In an effort to jump start the kinda sluggish-to-catch-on (for good reasons) new DVD format, Disney announced plans to release five of their classics in Blu-Ray over the next two years.

The films are “Pinocchio,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Fantasia,” “Fantasia 2000” and “Beauty and the Beast.” The company had previously announced plans to introduce one such title, “Sleeping Beauty.”

All the DVDs will include unusual features geared toward a generation that embraces interactivity and social networking. Viewers can watch a movie in tandem with friends in other locations, while they chat using a laptop or cellphone (the comments appear on the screen).

Viewers will also be able to compete against others around the world at trivia or send what Disney is calling movie mail, video images of themselves that appear within the context of the movie.

Such activities are possible because of a technology called BD Live that connects Blu-ray discs with the Internet.

Truthfully, the extras sound kind of dopey (ZING), and Fantasia 2000 is kind of a screwy pick. But hey, if I can traumatize entertain my kid with Monstro, fighting dinosaurs, and giant, mountain-dwelling demons in HD, I’m all for it.

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