Confusion about "Sorcerer's Apprentice" segment in Fantasia 2000 (1 Viewer)

[Clint B]

Hi. I just got the Fantasia Anthology on DVD, and I have a question about the "Sorcerer's Apprentice" segment as it relates to aspect ratios. I have a Sony Wega TV that does the "anamorphic squeeze." When I was watching Fantasia 2000 last night, I turned off the squeeze when "Sorcerer's Apprentice" came on, because I know that it's from the original Fantasia, and therefore not in widescreen. However, I did notice that there were bars on the sides of the TV when the segment was playing. If the original Fantasia was a 1.33:1 aspect ratio, then why would there be black bars on the sides? Even if you want to be techincally correct and say the original Fantasia's OAR is 1.37:1, it is such a small difference that there should be no perceptible black bars on the sides of the screen. Can anyone educate me here, please? Thanks for your help.

 

[rutger_s]

The Sorcerer's Apprentice is presented in anamorphic windowbox during Fantasia 2000. This preserves the aspect ratio for the new segments(framed at 1.85:1 flat) and the aspect ratio for the original segment(framed at 1.33:1 academy). On standard 4:3 TVs, anamorphic windowbox presentations will have black bars surrounding the image.

JFK and Galaxy Quest are other films that have anamorphic windowboxed portions.

Basically the 1.33:1 framed film is centered in a 1.78:1 or 1.85:1 frame which creates the black bars around the picture.

 

[Clint B]

Thanks, rutger_s. I didn't even think of that possibility. I guess I'll watch that segment with "the squeeze" still on, then.

 

[Brian Kidd]

Just think how crappy it looks to us 4:3 owners when they windowbox and anamorphically encode a 1.33:1 film. My player removes every third line of resolution in addition to having bars on all sides. I'm glad I have the original film. I skip SA on F2K when I watch it. *shudder*

 

[rutger_s]

The Sorcerer's Apprentice still looks good during Fantasia 2000 even with the anamorphic downconversion.

Its better then having an altered presentation like American Legends. Or having to change you 16:9 TV setting when The Sorcerer's Apprentice segment begin to play.

 

[DaViD Boulet]

Just think how crappy it looks to us 4:3 owners when they windowbox and anamorphically encode a 1.33:1 film. My player removes every third line of resolution in addition to having bars on all sides. I'm glad I have the original film. I skip SA on F2K when I watch it. *shudder*

I'm trying hard to think of a solution to this problem...
trying even harder...
...hmmm...
a 16x9 display
After watcing your anamorphic movies on a 16x9 display you'll be saying "Just think how crappy those letterboxed transfers look on a 4x3 display"...

 

[Mark-W]

I think within the rest of the pieces,
it makes sense that they did a anamorphic
print of The Sorcerer's Apprentice
for Fantasia 2000.
Still, within a normal context, I do NOT
support anamorphic enhancement for Academy Ratio
films. Enhancement should be done all on all
films with an AR of 1.66:1 or greater.
Mark

 

[Michael St. Clair]

Still, within a normal context, I do NOT support anamorphic enhancement for Academy Ratio films. Enhancement should be done all on all films with an AR of 1.66:1 or greater.

Agreed, removing 180 horizontal lines of resolution is hardly "enhancement". Yet, occasionally somebody with a set having a poorly designed 4:3 mode proposes such a draconian measure.