Well when they released Beauty to IMAX, they did redraw some of the characters in the background. This was because on a regular sized screen, you wouldn't notice the lack of detail like you would on an IMAX screen. Since the Human Again sequence was put in, the SE has background redrawn to put the castle back into shape. This is were the branching comes in. Technically the whole SE wasn't released on DVD. To save disc space, the video reverts back to the original after Belle leaves. Basically the Beast trashes the place again after this.

So the original still has some SE elements, while the SE has some oiginal elements. I wonder if the SE is intact on the VHS release.

As for the aspect ratio, most animated films are shot open matte. Hence it was filmed in 1:66:1, but was intended to be viewed in 1:85:1. Hence 1:85:1 is the correct aspect ratio.

As for the Little Mermaid, according to IMDB, the laserdisc is 1:85:1. The old DVD is opened up to 1:66:1. THe new DVD is somewhat cropped down to HD standard 1:78:1

As for the tail, while remastering my be the case, I still think it's moe likely that whomever mastered it thought it was supposed to be more green and color corrected it. I still have to compare sources.

As far as I know, the DVD contains the film as presented in the 1997 rerelease. The video should be unaltered. The audio was remixed if I'm not mistaken.

I'm clearing disc space at the moment, and may consider going about swapping the scenes about. Anyone able to rip the original laserdisc for the audio?