What Release Has What Logo (Animated Features)

BRIEF BACKGROUND: Disney films, prior to the company creating its first official logo in 1985 (the "Walt Disney Pictures" castle logo), used a logo for their distribution arm, Buena Vista Distribution.

Walt and Roy O. Disney created Buena Vista in 1953, after breaking ties with their previous distributor, RKO Radio Pictures. It was named after the street in which the Disney Studios is based. Just about every Disney feature-length film made up until 1984, and even several short subjects, began with a still Buena Vista logo, often set to a piece of music that was part of the opening credits song or overture. The majority of the Disney features films and short subjects distributed by RKO from 1937 to 1956 begin similarly.

When the RKO-era Disney features were re-released after the formation of Buena Vista, Disney swapped the RKO logo with a Buena Vista logo. After introducing the Walt Disney Pictures logo in 1985, re-issues of Disney animated classics then removed the Buena Vista logo from the opening credits altogether, sometimes putting it at the very end. Most of the time, the first 5-or-seconds of the opening credits song or overture would be chopped in the process.

Disney began releasing their animated classics on home video in the 1980s, fully committing to doing so after the launching of the Classics line in 1984. This list will look at how several video releases of Disney animated features used different opening logo sequences, and in many cases, the incorrect ones.

NOTE #1: If a video release that has its original opening sequence intact has a Walt Disney Pictures logo before everything (i.e. the Walt Disney Pictures logo appearing before the Buena Vista logo on the 1998 LADY AND THE TRAMP video release), the presence of the Walt Disney Pictures logo won't be noted.

NOTE #2: There are three mainline Buena Vista logos. The original, used from 1953 to 1966 (and in some special cases, sporadically after 1966) has a more black-and-blue gradient background with all of the letters looking like they were painted on.

Three animated features - LADY AND THE TRAMP, SLEEPING BEAUTY, 101 DALMATIANS - had their own custom Buena Vista logos that matched their respective opening credits sequences. The original Buena Vista logo has two separate variants: From 1953 to 1960, the bottom of the logo said "Film Distribution Co., Inc." From 1960-onward, it just says "Distribution Co., Inc." Some post-1960 releases and re-releases, however, use the old card that says "Film Distribution Co., Inc." These are mere anomalies.

The BV logo used from 1966 to 1979 (and on THE FOX AND THE HOUND in 1981) updates the background to a more blue/turquoise-esque gradient. It's shaded and saturated differently from film to film, so that's another story altogether. The letters for "Distributed by" and "Distribution Co., Inc." are a more formal, serif font.

The 1979 Buena Vista logo - which renders the words "Buena Vista" in a metallic font - won't be mentioned here because it didn't appear before any animated features, or any U.S. re-releases of animated features. Those might be covered, as I might do a post for differences in key live-action releases on video.

NOTE #3: Whatever films are omitted are not on this list because every home video release of those particular titles have always presented the film's opening credits in the correct manner. (i.e. every video release of SLEEPING BEAUTY keeps the Buena Vista logo at the start of the film.)

NOTE #4: Since this blog is run by an American, and Disney films are largely American productions, this page will focus on the American home video releases of these films. Special notes will be made of foreign releases that have done things first. (i.e. a UK video release of PINOCCHIO having the original RKO logo at the beginning, six years before a US release finally put it there.)

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937)

• 1994 video release: SNOW WHITE did not open with an RKO title card when it was originally released, or when it was re-released in 1944 and 1952. Instead, the RKO title card appears at the end of the film. On this release, no title card is used. The same goes for the 2001 video release. On the 2001 DVD bonus features, the original RKO closing card can be viewed.
• 2009 video release: The original closing RKO card is restored, the same sequence is on the 2016 video release.

PINOCCHIO (1940)

• 1985 video release: No distribution card, the credits - and 'When You Wish Upon a Star' - begin with the “Walt Disney presents” title card. Thus the song is missing its first 5 seconds...
• 1993 video release: Opens with a Buena Vista logo. The same sequence is on the 1999 and 2000 video releases.
• NOTE: The title card says "Distribution Co., Inc.", indicating that this comes specifically from a 1962 re-release print of the film.
• NOTE: International video releases from 1987 (such as the Australian and Swedish releases) contain this Buena Vista logo as well.
• 2009 video release: The original RKO logo opening is restored. The same sequence is on the 2017 video release.
• NOTE: The 2003 UK video release of PINOCCHIO was the first to restore the original RKO logo opening.

FANTASIA (1940)

• 1991 video release: Opens with a silent 1990 Walt Disney Pictures logo. No distribution cards, no RKO logo appears during the intermission. This print is from the film’s 1990 theatrical re-release.
• 2000 video release: The original intermission card with the RKO logo is restored. The same sequence is on the 2010 video release.

DUMBO (1941)

• 1981/82 video release: Opens with a blue MPAA rating bumper, then a silent Buena Vista logo. The same sequence is on the early pressings of the 1985 video release. This print is likely from the film’s 1972 or 1976 theatrical re-release.
• NOTE: The Buena Vista card says "Film Distribution, Co.", indicating that re-release prints of DUMBO were never updated, logo-wise, after its 1959 theatrical re-release. The presence of a blue MPAA bumper indicate it's from 1972 or 1976, as that graphic was introduced in 1970.
• NOTE: I had seen a 16mm 1970s American re-release print of DUMBO a decade ago, and in it, the Buena Vista logo was also silent.
• 1986 pressings of the 1985 video release: No distribution logo or accompanying music, credits abruptly start at the “Walt Disney presents” title card. The same goes for the late 1986 and late 1987 re-packagings of this release.
• 1991 video release: Opens with a Buena Vista logo, music is intact. The same sequence is used for the 1994 video release.
• NOTE: The Buena Vista logo is also a "Film Distribution Co., Inc." variant.
• 1995 LaserDisc: The original RKO logo opening is restored. This same sequence is used for every future video release. (2001, 2006, 2011, 2016)

BAMBI (1942)

• 1989 video release: No distribution logo appears, but the opening of the credits overture is heard. The same sequence is on the 1997 VHS.
• 1997 LaserDisc: The original RKO logo opening is restored. The same sequence is on the 2017 video release.
• 2005 video release: The opening notes of the credits music is heard over a shortened 1990 Walt Disney Pictures logo.
• 2011 video release: The opening notes of the credits music is heard over a shortened 2006 Walt Disney Pictures logo.

SALUDOS AMIGOS (1942)

• 1995 LaserDisc: Opens with a Buena Vista title card. Likely plastered, or from an international release of the film, since the film wasn't re-released theatrically in the U.S. after 1949. This sequence is also used for the 2000 and 2008 video releases, and the WALT & EL GRUPO 2010 DVD release, which contains SALUDOS AMIGOS as a bonus feature.
• 2018 video release: No distributor card. The “Walt Disney” presents card is extended to include the opening of the credits music that would normally play over an RKO or Buena Vista logo. This is how it also appears on Disney+.

THE THREE CABALLEROS (1944)

• 1982 video release: Opens with a Buena Vista title card. Likely sourced from a print from the film’s 1977 theatrical re-release, though the card is the pre-1966 Buena Vista. Perhaps it is sourced from an international release. This same sequence is used on the 1988 video release.
• 1994 video release: The original RKO logo opening is restored. The same sequence is on all future video releases. (2000, 2008, 2018)

MAKE MINE MUSIC (1946)

• 2000 video release: The original RKO logo opening is restored, despite the film being censored.

FUN & FANCY FREE (1947)

• 1982 video release: No distribution logo appears. The opening music starts with the “Walt Disney presents” title card, abruptly fading in.
• 1997 video release: The original RKO logo opening is restored. The same sequence is used on the 2000 and 2014 video releases.

MELODY TIME (1948)

• 1998 video release: Opens with the original RKO logo. The same occurs on the 2000 video release. It also opens that way on Disney+. The 1998 and 2000 video releases are censored, while the Disney+ version is not.

THE ADVENTURES OF ICHABOD & MR. TOAD (1949)

• 1992 LaserDisc: Unknown
• 1999 video release: Opens with the original RKO logo. The same occurs on the 2000 and 2014 video releases.

CINDERELLA (1950)

• 1988 video release: Opens with the 1985 Walt Disney Pictures logo with its traditional music. No distribution card follows, the music abruptly starts with the “Walt Disney presents” title card. Alternately, on the 1988 French-Canadian VHS, the opening of the credits overture is heard over the 1985 Walt Disney Pictures logo. This print is likely from the film’s 1987 theatrical re-release.
• 1995 LaserDisc: The original RKO logo opening is restored. The same sequence is on the 2012 video release.
• 1995 VHS: Opens with a Buena Vista logo.
• NOTE: This is a "Film Distribution Co, Inc." Buena Vista logo, so this was likely sourced from a 1957 theatrical re-release print.
• 2005 video release: The opening notes of the credits music is heard over a shortened 1990 Walt Disney Pictures logo

ALICE IN WONDERLAND (1951)

• 1981/82 video release: Opens with a blue MPAA rating bumper, then the Buena Vista logo. This print is likely from the film’s 1981, or even 1974 theatrical re-release.
• NOTE: Though ALICE IN WONDERLAND was never theatrically re-released in the U.S. before 1974, the Buena Vista logo used here is not only the pre-1966 version, but also the pre-1960 variant where it reads "Film Distribution Co., Inc."
• 1986 video release: The opening notes of the credits song are heard, but there is no distribution card. The same sequence is on the 1991 VHS.
• 1994 video release: The original RKO logo opening is restored. The sequence is used for every future video release. (1999, 2000, 2004, 2011, 2016)

PETER PAN (1953)

• 1990 video release: Opens with the 1985 Walt Disney Pictures logo with its traditional music. No distribution card follows, the music starts with the “Walt Disney presents” title card. On the LaserDisc, a silent Buena Vista logo appears at the end of the film. The print is likely from the film’s 1989 theatrical re-release.
• NOTE: The Buena Vista logo says "Film Distribution Co., Inc.", indicating that it was sourced from the 1958 theatrical re-release print and moved to the end of the film.
• 1998 video release: The original RKO logo opening is restored. The sequence is used for every future video release. (2002, 2007, 2013, 2018)

LADY AND THE TRAMP (1955)

• 1987 video release: The opening notes of the credits music are heard, but there is no distribution card accompanying them.
• 1998 video release: The original Buena Vista logo opening is restored. The sequence is used for every future video release. (2006, 2012, 2017)

ONE HUNDRED AND ONE DALMATIANS (1961)

• 1992 video release: Opens with the 1990 Walt Disney Pictures logo, the opening credits overture and credits start with the “Walt Disney presents” title card. The Buena Vista logo appears at the end of the film. This print is likely from the film’s 1991 theatrical re-release.
• 1999 video release: The original Buena Vista logo opening is restored. The sequence is used for every future video release. (2008, 2015)

THE SWORD IN THE STONE (1963)

• 1986 video release: No Buena Vista logo. The opening overture music and credits start with the “Walt Disney presents” title card.
• 1991 video release: The original Buena Vista logo opening is restored. The sequence is used for every future video release. (1994, 2000, 2008, 2013)

THE JUNGLE BOOK (1967)

• 1991 video release: No Buena Vista logo. The opening overture music and credits start with the “Walt Disney presents” title card. The same sequence is used on the film’s 1997 VHS.
• NOTE: The demo VHS of this release keeps the original Buena Vista logo intact.
• 1997 LaserDisc: Opens with the pre-1966 Buena Vista logo. The same sequence is used for the 1999 DVD release. The film actually opened with the 1966 Buena Vista logo.
• 2007 video release: The proper Buena Vista logo is restored. The sequence is used for every future video release. (2014)

THE ARISTOCATS (1970)

• 1996 video release: No Buena Vista logo. The opening overture music and credits start with the “Walt Disney Productions present” title card. The same sequence is used on the 2000 and 2008 video releases.
• 2012 video release: The original Buena Vista logo is restored.

ROBIN HOOD (1973)

• 1984 video release: No Buena Vista logo. The opening overture music and credits start with the “Walt Disney Productions present” title card. The same sequence is used on the 1991, 1994, 1999, and 2000 video releases.
• 2006 video release: The original Buena Vista logo is restored. The same sequence is on the 2013 video release.

THE RESCUERS (1977)

• 1992 video release: Opens with the Buena Vista logo. It’s shortened by a few seconds, so there aren’t a couple of seconds of silence preceding the thunderclap.
• 1999 video release: Opens with a silent 1985 Walt Disney Pictures logo. This print could be from the film’s 1989 theatrical re-release. The same sequence appears on the 2003 video release.
• 2012 video release: The original, full Buena Vista logo is restored. It also appears at the end of the film.

THE FOX AND THE HOUND (1981)

• 1994 video release: Opens with the Buena Vista logo. The same sequence appears on the 2000 and 2006 video releases.
• 2011 video release: Opens with the Buena Vista logo, which also appears at the end of the film.
• NOTE: This was the final Disney animated feature to have a Buena Vista logo at the start of the film. All future Disney animated features begin with a Walt Disney Pictures castle logo.

THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE (1986)

• 1992 video release: Opens with the 1990 Walt Disney Pictures logo, and uses the 1992 theatrical re-release titling: THE ADVENTURES OF THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE, despite the video cover using the original 1986 title. This goes for the 1999 and 2002 video releases.
• 2010 video release: Despite restoring the original GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE title card, the film opens with the 1990 Walt Disney Pictures logo. This is also used on the film’s 2012 video release.

OLIVER & COMPANY (1988)

• 1996 video release: Opens with the 1990 Walt Disney Pictures logo. This goes for all video releases of the film. (2002, 2009, 2013)

THE LITTLE MERMAID (1989)

• 1990 video release: Opens with the 1985 Walt Disney Pictures logo. The same sequence is used for the 1999 DVD. This is the film's original opening logo sequence.
• 1998 video release: Opens with the 1990 Walt Disney Pictures logo. This same sequence is used on the 2006 DVD. This is likely how the film opened on its 1997 theatrical re-release.
• 2013 video release: Opens with the 2006 Walt Disney Pictures logo. ("Disney" version) The same goes for the 2018 video release.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1991)

• 1992 video release: Opens with the 1990 Walt Disney Pictures logo. The same sequence is used for the 2002 video release. This is the film's original opening logo sequence.
• 2010 video release: Opens with the 2006 Walt Disney Pictures logo and the 2007 Walt Disney Animation Studios logo. The same goes for the 2016 and (presumably) 2020 video releases.

ALADDIN (1992)

• 1993 video release: Opens with the 1990 Walt Disney Pictures logo. The same goes for the 2004 video release. This is the film's original opening logo sequence.
• 2015 video release: Opens with the 2006 Walt Disney Pictures logo. ("Disney" version) The same goes for the 2019 video release.

THE LION KING (1994)

• 1995 video release: The 1990 Walt Disney Pictures logo is preceded by a text tribute to Frank Wells, who died months prior to the film’s release. He was President of Walt Disney Pictures. The Disney logo keeps the wilderness sound effects intact. This is the film's original opening logo sequence.
• 2003 video release: On the "Special Edition", the tribute to Frank Wells - now red instead of yellow - is moved to the end credits. On the "Theatrical Version" included on the disc (which it isn't, that's another story), the Wells tribute appears at the beginning. Both versions on the disc open with a custom Walt Disney Pictures logo with the same sound effects intact. This opening was made for the “Special Edition” IMAX re-release in 2002.
• 2011 video release: Opens with the 2006 Walt Disney Pictures logo ("Disney" version), but without the wilderness sound effects intact. The same sequence is used on the 2017 video release.

HERCULES (1997)

• 1998 video release: Opens with the 1990 Walt Disney Pictures logo. The same sequence used on the 2000 video release. This is the film's original opening logo sequence.
• 2014 video release: Opens with the 2006 Walt Disney Pictures logo. ("Disney" version)