoon Favorites • Mickey and Friends' Greatest Hits (Outside USA) • Funny Factory • It's a Small World of Fun! • Timeless Tales (UK Equivalent: Walt Disney's Fables) • Walt Disney Animation Collection: Classic Short Films • Have a Laugh! • Miscellaneous • Pixar • Disney Cartoon Festival (Japan only) Television shows Animated shows 101 Dalmatians • Adventures of the Gummi Bears • Aladdin • Bonkers • Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers • Darkwing Duck • Doug • DuckTales • Gargoyles • Goof Troop • Gravity Falls • Jungle Cubs • Kim Possible • The Little Mermaid • The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh • Phineas and Ferb • The Proud Family • Quack Pack • Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure • Recess • Star Wars Rebels • TaleSpin • Timon & Pumbaa • W.I.T.C.H. Live-action shows Dinosaurs • Good Luck Charlie • Hannah Montana • Lizzie McGuire • The Mickey Mouse Club • The Suite Life of Zack and Cody/The Suite Life on Deck • That's So Raven • Walt Disney anthology series • Welcome to Pooh Corner • Wizards of Waverly Place • You and Me, Kid Playhouse Disney/Disney Jr. Doc McStuffins • Elena of Avalor • Handy Manny • Jake and the Never Land Pirates • The Lion Guard • Little Einsteins • Mickey and the Roadster Racers • Mickey Mouse Clubhouse • My Friends Tigger & Pooh • Sofia the First • The Book of Pooh Compilation videos • Other shows