So now we have another collection name for Disney titles. Alice in Wonderland: Masterpiece Edition looks like it would be a Platinum edition.
What's the difference? Just marketing?

I guess it's the same difference between SE and PE

The name. That's about it. I mean, Sleeping Beauty easily could be a Platinum IMHO. I definitely think it is better than the Beauty and the Beast Platinum Edition. And Disney is going to release a Platinum of Sleeping Beauty eventually!! Who knows. All I know is that there last couple discs (SB and LK) have really impressed me.

The platinums have been color corrected and touched up frame by frame for the best image possible. I think the Masterpieces are just special editions of pretty much bare bone discs that were already released.

Not true. There was an article on an animation forum (darned if I can find it) that discussed the major restoration work on Alice in Wonderland.

And Sleeping Beauty was also touched up frame-by-frame and looks beautiful.

It's all just a matter of marketing.

The early year releases will be "Masterpiece Collection" - the Fall releases will be "Platinum Edition".

Whatever they call it, they're putting out some excellent discs. Bravo, Disney, for getting it right after a poor start.

Until 2005, when there will be "Platinum Editions" in both March and October. Of course, it all seems immaterial the way Disney downplays the "Platinum" name and advertises them all as simply "Special Edition."

LBPound, I was hoping you'd weigh-in.

I know they'll be releasing Platinum series discs twice a year come 2005, but won't they still have another line of SEs (like Alice in Wonderland or Sleeping Beauty) that are fine special editions in their own right but for whatever reason aren't their "cream of the crop" Platinum Edition discs?

I suppose not every Disney film would qualify as a "Masterpiece".

Yeah, I guess. I don't know if the "Masterpiece Edition" is a name that is going to stick. Probably not, but I think if they sell well - we'll probably see similar releases for things like Hercules, Mulan, Hunchback, etc...that aren't part of the growing "Platinum" line.

Their naming has kind of become irrelevant, with a non-Platinum release like "Sleeping Beauty" pretty much topping the "cream of the crop" Lion King Platinum in terms of content.

I remembered this thread when I noticed that there are now three other "Masterpiece Edition" 2-disc titles announced for 2004:

Mary Poppins
Pocahontas
Lilo & Stitch

I think the last two are pushing the word "Masterpiece" but I may double-dip on the Mary Poppins - the Gold Collection disc was very good, but if they include compelling supplements (like a newly produced documentary) it may be worth the upgrade.

Those have all been delayed from whatever the hell their original dates were supposed to be (I'm sure someone will have the new dates)

At least 2 of the 3 were pushed back by Disney. Marry Poppin will be release when the Princess Diaries 2 goes to theaters and Lilo and Stitch is going to be released the week Lilo and Stitch 2 premiers in theaters

Well, even if they're not coming in 2004, it seems fair to say that Disney *will* be re-using the "Masterpiece" label - rather than just using it as a one-time thing for the AiW set as was previously thought.

The Alladin PE is officially announced over at:
http://www.thedigitalbits.com

What's the difference?

Easy - the amount of disappointment on the Platinums.

I haven't really been disappointed by the Platinum series discs so far, although if you count all of Disney's animated 2-disc SEs since Snow White, I think Sleeping Beauty, a non-Platinum or Masterpiece disc outshines them all.

The Alice in Wonderland set is nice, but it would have been nicer with some newly produced features. The Lion King's special features are mostly promotional - ditto with Beauty and the Beast - but at least they all have offered excellent quality transfers and sound.

I've been very pleased with how Disney has stepped up to the plate with some of these releases. It's too bad the quality isn't consistent across the board, but show me a company (besides Criterion) who has shown consistency?

oh, come on - a PLATINUM DVD (hyped by Disney, I believe, as the definitive DVD to "archive their timeless classics") should offer much more than good sound and picture.

I'm surprised at so many people being happy with the Aladdin specs that were just released. People have even said that Aladdin will be great if it only has good sound and video.

WTF?

SE, PE, UE, CE, ME...

"Give it a name..."

It seems that unless the film had Walt Disney personally involved with it, there is more fluff than substance in extras.

jough pointed out something
Out of the three Platinum titles thus far, Walt was only involved in Snow White, and he was involved in Sleeping Beauty.

Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not.

Whether or not a disc is Platinum, Masterpiece or Special does not mean different quality of transfers or extras.

The Platinum edition label is only reserved for the top ten grossing Disney animated films of all time and here is a tentative release schedule:
Aladdin - Oct 2004
Cinderella - March 2005
The Little Mermaid - Oct 2005
Bambi - Mar 2006
The Jungle Book - Oct 2006
Lady and the Tramp - Mar 2007
101 Dalmatians - Oct 2007

The Masterpiece and Special editions are for lower grossing animated features.
Sleeping Beauty, Alice In Wonderland, and later this year Pocahontas and Lilo & Stitch.
(I would also expect Pinnochio, Mulan, Hercules, Peter Pan and such to receive the Masterpiece/Special Edition treatment.)

They are just labels which have no effect on the quality of the presentation.


Everything you need to know is all here:

http://www.ultimatedisney.com/releasetypes.htm

Believe it or not, some people care more about the movie then the features.

what? people can't have their opinion of things? i for one, don't really care about extras.

Believe it or not, it's not 1998 anymore, and a good DVD release requires more than just good picture and sound, especially for a so-called "Platinum Series" Disney DVD.

But you're welcome to your own opinion, as am I.

Disney devises all these names to get us suckers to collect them all, and it works most of the time.

Serious, it's mostly the upgraded presentation and extras that get us suckers to buy, rebuy and rebuy.

I was going to say the same thing. The Platinum titles have been planned for quite a while now. Any future titles that don't fall here will probably be released as a 2-disc SE called a "Masterpiece" title. I recently read that Lion King 2 is now being re-released as a 2-disc SE - I'm guessing it will bear the title "Masterpiece" edition.

Incorrect.