Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment marks a milestone today with the release of Sleeping Beauty, its first Platinum series title, on the Blu-ray high definition disc format. 

The movie opened in theaters in January 1959 and it still ranks as one of Disney's most favored animated titles. It went on to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Music and it was also nominated for a Grammy for Best Soundtrack Album.

The two-disc Blu-ray release coincides with a two-disc standard definition DVD release, but the Blu-ray offers additional features not available on the DVD:

• 7.1 channel DTS-HD Master Audio Lossless soundtrack
• Picture-in-Picture commentary track featuring Disney/Pixar creative chief and Academy Award®-winning director and animator John Lasseter, Disney character animator Andreas Deja, and reknowned movie critic Leonard Maltin.
• Maleficent's Challenge Q&A game
• Online BD-Live features, including real-time chats with your friends, sending movie mail to others, and playing games with anyone online.

One of the challenges facing the adoption of the Blu-ray format is that Blu-ray players are not as widespread as DVD players are, and this presents a particular problem with family fare like Disney's animated movies. After all, how do you explain to the kids that they can't take that new Blu-ray movie on the trip to Grandma's, because it won't play in the van's DVD player? Fortunately, Disney has exercised wisdom in supplying a standard definition DVD of the movie in the package!

I'll have more details about the Blu-ray release when my copy arrives today or tomorrow from Amazon.com. After looking through the sale ads in local stores, and searching online, Amazon's $23.95 price is about $2 cheaper than any other retailer I could find.

The full press release from Disney appears below, and if you're interested in picking up the Blu-ray or DVD of Sleeping Beauty, I've supplied links below for each.

2-Disc Platinum Blu-ray $23.95	2-Disc Platinum DVD $14.99

Press Release

The Magic of Walt Disney’s SLEEPING BEAUTY Comes To Life on Blu-ray™ Hi-Def October 7, 2008

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE) is proud to remind consumers across the country that one of America’s most treasured animated classics, SLEEPING BEAUTY, releases tomorrow in an all new breathtaking Blu-ray Disc!

This release of Sleeping Beauty in high-definition marks many "firsts" for this groundbreaking, award winning title.

To begin with, Sleeping Beauty is the company’s very first Platinum Edition title to release on the Blu-ray Disc format bringing the colors, picture and sound to all new heights. In addition, this special release on Blu-ray offers families a unique opportunity to receive a DVD of the movie to use as they wait to upgrade their home entertainment systems in the near to present future. This ultimate, must-own Sleeping Beauty set is at no additional cost to consumers, retailing for the suggested price of just $35.99 US and $45.99 Canada

50 years ago Walt Disney shot this movie in a widescreen aspect ratio; however, it has never been displayed in this manner since its original debut in 1959. Now in 2008, viewers will be able to see more of the movie than ever before displaying new characters and background scenes that are all new to the home video experience.

Sleeping Beauty is also the first title to launch Disney’s new internet-connected BD-Live experience. For the very first time in history, consumers will be able to combine some of today’s most popular interactive communications platforms – chat, video streaming, online messaging, communal gaming and more – with their most treasured home entertainment experiences with this revolutionary, new Sleeping Beauty Blu-ray Disc. The launch of this new technology illustrates Disney’s ongoing dedication to creating new, modern-day opportunities for family and friends to extend their love for movies with others across the country.

Disney’s BD-Live Network will allow movie lovers and families alike to: Chat on-screen in real-time with friends while simultaneously watching a movie frame-by-frame; record personalized video greetings for a loved one that appears on-screen over a pre-selected scene in a movie; play real-time interactive or strategy games against single and/or multiple groups of people; and do much, much more all from the comfort of their very own living room.

And just in time for the upcoming holidays, consumers will be able to upgrade their home entertainment systems to Blu-ray with an all new, affordable high-definition experience that the whole family will be sure to enjoy! WDSHE and Panasonic Consumer Electronics have joined forces to help spread the magic of Blu-ray to family rooms across the country. For more information, please visit www.panasonicsleepingbeauty.com.

About Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE)

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, a recognized leader in the home entertainment industry, is the marketing, sales and distribution company for Walt Disney, Touchstone, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax and Buena Vista product, which includes DVD, Blu-ray Disc® and electronic distribution. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is a division of The Walt Disney Studios.

About Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company

Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company (PCEC), a market and technology leader in High Definition television, is a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (NYSE: MC) and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Panasonic’s exclusive Panasonic Plasma Concierge customer support program (888-972-6276) is administered through its Virginia-based Call Center, recognized as a Certified “Center of Excellence” by the Center for Customer-Driven Quality™ at Purdue University.

Source: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment