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Leopold Stokowski, Bela Lugosi, Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, Walt Disney, Deems Taylor ... see more see more... , Mickey Mouse , Hugh Douglas , James MacDonald , Julietta Novis

Fantasia, Walt Disney's animated masterpiece of the 1940s, grew from a short-subject cartoon picturization of the Paul Dukas musical piece The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Mickey Mouse was starred in this e... read more read more...ight-minute effort, while the orchestra was under the direction of Leopold Stokowski. Disney and Stokowski eventually decided that the notion of marrying classical music with animation was too good to confine to a mere short subject; thus the notion was expanded into a two-hour feature, incorporating seven musical selections and a bridging narration by music critic Deems Taylor. The first piece, Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor", was used to underscore a series of abstract images. The next selection, Tschiakovsky's "Nutcracker Suite", is performed by dancing wood-sprites, mushrooms, flowers, goldfish, thistles, milkweeds and frost fairies. The Mickey Mouse version of "Sorcerer's Apprentice" is next, followed by Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring", which serves as leitmotif for the story of the creation of the world, replete with dinosaurs and volcanoes. After a brief jam session involving the live-action musicians comes Beethoven's "Pastorale Symphony", enacted against a Greek-mythology tapestry by centaurs, unicorns, cupids and a besotted Bacchus. Ponchielli's "Dance of the Hours" is performed by a Corps de Ballet consisting of hippos, ostriches and alligators. The program comes to a conclusion with a fearsome visualization of Mussorgsky's "Night on Bald Mountain", dominated by the black god Tchernobog (referred to in the pencil tests as "Yensid", which is guess-what spelled backwards); this study of the "sacred and profane" segues into a reverent rendition of Schubert's "Ave Maria". Originally, Debussy's "Clair de Lune" was part of the film, but was cut from the final release print; also cut, due to budgetary considerations, was Disney's intention of issuing an annual "update" of Fantasia with new musical highlights and animated sequences. A box-office disappointment upon its first release (due partly to Disney's notion of releasing the film in an early stereophonic-sound process which few theatres could accommodate), Fantasia eventually recouped its cost in its many reissues. For one of the return engagements, the film was retitled Fantasia Will Amaze-ya, while the 1963 reissue saw the film "squashed" to conform with the Cinemascope aspect ratio. Other re-releases pruned the picture from 120 to 88 minutes, and in 1983, Disney redistributed the film with newly orchestrated music and Tim Matheson replacing Deems Taylor as narrator. Once and for all, a restored Fantasia was made available to filmgoers in 1990. A sequel, Fantasia 2000, was released in theaters in 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

77% liked it

104,499 ratings

Critics

98% liked it

47 critics

G, 1 hr. 56 min.

Directed by: James Algar, Ford Beebe, Deems Taylor, Samuel Armstrong, Hugh Douglas, Jim Handley, Julietta Novis, Norman Ferguson, Leopold Stokowski, Mickey Mouse, T. Hee, Walt Disney, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Bill Roberts, Paul Satterfield

Release Date: November 13, 1940

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DVD Release Date: November 1, 1991

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Stats: 4,579 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (4,579)

  • TheDudeLebowski65
    April 29, 2012
    TheDudeLebowski65
    This film is one of the definitive classics in Disney's catalogue, along with Disney's flagship film, Snow White, Fantasia is the best film in animation history and everyone who's familiar with Disney owes it to themselves to check this one out. Fantasia is a terrific musical tha... read moret has definitely stood the test of time. This is a masterwork of animation with brilliant stories and a great cast of talented voice actors. Of all Disney films, Fantasia has had a long lasting impact on me. The sheer importance of this film in the cinematic medium is astounding. This is a brilliant film from start to finish and will stay with you for many years to come. I absolutely loved this film, thought it was one of the finest musical films ever put on film and if you want THE musical film, then this is the film to watch. Fantasia is simply brilliant. This is a definite childhood classic, a film that has stood the test of time. This is yet another memorable Disney classic that any real film buff and child should see. A brilliant piece of cinema history, Fantasia is a wonderful viewing experience, one that will please children as much as adults. A definite must see. This is a film that is spectacular and truly one that will stay with you. Disney has done it again. Sure Snow White is Disney's masterwork, but Fantasia elevated the studios potential for effective storytelling even further. This is simply put a phenomenal film that every film fan should see.
  • fb100002384654145
    March 6, 2012
    fb100002384654145
    One of the most unique and most experimental movie in the Disney filmography. The combination of memorable animated skits with a great classical musical score results in a film that is simply breath-taking.
  • blacksheepboy
    January 11, 2012
    blacksheepboy
    This classic musical animation is undeniably beautiful and well made, a splendorous treat for the eyes and ears. Even so, it is also too artistic for its own good, remaining cold and distant. Stravinsky and the evolution? Seriously, I cannot imagine any child staying awake during... read more the entire film - nor most grown-ups.
  • spielberg00
    June 14, 2011
    spielberg00
    The best animated musical ever.
  • skeletonking101
    December 13, 2010
    skeletonking101
    this movie defines what classic means in the terms of disney
  • fb100001493964409
    December 5, 2010
    fb100001493964409
    This IS my childhood and my favorite film of all time. I don't recommend watching it to all people (most find it boring if they watch it for the first time when they are older), but if you have any interest in animation whatsoever than give this a shot.
  • ajv2688
    September 29, 2010
    ajv2688
    Some people may find this movie to be boring because there is little to no dialogue, and it doesn't have much of a story. I love it. The music accompanies the animation in such a beautiful way, and the animation is so cool, the part with the dragon is my favourite, the part wit... read moreh Mickey and the broomsticks is the most memorable scene, though. If you want to relax and listen to music while watching something, this is a fantastic movie.
  • cosmo313
    July 16, 2010
    cosmo313
    Enjoyable, intellectual, thought-provoking, and, for the stoner crowd, very trippy visuals and atmosphere. This is one ofthe coolest and most unique movies out there.
  • smith44
    March 18, 2010
    smith44
    The Disney Triumphant masterpiece. Each of the eight segments are genius giving new life to the classical greats. The Sorceror's Apprentice with micky, The Nutcracker, Waltz of the flowers and so much more.
  • ythelastman89
    January 13, 2010
    ythelastman89
    The most artistic Disney has ever gotten. It is visually stunning, delivering a truly bizarre series of stories that are all effective in their own way. It can be a lot more dark than a lot of the other animated movies of the time and I really applaud them for doing that.

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Critic Reviews

September 4, 2008
TIME Magazine

Critics may deplore Disney's lapses of taste, but he trips, Mickey-like, into an art form that immortals from Aeschylus to Richard Wagner have always dreamed of. Full Review

John C. Flinn Sr.
August 31, 2008
John C. Flinn Sr., Variety

There is something in Fantasia for every taste. Full Review

Dave Kehr
March 3, 2008
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

The concept and some of the episodes are tainted with kitsch, but there's no other animated film with its scope and ambition. Full Review

Bosley Crowther
May 20, 2003
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Fantasia is simply terrific -- as terrific as anything that has ever happened on a screen. Full Review

Henry Allen
January 1, 2000
Henry Allen, Washington Post

This is animation in every sense of the word, as if you are seeing the world through the eyes of your tree-worshipping ancestors. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Throughout Fantasia, Disney pushes the edges of the envelope. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
January 4, 2011
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

[Disney's] most personal and grandest vision. Watching the movie again proves that, of course, it's not a chore. It's a pleasure. Full Review

Paul Trandahl
January 2, 2011
Paul Trandahl, Common Sense Media

Breathtaking animation feat -- with some creepy visuals. Full Review

Ryan Cracknell
December 25, 2010
Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views

Despite a couple of uneven parts that may try the patience of some, the whole of Fantasia is a marvel. Full Review

Peter Canavese
December 10, 2010
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews

Though Fantasia didn't perform as well as Walt Disney had hoped, it remains a testament to his exceptional cinematic genius. [Blu-ray] Full Review

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Fantasia Trivia

  • Disney animated classic with the music of 8 classical pieces by Stokowski?  Answer »
  • ***For This Movie, Disney Animators Set Pictures to Classical Music as Leopold Stokowski conducts the Philadelphia Orchestra***  Answer »
  • Which children's film features a mythical realm called Fantasia being erased by an evil force called The Nothing?  Answer »
  • what was destroying fantasia in The Neverending Story?  Answer »
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