Fantasia

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Fantasia

G

Released Nov 13, 1940

2h 0m

Kids & Family

Fantasy

Animation

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Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

60 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Released in 1940, represented Disney's boldest experiment to date. Bringing to life his vision of blending animated imagery with classical music. What had begun as a vehicle to enhance Mickey Mouse's career blossomed into a full-blown feature that remains unique in the history of animation.

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Critics Consensus

A landmark in animation (and a huge influence on the medium of music video), Disney's Fantasia is a relentlessly inventive blend of the classics with phantasmagorical images.

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Guardian Staff

Guardian

Disney's abstractions are no more imaginative than Fischinger's or Len Lye's, though he can be wittier than they.

Jul 17, 2020

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SMH Staff

Sydney Morning Herald

The film will be as controversial as is all new art conception. But its entertainment value is Immense and unquestionable.

May 2, 2020

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Edwin Schallert

Los Angeles Times

The words most used to describe "Fantasia," besides the conventional "beautiful" and "wonderful" were "path-breaking" and "courageous." The phrase "courageous beyond belief" would be even more accurate.

Jan 18, 2013

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Philip French

Observer (UK)

What chiefly comes over today is the sheer prodigal inventiveness, high spirits, wit and fluidity of the graphic work.

Jan 22, 2025

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Brendan Cassidy

InSession Film

Fantasia is, in a word, fascinating. An animated symphony of colors and movement, the film flows more like an experiment than an actual film.

Jun 18, 2024

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Pare Lorentz

McCall's

[Disney] has developed an entirely new method of recording and projecting music, immeasurably broadening the potential use of music and pictures; above all, Fantasia itself is an audacious, stirring, austere and entirely new kind of movie.

Oct 30, 2023

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Fabrizio A

A cinematic masterpiece that was unfairly criticizised when it first came out, and it's still ignored by the general public. The mix of fluid animation and classical music creates a pleasantly psychedelic experience unlike any other. It's understandable that the more "refined" and "classy" feel this movie gives makes it more appealing to adults... but there are so many children who love and study music, and I really think they'll enjoy this movie in particular. This and its equally amazing sequel (surprisingly by Disney's standards with sequels) confirmed yet again that animation is a medium for everyone, it's more than a genre for kids.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/07/25

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Daniel C. M

Fantasia is not as much of a film is it is a experience. One that will remain eternal, and even 50 years into the future, you will need to see for yourself to believe it. Saying it features the finest looking animation ever made would be a understatement. It, alongside the music, draws you into the movie in a way it's extremely hard to divert your attention to something else.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/02/25

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Bobby B

Walt disneys masterpiece. Well done walt. It still flopped at the box office.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/09/25

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Evan B

This is an absolute masterpiece! The only complaint I have is that The Rite of Spring went on a bit too long. Having said that, this film still has some amazing versions of each piece of music, fantastic animation, and beautiful backgrounds. If I had to pick a favorite segment, it’d easily be Night on Bald Mountain & Ave Maria.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/21/25

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N P

"Fantasia" is an ambitious meld of orchestral classics and original score alongside vivid and abstract animated hand-drawn art. The film mainly features several short stories and concepts, showcasing philosophical and historical discussions pertaining to one's very own existence, society and the world as we know it, The main standouts are the "Sorcerer's Apprentice", "Pre-Historic and the Dinosaur Age" and "Greek Mythology". Although, there were sequences throughout where I felt like it was a tad long, boring and felt quite sleepy at times. But, if you can get passed the momentary lulls and slight lecturing, and simply embrace the experience - you might as well have a unique viewing time that can open your mind and heart, that this Disney picture is not afraid to shy away from.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/08/25

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Audience Member

Aged like milk. The visuals and music are beautiful, but Fantasia is a snoozefest for anyone who's not a baby. Speaking of which, it might be good for getting babies to sleep. I understand that this was groundbreaking for what it was at the time, but nothing about this movie screams "special" nowadays.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

12/29/24

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James Algar

Director

Samuel Armstrong

Director

Ford Beebe

Director

Norman Ferguson

Director

Jim Handley

Director

T. Hee

Director

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Synopsis

Released in 1940, represented Disney's boldest experiment to date. Bringing to life his vision of blending animated imagery with classical music. What had begun as a vehicle to enhance Mickey Mouse's career blossomed into a full-blown feature that remains unique in the history of animation.

Director: James Algar, Samuel Armstrong, Ford Beebe, Norman Ferguson, Jim Handley, T. Hee, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Bill Roberts, Paul Satterfield
Producer: Walt Disney
Screenwriter: Joe Grant, Dick Huemer, Lee Blair, Elmer Plummer, Phil Dike, Sylvia Moberly-Holland, Norman Wright
Distributor: Walt Disney
Production Co: Walt Disney Productions
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 13, 1940, Limited
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Oct 5, 1990
Release Date (Streaming): May 5, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $24.8M
Runtime: 2h 0m
Sound Mix: Surround, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Fantasound, Dolby Stereo, Mono
Aspect Ratio: Academy (1.33:1)

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