The “format war” that studios and consumers were hoping would never happen will begin this fall, with the announcement by Warner Bros, Paramount and Universal of their initial offerings on HD-DVD. Many of the titles represent recent blockbusters and classic contemporary films, with special effects films and animation-related films surprisingly high on the list, including high definition bows for Forrest Gump, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow, Sleepy Hollow, The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie (all Paramount), Contact, Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone/Chamber Of Secrets/Prisoner Of Azkaban, The Mask, The Matrix Trilogy, Spawn, Troy (from Warners), and Van Helsing, Apollo 13, 12 Monkeys, Dune and Waterworld (Universal).

As a co-developer and chief advocate of the format, Warner Home Video really is throwing themselves behind the launch, with several even-yet-to-open-theatrically titles already lined up for HD-DVD release, including this summer’s Batman Begins, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, The Dukes of Hazzard and House Of Wax, as well as recent hits Ocean’s Twelve and The Polar Express. For real animated delights, we’ll have to see what Disney offers us on the competing Blu-Ray format, developed and being pushed by Sony. DVD File has the full list – sadly we consumers can only stand on the sidelines as the battle begins…