"New and Exciting from Disney" Bumpers

Background: From 1996 to 2000, Walt Disney Home Video used special bumpers used to introduce trailers on releases of Disney's higher-profile movies (from animated classics to recent box-office hits).

American Variant (April 24, 1996-February 1, 2000)

Logo: We open with a clip from the 1986 Walt Disney Pictures logo (the 1990 variant, specifically), beginning when the "Walt Disney" text is revealed. Afterwards, a montage of the following clips is shown: The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Clopin laughing and tossing down a ball of smoke. Toy Story: Woody and Buzz "falling with style". Disneyland's Indiana Jones Adventure attraction: Indy swings on a rope while a rolling boulder races toward the guests. The exterior of the Palace Theatre in New York City, advertising the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast, followed by a moment from the show itself. A little boy and his father watching television, the screen showing an ABC bumper in motion (which is described here). Bambi: Bambi meeting Flower. Hercules: Herc awkwardly gesturing). Scenes from at the Hunchback of Notre Dame stage show at the Disney-MGM Studios and the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad attraction at the Magic Kingdom. Afterwards, we fade into an add-on bumper used at the time (see the 5th bumper on the Coming to Videocassette page, or the 9th on the Coming to Theaters page).

Variants: There is a prototype variant where the clips are different. They are: Pocahontas: Pocahontas and Meeko go down a waterfall on their canoe). A shot of the entrance to the Magic Kingdom in Florida. The same moment from the Broadway stage production of Beauty and the Beast, but shot differently. A mother watching TV with her two children. A rapid-fire montage of Cinderella Castle with fireworks in the sky, Buzz unloading his wings in Toy Story, the "Be Our Guest" sequence in Beauty and the Beast, guests going down the final drop on Splash Mountain, and a clip from the final scene of The Lion King. Another early variant is seen on the 1996 release of Toy Story. Here the clips from Bambi and Hercules are replaced by clips from Pocahontas (of Pocahontas and Meeko going downstream in their canoe) and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (of Quasimodo sliding down a rain gutter), and the ABC logo on the TV screen is different and still. On the 1996 releases of The Aristocats and Toy Story, there are special add-ons used to lead into ads for Walt Disney World. The former has an overview shot of Epcot, side views of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Dumbo the Flying Elephant, and the PeopleMover near Spaceship Earth, while the latter has clips of the Main Street Electrical Parade, the Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom, and the same shot of the PeopleMover. Both end with the animation of Tinkerbell waving her wand also used in similar bumpers at the time as well as the Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection logo, who transitions us to the ad in question.

FX/SFX: The clips in the montage fading into one another. In the case of the Hunchback clip, the screen turns white when Clopin throws down his smoke ball, which them fades into the Toy Story clip. At the end of the montage, it fades to whatever add-on bumper follows it.

Music/Sounds: The 1985 Walt Disney Pictures logo theme, followed by the Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection theme (which plays into whatever add-on bumper follows the intro). While this plays, an announcer (Beau Weaver) says the following: "From magical movies to unforgettable adventures, from the thrill of the theater to the comfort of your home, you can always count on something new and exciting from Disney."

Music/Sounds Variants: For the prototype version, the announcement goes like this: "From movies to magical vacations, from the theater to your living room, there's always something new and exciting from Disney." On Toy Story and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the music is accompanied by extra sound effects, including a "poof" sound when Clopin throws his smoke ball, a rumbling sound for the boulder as it rolls, and the little boy giggling. On releases from 1999-2000, the Masterpiece Collection theme is replaced by the 1988 Walt Disney Classics theme (specifically, the 1992 bass-heavy remix). Also, Beau Weaver's announcement was re-recorded. The Walt Disney World variants have Beau Weaver, after finishing his standard spiel, saying "Now, here's a special message from Walt Disney World" for the former, or "Now, Walt Disney World celebrates its 25th anniversary!" for the latter.

Availability: Common. The prototype version appeared on the 1996 VHS release ofThe Aristocats. The normal version first appeared on Toy Story and appeared on other "high-profile" Disney videos from the late 1990s, including The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Bambi, 101 Dalmatians (the live-action version), Fun and Fancy Free, Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin, Mary Poppins, Sleeping Beauty, Old Yeller, The Jungle Book, Hercules, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp and A Bug's Life. The last releases to use the intro were the 2000 VHS releases of Toy Story and Tarzan.

Editor's Note: A thrilling montage through the world of Disney, this is a nostalgic favorite among many due to its appearances on many famous titles throughout the 1990s.

German Variant (1996?-2002)

Logo:We open with a clip from the 1986 Walt Disney Pictures logo (the 1990 variant, specifically), beginning when the "Walt Disney" text is revealed. Afterwards, a montage of the following clips is shown: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Snow White and the dwarves dancing. Pinocchio: Pinocchio dancing. The Aristocats: Marie saying "a rinky tinky tinky". Fantasia: Ben Ali Gator holding up Hyacinth Hippo, but getting crushed by her. Bambi: Bambi slipping on the ice. Cinderella: The Grand Duke putting Cinderella's glass slipper on her foot. Peter Pan: Peter and the Darling children flying. Beauty and the Beast: Belle and the Beast dancing in the ballroom. Pocahontas: Pocahontas and Meeko going down a waterfall on their canoe. Toy Story: Buzz landing on Andy's bed next to Woody. The exterior of Disneyland Paris' Sleeping Beauty Castle, followed by a parade. A mother watching TV with her two children. A moment from the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast. A clip from the final scene of The Lion King. Afterwards, we see Disneyland Paris' Sleeping Beauty Castle at night, with fireworks going off, as Tinkerbell waves her wand and flies away a la the Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection logo.

Variant: Starting in 2001, the text "Mehr Spaß und Abenteuer mit Disney unter www.disney.de/video" ("More fun and adventures with Disney at www.disney.de/video") occasionally scrolls on the bottom of the screen, from the right side to the left, with the URL staying in the middle before fading out.

FX/SFX:The logo, the clips in the montage, the scrolling text in the 2001 version.

Music/Sounds:The beginning of the 1995 Disney Videos logo theme, followed by "Heigh-Ho" from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, as performed by the Neverland Orchestra. While this plays, an announcer says the following: "Beste Unterhaltung für die ganze Familie, das ist bei Disney Tradition. Zauberhafte film Abenteuer, unvergessliche Ferienerlebnisse, Unterhaltung für zu Hause oder auf der Bühne. Man kann immer wieder etwas Neues erleben mit Disney!" ("Best entertainment for the whole family, that's Disney tradition. Magical film adventures, unforgettable holiday experiences, entertainment for at home or on stage. You can always experience something new with Disney!").

Availability: Found in German tapes at the time.

Editor's Note: None.