Buena Vista Dresses Up 'Pocahontas'

A new song crooned by Mel Gibson is among the features on Buena Vista Home Entertainment’s Pocahontas: 10th Anniversary Edition DVD ($29.99), bowing May 3 (prebook March 8).

The set contains both the theatrical and the special-edition film releases, with Gibson singing the new song “If I Never Knew You.” It also features the new game “Follow Your Heart” and a new “Disney’s Art Project,” in which viewers can create a drum and a dreamcatcher. Another new element is “The Making of Pocahontas.”

Pocahontas was last released June 6, 2000 as part of the Gold Collection. “Retailers shouldn’t already have it [on DVD],” said Lori MacPherson, Buena Vista’s VP of brand marketing. “There aren’t a huge number of DVD copies out there.”

Contrary to his tough guy image, MacPherson said, Gibson is a great singer. His rendition with animation was cut from the original theatrical release when the creators decided to take the story in a different direction.

“Who knew? That is not what he is known for,” MacPherson said. “It is a great song, and he gives a great performance.”

She said this would probably be the last hurrah for Pocahontas on conventional DVD, with future editions earmarked for high-definition release.

The film won Academy Awards for best song (“Colors of the Wind”) and best original score.

Last I read, his voice was the reason the song was cut from the film.

but will it have a slip cover?

IIRC the original gold edition has excessive amount of film grains. Hopefully it will be 're-mastered'.

That grain was so bad that this could be one time where the bootleg is a better product that the studio dvd.

as both wm lopez and eau have pointed out, I thought the grain and video transfer of the first edition of Pocohontas was Disney's worst looking DVD by far.

Owning both the Special Edition laserdisc box set, I'd be very interested in knowing what if anything will get ported over to the DVD edition.

I also own the DTS laserdisc also and it's definately the best sounding version. The uncompressed 5.1 soundmix is simply breathtaking. The dynamics of the orchestral music swells add considerable power and highly benefits the film's stylistic animation and story (notably during the sad obtuse ending). I'm sure DTS will not be an option on the upcoming DVD special edition... oh well.

Sounds cool

I've been waiting for this one for a long time!

Now all we need is special editions of The Little Mermaid, Rescurers Down Under & The Great Mouse Detective and we'll be set!

Pics from ultimatedisney.com

I'm not sure if it will truly be Mel singing alone. In other words, for the other song when he sung lines in (Mine, Mine, Mine I think), they had a pro singer sing it as well, then they "mixed" their voices so Mel's would sound better.