Peter Pan (Platinum Edition) (DVD)

The 1953 animated classic Peter Pan from Disney almost seems to be the starting point of the famed character. Based on the play by J.M. Barrie it was one of, if not the, first time Pan was played by a male character and any time you think of Peter it is impossible not to think of this film.

Watching this DVD you not only get a spectacular remastered video and audio you also get a bunch of interesting tidbits by way of an audio commentary led by Walt Disney’s nephew Roy E. Disney and a group of behind-the-scenes special features on the second disc that document how long it actually took Walt to get his second favorite character off the ground.

It is odd after watching so many serious films on DVD and their special features that it comes down to a movie about a boy that just won’t grow up for World War II to have helped shape its existence. Obvious departures from Barrie’s original play were necessary to make this animated feature work, but don’t think everything was tried as disc two presents you with one feature that shows numerous early storylines that were either dropped or altered in an effort to make Pan what Walt truly envisioned.

One thing you will learn is that Peter Pan was a favorite of Walt Disney’s, second only to Snow White so to think it came 16 years after Snow made her screen debut may seem odd. Walt’s love for the character would not allow for it to be made until it was just right, and the story behind the growth of Pan at Disney can be found in all of the Backstage Disney features.

Other features include the growth of Tinker Bell from playing a crucial role in Peter Pan to becoming the iconic character that kicks off almost everything Disney. On top of that you also get a look at the new animated feature Tinker Bell, which will be on video later this year and will feature Brittany Murphy as the voice of Tink. Lost and deleted songs, games for the kids, a virtual flight around Neverland and a short read-a-long story of Peter Pan are all offered here. The balance is obvious and successful in entertaining both the adults and the young ones. I took a turn at Smee’s Sudoku, but it wasn’t all that tough… definitely for the kiddies.

Taking this entire DVD in in one night is not a chore in the slightest. With a running time of only 77 minutes Peter Pan can be watched and then rewatched with the audio commentary with Roy Disney as he introduces archived and new interviews with voice actors, Walt himself and much more. Some of it can be heard on the featurettes on disc two, but there isn’t a ton of overlapping.

This is a must own, as is any Disney video prior to and including The Lion King. Disney animation may have hit the skids as of lately but there is no denying the quality of its older library.