Fantasia/2000 (1999)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Directors:

James Algar
Gaëtan Brizzi

Writers:

Elena Driskill (concept for "Death & Re-birth of the Forest") and
Hans Christian Andersen (story) (segment "Piano Concerto #2")

Release Date:

31 December 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Family | Fantasy | Music

Plot:

An update of the original film with new interpretations of great works of classical music.

Plot Keywords:

New York City | Whale | Symphony | Mickey Mouse | Donald Duck

Awards:

4 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Leopold Stokowski	...	Himself - Conductor (segment "The Sorcerer's Apprentice") (archive footage)
Ralph Grierson	...	Pianist (segment "Rhapsody in Blue")
Kathleen Battle	...	Featured Soprano (segment "Pomp and Circumstance") (voice)
Steve Martin	...	Himself - Introductory Host
Itzhak Perlman	...	Himself - Host (segment "Pines of Rome")
Quincy Jones	...	Himself - Host (segment "Rhapsody in Blue")
Bette Midler	...	Herself - Hostess (segment "Piano Concerto No. 2, Allegro, Opus 102")
James Earl Jones	...	Himself - Host (segment "Carnival of the Animals")
Penn Jillette	...	Himself (as Penn)
Teller	...	Himself - Host (segment "The Sorcerer's Apprentice")
James Levine	...	Himself - Host (segment "Pomp and Circumstance"), Conductor (Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
Angela Lansbury	...	Herself - Hostess (segment "Firebird Suite - 1919 Version")
Wayne Allwine	...	Mickey Mouse (segment "Pomp and Circumstance") (voice)
Tony Anselmo	...	Donald Duck (segment "Pomp and Circumstance") (voice)
Russi Taylor	...	Daisy Duck (segment "Pomp and Circumstance") (voice)

Also Known As:

Fantasia 2000 (Philippines: English title) (USA) (alternative spelling)
Fantasia '99 (USA) (working title)
Fantasia Continued (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

75 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.44 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS | IMAX 6-Track

Certification:

USA:G (certificate #36995) | Malaysia:U | South Korea:All | Brazil:Livre | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Denmark:7 | Finland:K-6/4 | France:U | Germany:o.Al. (w) | Hong Kong:I | Mexico:A | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:G | Norway:7 | Peru:PT | Spain:T | Switzerland:0 (canton of Geneva) | UK:U | Greece:K | Philippines:G

Company:

Richard Purdum Productions

Trivia:

IMAX had to agree to Disney's terms and conditions to gain the exclusive first showings of the film. These included a limited engagement of 4 months and 50% of the box office receipts. It's for this reason that, when "Fantasia 2000" had its first run, not all IMAX cinemas showed it as not all of them were prepared to accept Disney's terms. The California Science Center in Los Angeles was one such venue who refused to meet these terms so Disney built a purpose-built IMAX theatre for the 4 month run, costing them $4 million, and demolished it afterwards.

Goofs:

Continuity: In "The Steadfast Tin Soldier", the handle on the Jack-in-the-Box is usually on his left. In the shot of him creeping towards the soldier and dancer it is on his right.

Quotes:

Bette Middler: Hi. You may not know this, but over the years the Disney artists have cooked up dozens of ideas for new Fantasia segments. Some made it to the big screen this time, but others - lots of others - how can I put this politely?... didn't.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Shark Tale (2004)

Soundtrack:

Rhapsody in Blue

Music expertly portrayed in film

Fantasia 2000 presents us with a visual voyage into music that, in my opinion, excels that of the original Fantasia. Not only is the animation itself extremely fluid, colorful, and highly diverse from segment to segment, but the representation of the music is, in itself, sheer genius. As I have come to expect from Disney, at least some research has been done into the texture of the music as well as thematical studies and tonal structure. This much, I believe, is made in evidence of both blatant and subtle use of contrast on screen to highlight the contrast of the music.

In all, this film is of extremely high value and is of an excellent nature. I highly recommend seeing it on the IMAX screen for full effect of sound and light and to be ready for a sonic experience that will have you whistling tunes all week long.