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Fantasia

  • 19401940
  • GG
  • 2h 5m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
95K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Original release poster, 1 sheet
A collection of animated interpretations of great works of Western classical music.
Play trailer1:26
5 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Animation
  • Family
  • Fantasy

A collection of animated interpretations of great works of Western classical music, ranging from the abstract to depictions of mythology and fantasy, and settings including the prehistoric, ... Read allA collection of animated interpretations of great works of Western classical music, ranging from the abstract to depictions of mythology and fantasy, and settings including the prehistoric, supernatural and sacred.A collection of animated interpretations of great works of Western classical music, ranging from the abstract to depictions of mythology and fantasy, and settings including the prehistoric, supernatural and sacred.

IMDb RATING
7.7/10
95K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • James Algar(segment The Sorcerer's Apprentice)
    • Samuel Armstrong(segments Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, The Nutcracker Suite)
    • Ford Beebe Jr.(segment The Pastoral Symphony)
  • Writers
    • Joe Grant(story direction)
    • Dick Huemer(story direction)
    • Lee Blair(story development)
  • Stars
    • Leopold Stokowski
    • Deems Taylor
    • The Philadelphia Orchestra
Top credits
  • Directors
    • James Algar(segment The Sorcerer's Apprentice)
    • Samuel Armstrong(segments Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, The Nutcracker Suite)
    • Ford Beebe Jr.(segment The Pastoral Symphony)
  • Writers
    • Joe Grant(story direction)
    • Dick Huemer(story direction)
    • Lee Blair(story development)
  • Stars
    • Leopold Stokowski
    • Deems Taylor
    • The Philadelphia Orchestra
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 366User reviews
    • 122Critic reviews
    • 96Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 8 wins & 1 nomination

    Videos5

    50th Anniversary Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 1:26
    50th Anniversary Theatrical Trailer
    Fantasia: Special Edition
    Clip 0:35
    Fantasia: Special Edition
    Fantasia: Special Edition
    Clip 0:34
    Fantasia: Special Edition
    Fantasia: Special Edition
    Clip 1:02
    Fantasia: Special Edition
    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 27
    Video 29:04
    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 27

    Photos576

    Fantasia (1940)
    Fantasia (1940)
    Fantasia (1940)
    Fantasia (1940)
    Walt Disney in Fantasia (1940)
    Fantasia (1940)
    Fantasia (1940)
    Fantasia (1940)
    Fantasia (1940)
    Fantasia (1940)
    Fantasia (1940)
    Fantasia (1940)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Leopold Stokowski
    Leopold Stokowski
    • Self - Conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestraas Self - Conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra
    Deems Taylor
    • Self - Narrative Introductionsas Self - Narrative Introductions
    The Philadelphia Orchestra
    • Themselvesas Themselves
    Corey Burton
    Corey Burton
    • Narrator: Deems Taylor overdubs (2000 restoration)as Narrator: Deems Taylor overdubs (2000 restoration)
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Walt Disney
    Walt Disney
    • Mickey Mouse (segment 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice')as Mickey Mouse (segment 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice')
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Hugh Douglas
    • Narrator (1982 version)as Narrator (1982 version)
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    James MacDonald
    • Percussionistas Percussionist
    • (uncredited)
    Tim Matheson
    Tim Matheson
    • Narrator (1985 version)as Narrator (1985 version)
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Julietta Novis
    • Soloist (segment 'Ave Maria')as Soloist (segment 'Ave Maria')
    • (singing voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Paul J. Smith
    • Violinistas Violinist
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • James Algar(segment The Sorcerer's Apprentice) (uncredited)
      • Samuel Armstrong(segments Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, The Nutcracker Suite) (uncredited)
      • Ford Beebe Jr.(segment The Pastoral Symphony) (uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Joe Grant(story direction)
      • Dick Huemer(story direction)
      • Lee Blair(story development) (segment Toccata and Fugue in D Minor)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    7.3
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    7.3
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    Storyline

    Edit
    Being the first of is kind, Fantasia is a cinematic musical experience that combines Western classical music with stunning visual animation from Walt Disney and his team of animators. Segments include "Ave Maria," "The Nutcracker Suite," "Night on Bald Mountain, and "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," with an appearance by Mickey Mouse. Conducted by Leopold Stokowski with the Philadelphia Orchestra. —Blazer346
    • no opening credits
    • one word title
    • cult film
    • disney
    • classical music
    • 269 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Where every sound creates a picture
    • Genres
      • Animation
      • Family
      • Fantasy
      • Music
      • Musical
    • Certificate
      • G
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The animators secretly modeled elements of the Sorcerer in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" on their boss, Walt Disney. The raised eyebrow was regarded as a dead giveaway. They call the character Yen Sid, which is "Disney" spelled backwards.
    • Goofs
      In the full-length introduction to the "Nutcracker Suite", heard only in the roadshow version of "Fantasia", Deems Taylor states that this music is from a longer ballet called "The Nutcracker" and "nobody performs it nowadays". The full-length "Nutcracker" had not been performed in the U.S. yet in 1940, but in both Russia and England it had been staged in 1934, and had already been staged in Russia twice before that, in 1892 and 1919. However, although the "Nutcracker Suite" was immensely popular even in 1940, the full-length ballet was still a long way off from becoming the annual phenomenon it now is in the United States.
    • Quotes

      Mickey Mouse: [Pulling on Stokowski's coat] Mr. Stokowski! Mr. Stokowski!

      [Mickey whistles to get Stokowski's attention]

      Mickey Mouse: My congratulations, sir!

      Leopold Stokowski: [shaking hands with Mickey] Congratulations to you, Mickey!

      Mickey Mouse: Gee, thanks! Hehe! Well, so long! I'll be seeing ya!

      Leopold Stokowski: Goodbye!

    • Crazy credits
      There are no closing credits of any kind. Not even the words "THE END" appear on the screen.
    • Alternate versions
      Before the 1990 re-release, the film was shown with no credits other than the title and the RKO logo. Leopold Stokowski received a written credit only on the posters advertising the film. In the film's original roadshow release, not even the title was shown at the beginning of the film - that was saved for the intermission break.
    • Connections
      Edited into A World is Born (1955)
    • Soundtracks
      Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565
      Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach

      Orchestrated by Leopold Stokowski (uncredited)

      Played by The Philadelphia Orchestra

      Conducted by Leopold Stokowski

    User reviews366

    Review
    Top review
    Unusual & Very Creative
    This unusual and very creative classic of animation combines a very interesting idea with quite a bit of imagination, plus visual effects that still hold up quite well. All but a couple of the sequences are quite enjoyable, and some especially so. Even the segments that don't work as well are usually at least interesting, since you can at least appreciate what they were trying to accomplish.

    You don't really have to be all that familiar with the specific pieces of music for it to be worthwhile, since in several cases they chose to match the music with material that is rather different in nature from any original context that it may have had. And in any case, the animated sequences are intended to provide the context, in terms of the movie.

    No doubt, everyone will have his or her own favorite segments, based on the music itself and on the choice of accompanying visual material. The "Sorcerer's Apprentice" sequence, with Mickey Mouse, is certainly one of the most memorable. The adaptation of "The Rite of Spring" is quite imaginative in using an entirely different setting for the music. "Night on Bald Mountain" has striking and sometimes bizarre visuals.

    Many of the classic Disney features still hold up well as family entertainment, but "Fantasia" is unique for its combination of imaginative concept and visual creativity. Not every minute of it works, but that's the price of being willing to experiment. It's an enjoyable and satisfying feature that well deserves to be remembered.
    helpful•33
    6
    • Snow Leopard
    • Nov 5, 2004

    FAQ3

    • How many different versions of Fantasia are there?
    • How come many of the pieces do not follow a story?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 19, 1941 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Bach to Stravinsky and Bach
    • Filming locations
      • Stage 1, Walt Disney Studios, 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Walt Disney Animation Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,280,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $76,408,097
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $980,798
      • Feb 10, 1985
    • Gross worldwide
      • $76,411,819
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 5 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • 3 Channel Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    Original release poster, 1 sheet
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