Fantasia: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Fantasia-poster-1940.jpg|frame]]
 
{{quote|''Fantasia will Amaze-ya!''}}
 
'''''Fantasia''''' is a [[The Golden Age of Animation|1940]] animated film from [[Disney Animated Canon]]. It's a surreal, yet classic blend of animation and classical music, often considered to have been ahead of its time back in the day. Another way to describe it as is ''[[Silly Symphonies]]: [[The Movie]]''.
 
The film consists of animated sequences synchronized to classic pieces of music. They are as follows:
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* ''[[The Rite of Spring]]'', composed by [[Igor Stravinsky]]. This sequence showcases the evolution of life on Earth, from the formation of the planet to the extinction of the dinosaurs, [[Science Marches On|according to the theories of the time]].
* ''The [[Arcadia|Pastoral]] Symphony'', composed by [[Ludwig Van Beethoven]]. During this part of the film, mythical creatures such as centaurs, cupids, satyrs, unicorns, and Pegasuses prance around, and attend a festival for the god Bacchus/Dionysus, only to have it interrupted by Jupiter/Zeus and Vulcan/Hephaestus.
* ''Dance of the Hours'', composed by [[Amilcare Ponchielli]]. In this sequence, ballet-dancing anthropomorphic animals (ostriches, hippos, elephants, and alligators), representing both times of day (morning, noon, evening and night) dance in time to the music.
* ''Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria'', composed by [[Modest Mussorgsky]] and [[Franz Schubert]], respectively. Clearly they saved the best for last. The first half of this sequence is probably the most frightening sequence in Disney animation, featuring Chernabog (who is essentially the Slavic equivalent of Satan) raising the dead from the grave. The sequence leads to a contrasting sequence to the calm tune of ''Ave Maria'', featuring religious villagers walking through a forest and an old cathedral.
 
''Fantasia'' was well received during its initial release, and it became a hallowed masterpiece of western animation, eventually resulted in a sequel, ''Fantasia 2000''. Unlike most Disney sequels, this one was actually in accordance with Walt Disney's intent; the original idea was to update the film ''every year'', animating one or two new songs every time and rotating older ones out of the print to make room for the fresh material. In addition, the prestige of being in a ''Fantasia'' film meant that Disney had no trouble lining up celebrities to introduce the various sections of film.
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The sequences in this one include:
* ''Symphony No. 5'', composed by [[Ludwig Van Beethoven]]. Like ''Toccata and Fugue in D Minor'', this is an "abstract" sequence, featuring butterfly-like triangles flitting about.
* ''Pines of Rome'', composed by [[Ottorino Respighi]]. This one features a family of [[Space Whale|humpback whales that fly]] (yes, ''fly'').
* ''Rhapsody in Blue'', composed by [[George Gershwin]]. In this sequence, several city people in 1930s New York go about their lives, set to the lively jazz-inspired music of Gershwin with visuals inspired by the drawings of Al Hirschfeld.
* ''Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major-I'', composed by [[Dmitri Shostakovich]]. Basically, this one is [[Hans Christian Andersen]]'s "[[The Steadfast Tin Soldier]]" set to music.
* ''The Carnival of the Animals, Finale'' composed by [[Camille Saint-Saëns]]. This one centers on a flamingo playing with a yo-yo, much to the disapproval of his peers.
* ''The Sorcerer's Apprentice'', back by popular demand.
* ''Pomp and Circumstance'', composed by [[Edward Elgar]]. This scene is based on the story of Noah's Ark, featuring [[Donald Duck]] as Noah's assistant.
* ''Firebird Suite'', composed by [[Igor Stravinsky]]. A sprite brings spring to a forest, only to accidentally awaken the destructive Firebird.
 
Disney later planned an international-themed follow-up, called ''Fantasia/2006'', and later ''Fantasia World''. After the cancellation of its theatrical release, some of the completed shorts received limited or direct-to-video releases. Disney announced plans to include the feature on the Blu-Ray set of the 1940 and 2000 ''Fantasia'' movies, but by the time the discs actually came out, they decided to only include one short.
 
The sequences prepared for this one include:
* ''Destino'', composed by [[Armando Dominguez]]. The [[Development Hell|long-awaited]] result of a collaboration between [[Walt Disney]] and [[Salvador Dali]], this short depicts a woman dancing her way through Dali-inspired environments and the doomed love the god Chronos has for her. Premiered at a 2003 French film festival, and became available to own on the ''Fantasia'' Blu-Ray collection.
* ''[[The Little Match Girl]]'' (''Nocturne from String Quartet No. 2 in D Major'', composed by [[Alexander Borodin]]). Disney relocates the [[Hans Christian Andersen]] story to Russia, but otherwise adapts it to a surprisingly faithful extent. Included on the 2006 Platinum Edition DVD of another Disney-produced adaptation of an Andersen story: "[[The Little Mermaid]]".
* ''One By One'', composed by [[Lebo M]]. This short features South African children preparing and flying colorful kites to the accompaniment of a deleted ''[[Lion King]]'' song. Included on the 2004 "Special Edition" DVD of ''The Lion King II: Simba's Pride''.
* ''Lorenzo'', composed by [[Osvaldo Ruggiero]]. A cat is jinxed into having a tail with a separate personality. Premiered during the theatrical release of the 2004 Kate Hudson movie ''Raising Helen'', but has yet to receive a DVD or Blu-Ray release.
 
A video game adaptation of "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" segment was released for the [[Atari 2600]] in 1983.
 
Not to be confused with the [[American Idol]] winner, or the name of the fantasy world in the film version of ''[[The Neverending Story (film)|The Neverending Story]]''.
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* [[Disney Villain Death]]: ''The Steadfast Tin Soldier'' when the {{spoiler|Jack-in-the-Box falls into the fire.}}
* [[Disneyfication]]: The adaptation of ''The Steadfast Tin Soldier'', though that was mostly from the original ending not matching the music. Check out the storyboard reel on the DVD for that.
* [[Dream Sequence]]: After bringing the broom to life, Mickey falls asleep and dreams he is a mighty wizard, commanding the stars themselves. However, he snaps awake when the room starts to flood.
* [[Downer Ending]]: ''The Rite of Spring''. If it hadn't been for the [[Executive Meddling]], Walt Disney would have kept the happier ending where a band of early humans start a bonfire and dance in celebration of their discovery.
* [[Easter Egg]]: If you've got time to kill, watch the ''Rhapsodie in Blue'' sequence with your finger on the pause button, to see all the names hidden in the background elements. It's a [[Shout-Out]] to Al Hirschfeld, who hid the name of his daughter Nina in his drawings from time to time.
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* [[Forging Scene]]: In the "Pastoral Symphony" sequence, Vulcan/Hephaestus forges thunderbolts for Jupiter/Zeus to hurl at Bacchus/Dionysus.
* [[For the Evulz]]: All things Chernabog does is because he purely has fun in it.
* [[From Bad to Worse]]: When Mickey discovers he has lost control of the magic broom, he grabs an axe and hacks it to pieces - only to discover that this makes the situation ''much'' worse, [[Asteroids Monster| as each piece of the broom grows into a seperate broom.]]
* [[Furry Confusion]]: Lampshaded most brilliantly in ''Pomp and Circumstance''
* [[Getting Crap Past the Radar]]: The hoard of baby bunnies exiting the Arc.
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* [[Lonely Rich Kid]]: Rachel (the little girl) in "Rhapsody in Blue." Unlike most [[Lonely Rich Kid|Lonely Rich Kids]], though, what she longs for is not friends her own age, but to spend quality time with her hard-working parents.
* [[Long Take]]: ''Ave Maria'' ends with a 160-second one.
* [[Male Pack Mule]]: In ''Fantasia 2000'', Flying John serves as this for his wife Margaret after they go to a fancy pet boutique. He drops the packages when Joe accidentally lifts her and their dog away.
* [[Mickey Mousing]]: Done in reverse!
* [[Mime-and-Music-Only Cartoon]]
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** In ''Fantasia 2000'' the humor in ''Rhapsody in Blue'' is interspersed with scenes that remind you that it takes place during [[The Great Depression|the thirties]], which can be a bit depressing.
** ''Pomp and Circumstance'' does this a few times where it starts off with a hilarious slapstick sequence where Donald tries to get the animals to board the ship, but changes to sad when Donald and Daisy both think the other was killed in the flood, then goes back again to slapstick.
* [[Mundane Utility]]: Deconstructed. Mickey uses the Sorcerer's hat to bring the broom to life so it gathers water for him, but discovers he can't turn it off!
* [[Murder by Cremation]]: At the end of "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" segment of ''Fantasia 2000'', the evil Jack-in-the-Box is literally flung into a fire while attempting to kill the titular tin soldier.
** To be fair, all the tin soldier had to do was put up his staff when the Jack-in-the-Box was flying at him with his sword; Jack's own momentum carried him the rest of the way. (Though it's pretty clear that's what the soldier was going for).
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* [[Trope 2000]]: Justified somewhat as it was released in the [[Y 2 K|year 2000]]. At 12:00 midnight on the first day of the year, no less.
* [[Villain Protagonist]]: Chernabog, arguably.
* [[Walking Shirtless Scene]]: Chernabog, altoughtalthough the rest is cover by the mountain peak.
* [[Weakened by the Light]]: Chernabog and his demon minions are driven away by his arch-enemy - the Sun.
* [[When the Clock Strikes Twelve]]
* [[Who Writes This Crap?]]: [[James Earl Jones]] asks something similar in ''Fantasia/2000'' after an orchestra member hands him a synopsis of the "Carnival of the Animals" segment.
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* [[You Shall Not Pass]]: One of the triangle-butterfly-things pulls this in "Symphony No. 5", fighting off some of the evil bat-things and getting injured so its smaller friend can escape.
 
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{{reflist}}
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[[Category:Disney Animated Canon]]
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[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}Western Animation of the 1940s]]