Welcome to Movie Mondays, a weekly blog series that takes you on a cinematic odyssey through the world of film! Most weeks have us working through a list of my 100 least favorite movies. But take a break from the worst of the worst on the first Monday of each month when we look at one of Disney’s animated features. These monthly installments will serve as a delightful palate cleanser and reminder of what made you love going to the movies as a kid. So, grab your popcorn, settle in, and join me on this unique journey through the highs and lows of the silver screen. I promise you won’t want to miss a single post!

Fantasia

1940

Directed by 12 different men…

In 1940, Walt Disney Productions released a film unlike any other—an ambitious, experimental masterpiece that blended classical music with breathtaking animation. That film was Fantasia, and over 80 years later, it remains a remarkable achievement in the history of cinema.

Fantasia is a visual and auditory spectacle consisting of eight animated segments set to classical pieces conducted by the renowned Leopold Stokowski, seven of which are performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra. The film features over 500 animated characters and 1,000 artists and technicians worked to bring this grand vision to life.

From the abstract imagery of “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” to the delightful “Dance of the Hours” ballet featuring ostrich and hippo ballerinas to Mickey Mouse’s iconic turn as “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”, each segment offers a unique and captivating experience. The crown jewel may be “Night on Bald Mountain”, a haunting and masterful showcase of the power of hand-drawn animation.

But Fantasia‘s road to the screen was not an easy one. Walt Disney’s bold decision to blend highbrow art with animated “cartoons” was met with skepticism. The film’s substantial budget, driven by its use of cutting-edge technology like the Fantasound stereoscopic sound system, also presented challenges. Ultimately, Fantasia‘s initial box office performance disappointed, but time would prove it to be a landmark film.

The visual artistry on display from Disney legends like Fred Moore, who redesigned Mickey for the film, is stunning. Equally impressive are the technical feats, including the multiplane camera used for the film’s longest shot ever at the time—a 217-foot scene in “Ave Maria.”

Fantasia was always intended to be an evolving film, with segments replaced by new ones over time. While that never came to pass, its legacy is undeniable. In 1998, the American Film Institute ranked it as the 58th greatest American film in their 100 Years…100 Movies list.

With its perfect marriage of music and animation, its technical innovations, and its sheer scope and ambition, Fantasia remains an unrivaled cinematic treasure. If you’ve never experienced this masterpiece, gather the family and prepare to be transported by its timeless magic.

So tell me, dear readers, what are your thoughts on and memories of this pioneering work of art? I’d love to hear your take in the comments below!