Handbreak should be able to do exactly what you're asking. I don't know if you need VLC (I have it so it doesn't matter) but it can rip DVDs to .m4v files designed for various Apple products, including Apple TV, iPod, iPhone and iPad. I don't know if the current version supports the iPad (2012) and 1080p Apple TV, but if it doesn't, I'm sure it will soon. And even if it doesn't, you can use the iPad 2 and Apple TV formats on there and it will work fine (just not has high quality.