Video images that have been "compressed" to adapt a video frame where it is stored on DVD. The word "anamorphic" and its derivates derive from the Greek words meaning formed again. These images should be expanded (uncompressed) for a device of the screen. A growing number of televisions using either a screen with a 16:9 or any form of vision "enhanced for widescreen" so that the anamorphic and any other material wide screen can be seen in its own dimensions. When the anamorphic video is shown on a normal TV with a screen size 4:3 images appear abnormally long and narrow.

Anamorphic illusions drawn in a special distortion in order to create an impression of 3 dimensions when seen from one particular viewpoint. As you can see, the image fills the frame, while retaining its full vertical resolution. The picture quality is stunning. Visually, it's nearly indistinguishable from a non-anamorphic (letterboxed) DVD image.

Anamorphic images appear distorted when displayed on a 4:3 display. Anamorphic images may be restored to 16:9 by a widescreen display or a converter that stretches the image back to its original shape.