Fantasia (1940)
87%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: 8 wins & 1 nomination
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
Fantasia is like a wild ride through a kaleidoscope of music and animation. It’s like if Disney took acid and decided to make a movie. But in a good way. The visuals are stunning and the music is top-notch. It’s definitely not your typical Disney movie, but that’s what makes it so special. Plus, who doesn’t love dancing hippos?
Production Company(ies)
Warner Bros. Pictures, Endeavor Content One Community
Distributor
Walt Disney
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Stage 1, Walt Disney Studios, 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
G
Year of Release
1941
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:3 Channel Stereo
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Aspect ratio:1.37 : 1
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Runtime:2h 0m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 13, 1940 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 20, 2007
Genre(s)
Fantasy
Keyword(s)
Fantasia, G, 1940, Fantasy, 2h 0m, Walt Disney, James Algar, Samuel Armstrong, Ford Beebe, Norman Ferguson, Jim Handley, T Hee, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Bill Roberts, Paul Satterfield, Joe Grant, Dick Huemer, Lee Blair, Elmer Plummer, Phil Dike, Sylvia Moberly-Holland, Norman Wright, Deems Taylor, Leopold Stokowski, Walt Disney, Julietta Novis, James MacDonald, Philadelphia Orchestra, landmark, animation, classical music, Mickey Mouse, hand-drawn animation, experimental, music, imagination, nature scenes, animals, fairy tale creatures, commercial success, artistic success, Philadelphia Orchestra, Leopold Stowkowski, eight segments, fantastic imagery, top horror movies, MCU movies, Netflix series, renewed TV shows, cancelled TV shows, horror movies, TV premiere dates, worst horror movies, critic reviews, audience reviews
Worldwide gross: $76,411,819
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,862,651,525
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 22
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 203,124,485
US/Canada gross: $76,408,097
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,862,560,796
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 4
US/Canada opening weekend: $980,798
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $23,908,407
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 562
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $2,280,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $55,578,385
Production budget ranking: 722
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $29,928,960
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,777,144,180
ROI to date (est.): 2,078%
ROI ranking: 47
Leopold Stokowski – Music Performer
Walt Disney – Mickey Mouse (Voice)
Julietta Novis – Music Performer
James MacDonald – Music Performer
Philadelphia Orchestra – Music Performer
Director(s)
James Algar, Samuel Armstrong, Ford Beebe, Norman Ferguson, Jim Handley, T. Hee, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Bill Roberts, Paul Satterfield
Writer(s)
Joe Grant, Dick Huemer, Lee Blair, Elmer Plummer, Phil Dike, Sylvia Moberly-Holland, Norman Wright
Producer(s)
Walt Disney
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
8 wins & 1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (56) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (53) | Rotten (3)
Disney’s abstractions are no more imaginative than Fischinger’s or Len Lye’s, though he can be wittier than they.
July 17, 2020
Guardian Staff
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
The film will be as controversial as is all new art conception. But its entertainment value is Immense and unquestionable.
May 2, 2020
SMH Staff
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
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.
January 18, 2013
Edwin Schallert
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
There is something in Fantasia for every taste.
August 31, 2008
John C. Flinn Sr.
Variety
TOP CRITIC
The concept and some of the episodes are tainted with kitsch, but there’s no other animated film with its scope and ambition.
March 3, 2008
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Fantasia is simply terrific — as terrific as anything that has ever happened on a screen.
May 20, 2003 | Rating: 5/5
Bosley Crowther
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
There is a charm in many of the images created by the vivid imaginations of Mr. Disney and his fellow workers which is without equal in previous motion pictures.
January 5, 2021
Martin Quigley Jr.
Motion Picture Herald (Exhibitors Herald)
The arrangement of music alone is inspiring, but it’s the seamless combination with traditionally animated mini stories that sets it apart.
August 5, 2020 | Rating: 10/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Fantasia is a strange hybrid that only represents the creator’s delusions of grandeur. [Full Review in Spanish]
July 23, 2019
Antonio Lara
El Pais (Spain)
I admire Walt Disney so much for making such bold films.
May 9, 2019 | Rating: A+
Rachel Wagner
rachelsreviews.net
the films in the Disney Vault are brilliant pieces of work that need to be seen in the best visual presentation possible
December 9, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
Kevin Carr
7M Pictures
I belong to those who had no need of that kind of entertainment, being content with seeing pictures and hearing music.
November 27, 2012
Franz Hoellering
The Nation…
Plot
Being the first of is kind, Fantasia is a cinematic musical experience that combines Western classical music with stunning visual animation from Walt Disney and his team of animators. Segments include “Ave Maria,” “The Nutcracker Suite,” “Night on Bald Mountain, and “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” with an appearance by Mickey Mouse. Conducted by Leopold Stokowski with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for Fantasia.
