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{{Short description|Series of VHS releases of Disney movies}}
{{Distinguish|Walt Disney Classics Collection|List of Walt Disney Animation Studios films}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
[[File:Waltdisneytheclassics1984.jpg|thumb|The first logo of Walt Disney Classics, from 1984 to 1988]]
'''Walt Disney Classics''' (also known as '''The Classics from Walt Disney Home Video''' and Disney's '''Black Diamond''' edition) was a video line launched by [[Walt Disney Telecommunications and Non-Theatrical Company|WDTNT]] to release [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Disney animated features]] on home video.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lizardi |first1=Ryan |title=Nostalgic Generations and Media: Perception of Time and Available Meaning |date=2017 |publisher=Lexington Books |isbn=9781498542036 |page=86 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EysnDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22walt+disney+classics%22+vhs&pg=PA86 |access-date=May 20, 2020}}</ref> The first title in the "Classics" line was ''[[Robin Hood (1973 film)|Robin Hood]]'' which was released towards the end of 1984. This was followed by 19 other titles until early 1994, with ''[[The Fox and the Hound]]''. Disney followed up on the "Classics" series by porting over the released titles (except ''[[Pinocchio (1940 film)|Pinocchio]]'', ''[[Fantasia (1940 film)|Fantasia]]'', ''[[The Fox and the Hound]]'', ''[[The Great Mouse Detective]]'', ''[[The Rescuers Down Under]]'', ''[[Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]'', and ''[[Aladdin (1992 Disney film)|Aladdin]]'')<ref>''Fantasia'', ''The Great Mouse Detective'', ''Beauty and the Beast'', and ''Aladdin'' did not even enter the Gold Classic Collection line, with the latter three films directly receiving Special Edition releases on VHS and DVD in 2002 and 2004 respectively instead. Also, ''The Great Mouse Detective'' received a restored VHS release in 1999 which was intended to be part of the Masterpiece Collection line, but those plans had been scrapped as a result of the line's discontinuation that year and the VHS ended up being a standalone release.</ref> to the "Masterpiece Collection" line, while continuing to use the "Classics" moniker in countries outside North America until 2007. Starting in the 2010s these videocassettes also dubbed "Black Diamond" became highly sought-after due to a public misconception about their rarity and actual value.
==Background==
{{Main|Walt Disney Home Video (VHS)}}
In 1980, Disney established its own video distribution operation as part of Walt Disney Telecommunications and Non-Theatrical Company (WDTNT) with Jim Jimirro as its first president.<ref>{{cite web |title=Oral History Collection – James P. Jimirro |url=https://www.cablecenter.org/education/library/oralHistoryDetails.cfm?id=233 |last=Froke |first=Marlowe |publisher=The Cable Center |date=December 12, 1989 |format=Interview transcript |access-date=September 19, 2006 }}</ref> Home video was not considered to be a major market by Disney at the time. WDTNT Co. also handled marketing of other miscellaneous ancillary items such as short [[8 mm film]]s for home movies. Disney's first releases on videotape were 13 titles that were licensed for rental to [[Fotomat]] on March 4, 1980.<ref>{{cite news |title=Walt Disney – Fotomat Announce Video Tape Programming Pact |publisher=Dow Jones News Service – Ticker |date=March 3, 1980 }}</ref> This first group of titles on VHS marketed under the '''Walt Disney Home Video''' brand included 10 live action movies and 3 compilations of short cartoons: ''[[Pete's Dragon (1977 film)|Pete's Dragon]]'', ''[[The Black Hole (1979 film)|The Black Hole]]'', ''[[The Love Bug]]'', ''[[Escape to Witch Mountain (1975 film)|Escape to Witch Mountain]]'', ''[[Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier (film)|Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier]]'', ''[[20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954 film)|20,000 Leagues Under the Sea]]'', ''[[Bedknobs and Broomsticks]]'', ''[[The North Avenue Irregulars]]'', ''[[The Apple Dumpling Gang (film)|The Apple Dumpling Gang]]'', ''[[Hot Lead and Cold Feet]]'', ''On Vacation with Mickey Mouse and Friends'', ''Kids is Kids starring Donald Duck'', ''Adventures of Chip 'n' Dale.'' Numerous other titles and re-releases were released at later dates throughout the early 1980s. These all came in a white clam-shell case which gave a distinctive appearance.
==
The first two movies released through video cassette that Disney would later call a "classic" was ''[[Dumbo]]'' and ''[[Alice in Wonderland (1951 film)|Alice in Wonderland]]'' in June 1981.<ref name="BB01301982">{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FSQEAAAAMBAJ&q=dumbo+videocassette+billboard&pg=PA1937 |title=New on the Charts |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |volume=94 |issue=43 |page=33 |date=October 30, 1982 |access-date=September 25, 2019 |via=[[Google Books]] |archive-date=April 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408155819/https://books.google.com/books?id=FSQEAAAAMBAJ&q=dumbo+videocassette+billboard&pg=PA1937 |url-status=live }}</ref> Initially released as "rental only" titles, both movies were later made available for sale. Dumbo was released sometime in early 1982, and Alice in Wonderland was released later that same year in November.<ref name="BB01301982"/><ref name="CB09041982">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1982/CB-1982-09-04.pdf|title=Video|magazine=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]|date=September 4, 1982|volume=44|issue=15|page=27}}</ref> Aside from these two titles, Disney was initially reluctant to release 15 specific feature length videos which executives referred to as "untouchables".<ref name="BB12031984">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1984/BB-1984-10-13.pdf|title=Disney Video Bows "Classics"|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=December 3, 1984|volume=96|issue=41|page=3 & 78|quote=Initial order date will be Nov. 15, while the title will ship to distributors on Dec. 3 and retailers three days later.}}</ref> This later changed when [[Michael Eisner]] became the [[chief executive officer]] (CEO) of [[The Walt Disney Company]] in September 1984. When Eisner saw a "big-screen version" of Pinocchio in theaters at the end of 1984, he decided to pilot a video cassette launch.<ref name="Eisner">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SunHELRB7SsC&dq=disney+feature+films+lost+revenue+video+cassette&pg=PA205|title=The Profit Zone: How Strategic Business Design Will Lead You to Tomorrow's Profits|author=Adrian J. Slywotzky, David J. Morrison, Bob Andelman|publisher=Crown|year=2007|page=204-205|isbn=978-0-307-42230-9 }}</ref> According to [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard magazine]], the release of Robin Hood on December 3, 1984 was "relatively unexpected".<ref name="BB12031984"/> Disney gave the program "a relatively short pre-order period", and was confident that a seven-year theatrical release cycle could co-exist with home media.<ref name="BB12031984"/>
The Walt Disney classics include 15 animated feature films – ''[[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)|Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs]]'', ''[[Pinocchio (1940 film)|Pinocchio]]'', ''[[Fantasia (1940 film)|Fantasia]]'', ''[[Bambi]]'', ''[[Cinderella (1950 film)|Cinderella]]'', ''[[Peter Pan (1953 film)|Peter Pan]]'', ''[[Lady and the Tramp]]'', ''[[Sleeping Beauty (1959 film)|Sleeping Beauty]]'', ''[[One Hundred and One Dalmatians|101 Dalmatians]]'', ''[[The Sword in the Stone (1963 film)|The Sword in the Stone]]'', ''[[The Jungle Book (1967 film)|The Jungle Book]]'', ''[[The Aristocats]]'', ''[[Robin Hood (1973 film)|Robin Hood]]'', ''[[The Rescuers]]'', and ''[[The Fox and the Hound]]'' – which had only been shown at theaters, not television or any other format (except for ''The Sword in the Stone'', which aired on television in 1985 for the first time).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nickandmore.com/kids-tv-history/list-of-movies-aired-on-disney-channel/|title = List of movies aired on Disney Channel – Nickandmore!}}</ref>
By the time the Masterpiece Collection replaced the Classics collection in the domestic market, ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'' and ''The Aristocats'' were the only two of the original 15 classics (and in fact, the sole two pre-1985 single-narrative animated features) that had not yet been released to video or shown on television.
==North American releases==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! {{Abbr|No.|number}}
! width=10%| Release Date
! Title
! Initial cost ([[United States dollar|USD]])
! Copies sold<br>(Domestic){{efn|Unless noted otherwise, these figures are limited to first VHS releases.}}
! Short summary
|-
| 1
| December 3, 1984<ref name="BB12031984"/>
| ''[[Robin Hood (1973 film)|Robin Hood]]''
| {{center|$79.95<ref name="RHC">{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2194&dat=19841204&id=bu4yAAAAIBAJ&pg=1598,2234515|title=Ottawa Citizen - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com|access-date=August 4, 2018}}</ref>{{efn|The [[LaserDisc]] version was $34.95.<ref name="RHC"/>}}}}
| {{center|100,000+{{efn|This figure is for the late 1985 re-release.<ref name="N&O">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-feature-length-car/85575286/|title=Feature-length cartoons appear to be making a comeback|newspaper=[[The News & Observer]]|page=7B|date=April 8, 1986|quote='Robin Hood' was released late last year and has already sold 100,000 units, putting it in the Top 10 sellers at $79.95.}}</ref>}}}}
| Robin Hood was first re-released in late 1985, and then for a second time on July 12, 1991.<ref name="N&O"/><ref name=":4">{{Cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128172451/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1986-12-05/entertainment/8604010191_1_video-store-walt-disney-home-video-video-market|archive-date=January 28, 2018|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/12/05/some-of-the-greatest-gift-ideas-of-the-year-are-on-video-store/|title=Some Of The Greatest Gift Ideas Of The Year Are On Video Store|work=tribunedigital-chicagotribune|access-date=August 15, 2018|url-status=live|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-05-18.pdf|title='Robin' To Perk Up Midsummer Nights|last=McCullagh|first=Jim|date=May 18, 1991|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 26, 2018|page=78}}</ref>
|-
| 2
| July 16, 1985<ref name="BBPinocchio">{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HCUEAAAAMBAJ&q=pinocchio+july+16+1985&pg=PA181|chapter=Disney Home Video Plans July Release for Pinocchio|title=Billboard|author=Jim McCullaugh|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|language=en|year=1985|quote=...is set for release July 16 with a list price of $79.95.}}</ref>
| ''[[Pinocchio (1940 film)|Pinocchio]]''
| {{center|$79.95<ref name="BBPinocchio"/>}}
| {{center|125,000<ref name=":12">{{Cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uypCAAAAIBAJ&q=pinocchio+video+$29.95&pg=PA7|title=Disney on Parade|last=Levine|first=Martin|work=Daily News|date=September 7, 1985|language=en}}</ref>{{efn|This figure is for July/August 1985. Pinocchio was later re-released on March 26, 1993 and sold 13.5 million copies.<ref name="CTPinocchio">{{cite news|last=Stevens|first=Mary|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-03-19-9303200387-story.html|title='Pinocchio' Is The Winner by a Nose|work=Chicago Tribune|date=March 19, 1993|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007044413/https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/03/19/pinocchio-is-the-winner-by-a-nose/|archive-date=October 7, 2024|url-status=live|access-date=September 19, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Screen International]]|title=International pace-setter|date=October 22, 1993|page=16}}</ref>}}}}
| ''Pinocchio'' was reissued theatrically in 1984 to great success, grossing over $26 million at the domestic box office. In the following year Disney announced a July 16, 1985, release date for ''Pinocchio'', with a $1 million advertising campaign which they claimed was the first national network TV spot campaign for a single video title.<ref name="BBPinocchio"/> The VHS price was lowered considerably for the re-release which ran from October 14, 1986 to January 31, 1987.<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":4" /> A newly remastered edition of ''Pinocchio'' was released on video on March 26, 1993.<ref name="CTPinocchio"/><ref>Although voice actor [[Mark Elliott (voice-over artist)|Mark Elliott]], during most advertisements of the 1993 re-release, announced that ''Pinocchio'' would be made available on home video "for the last time this century", this didn't really materialize as Disney released a restored 59th anniversary edition of the film on VHS and DVD in 1999, which was re-issued in the Gold Classic Collection line an year later.</ref>
|-
| 3
| November 5, 1985<ref name=":12" />
| ''[[Dumbo]]''
| {{center|$79.95<ref name=":12" />}}
| {{unknown}}
| The price of ''Dumbo'' was also dropped to $29.95 along with ''Robin Hood'' and ''Pinocchio'' in 1985.<ref name=":12" /> ''Dumbo'' never went into moratorium, and was repackaged in 1989 with additional promotions in 1991.<ref name=":8" />
|-
| 4
| March 1986<ref name="BB02081986">{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=diQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Lots+of+Luck+disney+home+video&pg=PT7|title=Newsline|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=February 8, 1986|volume=98|issue=6|page=46|quote=Sword In The Stone is the latest classic due out... ...will be in March at a $79.95 list price.}}</ref>
| ''[[The Sword in the Stone (1963 film)|The Sword in the Stone]]''
| {{center|$79.95<ref name="SITSBillBoard">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6CQEAAAAMBAJ&q=sword+in+the+stone+video+1986&pg=PA1|chapter=Top Kid Video Sales|title=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|year=1986}}</ref>}}
| {{center|75,000<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9CMEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Davy+Crockett%2C+King+of+the+Wild+Frontier+disney+1985&pg=RA1-PA48|title=1986 ITA Gold Awards|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=November 1, 1986|volume=98|issue=44|page=47-48}}</ref>}}
| ''The Sword in the Stone'' was repackaged in 1989 with the release of ''Bambi'' and was repromoted with another VHS re-release in 1991.
|-
| 5
| May 28, 1986<ref name=":9">{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7yQEAAAAMBAJ&q=alice+in+wonderland+video+1986&pg=PA52|chapter=Prices Tumble as Disney Enters its Wonderland Campaign|title=Billboard|last=Seidman|first=Tony|date=April 12, 1986|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|language=en|quote=Order closing date on the sale is May 6; street date for the product May 28.}}</ref>
| ''[[Alice in Wonderland (1951 film)|Alice in Wonderland]] ''
| {{center|$29.95<ref name=":9" />}}
| {{unknown}}
| ''Alice in Wonderland'' was originally released as a rental-only in the [[Walt Disney Home Video (VHS)|Walt Disney Home Video]] line. It was re-released on May 28, 1986 for sell-through for the first time as part of Disney's "Wonderland Campaign".<ref name="WC">{{cite magazine|last=Seideman|first=Tony|title=Prices Tumble as Disney Enters Its 'Wonderland' Campaign|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=April 12, 1986|volume=98|issue=15|page=52|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7yQEAAAAMBAJ&q=alice%20in%20wonderland%20disney%20billboard&pg=PA52}}</ref> While the number of videos sold for Alice in Wonderland is unknown, it was reported by Billboard that over 650,000 units had been shipped for the overall sale.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VyQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Alice+in+Wonderland+units+sold&pg=PA45|title=...Newsline...|magazine=Billboard|date=June 28, 1986|volume=98|issue=26|page=45}}</ref> This movie was never placed on moratorium and was repromoted in 1991.<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":8" />
|-
| 6
| October 14, 1986<ref name="SBSpokane">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mEJYAAAAIBAJ&q=sleeping+beauty+video&pg=PA7|title=Videos On Sale for Holidays|author=Joe Logan|publisher=Spokane Chronicle|date=August 25, 1986|language=en}}</ref>
| ''[[Sleeping Beauty (1959 film)|Sleeping Beauty]]''
| {{center|$29.95<ref name="SBSpokane"/>}}
| 1,000,000+<ref name="NYTCS">{{cite news|last=Yarrow|first=Andrew|title=Video Cassettes Pushing Books Off Shelves|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/22/arts/video-cassettes-pushing-books-off-shelves.html?pagewanted=all|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 22, 1988|access-date=May 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406035725/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/22/arts/video-cassettes-pushing-books-off-shelves.html?pagewanted=all|archive-date=April 6, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
| ''Sleeping Beauty'' was the first title to be released in VHS Hi-Fi and in stereo sound. The film became the centerpiece for Disney's $6 million promotional campaign, "Bring Disney Home For Good" which featured all six of the animated Classics released up to the end of 1986.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6CQEAAAAMBAJ&q=the+sword+in+the+stone+1986+video&pg=PA1|title=Disney Putting $6 Million Behind Yule Video Campaign|author=Tony Seideman|publisher=Billboard|year=1986}}</ref> The film went into moratorium on March 31, 1988.<ref name=":11">{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1988-03-18-8803010722-story.html|title='LADY AND THE TRAMP' GOING BACK TO VAULT|last=Stevens|first=Mary|work=chicagotribune.com|access-date=September 22, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=December 4, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204033642/https://www.chicagotribune.com/1988/03/18/lady-and-the-tramp-going-back-to-vault/|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
|-
| 7
| October 7, 1987<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=neUCAAAAMBAJ&dq=Lady+and+the+Tramp+Disney+%22%2429.95%22&pg=PA67|title=Sales&Bargains|author=Leonore Fleischer|magazine=[[New York Magazine]]|volume=20|issue=34|page=67|date=August 31, 1987|quote=Walt Disney's Lady and the Tramp available in stores October 7}}</ref>
|''[[Lady and the Tramp]]''
| {{center|$29.95<ref name=":11"/>}}
| {{center|3,200,000<ref name="NYTCS"/>}}
| Following the success of ''Sleeping Beauty'', when Disney released ''Lady and the Tramp'' on October 7, 1987 the VHS already had 2 million pre-orders. ''Lady and the Tramp'' eventually sold 3.2 million copies, making it the best-selling videocassette at the time.<ref name="NYTCS"/> It later lapsed into moratorium on March 31, 1988 along with ''Sleeping Beauty'', having grossed {{US$|100 million|long=no}} in sales revenue.<ref name=":11" /><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Hadden |first1=Briton |title=Is That All There Is? |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=1988 |volume=132 |issue=19–26 |page=589 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MU3gAAAAMAAJ |quote=Disney asked Lee last year to help promote the release of the Lady and the Tramp cassette, paying a $500 "honorarium" — her only share of the video's $100 million in revenues.}}</ref>
|-
| 8
| October 4, 1988<ref name="CTCinderella">{{Cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815200755/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1988-07-29/entertainment/8801180512_1_cinderella-three-caballeros-walt-disney-home-video|archive-date=August 15, 2018|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1988/07/29/its-christmas-in-july-as-disney-tells-of-holiday-promotions/|title=It's Christmas In July As Disney Tells Of Holiday Promotions|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=August 15, 2018|url-status=live|language=en}}</ref>
| ''[[Cinderella (1950 film)|Cinderella]]''
| {{center|$26.99{{efn|A special $26.99 price was available until the end of November 1988, after which the price went up to the $29.95 price point of the other Classics.<ref name="CTCinderella"/>}}}}
| {{center|7,200,000<ref name="cinderella">{{cite web |title=Cinderella (1950) |url=http://www.jpbox-office.com/fichfilm.php?id=9635&view=31 |website=JP's Box-Office |access-date=November 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128075752/http://www.jpbox-office.com/fichfilm.php?id=9635&view=31 |archive-date=November 28, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
| A limited edition lithograph, created by animator [[Marc Davis (animator)|Marc Davis]] was available to anyone who pre-ordered the title between July 11 and October 3, 1988. It was announced in advance that the film would go into moratorium on April 30, 1989.<ref name="CTCinderella"/> Cinderella was another success for Disney having grossed {{US$|108 million|long=no}} in sales revenue.<ref name="cinderella"/>
|-
| 9
| September 28, 1989<ref name="CTBambi">{{Cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122055712/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1989-09-22/entertainment/8901150370_1_bambi-video-store-walt-disney-home-video|archive-date=January 22, 2016|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1989/09/22/bambi-making-leap-into-your-video-store/|title='Bambi' Making Leap Into Your Video Store|author=Mary Stevens|publisher=Chicago Tribune|date=September 22, 1989|access-date=December 7, 2023|url-status=live|quote=Bambi begins its limited home video release on Thursday}}</ref>
| ''[[Bambi]]''
| {{center|$26.99<ref name="CTBambi"/>}}
| {{center|9,800,000<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|page=1|date=September 6, 1989|last=Bierbaum|first=Tom|title='Bambi,' 'Rabbit' eye hv records}}</ref>}}
| ''Bambi'' was the first Disney video to have a cross-promotion. The price of $26.99 could be reduced with a $3.00 rebate (available until the end of January 1990) by sending in proofs of purchase of two tubes of [[Crest (brand)|Crest]] toothpaste.<ref name="CTBambi"/> The film went into moratorium on March 30, 1990.<ref name="LMTelegraph">{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4IVKAAAAIBAJ&q=sell-through+vhs&pg=PA45|title=Disney Blockbuster Hits Video Stores This Week|author=Mike Pearson|publisher=The Telegraph|date=March 22, 1990|accessdate=December 7, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| 10
| May 18, 1990<ref name="SDf'TLM'">{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Dennis |date=March 12, 1990 |title=VIDEOS : Strong Demand for 'The Little Mermaid' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241201224531/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-12-ca-121-story.html|archive-date=December 1, 2024|url-status=live|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-12-ca-121-story.html |access-date=December 2, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|people=[[Don Hahn|Hahn, Don]]|title=[[Waking Sleeping Beauty]]|publisher=Stone Circle Pictures/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|___location=Burbank, California|year=2009}}</ref>
| ''[[The Little Mermaid (1989 film)|The Little Mermaid]]''
| {{center|$26.99<ref name="SDf'TLM'"/><ref name="LMTelegraph"/>}}
| {{center|10,000,000+<ref>{{cite news|title=The New Season: Home Entertainment|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/12/arts/the-new-season-home-entertainment-beauty-was-big-but-make-way-for-aladdin.html|first=Peter M.|last=Nichols|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 12, 1993|access-date=July 15, 2009|archive-date=November 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106160354/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/12/arts/the-new-season-home-entertainment-beauty-was-big-but-make-way-for-aladdin.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
| ''The Little Mermaid'' was priced at $26.99, the same as ''Bambi'', but this time a $3 rebate was available from Disney with no additional purchase required. Disney promised its biggest TV advertising campaign ever, along with extensive print advertising.<ref>McGowan, Chris (March 17, 1990). "Disney's 'Mermaid' to Hit Stores in July." ''Billboard'' (pp. 59, 66)</ref> By July 30, 1990, ''The Little Mermaid'' had sold 7.5 million cassettes, and it eventually sold 10 million units, making it the top-selling video release of 1990.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-03-19-ca-477-story.html|title=The Seven-Year Hitch|last=CERONE|first=DANIEL|date=May 18, 1990|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=October 24, 2024|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref> The film went into moratorium on April 30, 1991.<ref name=":0" />
|-
| 11
| September 21, 1990<ref name="LAT09211990">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-09-21-ca-599-story.html|title=Disney Releases 53 Peter Pan|author=Terry Atkinson|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=September 21, 1990|accessdate=December 31, 2023|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
| ''[[Peter Pan (1953 film)|Peter Pan]]''
| {{center|$24.99<ref name="LAT09211990"/>}}
| {{center|7,000,000<ref name=":0" />}}
| ''Peter Pan'' was released with a cross-promotion with [[Nabisco]], available from the release date through the holiday season. This allowed consumers a $5.00 rebate with the purchase of three boxes of crackers, bringing the effective retail price under $20.00. The film later went into moratorium on April 30, 1991.
|-
| 12
| May 3, 1991<ref name="TJBChicagoT">{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013191552/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1991-04-26/entertainment/9102060978_1_closed-captioned-jungle-book-star-rating|archive-date=October 13, 2015|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/04/26/the-jungle-book-coming-from-disney/|title=The Jungle Book Coming From Disney|author=Mary Stevens|publisher=Chicago Tribune|date=April 26, 1991|access-date=December 7, 2023|url-status=live|quote=will arrive on video for a limited time May 3}}</ref>
| [[The Jungle Book (1967 film)|''The Jungle Book'']]
| {{center|$24.99<ref name="TJBChicagoT"/>}}
| {{center|7,400,000<ref>{{cite journal |title=Top 20 Sell-Through Units Shipped |journal=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=1991 |volume=320 |issue=18–34 |page=533 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5SUIAQAAMAAJ&q=jungle+book+7%2C400%2C000 |publisher=Wilkerson Daily Corporation |access-date=June 11, 2018 |archive-date=June 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603102944/https://books.google.com/books?id=5SUIAQAAMAAJ&q=jungle+book+7%2C400%2C000 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
| ''The Jungle Book'' was originally sold for $24.99; a $5.00 rebate was offered by Nabisco, reducing the price even further.<ref name="TJBChicagoT"/> The film later went into moratorium on April 30, 1992.
|-
| 13
| September 17, 1991<ref name="RDUNYM">{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z-gCAAAAMBAJ&dq=The+Rescuers+Down+Under+%221991%22+%22%2424.99%22&pg=PA100|title=Videos|author=Eileen Clarke|magazine=New York Magazine|volume=24|issue=36|page=100|date=September 16, 1991|quote=Release date 9/17}}</ref>
| ''[[The Rescuers Down Under]]''
| {{center|$24.99<ref name="RDUNYM"/>}}
| {{center|5,200,000<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Animated Pics: Adding It Up|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=January 13, 1992|page=89}}</ref>}}
| ''The Rescuers Down Under'' was priced at $24.99 with a $5.00 mail-in refund available from [[Procter & Gamble]]. It later went on moratorium on April 30, 1993.<ref name="CTClassicKid">{{cite news |last=Stevens |first=Mary |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-09-18-9203250071-story.html |title='Rescuers' Leads Classic Kid Stuff |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=September 18, 1992 |access-date=January 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107023446/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-09-18-9203250071-story.html|archive-date=November 7, 2023|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
|-
| 14
| November 1, 1991<ref name="FantasiaCT">{{Cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926040646/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1991-10-31/business/9104070928_1_fantasia-laserdiscs-philadelphia-orchestra|archive-date=September 26, 2012|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/10/31/fantasia-a-hit-with-video-audience/|title='Fantasia' A Hit With Video Audience|author=Richard Christiansen|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=August 15, 2018|url-status=live|language=en}}</ref>
| ''[[Fantasia (1940 film)|Fantasia]]''
| {{center|$24.99<ref name="FantasiaCT"/>}}
| {{center|14,200,000<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bBAEAAAAMBAJ&q=walt%20disney%27s%20fantasia&pg=PA66 |title= Weathering "Desert Storm," Basking in the Sell-Through Reign |magazine=Billboard |first=Jim |last=McCullaugh |date=August 1, 1992 |access-date=February 27, 2011 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>}}
| [[Roy E. Disney|Roy Disney]] originally objected to ''Fantasia'' being released on VHS as part of Walt Disney Classics series as he felt it was too important to the family's legacy. [[Michael Eisner]] was eventually able to convince the Disney Family to let the film be released. ''Fantasia'' was Disney's first animated film to be released simultaneously worldwide (in North America plus 46 international territories).<ref name="FantasiaCT"/>
|-
| 15
| April 10, 1992<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-01-17-ca-45-story.html |last = Hunt |first = Dennis |title = Digital Cassette Becomes the Talk of the Town |newspaper = Los Angeles Times |date = January 17, 1992 |access-date = September 16, 2017 |archive-date = December 10, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181210160216/http://articles.latimes.com/1992-01-17/entertainment/ca-45_1_digital-cassette |url-status = live |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
| ''[[One Hundred and One Dalmatians|101 Dalmatians]]''
| {{center|$24.99<ref name="TVS1993">{{Cite magazine |date=October 9, 1993 |title=Top Video Sales |page=80 |magazine=Billboard |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1993/BB-1993-10-09.pdf |access-date=April 30, 2022}}</ref>}}
| {{center|11,100,000<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-12-fi-344-story.html|last=Harris|first=Kathryn|title=A Nose for Profit: 'Pinocchio' Release to Test Truth of Video Sales Theory|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=June 12, 1992|access-date=September 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302160918/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-12-fi-344-story.html|archive-date=March 2, 2024|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref>}}
| ''101 Dalmatians'' went on moratorium on April 30, 1993.<ref name="ReadingEagleMora">{{Cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0PghAAAAIBAJ&q=the+rescuers+down+under+video&pg=PA39|title=Disney Will Disappear Video Tapes|publisher=[[Reading Eagle]]|date=February 11, 1993|accessdate=December 7, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| 16
| July 17, 1992<ref name="LRIEAAAAMBAJ">{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LRIEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA48|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241205182712/https://books.google.com/books?id=LRIEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA48#v=onepage&q&f=false|archive-date=December 5, 2024|url-status=live|title=Billboard|date=July 11, 1992|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name="WPMOUSED">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1992/07/05/disney-offers-six-videos-to-fill-gaps-of-summer/4c4018b9-4fbb-4bd7-acd5-c6047f3ba819/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241219203224/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1992/07/05/disney-offers-six-videos-to-fill-gaps-of-summer/4c4018b9-4fbb-4bd7-acd5-c6047f3ba819/|archive-date=December 19, 2024|url-status=live|title=Disney Offers Six Videos To Fill The Gaps of Summer|author=Martie Zad|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=July 5, 1992|accessdate=December 31, 2023|quote=The Great Mouse Detective also makes its video debut on July 17. The 74-minute movie is listed at $24.99...}}</ref>
| ''[[The Great Mouse Detective]]''
| {{center|$24.99<ref name="LRIEAAAAMBAJ"/><ref name="WPMOUSED"/>}}
| {{center|5,000,000<ref name="GMDNYT">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/16/movies/home-video-607492.html|title=Home Video|author=Peter M. Nichols|work=New York Times|date=July 16, 1992|access-date=May 26, 2024|url-access=subscription|quote=Distributors expect the tape.... ....to sell about five million copies.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309141558/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/16/movies/home-video-607492.html|archive-date=March 9, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref><br>(projected)}}
| ''The Great Mouse Detective'' went on moratorium on April 30, 1993.<ref name="ReadingEagleMora"/> While the exact amount of copies sold is unknown, a projected amount of 5,000,000 copies was given by The New York Times on July 16, 1992.<ref name="GMDNYT"/>
|-
| 17
| September 18, 1992<ref name="CTClassicKid"/>
| ''[[The Rescuers]]''
| {{center|$24.99<ref name="CTClassicKid"/>}}
| {{center|5,500,000<ref name="BB07111992">{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LRIEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22The+Rescuers%22+disney+%227+million+units%22&pg=PA77|title=1992 Direct-To-Sell-Through Releases|magazine=Billboard|volume=104|issue=28|date=July 11, 1992|page=77|quote=Estimated Shipment: 5-6 million}}</ref><br>(projected)}}
| According to Billboard Magazine, ''The Rescuers'' was expected to sell 5 to 6 million videos. It later went on moratorium April 30, 1993.<ref name="ReadingEagleMora"/><ref name="BB07111992"/>
|-
| 18
| October 30, 1992<ref name="HhIEAAAAMBAJ">{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HhIEAAAAMBAJ&dq=michael+medved+sneak+previews+1325&pg=PA61|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241205182858/https://books.google.com/books?id=HhIEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA61&dq=michael+medved+sneak+previews+1325&pg=PA61#v=onepage&q=michael%20medved%20sneak%20previews%201325&f=false|archive-date=December 5, 2024|url-status=live|title=Billboard|date=August 15, 1992|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|via=Google Books}}</ref>
| ''[[Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]''
| {{center|$24.99<ref name="TVS1993"/><ref name="HhIEAAAAMBAJ"/>}}
| {{center|20,000,000+<ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=McCullaugh |first1=Jim |last2=Goldstein |first2=Seth |date=October 9, 1993 |title=Disney Uncorks A Monster Hit With 'Aladdin' |page=6 |magazine=Billboard |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1993/BB-1993-10-09.pdf |access-date=April 30, 2022|quote=Beauty And The Beast, which sold an estimated 20 million - 22 million tapes following its release}}</ref>}}
| ''Beauty and the Beast'' sold 20 million cassettes and brought $200 million in revenue. Disney opted to delay the laserdisc release for the theatrical version of ''Beauty and the Beast'' until September 29, 1993,<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/05155/1325-CS/Beauty-and-the-Beast |website=LaserDisc Database |url-status=live |archive-date=Oct 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026110125/https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/05155/1325-CS/Beauty-and-the-Beast |language=en |access-date=5 August 2023 |title=Beauty and the Beast (1991) |date=Sep 29, 1993}}</ref> making a film festival-screened "work-in-progress" print on disc available in the interim. It was the first Disney animated film to have a widescreen laserdisc release. ''Beauty and the Beast'' went on moratorium on April 30, 1993.<ref name="ReadingEagleMora"/>
|-
| 19
| September 29, 1993<ref name=":13">{{Cite magazine|last1=McCullaugh|first1=Jim|last2=Goldstein|first2=Seth|date=October 9, 1993|title=Disney Uncorks A Monster Hit With 'Aladdin'|page=6|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1993/BB-1993-10-09.pdf|access-date=August 21, 2021}}</ref>
| ''[[Aladdin (1992 Disney film)|Aladdin]]''
| {{center|$24.99<ref name="TVS1994">{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TAgEAAAAMBAJ&q=video+sales|title=Top Video Sales (5/21/94)|magazine=Billboard|volume=106|issue=21|date=May 21, 1994|page=54}}</ref>}}
| {{center|30,000,000+<ref name="SD">{{cite journal |title=Movie-game links continue to get stronger |journal=[[Screen Digest]] |year=1993 |page=272 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M1nvAAAAMAAJ |publisher=Screen Digest Limited |quote=Major video game players Nintendo and Sega are both pushing hard to cash in on game spin-offs from Disney blockbuster animated feature ''Aladdin''. In US, Sega (...) shipped 800,000 units of Virgin-developed ''Aladdin'' for Genesis/Mega Drive in same week as some 30m sell-through video units hit the street (10.8m selling through in three days).}}</ref>}}
| ''Aladdin'' is the best-selling release of the Walt Disney Classics line. The VHS was first released on September 29, 1993 to video retailers, although it was not officially advertised until October 1.<ref name=":13" /> By early 1994, it had sold more than 25 million cassettes with over $500 million in revenue before being put on moratorium on April 30, 1994.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Snow |first=Shauna |date=1994-02-11 |title=FILM & VIDEO'Aladdin' Sequel Coming: For those... |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-02-11-ca-21520-story.html |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Disney delayed the laserdisc release of ''Aladdin'' for nearly a year; it was eventually released, in both letterbox and pan-and-scan formats, on September 21, 1994.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TAgEAAAAMBAJ&dq=aladdin+laserdisc+delay&pg=RA1-PA60|title=Disney titles expected to join Laserdisc's top sellers|author=Chris McGowan|publisher=Billboard|year=1994|page=60}}</ref>
|-
| 20
| March 4, 1994<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/home-market/release-schedule/1994|title=Videos Released in 1994|work=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]]|accessdate=December 31, 2023}}</ref>
| ''[[The Fox and the Hound]]''
| {{center|$24.99<ref name="TVS1994"/><ref name="F&H">{{Cite web|url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/grocery-operations/-fox-hound-sales-race-to-8-million-units|title='FOX & HOUND' SALES RACE TO 8 MILLION UNITS|website=www.supermarketnews.com |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241129222609/https://www.supermarketnews.com/grocery-operations/-fox-hound-sales-race-to-8-million-units|archive-date=November 29, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
| {{center|10,000,000<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yvKxMWJa7rIC|title=Fox and the Hound|publisher=Walt Disney Records|year=1992|isbn=978-1-55723-019-5 |quote=In early March 1994, ten million The Fox and the Hound home videos were released.}}</ref>}}
| This was the last film released in the Walt Disney Classics line, it went on moratorium on April 30, 1995.<ref name="F&H"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-02-19-ca-33605-story.html|title=How to Outsmart Disney's Moratorium: Frustrated buyers can get around the firm's policy of pulling its animated classics off the market. It takes a little digging--and some serious cash|author=Donald Liebenson|work=Los Angeles Times|date=February 19, 1995|access-date=December 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241211100942/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-02-19-ca-33605-story.html|archive-date=December 11, 2024|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/grocery-operations/buena-vista-plans-1st-half-blitz|title=BUENA VISTA PLANS 1ST-HALF BLITZ|website=www.supermarketnews.com |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241129222828/https://www.supermarketnews.com/grocery-operations/buena-vista-plans-1st-half-blitz|archive-date=November 29, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>
|}
==
Decades after their release there has been a public misconception that every "Black Diamond Edition" title from the Walt Disney Classics VHS line are rare and valuable. According to [[Kodak]], "Tapes don't last for long due to remanence decay of the magnetic charge, causing blacked-out scenes, discoloration and eventually, entire loss of footage." They also gave a time frame by saying that tapes "degrade 10% to 20% throughout 10 to 25 years".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2023/09/15/vhs-tapes-classic-films-being-sold-thousands-ebay/70868604007/|title='Back to the Future,' 'Goonies' and classic Disney VHS tapes are being sold for thousands on eBay|author=Anthony Robledo|work=USA Today|date=September 15, 2023|accessdate=December 7, 2023}}</ref> Kristy Ambrose from "The Gamer" called the phenomenon a "craze" which might be driven by nostalgia, and also stated that "Consumers have been learning some hard lessons about market manipulation and the power of trends".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thegamer.com/disney-vhs-tapes-worth-fortune-today/|title=Disney VHS Tapes Worth A Fortune Today|author=Kristy Ambrose|work=The Gamer|date=July 18, 2023|accessdate=December 8, 2023}}</ref> Rain Blanken from WDW magazine called the ebay listings "bogus" and "hyped up" warning people that "Every outlet is saying these are listed for high prices… not sold."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wdw-magazine.com/how-much-are-your-disney-vhs-tapes-really-worth/|title=Are Disney VHS Tapes Worth Really Anything? Sadly, No.|author=Rain Blanke|work=WDW Magazine|date=October 21, 2022|accessdate=December 8, 2023}}</ref> This is also mentioned by [[Snopes]] which call the claim "Are 'Black Diamond' Disney VHS Tapes Worth Thousands of Dollars?" mostly false. They state that no buyers are bidding anywhere close to those asking prices for the tapes. Those that did sell for thousands of dollars are described by Snopes as a "rarity/fluke".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/black-diamond-collection-disney/|title=Are 'Black Diamond' Disney VHS Tapes Worth Thousands of Dollars?|author=Kim LaCapria|work=[[Snopes]]|date=June 2, 2016|accessdate=December 8, 2023}}</ref>
In terms of consignment, [[Heritage Auctions]] has placed in their "Vintage VHS Tapes Value Guide" that the most desirable VHS tapes released between 1979 and 1990 are still in their original factory shrink wrap.<ref name="HA">{{cite web|url=https://entertainment.ha.com/worth/home-entertainment.s?alt=vhs|title=Vintage VHS Tapes Value Guide|work=Heritage Auctions|accessdate=December 8, 2023}}</ref> Further value is added if studio watermarks are present on the wrap. In regard to Disney "Black Diamond Editions", Heritage states that aside from a couple of titles, Disney animated films released on VHS after 1990 are not worth anything significant, and "Only the earliest of Disney VHS produced prior to 1985 hold any value to most collectors."<ref name="HA"/> Things to look for on their guide include a sealed tape, a studio logo on the shrink-wrap, and if the latest year listed on the back of the cover is prior to 1986.<ref name="HA"/>
==
* [[List of Walt Disney Animation Studios films]]
* [[List of best-selling films in the United States]]
==Notes==
{{notelist}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Region 1 home video}}
[[Category:Walt Disney Studios (division) franchises]]
[[Category:Home video lines]]
[[Category:Disney home video releases]]
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