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), Joe Grant (original concept)

Stars:

James Levine, Steve Martin, Itzhak Perlman

4 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Steve Martin	...	Self - Introductory Host
Itzhak Perlman	...	Self - Host (segment "Pines of Rome")
Quincy Jones	...	Self - Host (segment "Rhapsody in Blue")
Bette Midler	...	Self - Hostess (segment "Piano Concerto No. 2, Allegro, Opus 102")
James Earl Jones	...	Self - Host (segment "Carnival of the Animals")
Penn Jillette	...	Self - Host (segment "The Sorcerer's Apprentice") (as Penn)
Teller	...	Self - Host (segment "The Sorcerer's Apprentice")
James Levine	...	Self - Host (segment "Pomp and Circumstance"), Conductor (Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
Angela Lansbury	...	Self - 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)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chicago Symphony Orchestra	...	Themselves (as The Chicago Symphony Orchestra)

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 humorous 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:

donald duck character | mickey mouse character | altered version of studio logo | 2d animation | disney | 

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Taglines:

Featuring Seven new Sequences plus "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"

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Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Music

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Eric Goldberg first approached cartoonist Al Hirschfeld about adopting his visual style for the "Rhapsody in Blue" segment, Hirschfeld told him that if he was 50 years younger he would have been on a train the next day to come work on the project. 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 "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.

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Quotes

[last lines]
Steve Martin: Camera back on me... uh, camera back on me? Hello? Hellooooo? Could someone give me a ride home?

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Crazy Credits

Credits are superimposed over preliminary artwork.

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Alternate Versions

The Rat Scene from Piano Concerto No.2

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Connections

Featured in Animation Lookback: Top 10 Best Animated Sequels (2011)

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Soundtracks

Piano Concerto No. 2, Allegro, Opus 102
Music by Dmitri Shostakovich
Performed by James Levine, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Yefim Bronfman (piano soloist)

User Reviews

As Great As The First?

I watched this one way more than the original as a kid. I never owned it, but my family must have rented it a dozen times. I kind of know the shorts like the back of my hand, so its hard to remain objective - not that I have too much nostalgia, but it just isn't as good after the twentieth viewing. :P

Whenever Fantasia 2000 exceeds or disappoints compared to the original depends on your tastes, and the mood you're in when you watch them. While they share the same structure, they're quite different movies. The first was uniform in art style, with mostly abstract tales. The shorts in 2000 vary greatly in style, and most do have a concrete narrative. Animation has also changed drastically through the decades, so 2000 feels distinctly modern.

I'd say Fantasia is the more beautiful, timeless of the two. But better? Well...I also like Fantasia 2000's energy, its variety, its attempts to portray character and plot without words as well as atmosphere. I'd love to call Fantasia my favorite animated film of all time...but its a slow, long sit. 2000 is more immediately entertaining, and is significantly shorter to boot.

Two notable flaws - A. The comedians between segments weren't that funny. B. They latched on "Sorcerer's Apprentice" for nostalgia's sake. They're not enough to effect the rating, though.

I don't know which is better. I think they're about equal. 2000 is a fine follow-up. Perfect? No. But its an enjoyable collection of animation. After rewatching it recently, I was still pleased. Even if you think it doesn't have a chance to capture the majesty of the first, its quality and originality make it an important movie for animation buffs to see at least once.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 June 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fantasia '99

Filming Locations:

Walt Disney Feature Animation - 500 S. Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,290,525, 2 January 2000

Gross USA:

$60,655,420

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$90,874,570

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS IMAX 6-Track

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1