What's the AFI project, you ask? For more information, or if you just enjoy my bemused ramblings, read here:http://www.spout.com/blogs/pippin06/archive/2008/3/1/25756.aspx
Fantasia is on the following AFI lists:
The Original Top 100 (#58)
10 Top 10's (#5 Animated)
I borrowed Fantasia on VHS from my parents because I could not bring myself to rent it when I have seen it a great number of times. Fantasia was a childhood favorite of mine; I always found it soothing to watch when I was sick or wanted to relax because of the motif of impressionistic animation set to classical music. I also enjoyed it because I had and still have a great love for such music; I played the violin through college and always possessed a healthy appreciation for pieces I was able to play or had the possibility of playing. In short, Fantasia always had high appeal with me, so I may be a bit biased in this review; however, I do think my bias is justified, as I think the film receiving AFI ranking is equally justified.
Walt Disney was a mastermind and ahead of his time, in my opinion. He had already released a great many shorts and, of course, by the time Fantasia was released, he had already created a handful of feature films, including the much-touted Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which has already been reviewed for this project. If you read my review, you may remember that I appreciated Snow White as a formula creator but otherwise found it a film that has not managed to hold up very well and is not quite as entertaining to me as the films that followed it.
Fantasia, on the other hand, is quite the opposite in my opinion. Again, Disney pioneered a concept with this film, which contains no plot. Instead, music critic Deems Taylor introduces segments of classical music played orchestrally under the direction of Leopold Stokowski. Each piece is accompanied by an animated story which may have very little to do with the original intent of the piece, but even in that event, Mr. Taylor clearly states the composer's actual intention as a preface to the animated reconceptualization. The pieces include Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor set to impressionistic lighting and color; Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite, depicting a change of seasons through the work of faeries and natural creatures; the Sorcerer's Apprentice, featuring my most favorite incarnation of Mickey Mouse; Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, depicting the early stages of evolution through the dinosaurs; Beethoven's Pastorale Symphony (No. 6), which is set to a story rooted in Greek mythology; Ponchielli's Dance of the Hours, featuring a ballet performed by ostriches, hippos, alligators, and elephants; and a combination finale of Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain and Schubert's Ave Maria, depicting demonic forces held at bay by the light of morning and the faithful.
The concept introduced here was original and has not been imitated or duplicated, except when Disney released Fantasia 2000, with new pieces and new animated segments. Disney pioneered new sound techniques to enhance the viewing experience with this film. The colors are vivid, and the sequences are interesting. The only sequence that seems to drag to me is the first one, set against the Toccata - only because the formless animation has less of a logical progression than the pieces that follow. In any event, however, this film, I think, can truly be deemed art. It combined the creativity of Disney's imaginative storytelling with the work of his team of animators (so much smaller in 1940) to enhance the enjoyment of timeless classical pieces, and because the animated renderings are not rooted in period and include no vocal tracks, the visual presentation as well as the spirit of the piece transcend the year in which the film was made. In short, Fantasia is a remarkable entry in the annals of film history, especially in the annals of two dimensional animation. Plus, it can be enjoyed by viewers of all ages.
Because of its originality and truly timeless quality, I almost feel like Fantasia should be rated higher than Snow White on any list in which the two films appear; then again, Fantasia may not have been the marvel that it is without the initial entry of its sing-songy predecessor to break the mold. What is disheartening is that it did not even get a ranking on the AFI's Revised anniversay list ((it was replaced by The Gold Rush, which jumped several spots from its original ranking). In any event, I think Fantasia is a masterpiece of filmmaking, animated or no, and I am inclined to rate the film a perfect 10 because it is such a masterpiece! Also, it passes the test; the trouble is, it's been locked away in Disney's vault for years, though I read somewhere that a re-release (including to Blu-Ray) is due either next year or the following one. I can't wait! If you haven't seen Fantasia, I highly recommend getting a hold of a copy, sitting back with a cup of tea, and experiencing the undeniable artistic excellence of the film for yourself.