Brother Bear DVD Press Release

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Luke
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Brother Bear DVD Press Release

Post by Luke »

<center><img src="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/images/bbheader.jpg">
DISNEY’S EPIC ANIMATED ADVENTURE
On Disney DVD and VHS March 30, 2004

BROTHER BEAR
2-DISC DVD Includes Never-Before-Heard Song, Deleted Scenes,
Games, Music Videos, Hilarious Moose Commentary, Behind-The-
Scenes Featurette and Much More


Widescreen and Full Screen Both Included On DVD


(<a href="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/brotherbear.html">Read our Brother Bear DVD Review</a>)
</center>

BURBANK, Calif., December 12, 2003 – Walt Disney Home Entertainment proudly presents
BROTHER BEAR, on Disney DVD and VHS on March 30, 2004. This animated epic, filled
with comedy and breathtaking adventure, is the story of the powerful and playful bond between
brothers, and man’s bond with nature. BROTHER BEAR includes six sensational songs from
Academy Award® winner and music superstar Phil Collins (Best Song “You’ll Be In My Heart”
from “Tarzan©,” 1999). The talented voice cast includes Academy Award®-nominated actor
Joaquin Phoenix (“Gladiator,” “Signs”) and Jeremy Suarez (Jordan on TV’s “The Bernie Mac
Show”), with Rick Moranis (“Honey I Shrunk The Kids”) and Dave Thomas (TV’s “Grace
Under Fire”) as a pair of hysterically misguided moose.

On 2-Disc Disney DVD, BROTHER BEAR is loaded with bonus materials that appeal to both
the most enthusiastic animated film fan and to families who enjoy the interactive and engaging
bonus features that DVDs can provide. Included are such features as the never-before-heard
song “Fishing Song,” multiple deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes looks the movie’s art and its
filmmaking process, hilarious ‘Rutt & Tuke Commentary,’ set-top games, music video, and
more. Both the original widescreen format and a full-screen format are included. Available on
Disney DVD for $29.99 (S.R.P.) and VHS for $24.99 (S.R.P.). (Please see attached for DVD
bonus details.)
(more)

DISC ONE:
• FULL SCREEN (1.66:1) FEATURE PRESENTATION
• KODA’S OUTTAKES
• “LOOK THROUGH MY EYES” MUSIC VIDEO
• “FIND YOUR TOTEM” SET-TOP GAME
• “BONE PUZZLE” SET TOP GAME
• RUTT & TUKE’S COMMENTARY
&#56256;&#56510; Hilarious feature-length commentary from the comic moose duo.
• BEAR LEGENDS
• MAKING NOISE: THE ART OF FOLEY
• ART REVIEW
• “ON MY WAY” SING ALONG SONG

DISC TWO:
• WIDESCREEN (2.35:1) FEATURE PRESENTATION
• PATHS OF DISCOVERY: THE MAKING OF BROTHER BEAR
&#56256;&#56510; A look at the amazing creative process that goes into a Disney Animated Feature
Film. Explore story origins, character designs, production art, filmmaker
inspirations, how the music, songs and score are created, how the voices are cast,
and more.
• NEVER-BEFORE-HEARD SONG: “FISHING SONG”
• DELETED SCENES
&#56256;&#56510; Includes filmmaker introductions before each scene.
• “TRANSFORMATION” SING ALONG SONG
BROTHER BEAR’S story is told with a superb cast, terrific music and Disney’s world-famous
animation. The film follows the incredible adventures of a young man named Kenai (Joaquin
Phoenix) who is transformed into a bear. From his new perspective, Kenai discovers the world
through the eyes of another as he is befriended by a bear cub named Koda (Jeremy Suarez),
encounters a pair of misguided moose (Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas), and finds himself
pursued by his own human sibling.

D. B. Sweeney (Disney’s “Dinosaur”) is Sitka, Kenai’s oldest brother and the guardian of his
two younger siblings. Jason Raize (the original Simba in the Broadway production of “The Lion
King”) gives voice to the middle brother Denahi, Michael Clarke Duncan (Oscar® nominee, Best
Supporting Actor, “The Green Mile” 1999) lends his deep distinctive voice to a grizzly bear
named Tug, and Broadway veteran Joan Copeland provides wisdom and guidance as the voice of
Tanana, the spiritual leader of the tribe. Estelle Harris (TV’s “Seinfeld”), Greg Proops, Daniel
Mastrogiorgio and Paul Christie round out a fun cast of assorted animals that Kenai meets along
the way.

BROTHER BEAR features six outstanding songs from Academy Award® winner Phil Collins
(including a sensational performance by legendary singer Tina Turner on the Collins-composed
tune, “Great Spirits”). The Disney DVD includes the never-before-heard song “Fishing Song.”
Collins makes his scoring debut as well, working in collaboration with Grammy Award-winning
composer Mark Mancina.

The screenplay for BROTHER BEAR was written by Tab Murphy (“Tarzan©”), and Lorne
Cameron & David Hoselton, and Steve Bencich & Ron J. Friedman. Directed by Aaron Blaise
and Bob Walker.

STREET DATE: MARCH 30, 2004
Suggested Retail Price: DVD: $29.99. VHS: $24.99.
Direct Prebook: February 3, 2004
Distributor Prebook: February 17, 2004
Rated: “G”
DVD Bonus features unrated and subject to change.
Feature Run Time: Approximately 85 minutes
DVD Aspect Ratio: Full Frame 1.66:1 (formatted 16x9) and Widescreen
(2.35:1, formatted 16x9) aspect ratios both available in the
same 2-disc DVD set.
Sound: Dolby® Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
DTS 5.1 Digital Sound
French language track: Available on DVD
Spanish language track: Available on DVD

Walt Disney Home Entertainment is distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc., a
recognized industry leader. Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc. is the marketing, sales and
distribution company for Walt Disney, Touchstone, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax, Dimension
and Buena Vista videocassettes and DVDs.


<center><font size="5"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... vemz"><img src="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/images/bbcov.jpg">
<b>Preorder the Brother Bear DVD at Amazon.com</b></a>

<a href="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/brotherbear.html"><b>Read our Brother Bear DVD Review</b></a></center></font>
Last edited by Luke on Fri Apr 09, 2004 7:35 am, edited 10 times in total.
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Jake Lipson
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Post by Jake Lipson »

Hmm...these specs are a mixed bag. There are things here that sound really good, and then there are missed oppertunities. Nice to see it is getting a 2-disc set from the get go, although it doesn't sound as impressive as the previous CEs or even the upcoming Lilo & Stitch SE is rumored to be.

From the looks of it, if I want to see the entire film the way it was shown theatrically I've got to switch discs after the transformation -- it's 1.66:1 before Keani transforms and 2.35:1 afterwords. Maybe the 2.35 version has the 1.66 stuff windowboxed I hope? Oh, and since when is 1.66:1 "fullscreen?" Nice to hear we get DTS though, and a Spanish track to boot.

Looking forward to the making-of doc, Fishing Song (which was probably an early contender for the spot where Welcome ends up in the film), and the deleted scenes. Rutt and Tuke's commentary will probably be a laugh riot, but the question has to be asked: Where is the filmmaker commentary, and why in the world does Disney think an in-character moose commentary is more important?

Where are the very original, very funny trailers? Extensive gallaries? And I'm sure that their making of will be decent but it'll probably only scratch the surface of the making of a truly remarkable film.

The set sounds good but it could and should have been so much better. U hope Disney's pulling a Sleeping Beauty here (hiding commentary vs. hiding other meaty extrras.) Here's hoping. But either way, this movie is going to be mine.

But what the hell is up with that cover? It looks like the worst Disney cover in years.
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Joe Carioca
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Post by Joe Carioca »

Well, it’s nice to get back to the 2-discers, but still, it is not near what Disney used to give us. I miss the time when we had two editions – the family-friendly one and another to the Disney fans.

As I suspected, the DVD will be very similar to the “Finding Nemo” DVD. It seems to be a good DVD, but not great. Hmm, we are going to get a commentary track by the moose, but no commentary by the filmmakers? And I wonder if we are going to have the trailers.

As for the aspect ratio thing, I hope the CinemaScope version is the one seen in theaters, with the scenes when Kenai is a human in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio.
Last edited by Joe Carioca on Fri Dec 12, 2003 9:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Mermaid Kelly
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Post by Mermaid Kelly »

I think it sounds great!!!! :) I can't wait!!!!
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Joe Carioca
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Post by Joe Carioca »

Mermaid Kelly wrote:I think it sounds great!!!! :) I can't wait!!!!
Well, neither can I! I would buy it even if it had no extras... It is a great film, and I think the DVD may surprise me (I though the Finding Nemo DVD was better than I though it would be).
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Luke
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Post by Luke »

Joe Carioca wrote:As for the aspect ratio thing, I hope the CinemaScope version is the one seen in theaters, with the scenes when Kenai is a human in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio.
I don't think there is a satisfactory way of preserving that for DVD. Windowboxed 1.85:1 within 2.35:1 is the closest thing and that's a really tiny picture that way. The alternate way would be encoding 1.85:1 within the 16x9 and then shrinking down to 2.35:1...the exact opposite of the intended effect.
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Joe Carioca
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Post by Joe Carioca »

Hmm... Where is the THX certificate?! :?
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disneyfella
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Post by disneyfella »

i for one really dig the cover. i think it looks cool, but i need to see a bigger picture. the only thing that i want that isn't already on there is the theatrical trailers and filmmaker commentary.


do we know what the suspected specs will be on the lilo and stitch set? i looked in the 2004 special editions section, but was wondering if dinsey had released or there were rumored specs for an original 2 disc that was cancelled. does anyone knwo these specs?
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Post by MickeyMousePal »

I'm on my way to get Brother Bear in March!

Yes! I'm on my way :D
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Choco Bear
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Post by Choco Bear »

:D :D :D

yay!!!! wow thtas a pretty fast ummm announcment though :?

o well im so excited :D , and im pretty sure there will be more stuff and like galleries on the dvd but i doubt there will be ttrailers i mean come on they didnt do it for the lion king :roll:

is that covewr art official i think the disney logo will probably be differnt im not really a fan of the cover art, hopefully they will change it :)
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Eeyore
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Post by Eeyore »

The commentary is on the full screen? Argh. That's going to be tough to ignore, and could end up making this disk a pass for me.

Why can't they learn from Pirates? Widescreen only, and the most successful disk ever.
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Disneykid
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Post by Disneykid »

1. Wow, talk about an early press release...

2. Like most people said, great to have 2-disc back, but not like this. I don't want a Finding Nemo type DVD where one DVD's for families and one for enthusiasts. I want a meaty 2-disc in the vein of Sleeping Beauty, Atlantis, or Tarzan. Give us filmmaker commentary, hours' worth of documentaries and featurettes, extensive galleries, and trailers!

3. Though it's hard to tell from the thumbnail, I like the cover, though what's with the "Disney Classics" logo on the top? Isn't that what's on all the UK Disney discs?
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2099net
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Post by 2099net »

I can predict now, there is no way Disney will windowbox the opening of the movie on the widescreen transfer.

*Sigh* Another annoucement seemingly designed to kill the box office takings of the film.

Why can't people simply wait?
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Uncle Remus
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Post by Uncle Remus »

wow :o this DVD sounds cool. somehow i have not seen the movie yet. should i wait for it on DVD or just go see it in theaters?
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Post by PatrickvD »

this looks like a big improvement, but still not up there with Fantasia or Snowwhite. Still sounds like a cool set to own! :)
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indianajdp
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Post by indianajdp »

I'm not gonna complain ... yet. That is for another day :wink:
Just glad to see that it is a March release, is a 2-disc set and is "loaded".
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Today4U
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Post by Today4U »

I think the version on disc 2 will preserve the actual aspect ratio as seen in theaters. If you look over some of your other Disney DVDs you will find trailers for Brother Bear that do have the windowboxed 1.85:1 within 2.35:1 for the opening scenes. Granted, Brother Bear was still a work in progress, but Disney did do it. And if the version on disc one isn't actually "full screen" then that would seem to be appeasing those that want widescreen, but don't want the windowboxed 1.85:1 within 2.35:1.
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jasmine-rules
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Post by jasmine-rules »

This sounds like a great dvd!!!! I can't wait for it :D

The extras really sound interesting, but I'm wondering why disney would want to include full screen and wide screen? :? Maybe too many people are picky about which one they want. I prefer wide-screen since full screen cuts stuff out :o
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Post by jasmine-rules »

OHHH!!!!! I'm a Gold collection now :D :lol:

Sorry... that had nothing to do with the topic, but I was happy about that :)
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Post by PheR »

Oh God, I'm very very exited!!! this dvd look awezome, why is March so far way?? :lol:

an auido commentary by Rutt and Tuke!!! this will be very cool, i always wanted a comentary by timon and pumba on TLK dvd, this is so much better.
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