Disney felt that if they had released their animated films on home video after their runs in theater, it wouldn't have been a profitable move. People were so used to seeing theater reissues of their favorite Disney films, that Disney didn't feel their audiences were ready to adapt to the home video market just yet. It was only after Mermaid became a success that due to the majority of audiences requesting for a home video release, Disney obliged.
Because of the success of Mermaid in both Theaters and on Home Video, Disney finally decided to get all of their 1980s animated films home video, and they made their debut on Home Video every two years (seemingly in order of popularity): The Great Mouse Detective in 1992, The Fox and the Hound in 1994, Oliver & Company in 1996, and The Black Cauldron in 1998.
Also, consider that when Disney first entered the home video market in the early 80s, these were the only films in the animated cannon on home video:
* Dumbo (Disney's cheapest film to make, following the financial failures of Pinnochio and Fantasia).
* The Three Caballeros (I believe this was the most successful of their package films from the 40's).
* Fun and Fancy Free (IBID)
* Alice in Wonderland (Developed a huge cult following from College students, and now considered a success ever since its 2nd release in 1974, the film was initially a financial failure when it was first released in 1951).
* The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Was cheap and profitable enough for Disney during what they considered their dark period).
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TalesfromTheCryptfan
13 years ago
Oh yes Fox and The Hound was another one i remembered seeing 3 times when i was 6 in its 88 re-issue and wanting that on video. I bet the kids of the 80s besides myself were upset that they never came to video but only GMD and Oliver got re-issues in theaters while the rest came to video.
"You killed Captain Clown, YOU KILLED CAPTAIN CLOWN"-The Joker
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