Beauty and the Beast: Diamond Edition

On Blu-ray™+ DVD Combo Pack – October 5, 2010 And Standard Definition DVD – November 23, 2010

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE) proudly announces the Blu-ray high-definition debut of Disney’s animated masterpiece, Beauty and the Beast on October 5, 2010.

Disney’s most requested film, Beauty and the Beast, arrives for the first time on Blu-ray Hi-Def as the second installment to the company’s new Diamond Collection. The Blu-ray transformation reveals the magic, music and majesty of the film as never before experienced with state-of-the-art picture restoration, pristine 7.1 Digital Surround Sound and hours of additional viewing experiences that include behind the scenes features, deleted scenes, enhanced music tracks, immersive games and more.

The first of only two animated films ever to be nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Picture (the second is 2009’s Up), Beauty and the Beast earned six Academy Award® nominations and won two Oscars® in 1992 for Best Original Song (“Beauty and the Beast”) and Best Original Score.

Unavailable in any form since 2003, Beauty and the Beast will be released from the Disney vault for a limited time only, arriving on a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack (2 Blu-ray Discs + DVD) October 5, followed seven weeks later with the release of a 2-Disc standard definition DVD on November 23.

Film Synopsis:

Set in and around a quaint French village during the late 18th century, Beauty and the Beast follows the fantastic adventures of Belle, a bright and beautiful young woman who finds escape from her ordinary life, and the advances of a boorish suitor, Gaston, by reading books. Meanwhile, off in a castle in the distance, a cruel young prince is cast under the spell of an enchantress who turns him into a tormented beast, while transforming his servants into animated household objects. In order to remove the curse, the Beast must discover a true love who will return his affection before the last petal falls from an enchanted rose. When Belle’s inventor father stumbles upon the Beast’s castle and is taken prisoner, Belle comes to the rescue and agrees to take her father’s place. With the help of the castle’s enchanted staff, she sees beneath the Beast’s exterior and discovers the heart and soul of a human prince.

[field name=iframe]

REVIEW

Just when I thought Disney couldn’t top themselves they pulled this beautiful and stunning high definition version of “Beauty And The Beast” out of their magical vault. The treasured animated classic fairy tale is splashed back to life with all new digital restoration and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. How does it look? I can’t put it into words, because it’s pure eye candy (in an amazing way) and even though I have viewed the timeless film on hundreds of occasions, seeing it on Blu-ray was like I was watching it for the first time.

My ultimate favorite part of “Beauty And The Beast” is when the Beast’s mansion household items sing “Be Our Guest.” It’s such a fun and joyful song with playful characters dancing their way into your heart. The remastered version is spectacular and the animation is flawless. The colors pop off the screen leaving you wanting more and more.

My son couldn’t get enough of “Beauty And The Beast” and was completely captivated by the vivid colors and beautiful music too!

Sorry for the clarity of photo. The actual film was spotless and impeccable!

If you have a Blu-ray player I recommend purchasing the Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack, because the crisp picture and special features are worth every penny. The Blu-ray copy contained an alternate version of “Be Our Guest” and a look at the Original Storyboard which could be played within a picture-in-picture and run simultaneously throughout the entire feature. Watch below as Don Hahn explains the details…

[field name=iframe1]

Other special features exclusively included on the “Beauty and the Beast” Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack are

Backstage Disney

Beyond Beauty: The Untold Stories Behind Making Beauty and the Beast This interactive experience allows fans to expand areas of the documentary to uncover even more about each topic making have up to 3 hours of additional content. Areas include the story of Beauty and the Beast, Walt’s fascination with fairy tales, the Purdum Reel and Kurt Wise/Gary Trousdale short, tribute to Howard Ashman and much, much more…

Music And More

* Beauty and the Beast Music Video Performed By Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson

* Alternate Version of “Be Our Guest”

* Alternate Score of “The Transformation”

* Introduction To Deleted Songs By Don Hahn: “Human Again”

* Introductions To Deleted Song By Alan Menken: “Human Again”

* Deleted Song: “Human Again”

[field name=iframe2]

Family Games

* Bonjour, Who Is This? A Disney TelePlay Game powered by BD-Live. Using any phone, guess the identity of the other players before they guess yours. Available in the US and English speaking Canada only. Requires BD-Live enables Blu-ray player and internet connection.

* Enchanted Musical Challenge: A DisneyQuest Game

DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE

The Beauty of Voice Acting – Learn about the extremely talented and creative actors who have performed some of Disney’s most memorable and endearing characters – from Walt Disney himself (the voice of Mickey Mouse), to Cliff Edward’s Jiminy Cricket, to the cast of Beauty and the Beast. Paige O’Hara (Belle), Robby Benson (Beast), Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Potts), Richard White (Gaston), Jerry Orbach (Lumiere) and David Ogden Stiers (Cogsworth) tell in their own words how some of the movie’s most sensational moments came to be. Featuring rare archival interview footage of the late Jerry Orbach and exclusive new interviews with Richard White and David Ogden Stiers.

The “Beauty and the Beast” Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack is set to release on October 5, 2010 and the Standard Definition DVD – November 23, 2010. Like most Disney films, it will only be available for a limited time and then replaced back into the vault. You don’t want to miss this gorgeous version, so reserve your copy now!