DISNEY PLANS HOME INVASION NEW DVDS TO FUEL MARKETING BLITZ.

Byline: Greg Hernandez Staff Writer

BURBANK - Walt Disney Home Entertainment announced Friday that it will launch its largest video marketing campaign ever to promote the fall release of the box office smash ``Monsters, Inc.''

The enhanced, two-disc ``Monsters, Inc.'' package is part of Disney's ambitious 2002 home video slate, which also includes a four-disc collector's edition of ``Pearl Harbor''; the comedy ``Snow Dogs''; a special edition of ``Beauty and the Beast''; and straight-to-video sequels to ``Tarzan,'' ``Cinderella'' and ``The Hunchback of Notre Dame.''

``I think this could be our greatest period ever,'' said Robert Chapek, president of Disney's Buena Vista Home Entertainment. ``We really have products across all categories and genres.''

Disney is particularly bullish on the prospects for ``Monsters,'' which will hit stores Sept. 17. The company would not release dollar figures, but Chapek said the marketing campaign would be the most expensive his division has ever put together, surpassing the cost and scope of extensive campaigns for the videos of ``Toy Story 2'' and ``The Lion King.''

``It's bigger than anything we've done and is aimed at a number of target audiences,'' Chapek said. ``This is a movie that has an extraordinary appeal, not only to families but to nonfamily audiences as well. As a result, we think the potential sales could be extraordinary.''

The ``Monsters'' video will include a new animated short called ``Mike's New Car'' featuring Billy Crystal and John Goodman reprising their characters from the film, a musical number called ``Company Play'' that was cut from the movie, and several other extras.

``Monsters'' was by far Disney's biggest box office hit last year, grossing $252 million domestically. Chapek boldly predicts that on video, ``Monsters'' will surpass the phenomenal sales of its box office and Oscar rival from DreamWorks, ``Shrek,'' which has generated more than $436 million in video sales and rentals so far.

Prior to the home release of ``Monsters,'' Disney will unveil a new DVD version of ``Pearl Harbor'' on July 2. It includes director Michael Bay's uncut version of the film with 60 new shots, many much more graphic than what was seen in the original film. It will also include 12 hours of new supplemental material.

The theatrical version of the war film was released on DVD and VHS just before Christmas, but Chapek said the new collector's edition is so substantially different that its prospects should not be dimmed by the version already on store shelves.

``Beauty and the Beast: Special Edition'' will go on sale Oct. 8 for a limited time, much like last years' ``Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.'' Both movies are branded as part of Disney's ``Platinum Series'' loaded with video extras and interactive activities. The two-disc ``Beauty'' DVD will include three separate versions of the film, including the original 1991 release and a digitally restored version with greater animation detail and an additional song.

Disney also announced Friday that its hit comedy, ``Snow Dogs'' starring Cuba Gooding Jr. will hit store shelves on May 21, a quick leap to video considering the film is still in the top 10 at the box office, grossing $72.6 million to date.

``Retailers were asking for product, and we kind of hustled to get it out,'' Chapek said.

In addition, the studio will release a 30th anniversary edition on VHS of ``The Best of Schoolhouse Rock,'' with the catchy tunes like ``Conjunction Junction'' and ``I'm Just a Bill'' that taught millions of children the fundamentals of math, grammar, science and history.