Fantasia (1940)

Directed by James Algar, Samuel Armstrong, Ford Beebe, Norm Ferguson, David Hand, Jim Handley, T. Hee, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Bill Roberts, Paul Satterfield & Ben Sharpsteen. Starring Deems Taylor. [G]

Landmark animated motion picture is a magical marriage of music and image, poetic yet approachable, and widely influential on the future of the medium (and other avenues, too, most notably the art form of music videos). It’s an eight-part anthology of abridged classical music pieces inspiring fantastical animated scenes, whether driven by senses or loose narrative or pure emotion, synced by melody and inspiration; Deems Taylor is the Master of Ceremonies, introducing each dialogue-free segment, while Leopold Stokowski conducts the Philadelphia Orchestra. Highlights include Stravisnky’s “Rite of Spring” setting the mood for the reign of “terrible lizards” on Earth many millions of years ago (outdoing Disney’s later computer-animated feature, Dinosaur, in nearly every way), Zeus hurling thunderbolts at a land of prancing centaurs and winged stallions (Beethoven’s “The Pastoral Symphony”), circling mushrooms and gliding fairies (Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker Suite”), hippos and alligators dancing to Ponchilli’s “Dance of the Hours”, Mickey Mouse’s finest hour as the inventive but irresponsible Sorcerer’s Apprentice as inspired by Dukas and Goethe, and the stunning “Night on Bald Mountain” finale, with devilish Chernabog summoning once-slumbering evil in the form of shadows and spectres, imps and hellfire. At two hours and change, padded out by Taylor’s sometimes unwanted intrusions, it’s bound to make some children restless, but the more patient and receptive little ones will be treated to an introduction to classical music as imaginative and accessible as classic Looney Tunes shorts (“Rabbit of Seville”, “What’s Opera, Doc?” etc.). An extraordinary experiment that emerges as a work of art—not to be missed. Inspired a second anthology some six decades later with Fantasia 2000.

95/100