Fantasia

1940

Fantasia

Critics Consensus

A landmark in animation (and a huge influence on the medium of music video), Disney's Fantasia is a relentlessly inventive blend of the classics with phantasmagorical images.

94%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 53

83%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 129,188

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Movie Info

Regarded by many as Walt Disney's masterpiece, Fantasia predicted the modern music video by offering nine animated segments that were directly inspired by compressed versions of well-known classical music without necessarily adhering to the original composers' intent. Featuring the work of the Disney studio's artists at the height of their powers, and coupled with conductor Leopold Stokowski's musical arrangements, Fantasia's fanciful interpretations include a semi-abstract rendition of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor; water sprites, dancing mushrooms, and other creatures in Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Suite; Mickey Mouse as the title character in Paul Dukas' The Sorcerer's Apprentice; dinosaurs roaming a primordial Earth in Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring; frolicking mythical creatures in Beethoven's The Pastoral Symphony; ballet-dancing ostriches, hippopotamuses, and alligators in Ponchielli's Dance of the Hours; and the rise and fall of the dark demon Chernobog in Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain and Schubert's "Ave Maria." Deems Taylor's narration (and brief words by Stokowski and Mickey) provide the only spoken words in the film.

Cast

Walt Disney
as Mickey Mouse
Leopold Stokowski
as Himself
Deems Taylor
as Narrative Introductions
Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra
as Orchestra
Bela Lugosi
as Model for Tchernabog
Deems Taylor

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Critic Reviews for Fantasia

All Critics (53) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (50) | Rotten (3)

View All Critic Reviews (53)

Audience Reviews for Fantasia

  • Jul 02, 2016
    A fascinating experimental film that explores music and imagination, Fantasia is a triumph of vision. Combining the talents of the Walt Disney Studio and the Philadelphia Orchestra, several pieces of classical music are brought to life through a series of animated vignettes. With the aid of animation the evocative nature of music is explored, from the expression of mood to complex storytelling. Surprisingly none of Disney's trademark characters appear (other than Mickey Mouse in the Sorcerer's Apprentice segment). Instead the segments feature nature scenes and animals and fairy tale creatures engaged in frivolity. Most of the animation is quite impressive, but some of it is a little crude and generic. Still, Fantasia is an extraordinarily well-craft and artistic film that celebrates the power of music to express thoughts and feelings.
    Dann M Super Reviewer
  • Nov 23, 2015
    It can be hard to remember that at one time Walt Disney's aims for animation were equal parts commercial and artistic success . . . if "Fantasia" (for awhile at least) failed at the first it mostly succeeds at the second. The expository scenes between each animation piece are utterly pointless but they're easy to ignore.
    Alec B Super Reviewer
  • Aug 27, 2014
    Eight segments of fantastic imagery that stood the test of time with it's music from the Philadelphia Orchestra and Leopold Stowkowski.
    Max G Super Reviewer
  • May 20, 2013
    This is a pretty boring film, and not an effective vehicle for getting kids interested in classical music. There's no coherent story. It's just not interesting.
    Christian C Super Reviewer
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