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 Fantasia
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| Groundbreaking on several counts, not the least of which was an innovative use of animation and stereophonic sound, this ambitious Disney feature has lost nothing to time since its release in 1940. Classical music was interpreted by Disney animators, resulting in surreal fantasy and playful escapism. Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra provided the music for eight segments by the composers Tchaikovsky, Moussorgsky, Stravinsky, Beethoven, Ponchielli, Bach, Dukas, and Schubert. Not all the sequences were created equally, but a few are simply glorious, such as "Night on Bald Mountain," "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," and "The Nutcracker Suite." The animation ranges from subtly delicate to fiercely bold. The screen bursts with color and action as creatures transmute and convention is thrust aside. The painstaking detail and saturated hues are unique to this film, unmatched even by more advanced technology. --Rochelle O'Gorman Editorial Descriptions are usually submitted by the manufacturers, publishers and authors. Contact us if you are one of them, and wish to change the above description. |
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Author: Guest
Sixty years ago, Fantasia offered to the public something extraordinary: the world's first music videos of great classic music. Panned by the public desiring another "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", Fantasia lingered on in Walt Disney's originial vision; it being a continuing series updated and reupdated through the years. Finally succeeding with this vision, in comes the powerhouse Fantasia 2000. After seeing it in the theater, and nearly moved to tears at some of the segments, I eagerly awaited the Disney DVD release of both.My anticipation has exceeded the actual product in some ways. After spending literally hours searching through the rich and excellent "Ultimate Toy Box: Toy Story and Toy Story 2", a bar had been set by that release. In my fair opinion, Fantasia strives towards that, but doesn't quite reach it. While Pixar seems to provide the public with what it wants in a DVD release, Disney still seems to struggle with giving away everything, making a good release, but not extraordinary, as the Fantasia series demands. After all, it's Disney who still proudly lists as an extra feature item on DVDs, "decorative artwork on DVD". Please. Don't get me wrong, this set is loaded with goodies. Outtakes from the originial, interviews with the animators, and running commentaries all add to the enjoyment of the movies. I spent more time with the actual movie DVDs then with the supplmental disc, which I found a bit lacking and uninteresting in a way. My favorite segment in 2000 was the "Rhapsody in Blue", and was fascinated with the development and story behind it, but cannot imagine returning to view that again as I have with other DVDs. A longtime Disney fan, I probably come to expect more from this innovative company than the average consumer, thus the basis of my review. But I do believe they can give the public more with their DVD releases, which would only aid us in falling in love with their movies more.
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Author: Guest
The Walt Disney's largest set with the most features is now avaible from Disney DVD, The Fantasia Anthology. Included on 3 discs, it includes the original "Fantasia" and the long awaited sequel "Fantasia 2000." I would like to now give you a brief tour of the entire set. I will give you each individual feature. Disc 1 includes the original Fantasia complete with an intermission and full narration by Deems Taylor. These have not been included in the film since it's debut. There are also two audio commentaries. One by Roy Disney, Conductor James Levine, John Canemaker, and Scott McQueen. the second commentary is by the person who made this movie a possibility, Walt Disney himself. This commentary is assembled from rare archival recordings by Walt himself. Each recording is presented by Canemaker. There is also a Making of Walt Disney's Fantasia featurette and is 46 min. in legnth. In set up, you will find in audio options, DTS and Dolby Digital. In Subtitles, you will find French and English. The second disc in the set includes Fantasia 2000. The sequel that Walt wanted to make all his life but didn't. So they made it and it made it's theatrical debut last year. There is the new Fantasia with celebrity host introductions. They have a beautiful opening sequence. And there are seven entirely new pieces and one classic returning favorite. There are also two audio commentaries. The first one includes Executive Producer Roy Disney, Producer Don Ernst, and Conductor James Levine. The second features the art and sequence directors on the film. It also includes guest apperances with Mickey and Donald. There is a Making of Disney's Fantasia 2000 featurette, 48 minutes, which you could learn the history of Fantasia 2000. More than that. There is a Roy Disney intro, Animated Short "Toot, Whistle, Plunk, and Boom," animated short "Melody," and showcase program featuring highlights from the film. For set up, there is French Dolby Digital, English Dolby Digital, and English DTS. For subtitles, there is French and English. The final disc includes the making of both Fantasia films. A striking introduction and beautiful menus decorate. In the Fantasia section, they take you to each of the eight sequences: Toccata and Fuege, Nutcracker Suite, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Rite of Spring, The Pastoral Symphony, Dance of the Hours, Night on Bald Mountain, and Ave Maria plus the Interstials. Each section includes an Introduction, still galleries, and about the music. Some have the Walt Disney T.V. show excerpts from the show named "Disneyland." There are unused concepts and clips from the film too. In more features at Fantasia, you will find publicity, with posters, trailers, and the programs. At biographies, you may read about the filmakers. A featurette named "Special Effects of Fantasia" is avaible there. There is finally "The Fantasia That Never Was" section. It included in introduction and had sequences Walt was going to put in a future Fantasia. Each includes a still gallery. At each of the eight sequences of Fantasia 2000, we have a featurette on the making, a couple of galleries, and about the music. Most of them have other featurettes, production progression demos, split screen comparisons, and deleted sequences of concepts. The sequences are The Interstials, Symphony #5, Pines of Rome, Rhapsody in Blue, Piano Concerto #2 Allegro Opus 102 The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Carnival of the Animals finale, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Pomp and Circumstance Marches 1,2,3, and 4, and Firebird Suite 1919 version. At more features, there are biographies, a mixing demonstration, and theatrical trailers, posters, and T.V. spots. Also, there is a letter by Roy Disney in the package. Get this set and I assure you will not be dissapointed. I hope you enjoy "The Fantasia Anthology Collector's Set."
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Author: Guest
Fantasia is a very unique creation, there has never been another movie quite like it, before or since, and I think it's safe to say there never will be. Disney took a risk with creating something so dfferent from the norm; most of the American public is not likely to sit and listen to classical music for two hours, or watch a movie with no words. However, it was a very worthwhile risk, as Fantasia is a beautiful work of art, and has become a classic.
There is a certain captivating magic when the incredible sounds of the world's best musicians combine with the dazzling sights of the world's best animators. The imagery is full of fantasy, rich color, and graceful beauty. It's impossible not to be dazzled as the music washes over you, and you watch the stories of each of these little worlds unfold.
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Author: Guest
First, go click on the picture of the box so you can see a larger image. See how it says "Walt Disney's Original Uncut Version" at the bottom? Well, it's not. No, one scene in Fantasia was edited for every single home release as far as I know. It's in the scene "The Pastoral Symphony". When the female centaurs are getting all prettied up and ready for the male centaurs, you'll notice a very fuzzy extreme close up on one of them. What's going on in this scene? There's a black skinned centaur named Sunflower helping that one out. Go do a search for "Disney Sunflower Snopes" and it should show up. Why does Disney do this? Kids watching that part aren't really going to have any racist thoughts regarding the scene, or become a KKK member or anything after watching it. But there you have it, this isn't really "uncut" because of that. And this only enforces that there's a high chance of Disney not releasing Song of the South anytime soon. And this is a shame that they're going so P.C. that we're never going to be allowed to see how everything was originally released. If they can put out the Treasure tin sets, which have a lot of Asian and Spanish stereotypes, why is there such a problem with Song of the South and a black centaur?Other than that, Fantasia is a masterpiece. While it didn't really help Disney out much financially, the animation that accompanies the music is flawless. You really admire the artists that worked on each short. While it took hundreds to work on one piece at a time, now it'd only take a couple of guys on a computer with the latest animation software a few days. It's funny that most of this looks better than a lot of recent Disney films. The colors, smoothness of the animation, and how it blends with the music is just breath taking. The picture is as good as you're going to get for a movie this old. There's very little grain and dust on the print, and you'll hardly notice it with all the beauty on-screen. The audio is crisp and clear, so go nuts turning it up. The special features are ok. The commentary is made up of interviews and clips from Walt and others. When some people speak on it, there's a little bit of static, which doesn't matter since it's taken from an early source. It's not going to interfere with hearing anything they say, but I just thought I'd mention it. It's still a very interesting commentary track. I listen to it from time to time and always learn something new. The documentary is pretty cool too, though a lot of it I've already heard from other Disney specials and such. If you want the real goods as far as extras go, get the Fantasia Anthology edition. The third disc on that sucker is amazing. So if you're really expecting the "uncut" version, you'll be disappointed. I doubt it'll ever be released unless somehow Leonard Maltin can get that put out too. I mean, if he can get the Donald Nazi short put out in the newest wave of Disney Treasures, he's gotta have SOME chance of giving us the original Fantasia. Pick this up before it's out of print for another 10 years. It's a film to pass down the generations.
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Author: Guest
This is a classic marriage of two art forms Music and Animation. There are six sets of classical pieces By the Philadelphia Orchestra under the leadership of Leopold Stokowski. Each piece is accompanied by animation that either tells a story or illustrates visually the music. Each piece is a feast for the eyes and ears. The most famous piece is Mickey Mouse as the sorcere's apprentice. He gets ahold of his master's magical hat and decides to take a short cut indoing his chores with disastrerous results. The two pieces that really stand out for me is the "Nutcracker Suite" and "Night on Bald Mountain" This is a great movie for anyone who enjoys classical music. It may be too "High Brow" for children but it could be a good medium to introduce them to classical music.
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