Mumbai: The Platinum edition of 101 Dalmatians, the 1961 cult animation film from Disney, is being released on DVD. The DVD released by Excel Home Videos, has been digitally restored with enhanced picture and sound quality. The DVD is being released for the first time in India. This film, the highest grossing film of 1961 and one of the studio’s most popular films of the decade is based on the novel of the same name by Dodie Smith.

The film features Rod Taylor as the voice of Pongo, the first of the Dalmatians, and Betty Lou Gerson as the voice of the villainous Cruella de Vil, one of the most memorable characters from the Disney franchise. The DVD is one of the biggest summer releases this year.  

Says Excel Home Videos (Licensee for Disney Home Entertainment) managing director M N Kapasi, "The film has picked up extremely well with the on-going vacations and we have released additional quantities in the market."

The film was path breaking as it signaled a change in the graphic style of Disney’s animation. This occurred with the introduction of xerography which eased graphic reproduction requirements.

101 Dalmatians has charmed audiences for generations with its irresistible tail-wagging stars, memorable story and wonderful blend of humor and adventure. The DVD is packed with bonus features including a ‘Virtual Dalmatians’ game, 101 Pop-Up Trivia Facts, Language games, deleted songs, the inspiration behind Disney’s most outrageous villain, a new music video by Selena Gomez and the correspondence between Walt Disney and the author of the book.

Cruella De Vil, Disney’s most outrageous villain, sets the fur-raising adventure in motion when she dognaps all of the Dalmatian puppies in London — including 15 from Pongo and Perdita’s family. Through the power of the Twilight Bark, Pongo leads a heroic cast of animal characters on a dramatic quest to rescue them all in a story the whole family will enjoy again and again.