Fantasia/2000 (1999)

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

Directors:

James Algar, Gaëtan Brizzi,

Writers:

Eric Goldberg (story), Hans Christian Andersen (story),

Stars:

Leopold Stokowski, Ralph Grierson, Steve Martin

4 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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") (singing 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 - Host (segment "The Sorcerer's Apprentice") (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)

Storyline

In this update of Disney's masterpiece film mixture of animation and music, new interpretations of great works of music are presented. It begins with an abstract battle of light and darkness set to the music of Beethoveen's Fifth Symphony. Then we see the adventures of a Humpback Whale calf and his pod set to "The Pines of Rome." Next is the humourous story of several lives in 1930's New York City, scored with "Rhapsody in Blue." Following is a musical telling of the fairy tale, "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" set to Dmitri Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2. Then a goofy Flamingo causes havoc in his flock with his yo-yo to the tune of the finale of "Carnival of the Animals." This is followed by the classic sequence from the original film, "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" starring Mickey Mouse and followed by "Pomp and Circumstance" starring Donald Duck as a harried assistant to Noah on his Ark. Finally, we see the awesome tale of the life, death and renewal of a forest in a sequence ...

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Plot Keywords:

new york city | forest | whale | duck | apprentice | 

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Genres:

Animation | Family | Fantasy | Music

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Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

fantasia2000.com (Disney Pictures)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 December 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fantasia '99

Box Office

Budget:

$80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£49,825 (UK) (31 December 1999)

Gross:

$60,507,228 (USA) (5 January 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Pictures, Richard Purdum Productions, Walt Disney Feature Animation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

74 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS IMAX 6-Track

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.44 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Eric Goldberg showed "Rhapsody in Blue" to Al Hirschfeld shortly before the artist's 96th birthday. Hirschfeld's wife Louise called it the best birthday present he could have received.

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Goofs

In "Pomp and Circumstance", the first time Donald takes out a picture of him and Daisy, both (in the picture) are looking towards the "camera". The next time he looks at it, Daisy is looking at him instead.

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Quotes

James Earl Jones: [introducing the Carnival of the Animals] Here the sensitive strains of impressionistic music combine with the subtle artistry of the animator to finally answer that age old question: What is man's relationship to nature?
[is handed a note]
James Earl Jones: Oh, sorry... That age old question: What would happen if you gave a yo-yo to a flock of flamingos?
[turns to look off-camera]
James Earl Jones: Who wrote this?

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Crazy Credits

Credits are superimposed over preliminary artwork.

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Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: Ben Affleck/Fiona Apple (2000)

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Soundtracks

"The Sorcerer's Apprentice"
Written by Paul Dukas
Performed by Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra

User Reviews

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.