Disney may be enjoying the box office success of the updated Aladdin, but the House of Mouse still known how to monetize their classic catalog. This week brings the release of Cinderella: Anniversary Edition, the ninth entry in the Walt Disney Signature Collection. Much like last summer’s release of Peter Pan, the studio has recycled the audio and video transfers from the previous Diamond Edition and supplemented the disc with a few new extras.
As with other remastered classics from Disney’s early days, the digital restoration of Cinderella offers a pristine image, with grain removed and colors re-balanced to ensure it hews as closely as possible to the original animation cels. The high definition image also allows for new appreciation of the texture and detail in the painted backgrounds, and the film has never looked more vibrant.
The most interesting addition among the new special features is In Walt’s Words: The Envisioning of Cinderella, a feature-length audio commentary that boasts voice actors recreating meetings between Walt Disney and his story team, using official transcripts. There’s also a picture-in-picture element that showcases storyboards, concept art, original pencil animation and more, all displayed as the film plays.
Many of the extras from the Diamond Edition have been ported over to this release, with the glaring omission of deleted scenes and early recordings of songs that ultimately weren’t used in the final version of the film. For buyers trying to choose between Cinderella: Anniversary Edition and the previous Diamond Edition release, the choice really comes down what special features you’d prefer to have access to — unless you’re a collector, like myself, and don’t mind having two copies of the same film on your shelf.
See below for the full list of bonus features, and click the image to purchase Cinderella: Anniversary Edition from Amazon.
NEW BONUS
Try This Trivia on for Size –Join Ruth Righi and Ava Kolker from Disney Channel’s Sydney to the Max and put your knowledge of Cinderella to the test.
In Walt’s Words: Enhanced Edition – Watch the movie and gain some insight into its production with storyboards, archival photos, sketches and transcripts.
CLASSIC BONUS
Diane Disney Miller “Cinderella” Film Intro – In this introduction to the animated classic, Diane Disney Miller describes how Cinderella helped launch a studio renaissance.
The Real Fairy Godmother – Learn about the real-life inspiration for the Fairy Godmother: Mary Alice O’Connor, wife of Disney layout artist Ken O’Connor.
Behind the Magic: A New Disney Princess Fairyland – Discover how Imagineers created a Fantasyland at Walt Disney World featuring each of the Disney Princesses.
The Magic of the Glass Slipper – World-famous shoe designer Christian Louboutin creates a very exclusive “Glass Slipper” in honor of a beloved Disney classic.
THE ART OF CINDERELLA
Concept Art – View a gallery of concept art from the feature’s production.
Character Model Sheets – View a gallery of character model sheets from the feature’s production.
Story Sketches – View a gallery of story sketches from the feature’s production.
Live-Action Reference – View a gallery of photos taken from live-action footage shot as a reference for the animated feature.
Pencil Animation – View a gallery of pencil animation from the feature’s production.
Behind-the-Scenes Stills – View a gallery of behind-the-scenes stills from the feature’s production.
Feature Stills – View a gallery of stills from the feature.
MUSIC AND MORE
“Cinderella” Title Song
“A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes”
“Oh, Sing Sweet Nightingale”
“The Work Song”
“Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo”
“So This Is Love”