Final Yamato (1992 USA VHS)

In 1992, Buena Vista Home Video, in collaboration with Streamline Pictures released the extended 70mm cut of the influential anime film *Final Yamato* for the first time ever on home video. While the release wasn't promoted on TV and only tested in a few markets due to the niche audience anime had in the early 90s, the release was distributed at DragonCon 1992, where its dub received a notably positive reception from anime fans and western animation fans alike - persuading Disney to look further into anime dubs that retained the faithful nature of their *Final Yamato* dub.

Uniquely for a Disney tape, this was the only release ever put out by them to feature the film on two tapes, due to the 70mm film's length (it was, and still is, the longest animated film ever released). Special "End of Tape 1" and "Tape 2" bumpers were made to accommodate this; these bumpers featured an orchestral brass fanfare (from the same composer as *Fanfare to the Modern Man 3;* this can be heard here) with the text in a Laser LET font on a unique, dark purple gradient background. Text at the bottom reads "C1992 BUENA VISTA HOME VIDEO"; this was one of the only Buena Vista Home Video releases to include the Laser LET bumpers, as the majority simply either had no trailers or used the blue text bumpers. All bumpers on this tape feature the deep-voiced, unknown announcer heard on the 1992 VHS of *Father of the Bride*.

*Final Yamato* was the first acquired Disney release - and first Disney tape in general - to include THX certification, ensuring better sound and featuring a trailer before the start of the film. This tape featured the "LUCASFILM LTD SOUND SYSTEM" version of the Broadway trailer. The demo release lacked this trailer.

Early releases of the tape retained the "end of tape" bumpers and THX trailer but only contained the trailer for *Aladdin* at the start, along with the rare 1992 BVHV logo and with the dark green video dealer announcement following the FBI screens that didn't appear on later printings. The demo / screener releases lacked the end of tape bumpers entirely, but included some interesting video errors and bumpers...

## Opening (Demo VHS)

- Green FBI warning screens (which slideshow on this release!)

- Demo trailer for *Final Yamato* emphasizing the limited issue nature of the release, and advertising the test release date (May 27th, 1992)

- Demo warning screen (on a black background, announcer says "You are now about to watch the 70mm director's cut of *Final Yamato* for the first time on videocassette. Please do not distribute this VHS anywhere; this is a demo release and should be used for screener purposes only. And now our feature presentation." Scrolling text displays what the announcer says.)

- 1986 Walt Disney Home Video logo (shortened, w/ alternate music... despite being a BVHV release)

- Streamline Pictures logo

- Start of film

## Opening (Tape 1)

- Green FBI warning screens

- Buena Vista Home Video castle logo

- "Coming Only to Theaters This 1992 Holiday Season" bumper (announcer says: "Walt Disney Pictures is proud to present a preview of their newest animated classic, coming to theaters this 1992 holiday season.")

- Trailer #2 for *Aladdin*

- "Coming to Videocassette" bumper (Laser LET version w/ the audio from the *Father of the Bride* 1992 VHS, complete with low-pitched "Great Ovation")

- Video trailer for *Kiki’s Delivery Service* (a fake Streamline dub)

- "Coming from Hollywood Pictures Home Video" bumper

- Video trailer for *Medicine Man*

- "Special Previews After the Feature from Buena Vista Home Video" (Laser LET version, but with the same audio as before)

- "Feature Presentation" (Laser LET w/ deep announcer)

- THX Broadway trailer

- Buena Vista Home Video castle logo (again, but silent this time and with "presents" under it in the same font as the WDHV version... fades to "in association with" in the aforementioned font)

- Streamline Pictures logo

- First 75 minutes of *Final Yamato*

## Opening (Tape 2)

- Green FBI warning screens (again)

- "Tape 2" bumper

- Last 60 minutes of *Final Yamato*

## Closing (Tape 2)

- (Over the credits, shortened to 2 minutes on this release, announcer says the following at 30 second intervals:

"We hope you've enjoyed our feature presentation. We invite you to stay tuned for a look at some exciting new video releases, that you won't want to miss."

"Here's something new and different from Buena Vista Home Video. Stay tuned for a special sneak preview."

"And now, here's some special new releases, that you'll want to be sure to add to your home video collection.")

- "Now from Buena Vista Home Video" bumper

- Video trailer for *Simply Mad About the Mouse*

- "Also From Walt Disney Home Video" bumper (w/ "Pageantry 6" in the background, announcer says: "Don't miss these new releases from Walt Disney Home Video.")

- Video trailer for *101 Dalmatians*

- Video trailer for *The Rocketeer*

- Copyright screen ("C1992 BUENA VISTA HOME VIDEO" with announcer saying: "Thanks for purchasing or renting *Final Yamato*. We hope you enjoy any videos previewed on this tape.")