Fantasia (Walt Disney's Masterpiece) [VHS]

The style of this film is quite varied, ranging from the traditional Disney animation used in the "Sorceror's Apprentice" to the almost impressionistic artwork used with the Nutcracker suite and the abstract art used with Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. There is beautiful artistry throughout, and Disney clearly took pains to make the visual work appropriate for each selection of music. In order, the selections are:

- Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by J. S. Bach: a symphonic form of this classic work is accompanied with animated abstract artwork.

- The Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky: to this ballet suite, leaves, flowers, and even mushrooms dance, illustrated with ethereal artistry. Those familiar with the ballet will see that the character of each dance in the suite is captured beautifully.

- The Sorceror's Apprentice by Paul Dukas: this piece of program music is accompanied by an animated version of the story illustrated by the music - with Mickey Mouse as the protagonist who animates ensorcelled brooms, but then is unable to control them.

- The Rite Of Spring by Stravinsky: in a mild departure from the traditional ballet interpretation, the animation uses the music to accompany a trip through prehistoric earth, from the formation of the planet, through the volcanic period, to the development of the dinosaurs. While the technique is traditional Disney animation, the style is much more realistic - an interesting mix.

- Symphony No. 6, Pastorale, by Beethoven: a movement of this symphony is accompanied by an animated interpretation of fantastic creatures - unicorns, centaurs, and pegasi - along with half a dozen greek gods in their traditional role. The action reflects the program of the music, including the storm.

- Dance of the Hours, Amilcare Ponchielli: This ballet music is used by some very nontraditional ballerinas - ostriches, hippos, elephants, and crocodiles. They still dance elegantly, with rather humorous effect.

- Night On Bald Mountain, Moussorgsky / Ave Maria, Schubert: Traditionally, the devil and his worshipers gather on Bald Mountain on Walpurgisnacht - and here, we get an impressive demon and a raft of profane followers. As the night ends, the Moussorgsky piece segues into the sacred music of the Ave Maria, with a holy procession ending in a beautiful dawn.

Perhaps the best summary of this movie is that it's like an animated evening of dance or ballet - some dances abstract, some with story lines - with the added freedom that the use of animation brings. This timeless classic will appeal to lovers of animation, music, and dance alike.


A Great Movie Comes to DVD -- 6 stars are in order   August 30, 2000
Dan Sherman (Alexandria, VA USA)
50 out of 59 found this review helpful

The original 1940 "Fantasia" has to be one of the greatest animated films ever and was made with an unbelievable level of creativity by all participants. The animation in the film is fantastic, whether it it is fairly abstract (as in the Bach Tocatta and Fugue) or more represenational (as in the "Rite of Spring" segment). My belief is that visually speaking, the original Fantasia is a stunning film, with a level of artistry that has never been equalled. The colors of the early Disney films were wonderfully rich (I am thinking of Pinocchio). In Fantasia, images were drawn in very fine detail and there are lots of very fine colors and effects (e.g., reflections from pools of water) here. The film was years and years ahead of its time and is way ahead of the corner-cutting animation that is too common today. I think Fantasia 2000 is a good film too, but can't quite reach the greatness of the earlier film.

Although all of the pieces are set to classical music, they are appealingly presented. The kids will love most of the segments of the film, especially the brilliant "Sorcerer's Apprentice" with Mickey Mouse that are included in both films. These films are great ways to get kids interested in music. The original had Stokowski conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra at its peak and the sequal has Metropolitan Opera conductor James Levin leading the Chicago Symphony.

In terms of the music, Disney and conductor Leopold Stokowski made a multi-track recording that could only be played in very few theaters at the time (I think 40 speakers were needed). It will be very interesting to see how the original film's soundtrack is presented on the DVD. The sound for the sequel was of course excellent and performances were good too.

Disney's DVD releases of its cartoons have been very good in the past. If any films need to be well presented on DVD (in terms of sound and picture quality), they must include Fantasia and its sequal. It sounds like the DVD is going to have lots of extra background features for the fans of these films, and I for one am really looking forward to getting features about the background of the films, including music pieces that were not included.

My only complaint here (common when it comes to some really great older movies) is why does it take so long to get them to DVD when there surely is an audience for them? Let's hope more great films make it to DVD.


Influential and enchanting   August 5, 2001
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

There's something truly remarkable about this movie. An extremely personal project for Walt Disney, it is, quite appropriately, his studio's most ambitious creation. In my opinion, it's also their finest. I remember the first time I ever saw it--during its 1990 cinema re-release. At the time I was about seven and found it...a little...boring. But now, eleven years later, I totally love it. I wouldn't be surprised if most kids were to react to it as I did. It is very unconventional. There is little of the mainstream humour you'd find in a "normal" Disney feature. It is NOT The Little Mermaid. Instead it's a marvellous experiment. Eight classical compositions played against eight cartoons, only one of which disappoints.

The Nutcracker Suite and The Rite of Spring are my favourites from the movie. The music is great, and both cartoons are masterfully done and beautiful to watch. The former is pretty and charming, with its tiny fairies and dancing mushrooms, and the latter is a powerful depiction of the creation of the world, and primitive life. Those two sections alone, in my opinion, elevate Fantasia high above any other animated movie in existence. But even then, there's more great stuff in the movie. The Toccata and Fugue sequence, with its well-known music presented against "abstract" cartoon images, is also hugely involving and impressive (not to mention surprisingly eerie). The Sorcerer's Apprentice (starring an unusually flustered Mickey Mouse) and the Dance of the Hours (with the hilarious dancing hippos and crocs) are exciting and witty, and probably the scenes from the movie that kids will most enjoy. Night on Bald Mountain has a great Halloween-y feel to it (scary imagery and creepy music) and the movie closes perfectly with the sedate Ave Maria. The Pastoral Symphony sequence (good music marred by clumsy animation and WAY too much sugar-coating) is the only part of the movie you'll want to skip. But the quality of everything else more than makes up for it.

Everyone should experience Fantasia at some point in their lives. The sequel was okay, but certainly no where near the standards set by this one.


If there were 10 stars, this would have it   August 24, 2000
Chris Johnson
13 out of 14 found this review helpful

Not only is this the greatest piece of animation Walt Disney ever made, it is also one of the most original and daring works of art in all of history. Perhaps only Manet's Olympia, Stravinsky's Rite of Spring or Kubrick's 2001 approach it in terms of artistic risk. The abstract animation of the opening sequence is an amazing step for a mere "cartoon." There is humor, real drama, and even death. And the whole thing has a peculiar coherence.

Some of the segments don't work as well as others; I didn't particularly enjoy the interpretation of Night on Bald Mountain and I've never been all that much of a fan of the Sorceror's Apprentice segment. But, ultimately, that doesn't matter; Fantasia is as innovative a work of art as anyone has ever made, it remains my favorite movie of all time, and I'm delighted that it's finally on DVD.