What’s with Pixar’s Blu-ray releases?

[jaw04005]

So, just got back from Target where I bought Toy Story and Toy Story 2 on Blu-ray for $15.98 total ($10 off Target bundle promo, $20 off in Disney coupons).

But I noticed both Blu-ray releases were pretty meager. As far as I can tell, there’s very little that’s new with the Blu-ray. Most of the extras are in SD and just copied over from the original DVD.

Also, there’s no digital copy and this is the first Pixar disc I’ve bought without a slip cover, which is just odd. So I decided to go back through all the Pixar Blu-ray discs that I own and realized that the materials included vary widely between releases.

[Edit: See chart below]

What’s the deal? I’m surprised their releases are not treated equally.

Monster’s Inc and UP got it right — include an additional Blu-ray disc with exclusive features, a DVD version and a Digital Copy. Especially, if the list price of your Blu-ray disc is $39.99+.

 

[GoCubsGo]

I agree that it is odd, what is more odd is the fact that you can get the DVD combo pack in a blue or yellow case. Yellow is SD DVD size and the blue case is BR. I hear there's another black case as well, but I didn't see it.

At the end of the day I paid what you paid for the BRs and I'm happy. I don't watch much exclusive content anyway.

 

[jaw04005]

I agree that it is odd, what is more odd is the fact that you can get the DVD combo pack in a blue or yellow case. Yellow is SD DVD size and the blue case is BR. I hear there's another black case as well, but I didn't see it.

At the end of the day I paid what you paid for the BRs and I'm happy. I don't watch much exclusive content anyway.

Did yours come with a slipcover? All of the Blu-ray packaging was just in plastic wrap at my Target store.

Obviously, I got a great deal on them. But for Pixar’s signature film the packaging feels kind of cheap.

 

[musicman0725]

Slipcovers

Did yours come with a slipcover? All of the Blu-ray packaging was just in plastic wrap at my Target store.

Obviously, I got a great deal on them. But for Pixar’s signature film the packaging feels kind of cheap.

I got mine at Target (same deal that you got with the manufacturers coupons) and was able to get slipcovers for both Toy Story and Toy Story 2. It's was a great deal (especially if you consider the free movie tickets to Toy Story 3 that are included if you enter the disney movie rewards code). They had a bunch of copies with the slipcovers at my Target, but I've heard some Targets just throw the slipcovers away!

 

[albusseverus]

Maybe Disney is going to try to break Gladiator's record of 3 (ever improving, apparently) BD releases in the space of a year. Disney is known for its 'limited availability', artificial scarcity, premium pricing marketing campaigns.

Stay tuned for Special Editions, Anniversary Editions, partial 3D remasters (Alice?), full 3D remasters, and so forth.

There are few good quality Blu-ray releases at this stage. Much like DVD, there was a rush to make content available, and only later on did proper remasters appear. Certainly there were DVDs made from VHS masters ('Four Weddings and a Funeral" was a well known example, no one could buy the rights to a 16:9 transfer, much less a DVD quality transfer). There are definitely BDs made from DVD masters.

Cynicism on the part of studios or distributors perhaps—lacklustre initial release, then newly remastered or whatever, like the Superbit DVDs. "Or if you'd like to buy a good quality transfer, pay us more money…" There aren't many Blu-rays utilising the full dual layer 50GB capacity. Coming soon…

 

[jaw04005]

I got mine at Target (same deal that you got with the manufacturers coupons) and was able to get slipcovers for both Toy Story and Toy Story 2. It's was a great deal (especially if you consider the free movie tickets to Toy Story 3 that are included if you enter the disney movie rewards code). They had a bunch of copies with the slipcovers at my Target, but I've heard some Targets just throw the slipcovers away!

Yeah, so I went back to Target last night and talked to the electronics asst. department manager. He explained to me that they get rid of the slip covers because with them on they don’t fit in their security cases.

He said no one had ever asked about them before that he knew of. I took a copy of UP in with me with the slip cover and explained to him that they’re throwing away part of the product and that some of the technical information including how the audio and video were encoded for the bonus stuff and which subtitles are included are usually only on the slipcover in a chart (it may on the case too, but if it is it’s usually in tiny print).

Also, I showed him that the system requirements for you Blu-ray player (like hard drive space) are also on the slipcover for stuff like BD-Live. And explained to him that for some Disney discs they’re also collector’s items because they’re different at certain retailers.

He seemed stunned and said he would discuss it with his managers. So, maybe they’ll stop it. The discs come with a theft protection RFID anyway.

 

[Phantom Gremlin]

He seemed stunned and said he would discuss it with his managers. So, maybe they’ll stop it. The discs come with a theft protection RFID anyway.

I wish you luck, but I doubt that enlightening one assistant manager will get Target to change their corporate policies.

The only way to "win" is not to play the game. I haven't bought any Blu-Ray discs yet and every time I read stories like this I become more and more reluctant to jump in. You're paying a premium price; you should expect/demand a premium product. Vote with your wallet if you aren't getting what you paid for.

Besides, it's not like my kids care about the "quality" of what they're watching. SD is just fine. Blu-ray transcoded to play on an iPod touch doesn't need a pristine starting transfer.

 

[andrew0122]

My THEORY!

This is just my theory and I have no proof to back it up, but it does make since if you just hear me out:

Pixar is very exclusive in the way that they release their content. Point in case last year they "re"released many of their titles in a Steelbook format that have an extra bonus content disks and usually a digital copy. See This site for the FutureShop releases last year of STEELBOOK blu-ray. All of these Disney / Pixar are considered more than standard Blu-Ray's. Why would they release a standard Blu-Ray then a few months later a premium STEELBOOK. Easy PEOPLE WILL BUY IT. I know I bought Wall-e when it first came out then again after the STEELBOOK release because I felt it was a great case. Perfect possible example I am predicting that the Toy Story 1 and 2 were released before the movie to raise excitement about the upcoming 3 Toy Story. Then when the 3rd movie is ready for DVD/ Blu-Ray release (JUST in time for this holiday season) you will have the STEELBOOK version from FutureShop released for all 3 movies.

AGAIN JUST MY PREDICTION, but based off of the past releases it makes sense.

 

[andrew0122]

Yeah, so I went back to Target last night and talked to the electronics asst. department manager. He explained to me that they get rid of the slip covers because with them on they don’t fit in their security cases.

He said no one had ever asked about them before that he knew of. I took a copy of UP in with me with the slip cover and explained to him that they’re throwing away part of the product and that some of the technical information including how the audio and video were encoded for the bonus stuff and which subtitles are included are usually only on the slipcover in a chart (it may on the case too, but if it is it’s usually in tiny print).

Also, I showed him that the system requirements for you Blu-ray player (like hard drive space) are also on the slipcover for stuff like BD-Live. And explained to him that for some Disney discs they’re also collector’s items because they’re different at certain retailers.

He seemed stunned and said he would discuss it with his managers. So, maybe they’ll stop it. The discs come with a theft protection RFID anyway.

FUNNY, I actually work in the electronics department at Target (And no I'm not lying) and we just leave the slip covers on. They do fit in the new cases, they are just a pain in the butt to get out of the case, but it is possible! If you are truly a collector you need to look at the FutureShop releases, they really are a superior case. You can find them online or at Best Buy. Typically for $34.99 each here. Bust Buy will typically have a really good preorder program where you can go and reserve a copy for $7.50 and you get the STEELBOOK that day then when you go to pick up the BD they take the $7.50 off of the price of the BD. (They also accept the Disney Movie Reward coupons!)

 

[eleven59]

got mine at target both with the slipcase (which i promptly threw away upon opening as usual)... sadly i didnt even notice i had grabbed the big arse dvd case version as thats all that was left... wish they had one version for bluray and digital copy!

 

[mcdermd]

My wife picked up the TS1 & 2 at Target this week also. They came in a big DVD case instead of a BRD case. What's up with that?