Disney is planning to spread more Blu-ray cheer this year. The House of Mouse just announced plans to release 30 of its classic films on Blu-ray before the end of 2012.
Before you start thinking about rounding out your animation collection, know that most of the new releases will be live-action films (there are some cartoons in there, though). However, Disney says that all 30 of the films will be digitally remastered, with a high-def picture and sound to match.
Disney actually launched this yearlong campaign back in January, with Blu-ray releases for Good Morning, Vietnam and Dead Poets Society.
In May, Disney will celebrate a slew of film anniversaries. Expect to see Father of the Bride and Bringing Down the House on May 15, 2012. The following month, The Color of Money, Cocktail and Ransom will hit shelves on June 5, with Sister Act and Evita arriving on June 19. On July 3, the summer will wind down with July 3 releases of The Horse Whisperer, Under the Tuscan Sun, Phenomenon, Step Up, Home On The Range and Treasure Planet.
From there, Disney is planning a ton of fall Blu-ray releases, even though dates have not yet been announced. Titles to expect include Adventures in Babysitting, Grosse Pointe Blank, Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, The Rescuers, High Fidelity, Ed Wood, Judge Dredd, Ghost of the Abyss 3D, Lady And The Tramp 2: Scamp's Adventure, Pocahontas, The Tigger Movie, The Aristocats and Pete's Dragon.
Around the time that you start shoveling Halloween candy, Disney will start rolling out more titles through the holiday season. Again, no dates have been announced, but the titles will include Hocus Pocus, Arachnophobia, The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, Son of Flubber, Cold Creek Manor, The Santa Clause Trilogy, The Absent-Minded Professor, Flubber, While You Were Sleeping, Sweet Home Alabama, Beaches, Babes in Toyland, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Brother Bear and Dick Tracy.
"We receive many requests and comments from consumers seeking specific titles they'd like to own on Blu-ray and, as such, we carefully selected a number of popular films that will satisfy demand from fans worldwide," said Lori MacPherson, executive VP of product management for The Walt Disney Studios. "As we grow our Blu-ray catalog we will continue to utilize the best technologies to provide the most pristine and immersive in-home experience of our films."
According to Disney, Blu-ray disc sales totaled more than $2 billion in 2011. The studio certainly got a hearty piece of that pie, with 2011 Blu-ray releases of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, The Lion King, Cars 2, Tangled, and more.
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