The original 1983 version of Jedi began with the painted 20th Century Fox logo, which was updated in 1997 to the new digital logo that identified Fox as a News Corporation company.
The plain green Lucasfilm Limited card was replaced in 1997 with an animated presentation, though the 'new' logo had been in existence since before 1977.
The compositing on this TIE fighter was improved, as its lower wings appeared transparent in the original film.
Garbage matte artifacts that surrounded the TIE fighter elements in this shot were eliminated.
The new "Jedi Rocks" segment begins with a previously unused shot from the original film, but with a bluescreen Rappertunie puppet element added to the stage. Note that first shot is the only one of the puppet Sy Snootles in the 2004 version.
The enlarged band consists of CG characters, new costumed characters, and digitally composited archival footage of Max Rebo, as can be seen in this comparison.
The original musical number was 26 shots long. The new one is 43 shots long, and includes original footage that did not appear in the 1983 film.
The wide shots of the band also include composited archival footage of Gargan, the "fat dancer" as well as new CG characters, Sy Snootles and Joh Yowza.
Costumed extras include new horn players and backup dancers with skimpy wardrobe. Sy Snootles' mic-stand is gone, as she now uses a floating microphone.
A comparison of the original puppet Sy Snootles and the new digital incarnation.
Previously unused archival footage formed a backdrop for a new bluescreen element of Boba Fett walking across frame.
New characters include alien drummers, shot as performers in costume on stage.
Another replacement of Sy Snootles with the more mobile digital version.
The original struggle between Oola and Jabba played out in over-the-shoulder shots, and no single shot contained the two of them face-to-face. A new shot was cobbled together digitally.
In the changing edit of Oola's struggle, the above shot is no longer in the mix, but the below shot (unseen archival footage) was added.
The 1997 Special Edition added these shots of Oola in the rancor pit, which were shot with the same actress (Femi Taylor) reprising the role after over a decade.
These new shots of Boba Fett flirting with Rystáll were added in the 1997 Special Edition release.
Compositing limitations meant the split screen between the live action elements and the miniature rancor was quite apparent in the 1983 version.
The original rancor hand suffered from poor compositing that left it looking shallow with a heavy black outline.
The foreground rancor is recomposited with a smoother, blurred edge and truer color values.
Here, it is Luke who is added into the frame, benefiting greatly from a digital re-composite of elements.
The foreground rancor blurs more realistically, without the harsh matte edge.
The bluescreen element of Luke blends into the background much better in the new version.
Dark, fast-moving objects photochemically composited suffer from harsh edges, making it look more like a cut-out.
Again, the foreground rancor blurs more realistically.
The original footage of the foreground rancor had a very heavy matte edge.
The rancor keeper gets a digital re-composite, more effectively marrying him to his miniature background.
The trip to the Dune Sea now begins with a new shot of a bantha herd (live action elements digitally replicated), which transitions to a new shot of the barge and skiffs.
The original hand-drawn shadows beneath the model elements are now replaced with more realistic digital shadows that properly fall onto the desert surface.
Furthermore, the barge model was originally populated by a hand-animated silhouette man, which has been replaced with a real-life extra shot against bluescreen.
This approach shot not only features new shadows, but the leading skiff has been repositioned to more properly convey the perspective of this assembled shot.
In this shot, the center skiff is a composite element, and its hand-animated shadow has been replaced with a more realistic digital one. Bluescreen extras replace the hand-animated characters on the upper deck of the barge. Also, the Sarlacc has been enhanced.
The Sarlacc now has a set of animated tentacles and beak.
The close-up view of the Sarlacc's maw now contains its new digital features.
The second skiff has been recomposited, and its hand-drawn shadow has been replaced with a digital one that falls along the correct path.
The moving skiff, a model element, has been scaled up to better fit the perspective of the shot. Its shadow has been redone. The Sarlacc has been updated.
This shot now has the new Sarlacc.
The hand-drawn animated characters on the upper deck of the barge are replaced with bluescreen extras.
As the first skiff guard tumbles into the Sarlacc, animated tentacles are added to the shot.
This Weequay skiff guard now falls directly into the Sarlacc's beaked mouth.
The Sarlacc's flailing tentacles have been added to the bottom of this frame.
The Boba Fett element originally suffered from poor compositing; with a digital composite, it better retains its blur against the bright blue sky.
The Sarlacc's beak and tentacles are added to the shot where Boba tumbles into the pit.
Tentacles and beak are added to this high overhead shot of the Sarlacc.
The animated Sarlacc elements are added to this hand-held shot.
Sarlacc tentacles are added to this shot.
In order to explain how Han mysteriously supported himself on the skiff before Chewbacca grabbed his ankles, the Special Edition added these cables to this shot.
This skiff guard gets tugged directly into the Sarlacc's mouth now.
Flailing tentacles were added to the bottom of this frame.
As Lando reacts to the Sarlacc grabbing him, the beast's beak now emerges from the pit. Curiously, the live action element of Lando now features a previously unused take, as the action does not match the original.
The Sarlacc reels Lando in, now with digital beak and tentacles.
The Special Edition added a reaction shot of the Sarlacc recoiling in pain after being shot by Han. There is no corresponding 1983 version of this shot.
The foreground skiff element is slightly repositioned to better fit the perspective of the background plate.
The shadow element now has the correct consistency in this shot.
The starship elements have been recomposited here, eliminating the heavy black matte lines that surrounded them.
The black R2 unit was used in bluescreen shots during the original trilogy. Its panels have been colorized to the proper blue hue.
These TIE fighter elements have been recomposited, eliminating their harsh black outlines.
The pterodactyl-like creatures (bogwings) have been recomposited into this frame.
This shot originally contained heavy effects artifacting on Luke Skywalker, a side-effect of the composite that made Obi-Wan transparent and luminous. The newer version gets rid of the jitter and outlines.
The color differences between the live action elements and surrounding matte painting are smoothed over in the newer version of this shot.
The Death Star graphics in the background were composited into the frame, and originally featured a hazy black outline to fit behind Vader. Now, that outline has been smoothed.
Very little of the speeder bike chase has been changed, though the rough effects artifact on the right-hand side of the frame has been lessened.
The garbage matte artifacting that surrounded many of the Rebel fighters -- appearing as gray boxes -- has been lessened.
The garbage matte artifacting that surrounded the Falcon in this shot has been removed.
A recomposite of this dense shot has resulted in better outlines around the TIE ships. Also, the Falcon's laser blast is now the correct color.
A few frames later; the original composite has misregistered TIE fighters -- distant ships that were layered in front of the Falcon. The new version corrects this.
Heavy garbage matte artifacting that surrounded the blockade runner and Rebel transports in this shot has been eliminated.
A few frames later, the edges around the closest TIE interceptor appear more natural thanks to a digital composite. Also, some missing Mon Cal cruisers have been added back in on the left side of the frame.
In 2004, Anakin Skywalker's bushy eyebrows have been digitally removed to better suit the depiction of a burn victim here.
The eyebrows were removed from the reverse angle as well,
In addition to the eyebrow removal, Anakin's eye color has been adjusted to match his prequel depiction.
More eyebrow removal.
This shot now has the Rebel fleet move away from the Death Star; originally, it remained stationary.
The explosion of the Death Star now features a ring-like shockwave, and the Falcon element has been digitally recomposited.
The original pan-up from the funeral pyre had a different treeline and X-wing effects.
The Special Edition added shots of citizens of Cloud City rejoicing.
Also in the Special Edition, a brief shot of Mos Eisley.
Naboo was added to the celebration in the 2004 DVD release.
Coruscant was first revealed in the 1997 Special Edition, but the 2004 DVD release updated the skyline to include the Senate dome in the background.
The 2004 DVD also added the Jedi Temple to this 1997 shot of Coruscant.
The forest floor was originally unpopulated in this matte painting; the Special Edition added visible Ewoks.
These shots of Ewoks and Rebels celebrating were newly added to the Special Edition.
These expanded views of the Ewok village square -- complete with background matte paintings -- were added to the Special Edition.
This shot of Luke congratulating Wedge is not in the original 1983 theatrical release.
The element of an older Anakin as a Force spirit was replaced in 2004 with the younger Anakin from the prequels.
The original film only had two shots of the Force ghosts. A new shot was added in 2004. (There is no corresponding shot in the 1983 edition).
Note that only Anakin's head has been replaced; that's the same body from the 1983 theatrical version.
The comma separating the costume designers' names has been removed.
The comma separating the creature designers' names has been removed.
The original credits had listing for English, Huttese and Ewokese lyrics -- since the sequences were changed, the credits were removed.
The Special Edition credits begin after the listing of the stunt performers.
