Fantasia/2000 (1999)

Directors:

James Algar
Gaëtan Brizzi

Writers:

Eric Goldberg (story) (segments "Rhapsody in Blue" and "Carnival of the Animals, The")
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:

Mickey Mouse | Forest | Classical Music | Donald Duck | Sorcerer

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:

"Rhapsody in Blue," originally planned by director Eric Goldberg as a stand-alone independent film, was an eleventh-hour addition to the lineup. "The Nutcracker Suite" from the original Fantasia (1940) was originally planned for this spot, until a production hiatus allowed Goldberg an opportunity to allow the Disney animators to work on "Rhapsody in Blue." See the trivia for The Emperor's New Groove (2000)

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: In "Rhapsody in Blue", the young drummer/construction worker is alternately sitting and leaning on a steel beam during a lunch break with his left foot on the beam and his right foot off, but his right foot doesn't dangle in the air, it stays in one place, as if meant to be braced against another beam.

Quotes:

Steve Martin: So let me turn things over to the great Itzhak Perlman, who, I have just been informed, plays the violin. Well, so do I, big deal. Could I have my violin, please? Ahh, thank you. All right, boys, let's...
[Bow slips from his hands]
Steve Martin: Oh! Oh, sorry. Could I have another stick thingy, please? Oh, and camera back on me. Camera back on me. Ca... Am I done?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Disney Through the Decades (2001) (V)

Soundtrack:

Pines of Rome

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.