Pinocchio 70th AE (US BD) in March

[John Johnson]

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment have announced the US Blu-ray Disc release of Pinocchio: 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition on 10th March 2009 priced at $35.99 SRP. Walt Disney’s second animated feature is also the second Disney animated classic to arrive in high-definition on Blu-ray Disc. Pinocchio breaks free of the Disney vault for a limited time with this release that sees the classic story of magic, adventure and loyalty newly restored and remastered.

The 2-Disc Blu-ray Disc includes all of the DVD special features plus a host of Disney BD-Live Network features. Also included is a bonus standard definition DVD of the film in the same package, aimed at those who are yet to upgrade to high-definition so they can enjoy the film on DVD while they prepare to move to Blu-ray. It should also come in handy for loaning to friends or for the kids to use.

Region coding is TBC. Features are detailed below…

Disc 1: Main Feature


1080P 1.33:1 Full Screen

Up to 7.1 HD Sound

Cine Explore – No specifics have been provided but we expect this to feature the following content from the DVD (and probably more):
-- Pinocchio’s Matter of Facts - - Learn fun facts about Pinocchio and other related subjects as you watch the movie.
-- Audio Commentary -- An all-new audio commentary with Leonard Maltin, Eric Goldberg and J. B. Kaufman.
-- Disney Song Selection -- Select this option to sing along with favorite songs as the lyrics appear onscreen.

Disney BD-Live Network – The Disney BD-Live Network is just one of the many ways movie lovers, families, and loved ones can continue to stay connected and engage in their favorite movies.
-- Movie Chat – Communicate with your remote friends on-screen while in a synchronized viewing party using your remote control or any text enabled device such as a laptop, desk top or any PDA device such as a Blackberry, iPhone or most other regular cell phones. Your chat session will appear over the movie and occur in real-time while watching the movie together.
-- Movie Mail – Blu-ray owners will be able to record a personalized video message of themselves, superimpose that capture onto one of many pre-selected clips of the movie, and send it off to a friend, colleague, or relative. This specific feature enables Pinocchio Blu-ray Disc owner to personalize a very special greeting as never before.
-- Movie Challenge – Users will be able to test their skills against other players in a synchronized, real-time, online trivia game while watching Pinocchio with anyone online. Movie Challenge is always active no matter what time of the day it is, and there will always be a game in progress.
-- Disney Movie Rewards Live – Pinocchio Blu-ray owners will be able to accumulate Disney Movie Reward Points by participating in many Disney BD-Live Network activities. In return, viewers can redeem points for exclusive content such as Avatars, downloadable extras and many more exciting possibilities.

Disc 2: Extra Features

BD Exclusive: Pinocchio Knows Trivia Challenge

No Strings Attached: The Making of Pinocchio - - Witness the behind-the scenes magic that transformed Carlo Collodi’s popular book into a classic animated film.

Deleted Scenes --
-- The Story of the Grandfather Tree - - Kindly Geppetto tells Pinocchio about the Great Pine Tree from which Pinocchio is descended.
-- In The Belly Of The Whale - - The most elaborate of Pinocchio’s deleted scenes that remain in the Disney Archives, these recently discovered storyboards reveal a different version of Geppetto inside Monstro.

Alternate Ending - - A recently uncovered set of small storyboard panels reveal plans for a different version of Pinocchio becoming a real boy.

The Sweat Box - - The Sweatbox was a small projection room at the Disney studio where Walt critiqued story reels, rough animation, and dailies of films in progress with his anxious artists. This piece traces the history of the Sweatbox and brings to life this important part of Walt Disney’s artistic process.

Live Action Reference Footage

Pinocchio Art Galleries

Deleted Songs - - An audio collection of period “pop” recordings of songs that not used in the final film.

Pinocchio Puzzles - - Hosted by Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio’s Puzzles is a multi-tiered Puzzle game that contains six unique wooden puzzles for the viewer to assemble. Each puzzle forms an image from the film that comes to life once they are complete.

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