This list covers all the Walt Disney Classics (or "Black Diamond") titles released from 1984 to 1994.
Walt Disney Home Video - The Classics (1984-1988)
The original logo from the series was nicknamed the Cheesy Black Diamond and contained the cheesy orange color variation of the Walt Disney Home Video logo.
December 1984
Disney was generally reluctant to release any of their animated classics on video (the only exceptions being Dumbo and Alice in Wonderland), as it might put them at risk of losing reissue revenue. Therefore, the reason why Robin Hood was picked first to be released in the series was because the film itself was considered weaker in terms of story and animation compared to the other titles; its disappointing performance in its 1982 reissue was also cited as a factor.
The very first print run, mastered to copies printed between July-September 1984, started with a preview for The Sword in the Stone, which was meant to be the next title released in the Classics line.
The second print run, mastered to copies printed between September-December 1984 and after June 1986, had no previews at all.
The third print run, mastered to copies printed between December 1984-June 1986, ended with the "Walt Disney and You" promo.
The earliest copies started with a trailer for The Black Cauldron which contains rare footage not seen in the final cut.
Re-issued on October 14, 1986 to coincide with the video release of Sleeping Beauty; this issue uses the dark red warning screens and the video dealer announcement.
This release uses the 1984 (1981 internationally) "Neon Mickey" WDHV logo.
On early pressings, right before the start of the film, it begins with the MPAA rating card and the 1960 Buena Vista logo (apparently sourced from the original 1981 master); later copies omit those two screens
A clamshell variant that was released on this date exists.
This is the only Classics title to come in a cardboard slipcover; all subsequent re-issues use the standard clamshell packaging.
This issue is bracket no. 036-2 and has the Cheesy Black Diamond Classics logo.
The earliest copies of this issue were printed a day after the original issue was released.
October 1986
Every single pre-May 1986 title in the series was re-issued in this month of 1986 to coincide with the video release of “Sleeping Beauty”. However, the only Oct. 1986 re-issue titles that had additional changes to their print masters were titles originally released before July 1985.
When Disney updated the logo from this series in 1988, starting with “Cinderella”, the logo was basically Sorcerer Mickey at the beginning and then the Shiny Black Diamond with the yellow text saying “Walt Disney” on the top and “CLASSICS” on the bottom. The prototype shiny black-blue background variation appeared on the 1988 release of “Cinderella”, and later, select September 1992 titles, including the demo VHS and regular laserdisc versions of “The Rescuers”.
In 1989, starting with “Bambi”, an official variation of the new logo was created, only with the background being plain normal blue. Then in 1992, starting with “101 Dalmatians”, a third variation of the logo was created, with the color slightly tinted to blue and clean audio.
Starting with “The Rescuers”, a fourth variation of the logo was created, with enhanced bass heavy audio.
This was the only time the film's original end credits were intact. All subsequent video releases since 1998 use the end credits from the 1997 version.
Contrary to popular belief, this release went on moratorium on April 30, 1991; as advertised on the video release of Peter Pan, the film was only available for a limited time.
Canadian copies of the VHS counterpart use the oversized Betamax-style horizontal sticker label on the cassettes, which is also found on US Betamax copies.
Reissued to ride on the coattails of cross-town rival Warner Bros.'s version of the Robin Hood legend, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner.
This issue of the title uses the same previews as the original release from May 1991, except the red-orange FBI warning screens were replaced with the green FBI warning screens.
This issue of the title is rumored to have went on moratorium on April 30, 1992, however, this is considered false information.
The actual moratorium would have been on April 30, 1993.
Copies printed between July 1991-August 1992 and after January 1993 may have a horizontal ink-label.
Copies printed between August-September 1992 may have a horizontal sticker-label.
Copies printed between September 1992-January 1993 may have a vertical sticker-label.
This release is rumored to have went on moratorium on December 21, 1991, however, its verification status is currently unknown.
Copies of this release that came in Deluxe Collector's Edition boxsets do not come in any casings and have a gold yellow horizontal sticker-label, while standalone copies come in black clamshells and have either a horizontal ink-label, or a gold yellow vertical sticker-label.
VHS collectors that are immature have overreacted over most Canadian copies of the French version of this release being damaged/broken, with some users assuming it's because the duplicators' facilities did a terrible job duplicating those copies. However, a more-mature collector suggests that either the previous owners hated the film itself, intentionally broke those tapes, and ended up giving them back to Disney, or they were obsessed with the film itself, and decided to buy too many of those copies and watch it too many times.
This film was released on home video after its theatrical re-release on July 12, 1991.
The earliest copies of this release were printed in late December 1991, mostly with a vertical sticker-label.
Copies printed after late January 1992 have either a horizontal ink-label, or a horizontal sticker-label.
Shortly after most copies of this release went on moratorium on April 30, 1993, select copies were being produced and released to video stores that didn't have enough copies of the release. The actual moratorium date was in late 1994.
The first print run, mastered to copies printed between December 1991-January 1992, does not have any previews.
This film was released on home video after its last theatrical re-release on February 14, 1992.
Shortly after most copies of this release went on moratorium on April 30, 1993, select copies were being produced and released to video stores that didn't have enough copies of the release. The actual moratorium date was in late 1994.
The earliest copies are rumored to use the uncensored version of "Arabian Nights", but its verification status is currently unknown, let alone the print date cutoff point thereof.
This film was released on home video almost 6 years after its last theatrical re-release on March 25, 1988.
The earliest copies of this release were printed in November 1993.
The first print run only has the preview for "The Lion King" with the last copies of that print run being printed in January 1994. Starting in February 1994, Disney mastered a second print run of this release, with the "The Return of Jafar" preview following "The Lion King" preview.
A month after this release's moratorium on April 30, 1995, select copies were being produced and released to video stores that didn't have enough copies of the release, with the actual moratorium date being in mid 1996.
February 1996
Strangely enough, the earliest copies of the 1996 VHS of “Pocahontas” that were printed between late November-mid December 1995 started with the fourth variation of the 1988/1989 Walt Disney Classics logo. On copies printed after mid December 1995, this logo was later replaced with the correct logo, which is the 1994 Masterpiece Collection logo.
Catalog number
Title
Country of origin
Original year
Length
Version
MPAA rating
Film format
Tape count
Tape break placement (if applicable)
Color
Released
Note(s)
5741
Pocahontas
USA
1995
81 min
Standard version
G
Matted 1.85
1
N/A
Color
February 28, 1996
Part of the Masterpiece Collection line.
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