Unlike its predecessors, the movie has no specific story, no really discernible plot and save for Mickey Mouse, no characters to laugh at or relate to. Some like the Chinese mushrooms and the dancing hippos are amusing but there are also devil bats and other dark manifestations.
At a time when MTV was not even a germ of a dream, Fantasia offered animated images synchronized to music performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra and conducted by Leopold Stokowski. That the repertoire is mostly classical did not help either as the critics were themselves appalled by the sacrilege of seeing Stravinsky associating with Mickey Mouse. It was not only new in 1940 but revolutionary.
It took time to realize that Fantasia is the magic of Walt Disney at its most brilliant. It seems as though artists were set loose on giant drawing boards, fed music and were then told to interpret what they hear. The diverse results make the movie a spectacular animation showcase. Traditional Disney for Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite, abstract imagery for Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, portents of Dinosaur for Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring and others, each one moving perfectly in time to the music.
There were talks of other Fantasia films after the original was released including one that will feature the music of the Beatles during the ’60s. None materialized, probably because the picture only made money after it was reissued several times. This was so until last year when the use of computers once more made the idea of Fantasia challenging and the increased audience for animated films has made it viable.
Like the first time, Fantasia 2000 is made up of animated interpretations of great music. The animators were once more allowed to give free rein to their imaginations and the results are not only stunning. Their choice of subject matters is also often wonderfully surprising.
Flamingos and a yoyo cavort in a riot of colors to Saint-Saen’s Carnival of the Animals. Light and darkness do battle for Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Hans Christian Andersen’s The Steadfast Tin Soldier is retold with the allegro from Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2. Instead of trees, a humpback whale takes center stage for Respighi’s The Pines of Rome. Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite becomes the setting for the tale of life, death and rebirth of nature.
The best of the collection though are: Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue where prototypes of the New York City population during the 1930’s including the composer himself come alive via illustrations inspired by the drawings of Broadway caricaturist Al Hirshfield; Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance where Donald Duck gets his "Fantasia" stint as Noah’s helper in getting the animals into the ark; and because the tale and the animation still holds up with remarkable ease after 60 years, Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, with Mickey Mouse, which is the only segment from the first film to make it to the new picture.
Save for The Sorcerer’s Apprentice which is performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra with Stokowski conducting, the music for Fantasia 2000 is performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by James Levine. Take note though, Mickey also gets to tug at his coat-tails.
Like before, many of the kids who cannot get enough of The Lion King or Beauty and the Beast did not beg their parents to take them to Fantasia 2000 but give them time, they will surely grow into it. But the critics did no thumb their noses at this one. Some may not agree with the interpretations but Disney’s success with animated films has made its products, whatever they are, easier to appreciate for everybody.
Now, Fantasia 2000 is really something that anybody who loves music and is beginning to appreciate the classical will enjoy. So will anybody who is enthralled at how far film animation has evolved. Best of all, so will all those who believe that imagination should know no bounds and that whales and yoyos and Mickey and Donald are fitting interpreters for the great music masterpieces of the world.
Fantasia 2000 has been out of the theaters for some months now. The video is certainly no IMAX but it is available and certainly well appreciated during the long Lenten break.