Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Blu-ray Movie Review

Are Walt Disney's Signature and a few new extras worth the price of a double dip?

Disney has re-released the beloved animated classic 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' to Blu-ray as the inaugural title in its 'Signature Collection' that bears a facsimile of Walt Disney's signature on the cover. Disney representatives have confirmed to Blu-ray.com that this release features the same audio and video presentations found on the film's previous Diamond Edition release. Several new supplements have been added, several carry over, and two are altered from that first release, but the Diamond Edition is still the more feature-packed of the two.

A little birdie told me that this is just the start of something great...

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

As noted above, this Signature Collection release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs features the same 1080p transfer as that found on the Diamond Release. Screenshots #21 and #22 are captured from the same frame of the movie, the former from the Diamond Edition and the latter from the Signature Collection edition.

The film is available to play with "DisneyView" which essentially replaces the "black bars" that vertically appear on either side of the 1.78:1 frame, necessary to preserve the film's original aspect ratio, with artwork from the hand of Artist Toby Bluth (this feature was also available on the Diamond release). Since the video presentations are unchanged between releases, screenshots in this review are presented with the "DisneyView" activated for a contrast to the standard screenshots which appear in the previous release, and may be linearly found here.

For a full video quality review, please see Kenneth Brown's writing here.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

This "Signature Collection" release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs contains all of the same audio options as found on the previous Diamond Edition release. For a full audio quality review, please see Kenneth Brown's writing here.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs arrives on Blu-ray for the second time, and for the first time with an included Disney Digital copy voucher inside the case. This single-disc Blu-ray release adds several new extras but omits many more found on the comprehensive two-disc "Diamond Edition" release.

Below is a list of supplemental content found on this release. Materials new to this Blu-ray release are indicated as such. For more information on carryover materials, also indicated as such, please review Kenneth Brown's work on that set's in-depth supplemental content here.

• NEW! In Walt's Words: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1080p, 4:22): Archival audio footage from an interview with Walt Disney in 1956, set to pictures. Disney discusses seeing, and finding inspiration in, the original live action feature and continues to discuss the process of constructing the animated film. Included are discussions of referencing real-life actors in the animation process, the movie's premiere and release, what the film's success meant to the studio, and the movie's legacy.
• NEW! Iconography (1080p, 7:16): This piece begins with individuals reflecting on their history with the film and continues on to discuss the title character's iconic, long-standing popularity. It also examines the iconic objects, elements, and dialogue in the film; the picture's legacy; and people's work that has been inspired from Snow White.
• NEW! @DisneyAnimation: Designing Disney's First Princess (1080p, 5:16): Animator Mark Henn, Art Director Michael Giaimo, Art Director Bill Schwab, and Art Director Lorelay Bové discuss the film's character design history, inspirations, and the artists who designed Disney's first princess and the film's supporting characters.
• NEW! The Fairest Facts of Them All: 7 Things You May Not Know About Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1080p, 4:37): Sofia Carson from Disney's Descendants shares some interesting facts about conspiracy theories surrounding the film's release, voice acting, Dwarf names, Snow White's original hair color, the princess' rosy cheeks, animator bonuses, and Dopey's unique history in the movie.
• NEW! Snow White In Seventy Seconds (1080p, 1:12): A rapid-fire Hip-Hop retelling of the story.
• NEW! Alternate Sequence: The Prince Meets Snow White (1080p, 3:39): A never-before-seen sequence featuring Snow White meeting the Prince for the forest time. It features voice recreation inspired by early story discussion transcripts and story sketches from the Walt Disney Animation Research Library.
• NEW! (sort of) Disney's First Feature: The Making of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1080p, 33:15): A lengthier version of the supplement entitled The One that Started It All found on the Diamond Edition release, Disc 2.
• Bringing Snow White to Life (1080p, 11:35): Available on Diamond Edition Disc 2.
• Hyperion Studios Tour (1080p, 30:36): This is essentially a condensed highlight reel of the much larger, sprawling, and more in-depth Hyperion Studios interactive cornerstone from the Diamond release. Included are segments centered on the essential building blocks of making a major animated film in the 1930s, and the first of its kind at that.
• Decoding the Exposure Sheet (1080p, 6:49): Available on Diamond Edition Disc 2.
• Snow White Returns (1080p, 8:44): Available on Diamond Edition Disc 1.
• Story Meetings: The Dwarfs (1080p, 5:51): Available on Diamond Edition Disc 2.
• Story Meetings: The Huntsman (1080p, 3:55): Available on Diamond Edition Disc 2.
• Deleted Scene: Soup Eating Sequence (1080p, 4:07): Available on Diamond Edition Disc 1.
• Deleted Scene: Bed Building Sequence (1080p, 6:28): Available on Diamond Edition Disc 1.
• Animation Voice Talent (480i, 6:20): Available on Diamond Edition Disc 2.
• Audio Commentary: Commentary by Roy E. Disney and Historian John Canemaker, and Recordings by Walt Disney. Available on Diamond Edition Disc 1.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is an unquestioned classic of cinema, animated or otherwise. And considering its place in Disney's history, it's fair to label it as one of the most important films in cinema history. Disney has done right by its first animated classic on Blu-ray, but this "Signature Collection" version isn't the definitive release. For sheer volume of extras, the previously released "Diamond Edition" still dwarfs this version, even considering some of the new material added here. Nevertheless, this release will prove essential in the collection of every Disney enthusiast and is a must-buy for fans who may have missed the Diamond Edition the first time around or those wanting a digital version of the movie. For those who are still enjoying their well-loved Diamond Edition release but aren't interested in some new extras and new, slicker packaging, there's no reason to pick up this release.