This list covers all the Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection titles released from 1994 to 1999.
Part of the Masterpiece Collection series
October 1994
Tapes in this batch open with the 1986 WDHV "Sorcerer Mickey" logo on copies printed between May-August 1994. Copies printed after August 1994 open with the Masterpiece Collection logo.
Excluding Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, copies of these tapes printed between May-October 1994 open with the blue text "Now Available on Videocassette" screen, a video trailer for The Brave Little Toaster, and the lilac "Feature Presentation" screen. Copies of these tapes printed between October-December 1994 open with the lilac "Now on Videocassette" screen, video trailers for the Masterpiece Collection, The Brave Little Toaster, and the Family Film Collection, and the lilac "Feature Presentation" screen.
Following the FBI warning screens, the tape opens with a special introduction to the film from Roy E. Disney, former senior executive of the Walt Disney Company. After the introduction, depending on the print master, the 1986 WDHV "Sorcerer Mickey" logo (May-August 1994 printings) or the Masterpiece Collection logo (printings after August 1994) appears.
Went into moratorium on April 30, 1995.
March 1995
The Lion King was released on home video for the first time as part of the Masterpiece Collection. Although this particular title is advertised in the 1995 update of the Masterpiece Collection trailer, and has the logo on its cover artwork, the logo doesn't appear at all on the tape itself - not on the tape label, nor on-screen.
Also released this month were re-issues of the original batch of Masterpiece Collection titles with updated print masters. These masters use the Flashbang bumpers and include an updated video trailer for the Masterpiece Collection with footage from The Lion King, followed by video trailers for The Brave Little Toaster and the Family Film Collection.
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)
10
Pete's Dragon
USA
1977
128 minutes
Standard version
G
Matted 1.75
1
N/A
Color
March 3, 1995
TBD
16
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
USA
1970
113 minutes
Standard version
G
Matted 1.75
1
N/A
Color
March 3, 1995
TBD
23
Mary Poppins
USA
1964
139 minutes
TBD
G
Academy
1
N/A
Color
March 3, 1995
Still uses the same film transfer.
24
Dumbo
USA
1941
63 minutes
1972 or 1976 theatrical version
G
Academy
1
N/A
Color
March 3, 1995
TBD
36
Alice in Wonderland
USA
1951
75 minutes
Original version
G
Academy
1
N/A
Color
March 3, 1995
TBD
91
The Three Caballeros
USA
1945
71 minutes
TBD
G
Academy
1
N/A
Color
March 3, 1995
TBD
228
Robin Hood
USA
1973
83 minutes
Standard version
G
Matted 1.75
1
N/A
Color
March 3, 1995
TBD
229
The Sword in the Stone
USA
1963
79 minutes
Original or 1983 theatrical version
G
Matted 1.75
1
N/A
Color
March 3, 1995
TBD
296
So Dear to My Heart
USA
1948
82 minutes
TBD
NR
Academy
1
N/A
Color
March 3, 1995
TBD
2977
The Lion King
USA
1994
88 minutes
Original theatrical cut
G
Academy
1
N/A
Color
March 3, 1995
Opens with a Walt Disney World commercial, a theatrical trailer for Pocahontas featuring the entirety of the "Colors of the Wind" sequence, and video trailers for Cinderella, Angels in the Outfield, and The Aristocats.
Early copies, printed in early December 1994, only contain a preview for Angels in the Outfield following the Pocahontas theatrical preview - along with a different version of the lilac "Coming to Videocassette" screen.
Opens with a Walt Disney World commercial, a theatrical trailer for Toy Story, and video trailers for The Santa Clause, Pocahontas, and the Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection.
On copies printed after mid-July 1995, a Disney Interactive commercial precedes the theatrical trailer for Toy Story.
February 1996
Along with the video debut of Pocahontas, the initial batch of Masterpiece Collection titles is reissued again. Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Three Caballeros, and So Dear to My Heart never received updated masters following this wave.
Curiously, this batch of reissues features the bass-heavy rendition of the Walt Disney Classics theme playing over the Masterpiece Collection logo. They otherwise open with an updated trailer for the Masterpiece Collection featuring footage from Cinderella, a trailer for the Family Film Collection, and a trailer for the then-upcoming release of Aladdin and the King of Thieves.
Opens with a Walt Disney World commercial, a theatrical trailer for The Hunchback of Notre Dame, video trailers for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, The Aristocats, Aladdin and the King of Thieves, and the Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection, and a Disney Interactive commercial (for Pocahontas video games).
On very early copies of this tape, printed in early-mid December 1995, the Walt Disney Classics logo appears following the "Feature Presentation" screen instead of the Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection logo. This error was fixed on subsequent copies.
Opens with video trailers for Toy Story, Aladdin and the King of Thieves, and the Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection, and a Disney Interactive commercial. The tape also features an exclusive commemorative introduction preceding the film, discussing the creation and production of the film.
This is the first release of the film to include the additional featurette Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore, present on all subsequent home media releases.
Most copies use a vertical sticker label, though some copies have a horizontal ink label.
April 1996
To further streamline the opening trailers on their releases, high-profile Disney releases (including Masterpiece Collection titles) adapt "Walt Disney Company Intro" bumpers that transition between different sets of trailers. Releases prior to this had no bumpers whatsoever preceding each set of trailers.
Opens with a Walt Disney World commercial, a Disney Interactive commercial (for The Lion King Activity Center), a theatrical trailer for The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and video trailers for Muppet Treasure Island, Tom and Huck, and Aladdin and the King of Thieves.
The stock number of the release implies that it was originally planned for a late 1994 release before being delayed to early 1996.
Oliver & Company was initially set to be advertised on this release, judging by the music over the "And look for these great Disney movies to add to your home video collection!" transition bumper.
Opens with a theatrical trailer for 101 Dalmatians (1996), a Disney Interactive commercial, and video trailers for James and the Giant Peach, Muppet Treasure Island, and Toy Story.
February 1997
Disney introduced THX-certified audio & video to some of their tapes starting with the 1997 VHS release of Bambi. Bambi was also the first release in the Masterpiece Collection to include a behind-the-scenes documentary at the end of the tape following the film.
Opens with theatrical trailers for Hercules and George of the Jungle, video trailers for The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves, and a Disney Interactive commercial (for The Hunchback of Notre Dame Topsy-Turvy Games).
Tape ends with the behind-the-scenes documentary Bambi: The Magic Behind the Masterpiece.
Opens with a Walt Disney World 25th Anniversary commercial, theatrical trailers for Hercules and George of the Jungle, and video trailers for Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves and 101 Dalmatians (1996).
July 1997
Further streamlining their opening trailers, Disney introduces the "Timeless Classics" trailer template to advertise all their upcoming high-profile releases in a single trailer. Pete's Dragon was also given an updated master at this time, though the other Masterpiece Collection titles would have to wait until 1998 for their updated masters.
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)
10
Pete's Dragon
USA
1977
128 minutes
Standard version
G
Matted 1.75
1
N/A
Color
July 15, 1997
Opens with a video trailer for Jungle 2 Jungle and a Disney Interactive commercial.
Opens with a theatrical trailer for The Little Mermaid, the "Timeless Classics" template featuring video trailers for Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin, Mary Poppins, Sleeping Beauty, and Old Yeller, a Disney Interactive commercial (for Disney's Magic Artist), and a promo for "The Wonderful World of Disney" on ABC.
Consists of the two featurettes Bongo and Mickey and the Beanstalk.
Tape ends with the behind-the-scenes documentary The Story Behind Fun and Fancy Free.
The Masterpiece Collection logo is absent on the physical tape, but does appear on-screen before the film begins.
Opens with a theatrical trailer for The Little Mermaid, a promo for "The Wonderful World of Disney" on ABC, video trailers for Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas, Fun and Fancy Free, the "Timeless Classics" promo featuring Mary Poppins, Sleeping Beauty, and The Jungle Book, Schoolhouse Rock! 25th Anniversary, and a Disney Interactive commercial for Ready to Read / Ready for Math with Pooh.
Part of the Film Classics series, but released with the Masterpiece Collection logo