Fantasia
“What you're going to see are the designs and pictures and stories
that music inspired in the minds and imaginations of a group of
artists.”
A simple idea, but at the time it was revolutionary: mixing
classical music and animation, interpreting the works of great
composers in the visual world. Walt Disney’s bold experiment Fantasia paid off in a rich, vibrant and often hilarious feature film.
Fantasia opens with narration from Deems Taylor (then the voice of Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts), who outlines the idea behind Fantasia.
The Philadelphia Orchestra, with conductor Leopold Stokowski, is shown
in silhouette as Taylor explains that some music tells a story, other
music paints pictures, and some music, “absolute music,” exists for its
own sake.
This leads to the film’s first featured piece, Bach’s "Toccata and
Fugue in D minor," illustrated through a series of abstract images0 of
lines, shadows, waves and the like. Tchaikovsky’s "Nutcracker Suite"
follows, a ballet of anthropomorphic mushrooms, fish and flowers.
The third segment is probably the most famous, a version of Paul
Dukas’ "The Sorcerer’s Apprentice" starring Mickey Mouse as the title
character. Dabbling in his master’s arts, Mickey animates a broomstick
to fetch water for him. While Mickey dreams of glory, things get out of
control, leading to a raging flood only the master can stop.
The mood turns serious again with Stravinsky’s "The Rite of
Spring," charting the growth of the earth from lifeless orb through the
age of dinosaurs. Following the Stravinsky ballet is Beethoven’s
"Pastoral Symphony," interpreted through the goings-on of Zeus and the
other Mount Olympians.
Things get zany with a lively ballet spoof set to "Dance of the
Hours," enacted by elephants, ostriches, alligators and pirouetting
hippos. The film’s conclusion is a two-parter, beginning with a
diabolical dance to Moussorgsky’s "Night on Bald Mountain" and ending
with the triumph of good over evil to the strains of Schubert’s "Ave
Maria."
Adding to the spectacle of Disney’s endeavor was the creation of a
new stereophonic sound system. The new system was costly, and as a
result, the film’s initial release was limited to those few theaters
able to afford the conversion. Remixed and re-edited over the ensuing
years, Fantasia received a proper release for its fiftieth anniversary in 1990, featuring restored visuals and sound.
Ten years later, on New Years Day 2000, Walt Disney's nephew Roy presented Fantasia 2000, the long-awaited follow-up to his uncle's masterpiece. Originally shown only in the extra-large IMAX format, Fantasia 2000
illustrated seven more classic pieces, from Beethoven's Fifth Symphony
to Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," and retained the old favorite "The
Sorcerer's Apprentice."
A success in IMAX form, Fantasia 2000 rekindled the flame of Walt's original vision, that the Fantasia
experience would be updated with new pieces as the years went on,
bringing high culture to the masses in a form that everyone could
enjoy.
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