Fantasia was the favorite brainchild of Walt Disney, his dream of bringing music and animation together in a concert that celebrated the imagination. He got a boost when he had dinner one night with the famed conductor Leopold Stokowski. Stokowski was enthusiastic about the idea, and they began the concept as a short with Mickey Mouse and the music from Dukas' The Sorcerer's Apprentice. From there, it grew into a feature-length animated film with seven sections that merged the music of classical composers with the imagination and art of Disney animators, in segments that were either stories or purely abstract.
Disney marketed the film as an "experience", with reserved seating and the first stereo sound system, and it was a financial failure despite critical acclaim. However, excellence will tell, and in the 60+ years since it was released, it has remained a popular favorite, gaining more and more fans. Walt envisioned it as an ongoing show, with the repertoire changing at least once a year, but that was not to be. However, Roy Disney continued it in a way when he brought Fantasia 2000 to the screen.
If you haven't seen Fantasia, get ready for a ride! It's divided into segments, with each segment a musical number combined with an animated story or abstract representation of the music, and each segment is completely different from the others. Music, animation, color, concept, imagination, humor... all are superb. This movie is a unique experience and... an adventure!
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Segments:
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor ~ Johann Sebastian Bach
This segment is abstract, a series of random images that follow the music. Focusing first on the orchestra, it then moves into a series of moving images, some of which look familiar (clouds, violin bows) and some of which are totally abstract. While I don't care for abstract art, the music is vigorous enough to keep me watching.
The Nutcracker Suite ~ Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The familiar dances of this suite are given a new twist, highlighting Nature. They are performed by fairies (who bring the seasons), flowers, goldfish, and even mushrooms. I've heard this suite so often that I can hardly bear to listen to it normally, but it's a delight when combined with these lush, gorgeous, natural and magical images.
The Sorcerer's Apprentice ~ Paul Dukas
This segment tells a story. Everyone's favorite mouse, Mickey, stars as the apprentice who steals his master's magic and gets a broom to do his job for him, carrying water from the well to the cauldron. He naps and dreams of controlling the universe, but while he does, his broom floods the room, and every effort of Mickey's to halt the disaster just make it worse, naturally. Great fun, and a classic segment that also appears in Fantasia 2000.
The Rite of Spring ~ Igor Stravinsky
This also tells a story, the story of the beginnings of life on Earth, from the time when the Earth was nothing but a ball of lava until the end of the dinosaurs. It's accurate enough to have been shown in schools, in science class (which is where I originally saw it). Set to Stravinsky's unmelodious modern music, this piece is starkly beautiful and grim.
Meet the Soundtrack
Another abstract segment. The narrator of the introduction and "interstitials" introduces us to "the soundtrack", a single line that produces a kaleidoscope effect when different instruments are played.
The Pastoral Symphony ~ Ludwig van Beethoven
This music is given an almost comically lush treatment. It's set on mythical Mt. Olympus, and some of the gods do make an appearance. But most of the action is the bacchanalian revels of improbably colored (as in pink, green, blue, etc.) unicorns, centaurs, flying horses, fauns, and cherubs. A drunken Bacchus appears, and all is fun until a storm comes up.
Dance of the Hours ~ Amilcare Ponchielli
This piece of music was considered too familiar (it had been lampooned often), but the Disney version is less a satire than a hilarious riot. Unwieldy ostriches, elephants, and hippopotomi dance like ballerinas. They have to be seen to be believed. Then some dashingly dastardly alligators show up, and the ballet becomes a chase. I don't think anyone can get through this without laughing out loud.
Night on Bald Mountain ~ Modeste Moussorgsky
Ave Maria ~ Franz Schubert
From the ridiculous to the profane to the sublime. After the last segment, the ominous music of Moussorgsky is at first starkly sobering, and then when the images begin (of a Satanic rite during Walpurgis/Halloween night), downright scary. The enormous devil presiding over the demonic rituals is one of Disney's most chilling and imposing characters. He is subdued by the rising sun, however, and the devils and demons return to their graves while a dawn processional crosses a bridge and enters a cathedral-like forest to the strains of the Ave Maria (which I personally think is one of the most perfect tunes ever written). This contrast between the two pieces of music is an impressive ending to the movie.
Characters:
Because there are so many characters in this movie, I'm limiting my list to those who have pages on the site ~
The Dancing Mushrooms from The Nutcracker Suite
Mickey Mouse from The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Ben Ali Gator from Dance of the Hours
Elephanchine from Dance of the Hours
Hyacinth Hippo from Dance of the Hours
Mademoiselle Upanova from Dance of the Hours
Chernabog from Night on Bald Mountain
Favorite images:Toccata and Fugue in D Minor
The Nutcracker Suite
I love the sleepily bored expression on this fairy.
One of my personal favorite images from the whole movie
I love the colors on these three
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
~ Kat
For more images, check out the Fantasia Gallery
Fanfic:Forces of Nature ~ by Girlmew007
Disney quest by Sarah
Fantasia Crisis by Lord Akiyama (with Goblinqueeen)
Fan art:The Spring Sprite by JessKat
The Spring Spirit by Alemeda
The Forest Sprite by Vivienne
Fantasia 2000 Art by Vivienne
The Spring Spirit by the youghurtbear
Fantasia Art by Lisa
The Sprite of Spring by Kuzco_Krazy
Fantasia 2000 by Yvorie
The Sprite of Spring by Plutochick
Crossover Art by Steph*
Fantasia 2000by W. Blakely
Fantasia by Zair
Fantasia by Ramoth
