Fantasia Movie Facts

  1. Walt Disney’s vision: “Fantasia” is a 1940 animated musical film produced by Walt Disney and released by Walt Disney Productions. It was created as a vehicle for Walt Disney’s vision of uniting music and animation.
  2. Innovative animation techniques: The film features several innovative animation techniques, including the use of the multiplane camera and the synchronization of music and animation.
  3. Classical music: The film is set to several pieces of classical music, including works by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Stravinsky.
  4. Musical conductor: The film was conducted by Leopold Stokowski, a renowned American conductor known for his work with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
  5. Segments: The film is divided into eight segments, each set to a different piece of classical music and featuring a different animation style and theme.
  6. First segment: The first segment of the film, “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” by Bach, features abstract animation and serves as an introduction to the film.
  7. “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”: Perhaps the most famous segment of the film, “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” is set to Dukas’ “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” and features Mickey Mouse as the title character.
  8. “Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria”: The final segment of the film combines two pieces of music, Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain” and Schubert’s “Ave Maria,” and features a dramatic battle between good and evil.
  9. Production: The film took over three years to produce and involved the work of hundreds of animators, musicians, and artists.
  10. Mixed reception: The film received mixed reviews upon its initial release, with some critics praising its innovative animation techniques and others criticizing it as pretentious and inaccessible.
  11. Re-releases: The film has been re-released several times, with each re-release featuring changes and updates to the film’s segments and soundtrack.
  12. Legacy: Despite its initial mixed reception, “Fantasia” has become a beloved classic and has had a lasting impact on the worlds of animation and music.
  13. Sequel: A sequel to the film, “Fantasia 2000,” was released in 1999, featuring new segments set to classical music and incorporating modern animation techniques.
  14. Academy Award nominations: The film was nominated for two Academy Awards in 1941, including Best Sound and Best Scoring of a Musical Picture.
  15. Cultural impact: The film has had a lasting cultural impact, inspiring generations of animators and filmmakers, and serving as a testament to Walt Disney’s vision of creating a new form of entertainment that combined music and animation.