Novel and reproducible uniaxial negative birefringent compensators for twisted nematic liquid crystal displays which are operated in the normally white mode have been developed for improving viewing angle characteristics and contrast ratio. The compensator design is based on the in-plane orientation of solution-cast aromatic semi-rigid polyimide films which possess a high degree of transmission and a birefringence dispersion similar to the liquid crystals over the visible spectral region. The films have been assembled into liquid crystal displays, and the isocontrast map of the displays using this compensator has shown that the viewing angle has been extended 10 degrees or more on each side along the horizontal direction compared to that of the uncompensated displays.