Fantasia

Name: Fantasia
Genre: Fantasy, Music, Animation, Family
Released: November 13, 1940
Duration: 125 min
Rating: 96
Cast: Corey Burton, Deems Taylor, Hugh Douglas, James MacDonald, Julietta Novis

1940

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 18 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 112 Ratings

See All

8.3

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8.3	Your Score
8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 112 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Fantasia

Now Playing: Fantasia

Movie Details & Credits

Walt Disney Productions | Release Date: November 13, 1940 | Approved

Starring: Corey Burton, Deems Taylor, Hugh Douglas, James MacDonald, Julietta Novis, Leopold Stokowski, Paul J. Smith, Tim Matheson, Walt Disney

Summary: A collection of animated interpretations of great works of Western classical music.

Director: Ben Sharpsteen and Bill Roberts and David Hand and Ford Beebe Jr. and Hamilton Luske and James Algar and Jim Handley and Norman Ferguson and Paul Satterfield and Samuel Armstrong and T. Hee and Wilfred Jackson

Genre(s): Fantasy, Music, Animation, Family

Rating: Approved

Runtime: 125 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Dave Kehr

A masterpiece of the art of animation. The concept and some of the episodes are tainted with kitsch, but there's no other animated film with its scope and ambition—it is, in Otis Ferguson's words, “one of the strange and beautiful things that have happened in the world.” Read full review

100

Edwin Schallert

Fantasia is caviar to the general, ambrosia and nectar for the intelligentsia. It makes no compromises; it is the noblest experiment of a wizard in his bright field of artistry and creativeness. [30 Jan 1941, p. 9]

100

Mike Clark

Fearless mix of classical music and animation, the one movie to satisfy that oft-misused adjective ''unique.'' [01 Nov 1991, p.3D]

100

Bosley Crowther

Fantasia is simply terrific—as terrific as anything that has ever happened on a screen. Read full review

The Guardian Derek Malcolm

Fantasia is mashed potatoes and gravy but there's more than a hint of beluga there too. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Though Disney's toddling cannot keep pace with the giant strides of Ludwig van Beethoven, Fantasia as a whole leaves its audience gasping. Critics may deplore Disney's lapses of taste, but he trips, Mickey-like, into an art form that immortals from Aeschylus to Richard Wagner have always dreamed of. Read full review

Empire William Thomas

This is a very patchy affair - while some of the animated pieces work, others come across as downright insane. Read full review

SEE ALL 18 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

BrunoVn00

Sep 29, 2019

This is not a movie...It's a moving work of art. Fantasia is often considered to be one of the greatest animated films of all time, and I totally agree. In fact, I consider it to be the greatest animated movie ever made. The reason is simple: It pushes animation as a form of art to itsThis is not a movie...It's a moving work of art. Fantasia is often considered to be one of the greatest animated films of all time, and I totally agree. In fact, I consider it to be the greatest animated movie ever made. The reason is simple: It pushes animation as a form of art to its absolute limits. This movie shows how far can animation go to tell stories alongside wondeful music and interesting visuals. This is not a movie, it's an experience. It's a visual delight from beggining to end. I think this is a movie hard to imitate in terms of quality, and whoever tries to do the same thing, would be seen as a simple imitator. I can't believe the amount of effort shown in the animation: Every detail, every frame, every shot, shows that tons of effort was put to bring this pieces of art to life. My only issue is that the Master of Ceremony who presents every segment basically spoils the whole thing. Like, I think it would've been better to give an introduction and then explain a little bit, not to tell the whole thing. But that's literally the only flaw this movie has, because the rest of it...It's just perfect.

If I could give it an 11, I would. I wish I could live long enough to see a cinematic experience superior to this.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

timone

Apr 30, 2019

Well after the Disney classics of Snow White and Pinocchio it seems Walt had to do something really special. I mean REALLY special! Walt Disney had made a landmark of animation to Musical animated feature with no dialogue. How fascinating is that?

The musical themes are: Toccata and FugueWell after the Disney classics of Snow White and Pinocchio it seems Walt had to do something really special. I mean REALLY special! Walt Disney had made a landmark of animation to Musical animated feature with no dialogue. How fascinating is that?

The musical themes are:
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor
Nutcracker Suite
The Sorcerer's Apprentice (starring Mickey Mouse)
The Rite of Spring
The intermission of Meet the Soundtrack
The Pastoral Symphony
Dance of the Hours
Night on Bald Mountain
and finally Ave Maria

That's all the classical musicals there is. I have only seen the opening number of Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, The Rite of Sping which is scary and the beautiful musical theme Ave Maria. Years ago I've watched The Rite of Spring and when I got older my friend Sam Hudson told me that it is a box office disappointment. I didn't know that it is a box office disappointment when I watch this movie because Sam told me that because of the World War II. Aside from that, this Disney classic is a critical acclaim. The music in this is beautiful just the two Disney classics, it is a achivement of all of us.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Eaj6

Oct 8, 2019

Truly a great classic! Something for everyone! I perfectly portrays Disney's effort to make the imagination and creative mind, come to life!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Azouliel

Mar 3, 2019

"Fantasia" takes Disney to the next level. This is another passion piece, you can feel that the animators working on it put a lot of their soul to accompany the brilliant musical score. The short stories work within themselves and close themselves off rather perfectly. With what I can only"Fantasia" takes Disney to the next level. This is another passion piece, you can feel that the animators working on it put a lot of their soul to accompany the brilliant musical score. The short stories work within themselves and close themselves off rather perfectly. With what I can only describe as visual insanity, "Fantasia" strives to be more than what the medium of animation can offer. It truly stretches it to it's limit, which is impressive for the time of release.

This is a movie for everyone with a little spark of imagination living in them, for people who love the abstract and bizarre, for people who find themselves lost in fantasy when listening to music. This is collectively the imagination of not only the animators, but the orchestra at work. It is as impressive from the beginning until the very end. Marvelous.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

UncleWillard

Mar 12, 2019

What can you say about a movie that combines classical music favorites with excellent animation. This should be the number 1 movie in the Disney line-up as it shows what's possible and opened the doorway for experimentation in animated features. Pinnochio is farther up on the list, and IWhat can you say about a movie that combines classical music favorites with excellent animation. This should be the number 1 movie in the Disney line-up as it shows what's possible and opened the doorway for experimentation in animated features. Pinnochio is farther up on the list, and I love that, but this is by far my favorite and has been since I was a kid.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

BabaRooga

Nov 2, 2022

It's a classic, and it already was when I first watched it as a child. It's just sad that most kids these days won't get to see it or want to see it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

kpmeade

Dec 21, 2018

okay another bomb another alright movie my favorites made it into a mini golf coarse in Disney world except one which made a cameo they are toccata and fugue the nutcracker suite the sorcerers apprentice not the rite of spring thats bad the pastroil simony dace of the hours and last andokay another bomb another alright movie my favorites made it into a mini golf coarse in Disney world except one which made a cameo they are toccata and fugue the nutcracker suite the sorcerers apprentice not the rite of spring thats bad the pastroil simony dace of the hours and last and the one that made a cameo in the passtroil simony night on bald mountain a pretty good movie… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 15 REVIEWS