Fantasia (1940)
Genre: Animation / Music
Duration: 125 minuten (original release) / 80 minuten (cut version)
Alternative title: Walt Disney's Fantasia
Country:
United States
Directed by: James Algar, Samuel Armstrong, Ford Beebe, Norman Ferguson, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Jim Handley, T. Hee, Bill Roberts and Paul Satterfield
Stars: Leopold Stokowski, Deems Taylor and Walt Disney
IMDb score:
7,7 (111.457)
Releasedate: 13 November 1940
Fantasia plot
"The most sensational sound you'll ever see!"
Disney animators provide images of famous pieces of classical music performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra. In 'The Sorceror's Apprentice' we see Mickey Mouse as a magician-to-be, 'The Rite of Spring' tells the evolution story, 'Dance of the Hours' is a comic ballet performed by various animals and 'Night on Bald Mountain' and 'Ave Maria' oppose the forces of darkness and light.
Actors and actresses
Narrator - Narrative Introductions
Mickey Mouse (segment 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice') (voice)
Soloist (segment 'Ave Maria') (singing voice)
Himself - Conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra
Reviews & comments
Ebenezer Scrooge
-
- 2150 messages
- 3092 votes
Whoever watches Fantasia feels like a child again; a child lusting after a candy store or enjoying a Chinese fireworks display in a night sky; a kaleidoscopic spectacle full of exotic colors and ever-changing shapes and patterns.
The music is magical! The Nutcracker by Tjaikovsky: the fairies with the stardust, the goldfish that hides shyly behind her graceful tail, the mushrooms that perform a dance that is about to fail because of the little mushroom; they look like synchronized swimmers. Beethoven, Stravinsky, Bach... as if all those old compositions were written especially for this film.
One of the highlights in the film: Mickey Mouse as a sorcerer's apprentice who uses a little magic to make the broom clean everything so that he can lie down and relax on his own. Mickey's walk, exactly to the beat of the music, boom.. boom.. boom.. That dance! That much too big red cloak he wears, that sweet uh… well, what are they anyway? They are not shoes, rather slippers or slightly too large socks.
The ballet performance with the ostriches, the hippos and the crocodiles is hilarious, and there are more things to mention that make this cartoon a real masterpiece. Fantasia is an ode to fantasy, a feast for the eyes, a film that introduces children to classical music in a playful way.
A Lanterna Magica...
Translated from Dutch · View original
Onderhond
-
- 87679 messages
- 13026 votes
Nah.
A film I am grateful for, if only because it has put the animated omnibus on the map. A great format, including many of my favorite anime projects. In any case, a daring project for Disney, so kudos for taking up that challenge.
The effect is less. In terms of animation there is of course nothing to complain about, even then everything was extremely fluid and exuberant animated. It is strange that they have mastered that profession so quickly and so precisely. With most new film techniques, that's often a different story.
But the combination of classical music and Disney style is not immediately successful. The music pieces sound very heavy, while the drawing style is much too bright and childish. There is also very little interaction between the two. I had expected that something more would be done with image and sound.
It really takes a bit too long, although it does help that you can always look forward to a new short. The interludes with the concertmaster are superfluous, I liked the last film the best, the piece with Mickey by far the least.
1.5*
Translated from Dutch · View original
sdumers
-
- 11 messages
- 11 votes
My personal icon for classical music and my #1 favorite film from the “master of animated entertainment” himself! Fantasia has served as my idol for the famed Leopold Stokowski in his darkened shadowy conducting image!
Pre- and sequels
Fantasia/2000
1999
3 comments
Latest News
How Serious Film Fans Are Watching in 2026 — And Why the Home Setup Has Never Mattered More
How Much Money Has the Portrayal of Casinos Brought Into the Movie Industry?
The Death of the CGI Safety Net: Why We’re Craving Real Stakes Again
How Media Business Insights Shape Online Casino Marketing Strategies in 2026
Corporate & Media
Realtimes Network
Innovatieweg 20C
7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31(315)-764002
