Plot
An update of the original film with new interpretations of great works of classical music.

Release Year: 1999

Rating: 7.2/10 (14,383 voted)

Critic's Score: 59/100

Director: James Algar

Stars: James Levine, Steve Martin, Leopold Stokowski

Storyline
In this update of Disney's masterpiece film mixture of animation and music, new interpretations of great works of music are presented. It begins with an abstract battle of light and darkness set to the music of Beethoveen's Fifth Symphony. Then we see the adventures of a Humpback Whale calf and his pod set to "The Pines of Rome." Next is the humourous story of several lives in 1930's New York City, scored with "Rhapsody in Blue." Following is a musical telling of the fairy tale, "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" set to Dmitri Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2. Then a goofy Flamingo causes havoc in his flock with his yo-yo to the tune of the finale of "Carnival of the Animals." This is followed by the classic sequence from the original film, "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" starring Mickey Mouse and followed by "Pomp and Circumstance" starring Donald Duck as a harried assistant to Noah on his Ark...

Writers: Eric Goldberg, Hans Christian Andersen

Cast:
Leopold Stokowski - Himself - Conductor (segment "The Sorcerer's Apprentice") (archive footage)
Ralph Grierson - Pianist (segment "Rhapsody in Blue")
Kathleen Battle - Featured Soprano (segment "Pomp and Circumstance") (voice)
Steve Martin - Himself - Introductory Host
Itzhak Perlman - Himself - Host (segment "Pines of Rome")
Quincy Jones - Himself - Host (segment "Rhapsody in Blue")
Bette Midler - Herself - Hostess (segment "Piano Concerto No. 2, Allegro, Opus 102")
James Earl Jones - Himself - Host (segment "Carnival of the Animals")
Penn Jillette - Himself (as Penn)
Teller - Himself - Host (segment "The Sorcerer's Apprentice")
James Levine - Himself - Host (segment "Pomp and Circumstance"), Conductor (Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
Angela Lansbury - Herself - Hostess (segment "Firebird Suite - 1919 Version")
Wayne Allwine - Mickey Mouse (segment "Pomp and Circumstance") (voice)
Tony Anselmo - Donald Duck (segment "Pomp and Circumstance") (voice)
Russi Taylor - Daisy Duck (segment "Pomp and Circumstance") (voice)

Official Website: fantasia2000.com (Disney Pictures) |

Release Date: 31 December 1999

Budget: $80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend: $2,239,941 (USA) (2 January 2000) (54 Screens)

Gross: $90,874,570 (Worldwide)

Runtime: USA: 74 min

Trivia:
When (Bette Midler) was introducing The Steadfast Tin Soldier by talking about ideas that were originally going to be in the original Fantasia she mentions Flight Of The Bumble Bee. It was used in Melody Time under the title Bumble Boogie.

Goofs:
Continuity: In "Rhapsody in Blue" in the young man's room. The first shot shows the whole room and pans left showing him in bed with the alarm clock upright. The very next close-up shows the clock to be face down.

Quotes:
Angela Lansbury: Walt Disney described the art of animation as a voyage of discovery, into the realms of color, sound, and motion. The music from Igor Stravinsky's ballet "The Firebird" inspires such a voyage. And so we conclude this version of "Fantasia" with a mythical story of life, death, and renewal.

An Almost Flawless Masterpiece

Rating: 9/10

Although I was aware of the original plan to renew the Fantasia concept every so often, and that it was visualised as an ongoing project, I felt that going back after 60 years was too much, and that the original classic should be left alone. However, my initial scepticism was dispelled within seconds of the opening sequence. What we have here is a lush, vibrant fusion of animation and music, each fully complimenting the other to perfection. It's hard to pick a favorite sequence, but if really pressed, for personal taste alone, it would be the awesome sequence with the whales. Mickey's Sorcerer's Apprentice sequence is the only carry over from the original, and a worthy match for it in the 2000 lineup is the Donald "Noah".

The only criticism I have of the film is the bridging sequences, featuring Steve Martin, Penn & Teller, Bette Midler and others. I would have preferred that they stuck to one presenter, preferably James Earl Jones or Angela Landsbury. They seemed to take the material and the project far more seriously than Martin and Penn & Teller who's humor detracted from the dignity of the movie as a whole.

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