The terrific and timeless Peter Pan arrives in stunning high-definition.

When one inspects a list of animated films released by Disney in the 1950’s, four immediately stand out: Cinderella (1950), Peter Pan (1953), Lady and the Tramp (1955), and Sleeping Beauty (1959).  It was an extraordinary decade to be sure, especially when one considers that the studio’s last memorable feature was 1942’s Bambi, and its next wouldn’t be until 1967’s The Jungle Book.  For me, Peter Pan is tops among that classic period: brash in its adventurism, employing cutting-edge drawn animation, and filled with too many classic themes to mention (bravery, friendship, trust), it’s still a great picture to watch.  Peter Pan makes a triumphant arrival on Blu-ray, reminding us that the Mouse still has what it takes to bring their classic films into the hi-def age.

With its eye to adventure and whimsy, Peter Pan is as classic a tale of any which Disney has attempted over its storied past.  In a time long before CGI, its animation still holds our attention, reminding us of the brilliance of its creators; in its story, we see a modified re-telling of J.M. Barrie’s 1904 play, but one that still appeals to young and old, boy or girl.  Who can’t identify with the high-flying Peter, or the muted but precocious Tinkerbell, now as important a figure in the Disney world as any other?  The film has survived its racial stereotypes fairly well, but you still hear the muted complaints of some who are still offended with Tiger Lily and the Indians.  No matter, for Peter Pan is still at the top, enjoyable from its opening to its climatic battle featuring Captain Hook.  I could continue to extol its virtues, but none seem neither sufficient nor necessary.

Peter Pan swings into Blu-ray with a gorgeous MPEG-4/AVC transfer that’s as good as any in Disney’s updated collection.  As with Cinderella, the studio apparently used the mother of all master prints to bring the world of Never Land and London to life.  And boy, do those worlds look amazing.  At first glance, audiences will notice vibrant colors in every frame, almost as if they were given life in modern times, not 1953.  But look deeper and you’ll see dark inked lines around the characters, deep shadows and blacks, and the total absence of dirt in any frame, while still preserving just enough grain to look good on any platform.  Of course, there is zero haloing or edge enhancement present, but the criticism around the digital water cooler appears to be focusing on a different aspect.  Some have claimed that the image looks too good, that the print is bereft of any grain and that the colors are too cartoon-ish.  I beg to differ on the previous and chuckle at the latter.  If it was Disney’s intent to create an updated transfer that would match their current lot of films, then the results did just that.  The only way you could conceivably hate this transfer is if the idea of a dirty print is your cup of tea.  If so, then you’ll hate Peter Pan as much as you did Cinderella.  Love it or not, there is no doubt that Disney brings its ‘A game’ to every restoration.  Whether fans like the outcome is a fair subject for debate; but in my mind, such effort would be wasted.  Disney has once again proven their utter mastery of the restoration – its final product accomplishes nothing short of fully ushering it into the hi-def age.

The only criticism I have for Peter Pan is in its Master Audio 7.1 surround sound presentation.  While its canons roar and swords clash with amazing clarity, we’re still talking about a soundfield created in 1953, when lossless audio wasn’t even a phrase.  As a result, the semi-immersive field is missing something very minor that audiophiles will pick up immediately.  It sounds more flat than anything else, a fact which persisted in the Cinderella release.  But don’t let this dissuade you from considering a purchase.  The  jungle of Never Land is more immersive than ever, filled with the perfect mix of environmental effects to keep fans happy.  The music and singing is rousing and incredibly clear, even if the LFE is somewhat muted throughout.  Again, write that off to 1953.  Some might have wished that Disney would add new effects or amp up the LFE, but I believe this would have amounted to a betrayal of the original source.  Should they have added a lossless track?  Yes.  Does its lack of one ruin the experience?  No.  Peter Pan features a terrific audio transfer, one that respects the original while ushering it (albeit incompletely) into high-definition.

Among my favorite aspects of this release is the impressive amount of supplements offered by Disney.  It appears most, if not all, of the DVD features have been ported over, along with several new items that viewers will find alluring.

• Introduction by Diane Disney-Miller (HD): Diane Disney-Miller opens things with a quick introduction to the film, briefly encapsulating her father’s love for the J.M. Barrie tale and the visuals created during the film’s production.
• Audio Commentary: Roy Disney offers up many insightful thoughts during the ported-over commentary, taking listeners on a deep journey through almost every aspect of the film. Disney’s voice is not only one here, as we hear excerpts from the voice actors, filmmakers, and animators.  It’s an efficient presentation to be sure.
• Growing Up with Nine Old Men (HD, 41 minutes): If you own the Blu-ray copy of Cinderella, you’ll be aware of the Nine Old Men.  These lead animators, euphemistically called that by Walt Disney, are featured again, along with several of their children.
• Deleted Songs and Scenes (HD, 15 minutes): This is the most fascinating portion of the supplements.  Offered for the first time are brand-new segments from Disney’s vault: two deleted scenes and two deleted songs.  These aren’t completed scenes but rather a variety of original studio items which have been compiled into the following: The Journey Home, Alternate Arrival, Never Smile at a Crocodile, and The Boatswain Song.  None of these would have changed the film’s outcome, but the mere fact they appear here is much appreciated.
• Classic DVD Bonus Features – Backstage Disney (SD, 65 minutes): As the title appears, we are presented five behind-the-scenes features and documentaries that were ported over from the DVD.  Segments include You Can Fly: The Making of Peter Pan, In Walt’s Words: Why I Made Peter Pan, Tinker Bell: A Fairy’s Tale, The Peter Pan that Almost Was, and The Peter Pan Story.
• Classic DVD Bonus Features – Music & More (HD/SD, 17 minutes): Check out Disney Song Selection, Deleted Song: The Pirate Song, Never Land: The Lost Song, Music Video: Never Land, and Music Video: The Second Star to the Right.
• Disney Intermission (HD): In an effort to keep our televisions from burning images into the screens when we hit the PAUSE button, Disney offers several interesting Pirate Training clips which are geared to the younger audience.  These short video clips and mini-activities, hosted by Jolly Roger, can provide hours of enjoyment to the youngsters by themselves.  Then, you can press ENTER on your remote when you’re done to enjoy the rest of the movie.
• Peter Pan Sing-Along (HD): Enable this in the main menu and enjoy subtitled lyrics on the screen each time our voice actors engage in a song.
• DisneyView Side Bars (HD): Among the many things to like about this release, you can replace the black bars on either side of the image with artwork from Disney background painter Cristy Maltese.  They look fabulous next to the film.
• Sneak Peeks (HD, 14 minutes): Way too many previews are included here, including those on Blu-ray.  We’re also presented with several Disney Junior and Walt Disney World promotional ads.  Yuck.

While our evaluation copy is wrapped in a beautiful slipcase, fans of Best Buy’s Viva Metal Packs will be disappointed to learn that none was offered, nor was any alternate collectible case offered by any America retailer.  Combine that with the fact that Peter Pan did not receive a theatrical re-release (as was done with Cinderella), and something smells fishy.  Gladly, we are offered a separate DVD and Digital Copy with the Diamond Edition.

Disney’s re-release of Peter Pan only makes the classic even better.  Bolstered by an impressive video transfer, a good (but unimpressive) soundfield, and a complete set of supplements, the film proudly stands next to any in their library.  While some criticism might cloud its release, true fans and newbies alike should enjoy the results of Disney’s efforts.  Welcome back to Never Land.