Fantasia

[polymorphikos]

The majority of people who have seen Fantasia probably did so either as a child, or in the company of their children. Doing so perhaps leads the person to consider Fantasia something of a childish film. However, upon revisitation is indisputable that not only is a Fantasia not restricted to realm of infants, but that it could be regarded with justification as one of the finest works of aesthetic cinema ever to grace the screen.


There is little need to delve into the familiar premise too deeply, and suffice to say that it is a simple combination of beautiful music from composers such as Bach, Mozart and Tchaikovsky, with the imaginings of a number of exceedingly talented artists to create what is essentially one long music video. The more important matter is to understand what Walt Disney was trying to do with this film, and what the result is in all of its astounding beauty.



Disney set out to make Fantasia aiming to create something of a showcase for the potential which animation, then greatly restricted to simple comedy and children’s films, could achieve. Unlike much of the mindless pap for which the studio is widely known, he actually succeeded in producing something of genuine merit.



Visually, Fantasia is almost perfect. Even today, ignoring the time in which it was made, such scenes as the evolution of life and the Nutcracker are breath-takingly beautiful. A synchronicity between sound and music was achieved that is inspiring to watch. The fish dancing underwater and the battle between the stegosaurs are extremely memorable, the hideous black beast crouched atop the mountain is hideous and gorgeous at the same time. Every leaf in the Nutcracker is a work of art. The attack by Zeus is shattering, and the drying and death of the world is visual poetry par excellence. It would be easy to wax lyrical for hours except that I might grow tiresome.



The addendum in the form of Fantasia 2000, whilst a noble effort, is incomparable with the original. The sheer abandonment to the beauty of creation is there, but only in the Ballet de Firebird does it truly make its presence felt. It is very easy to condemn Disney for its safe, tried-and-true approach to film-making, and to become tired by the excellent yet overwhelming continuous pop efforts of Pixar, but if you look back you’ll remember that they used to make movies like this.

[Foxbat]

A fine review. You make me want to go out and buy it

Here's a fascinating fact: Stereo sound was originally developed for film - not music - and Fantasia was the first to implement this technology.

[polymorphikos]

Indeed.

[Circus Cranium]

Fantasia was great, especially for the time period. To look at it now, the effects seem a bit primitive, but for the time period they were cutting edge.

[knivesout]

I've always wondered whether Disney's animators were on some psychedelic while making this one. Either way, a visual treat that hasn't really been staled with time.

[aurelio]

Some of my animation teachers worked on it (yes, I'm a very lucky fellow), and I can tell you for a fact that there were no drugs involved (although most of them were big drinkers ). They were simply very talented, creative, and progressive artists, and Walt had very ambitious creative goals.

One terribly important thing to be aware of is that in the early 80's, for misguided reasons, Disney Studios re-recorded the score. This was done in order to get a fuller, more technically sophisticated soundtrack, but the result was that the animation and music were no longer in sync, both in timing and dynamics, so make sure if you buy/rent/ or otherwise screen "Fantasia" that you are watching the "original score" version.