Main Disney • Re: the forgotten magic of 35mm prints for classic disney animation

Most of us have ether grown up wih streaming, or dvds, or if you're old enough, vhs. I think most will agree vhs is too dated looking, even if it has its own nostalgia to it, but something that really hit me lately is just how great the 35mm prints of these classics look. That's what was shown in theaters before we converted over to digital projection, and man do they just have a certain special quality to them that is hard to describe. No, its probably not entirely the colors the filmmakers intended, the remasters are are, provided they had enough say of course, but the 35mm prints, there's something about the film grain and admittedly inaccurate color reproduction that adds so much life to them. combine this with the already hand drawn aesthetic, it really hits home how crazy it is that animation is even possible in the first place. That these really are living drawings, with feelings and motives.

Some of these are in better condition than others, but lets take a look. I tired to stick with the best ones, that can be found in 4k.

The Lion King
https://youtu.be/un7a-i6pTS4?t=4

Beauty & the Beast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QwuPbbT_zk

Pocahontas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PWSBI7gVNQ

Tarzan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alY5zIGMBlI

Hunchback
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUGraD-rxjk

Seeing these, it puts me right back in the theater where I originally saw them, and makes me wish I could see the whole movies like this again. I hear there are prints out there, but I have not been able to track them down.

But its crazy how much more life these have to them, and in many cases look more pleasant to my eye. the colors look more naturalistic and less trying so hard to be so eye popping. the more muted tones, the way the colors look more cohesive. The caps and restorations are usually more ideal, but I kind of wish these would be available as an option as well. What do you think?

Statistics: Posted by moviesfood1999 — Fri Feb 07, 2025 5:49 pm