Opinions on Fantasia About This Page:

[Jciambor]

Feel free to post your opinions on what may possibly be Walt's most ambitious project.

Again it was originally a way to propel Mickey to a level of success that Popeye was at a comeback vehicle the entire film is derived from Sorcerers Apprentice which was produced in 1938. Popeye ironically was selling more tickets than Mickey in the late thirties Goofy and Donald were more commercially viable.

The problem is that something that was a way to bring Mickey back to glory. Though derailed itself away from its original purpose and built on so many artistic elements reminiscent of Europe that the reason I think it was a flop had to do with the fact that it was to high-brow for depression audiences to handle it didn't resonate with their sentiments or values. Its disjointed the vignettes are to short to flesh out or make any identifiable characters so that suffers. Though the use of scale perspective and color is second to none. Also pantomime is not something that sells people prefer memorable lines and voices.

Again beautiful visually just not commercially accessible. People were left cold that Walt didn't make another Snow White.

[Kevin_Wadsworth]

I'm a classical music fan, so enjoy Fantasia for the soundtrack (although ironically the Sorcerer's Apprentice is not a piece I particularly enjoy). Overall the movie is not exactly my cup of tea, and I like some segments better than others. If it was just Tocotta & Fugue, Rite of Spring, Pastoral Symphony, and Night on Bald Mountain I think I would like the movie better.

As an "older" Disney movie, it holds up over time better for me than some others (Snow White or Sleeping Beauty), but not as well as Cinderella.

[Carousel96]

As a child in the 1970's, I know I don't fully appreciate it for what it was.
But my dad grew up on a farm in the depression. (family photos looked just like scenes from The Grapes of Wrath. You get the picture.)
I believe he saw only two movies in theaters in his entire childhood -- Fantasia and The Wizard of Oz.
So it's a sentimental favorite for me.

[typical disney dad]

I hold it very dear, especially knowing that it was a favorite of Walt himself. But of all the pieces, I find the Sorcerers Apprentice to be my least favorite, possibly due to it being just too overplayed outside the film.

What I do find quaint is the live action bits, especially the orchestra and the staged interactions between members as the intermission ends.

Why did it flop? Possibly it was to high-brow for people. Critics weren't kind either, but as time has shown, it is a classic. Wasn't Citizen Kane, the film most often listed as the best film ever made also a flop, and a critical dud? I think of Fantasia as Walt's Citizen Kane. He had a fantastic idea, got some great people involved, invented new techniques to complete it, and while it didn't receive immediate acclaim, it went on to be one of the most influential of all his works.

As for Fantasia 2000...well, I like 99% of the animated pieces...I really loathe the celebrity introductions to them though. I love the Firebird Suite (you can tell they wanted to create a Miyazaki piece and they got the look pretty well...It's no Spirited Away...but it's good)

[yalibrarian]

Animation was not considered a true, serious art form before Walt Disney. I believe that Fantasia was meant to elevate animation to a new level, to show that it could be used to interpret great music and great ideas. He also wanted to work with important artists like Salvador Dali, even visiting him in Spain, but the project never really was completed. (A few years ago, the several minutes that was done was released.)

Although we now cherish the classic stories like Snow White, it is only recently that the animated film seems to be receiving the respect Walt felt it deserved (think Beauty and the Beast 's stunning score and Toy Story's great action and touching story, both with wonderful animation that fully developed the basic storyline.).