Walt Disney Classics

The **Walt Disney Classics** were a series of VHS releases of Disney animated features that spanned from 1984, with its very first release being *Robin Hood*, to 1994, with *The Fox and the Hound*; VCDs of this series were released from 1998 to 2003. Many Disney animated features made their home video debuts through this series. It is often referred to by fans as the "Black Diamond" collection, referring to the shape of the black diamond-shaped "Classics" logo seen on the spine of each video's case and at the beginning of each tape.

Although the series initially consisted entirely of older Disney animated features from before the mid-1970s, the success of *An American Tale* led to more then-recent films being released as part of the collection.

## History

Walt Disney Home Video released the Classics line in 1984 to release their animated films on home video in a brand name. After Walt Disney's death, then-current Disney CEO Ron Miller had plans to release their animated classics on home video in 1983. The older Disney executives still believed that releasing their animated films on home video would be a little bit risky, despite having released *The Secret of NIMH*, *Pete's Dragon*, *Dumbo*, *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory*, *Alice in Wonderland*, *Fun and Fancy Free*, and *The Three Caballeros* on home video around the early 1980s. The "untouchable" Disney Classics were usually re-released in theaters around 7-10 years. And the executives thought that if they had the film on videocassette already, they would not go to the movie theater to see it anymore. Plus, it would gamble away from future theatrical revenue.

But by 1984, Walt Disney Home Video was getting increasingly popular, so they decided to release *Robin Hood* on home video to begin their new Classics line. It was chosen because *Robin Hood* wasn't one of the more popular Disney animated classics at the time, so it wouldn't be too much of a risk to release it on home video. *Robin Hood* was released with a suggested retail price of $79.95 on VHS and Betamax and $34.95 on Laserdisc. The tape was also part of Disney's wrap and ready-to-give promotion, since it was released a few weeks before Christmas Day. The release of *Robin Hood* was a big success, eventually becoming one of the best-selling home video titles in 1984.

## Releases

* *Robin Hood* (first release; 1984)
* *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory* (1985)
* *The Wizard of Oz* (1985)
* *Pinocchio* (1985)
* *Charlotte's Web* (1985)
* *Dumbo* (1985)
* *The Mickey and Minnie Mouse/Road Runner Movie* (1986)
* *The Sword in the Stone* (1986)
* *Alice in Wonderland* (1986)
* *Singin' in the Rain* (1986)
* *Sleeping Beauty* (1986)
* *Fun and Fancy Free* (1987)
* *The Three Caballeros* (1987)
* *An American Tale* (1987)
* *The Nutcracker* (1987)
* *The Looney Looney Looney Mickey and Minnie Mouse Movie* (1988)
* *The Swan Princess* (1988)
* *Oliver Twist* (1988)
* *Heidi* (1988)
* *Cinderella* (1988)
* *Headin' South* (1989)
* *The Phantom Tollbooth* (1989)
* *The Land Before Time* (1989)
* *Oliver & Company* (1989)
* *Bambi* (1989)
* *Banjo the Woodpile Cat* (1990)
* *The Little Mermaid* (1990)
* *Mickey and Minnie's 3rd Movie: 1001 Looney Tales* (1990)
* *Peter Pan* (1990)
* *Lady and the Tramp* (1990)
* *Babes in Toyland* (1990)
* *Little Orphan Annie* (1991)
* *The Jungle Book* (1991)
* *The Witches* (1991)
* *The Secret of NIMH* (1991)
* *Rock-a-Doodle* (1991)
* *The Wind in the Willows* (1992)
* *One Hundred and One Dalmatians* (1992)
* *Beauty and the Beast* (1992)
* *The Great Mouse Detective* (1992)
* *Burro* (1992)
* *The Rescuers* (1992)
* *An American Tale: Anne-Marie Goes West* (1992)
* *Thumbelina* (1993)
* *Cinderella: A Twist in Time* (1993)
* *Gay Purr-ee* (1993)
* *Aladdin* (1993)
* *Mary Jane and Sniffles* (1994)
* *The Fox and the Hound* (final release; 1994)